Restaurants taking part in Stratford’s patio program for a second year won’t be on the hook for any expenses.
At their virtual meeting Tuesday afternoon, Stratford City Council voted 7 to 2 to waive the fees for their 2021 patio program, including patio license fees and boardwalk installation, in order to help the restaurants recoup some of the money lost because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The original costs under the program were to be $196 per month with a capped amount of $800 for the delivery, installation and removal of the wooden boardwalks with city staff saying they feel the costs will be recouped through other methods.
Councillor Danielle Ingram voted for the costs to be dropped and she says it’s one way the city can help those who need it.
“For some of our downtown restaurants whose average ticket price is between $10 and $15 that’s a really substantial fee for them to be paying and their ticket price is not their profit.”
Under Ontario’s reopening plan, if vaccination levels are up to 60-percent of the adult population and ICU levels are manageable then patios will be allowed to reopen by mid-June.
