2020.07.20 Council Agenda Item 7
Summary
Re-enactment of Ordinance No.128-2020, an emergency ordinance to temporarily suspend certain provisions of the Falmouth Code of Ordinances relating to outdoor eating areas and outdoor retail display to assist businesses suffering economic loss due to COVID-19 in a manner consistent with the Governor’s re-opening plan
A public hearing is not required under the Town Charter for the adoption of an emergency ordinance. The Council accepted public comment on this item when this item was discussed at the Council’s May 27 meeting. Public comment is expected to be allowed at this meeting.
ACTION: Council action is anticipated.
Description
On June 3, 2020, in response to challenges busineses are facing in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Town Council adopted Emergency Ordinance No. 128-2020 to allow businesses the ability to temporarily establish outdoor eating areas and outdoor retail display areas through an expedited, staff-level permitting process with relaxed regulatory standards.
Since the adoption of the Emergency Ordinance, the Town has approved temporary outdoor permits for five restaurants (JP’s Bistro, Dockside Grill, Ricetta’s, Rivalries, Bueno Loco). No temporary outdoor retail display permits have been requested or issued to-date.
Per the terms of the Emergency Ordinance, the Ordinance itself, and any approvals issued thereunder, will expire on July 22, 2020 absent any additional action by the Council. Section 213.1 of the Town Charter is the relevant Charter provision that describes the Council’s authority to adopt emergency ordinances. This Charter provision also contains the following language which allows the Council to re-enact an emergency ordinance “Every emergency ordinance shall stand repealed as of the 61st day following the date of its adoption, but this shall not prevent the re-enactment of the ordinance in the manner specified in this section if the emergency still exists.”
If the Council finds that the emergency conditions that existed when the emergency ordinance was adopted on June 3, 2020 still exist, the Council may re-enact the emergency ordinance with the affirmative vote of at least five councilors. A draft emergency ordinance has been prepared for the Council’s consideration. Section 4 is the relevant section of the proposed ordinance draft that has been modified from the version approved by the Council on June 3. The modification includes clarifying language that this ordinance is a re-enactment of the June 3, 2020 ordinance, and also includes a new ordinance expiration date of September 18, 2020. This date allows the ordinance to remain in effect for the maximum 60 day time period allowed under the Charter. As it did when it enacted the emergency ordinance on June 3, the Council can choose to shorten the effective date of the emergency ordinance to reflect a time period less than 60 days.
The proposed emergency ordinance and Council introduction letter are attached.
