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City of San Leandro City Council Meeting Date: October 17, 2022 Agenda Number: 13.a. Agenda Section: ACTION ITEMS File Number: 22-280 File Type: Staff Report Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the City Manager to Reallocate Funds for a Business Facilities Grant Program, and to Terminate the Declaration of the Director of Emergency Services that Suspended Enforcement of Certain Provisions Related to Land Use Permits and Approvals and Zoning and Encroachment Requirements in the San Leandro Municipal Code related to the COVID-19 Relief Temporary Outdoor Facilities Program COUNCIL PRIORITY ·COVID Recovery (ARPA Spending Plan) ·Community & Business Development SUMMARY Staff proposes the creation of a Business Facilities Grant Program, and the transition of temporary outdoor facilities to permanent facilities, in order to assist businesses in their ongoing response and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends that available ARPA funds originally approved for the Commercial Relief Grants be reallocated for the use in the new Business Facilities Grant Program. This program will assist businesses with a variety of facilities needs related to operations, aesthetics, and security improvements, such as bringing their outdoor facilities into compliance with applicable laws, fixing damaged property or making accessibility upgrades. Staff also recommends that the COVID-19 Relief Temporary Outdoor Facilities Program be phased out and that support be given to businesses to transition their existing temporary facilities to permanent facilities. In order to do this, the emergency declaration that suspended enforcement of certain provisions in the Zoning and Municipal Codes related to land use and encroachment permits is recommended to be terminated, which would end the Temporary Outdoor Facilities Program for outdoor dining and provide businesses 6 months to make necessary upgrades and obtain long term approval for outdoor facilities. BACKGROUND In 2020, following the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the initiation of a State of Emergency and Shelter-in-Place Order, City staff began work to assist the community and businesses to mitigate for the impacts of such measures. From 2020 through 2022, the Economic Development Division enacted a number of programs to support businesses and the challenges they have faced during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 10/13/2022