Backup_ATCFPB_4.a.iii.i - Recommendation Restaurant Recovery — original pdf
Backup
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: (YYYYMMDD‐XXX) (XXX is the agenda item number): Brief Description of the Topic WHEREAS, local and independently owned restaurants are a significant and integral part of the Austin culture, community, and economy; and WHEREAS, more than 50 locally owned Austin restaurants permanently closed in 2020 as a direct result of government mandated operating restrictions enacted in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, Austin restaurant revenues dropped by more than 73% in 2020 and research conducted by the Texas Restaurant Association shows that 62% of restaurant owners expect sales to continue to decrease over the next three months; and WHEREAS, in 2020 the hospitality industry experienced the worst job losses of any sector in the Austin metro area, dropping 24.3%; and WHEREAS, Order No. 20201223‐023 by the Mayor of the City of Austin encourages restaurants to increase the use of drive‐thru, curbside, delivery services, or take‐out services to the extent feasible; and end all dine‐in services; and WHEREAS, the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board is tasked with advising the Austin City Council and Travis County Commissioners' Court on the need to improve the availability of safe, nutritious, locally, and sustainably‐grown food at reasonable prices for all residents, by coordinating the relevant activities of city government NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board requests the Austin City Council to direct the Austin City Manager to create an interdepartmental collaborative to determine the most appropriate location(s) for the pilot program outlined in Exhibit A. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign) EXHIBIT A A food access program that allows Austin‐based restaurants to use the parking lots of City of Austin and Travis County owned properties as satellite food pick up locations. These central access points will function exclusively as a pickup point for pre‐purchased meals. All transactions will be made in advance of the customer pick up. There will be no food preparation, food consumption, or purchase transactions allowed onsite. The program will prioritize locations that allow for multimodal access – car, bicycle, pedestrian, or public transportation. Program Requirements* 1. Participating restaurants must be insured and have an active Austin/Travis County Food Establishment permit. All meals must be prepared and packaged onsite at the permitted food establishment. 2. Restaurant staff must follow strict COVID‐19 safety guidelines, including social distancing and contactless interactions, at all times. 3. Restaurants will be responsible for configuring the parking lots in a manner that maximizes safe ingress and egress, as well as follows all traffic laws. 4. Restaurants will be granted a maximum of two hours on each property (this includes setup, tear 5. Restaurants will be responsible for disposing of any trash generated by their business or down, and clean up time). respective customers. This pilot program will be executed by Good Work Austin, a nonprofit organization and socially responsible community of local Austin businesses, that are invested in creating good jobs for all workers, ensuring a quality workplace, and supporting and amplifying the voices of like‐minded businesses. Good Work Austin member restaurants are committed to the Dine with Confidence program which includes but is not limited to: daily temperature checks, on‐going safety and health training, COVID‐19 transmission prevention protocols, face masks, social distancing, and symptom‐free behavior for customer entry. *Fees for any required permits will be waived.*