Rochester City Council considering helping restaurants expant outdoor seating

The council has a special meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss the issue further.

Total of 1?

Thousand 628.

New on daybreak new for you on daybreak... in less than a week, minnesota restaurants will be able to serve more customers... but*only outside.

But what about places with small spaces?

This morning, kimt news 3's madelyne watkins joins us live to explain what rochester city council members are doing to help some restaurants out.

Good morning, madelyne.

Brooke and tyler.

Come june 1st... you could see sidewalks downtown?

Just like this one that i'm walking on?

Blocked off and customers eating their food right here.

Council president, randy staver, tells me this is part of mayor kim norton's emergency order that will last until september, unless governor walz continues to ease restrictions.

This will allow restaurants to provide outdoor seating on sidewalks, streets or alleys and restaurants can certainly use their own parking lots as well.

There will be barriers to block off the new patio seating from the public.

Staver says they want to give local restaurants who don't have the option of outdoor seating the opportunity to bring in some "we understand that just opening outdoor dining is not going to be sufficient in and of itself so the business can survive from a revenue stand point.

So we're just trying to do whatever we can within our authority to give them some additional options."

The resolution for this extension is already drafted and there's a special meeting this wednesday to discuss it.

Staver tells me he expects the council will be supportive of the resolution.

Live in rochester.

Madelyne thank you madelyne.

Restaurants do have to apply for this expansion.

For more information, you can visit rochester's