Citywide Public Health Emergency Extended Through May 8

Coconut Telegraph

The City of Sarasota has extended its declaration of a local citywide public health emergency through May 8 following a weekly review, as required by the City Charter, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order also relaxes certain provisions of the City’s zoning code to encourage and facilitate outdoor dining possibilities due to indoor occupancy restrictions.

The emergency order issued Friday by City Manager Tom Barwin, in consultation with Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and City Attorney Robert Fournier, follows Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent statewide order limiting the indoor occupancy of restaurants to no more than 25 percent of their building occupancy. Allowing outdoor seating with appropriate social distancing may help restaurants and their patrons to slowly begin the recovery phase of the pandemic.

The City has already waived building permit fees for construction adaptations necessary to make them more compatible with new social distancing practices.

“Our staff has been proactive in looking into options for how we can help businesses reopen in a safe, simple and fast manner and begin the economic recovery,” Barwin said. “We’re taking action to streamline requirements now so that our small businesses can start preparing and will be ready to open next week while following social distancing guidelines.”

As part of Friday’s emergency order, the public is again very strongly urged to wear protective masks when leaving home to conduct essential activities, and to acquire protective masks if they have not already.

Additional resources for small businesses.

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