City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 20, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Review and Confirmation of the Suspension of Enforcement of Certain City Codes and Ordinances Taken by the City Manager Pursuant to the City's Continuity of Government Ordinance to Allow Restaurants to Have Outdoor Dining in Compliance with the Governor's Executive Orders Easing the Restrictions on Businesses.
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ISSUE: The City Council review and confirm the suspension of enforcement of certain City Codes and Ordinances that have been taken by the City Manager to assist restaurants as they comply with the requirements of the Governor's executive orders as the City enters into Phase 1 of the Governor's Safer at Home Initiative.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council confirm that the suspension of enforcement of the codes and ordinances required to allow flexibility for outdoor dining as described in the attached document shall remain in place for ninety (90) days from the date that the City enters into Phase 1, unless the City Manager determines the suspension should be lifted for any reason before that time.
DISCUSSION: The Governor recently announced the plan for Virginia to ease public health restrictions called Forward Virginia. The plan calls for the restrictions to be lifted in phases. In Phase 1 of the plan, restaurants will be able utilize outdoor seating at 50% of capacity if they can meet all other social distancing requirements in the Executive Order. Restaurants in Alexandria are currently looking at their outdoor dining to see if they can make their spaces work in order to be able to provide this service in compliance with the Governor's orders. We believe the attached plan provides restaurants with flexibility to accommodate this possibility, while still protecting the adjacent propertie...
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