City council’s decision to allow pop-up patios to occupy parking spaces on downtown streets took another step at Monday’s meeting.

Council passed first and second readings of the bylaw required to formally approve the policy. The bylaw will be before council for third reading at its May 25 meeting.

The provision for pop-up patios to occupy up to three parking stalls is in response to the pressures experienced by food and drinking establishments because of the pandemic.

Allowing the businesses to occupy a portion of the street provides them with the ability to create more outdoor seating, says the administrative report presented to council.

“In addition to allowing restaurant operators to offset indoor seating restrictions by expanding capacity outdoors, the program aims to stimulate streetscapes, creating a more vibrant and enjoyable experience for people visiting and walking the downtown,” says the report.

Pop-up patios are currently allowed on city sidewalks.

A few members of council said at the meeting how pleased they were to see the bylaw coming forward.

“It is nice to see something good come out of these restraints,” said Coun. Samson Hartland. “This is a welcome opportunity for restaurants to offset the downturn.”

Coun. Laura Cabott wondered about the impact on-street patios would have on neighbouring businesses, adding she was looking forward to hearing what they have to say.

Coun. Steve Roddick noted businesses that chose to take advantage of street space will need to make initial investments into furniture and such, as well as securing the $5 million in the required liability insurance.

He asked whether they would be able to use the COVID-19 relief funding businesses are receiving to assist with the pop-up patios expenses, though administration said they’d have to get back to council with the answer to that.

There’s also the $275 permit fee, he pointed out, wondering if the city might be willing to waive the charge to assist if necessary.

Mike Gau, the city’s director of development services, said how much revenue the city loses as a result of the pop-up patios will depend on the location.

There are two-hour parking spots that do not require parking fees, he noted.

Based on patios occupying the maximum three metered parking stalls, Gau said, the city would lose $1,539 a month, or $513 per stall every month.

“So there would be a cost of lost revenue for each patio,” he said.

Gau said a report on the patio program, including how much revenue the city lost, will be presented to council by the end of the year.

Since the city announced its on-street patio initiative, there have not been any businesses expressing interest in the program, he said.

As the word is getting around, Gau said, he suspects businesses will be think about the program.