The Stayton City Council has eliminated a permit and fee for businesses operating on a public sidewalk after local business owners complained the fee was excessive.
During the council’s May 5 regular meeting, officials voted unanimously to repeal a permit required for restaurants, merchants and vendors to operate within a street right-of-way.
Such businesses must still abide by regulations for sidewalk vendors and sidewalk cafes, and instead of a permit the city will ensure compliance through Code Enforcement.
The permit was originally enacted by the council in 2019 as a way to ensure sidewalks remain usable by the public when a business displays merchandise or provides customer seating outside. Provisions included keeping doorways and entrances unblocked, providing a two-foot buffer from a curb, and use of fixtures that could easily be moved for those requiring handicap access.
The permit carried a fee of $2.50 per square foot of occupied sidewalk space, to be renewed annually.
The permit was enacted shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw many disruptions in local businesses and in city staffing. According to a memo by city staff for the May 5 meeting, the sidewalk permits “were not actively administered or enforced, and associated fees were not collected” during the pandemic.
Last year the city began enforcing the permit requirement and sent invoices for permit fees to businesses who were conducting sidewalk activities. Individual fees ranged broadly from $180 to more than $550.
Multiple business owners believed the fees were excessive and brought their concerns to the council, and a work session was set to explore potential alternatives, according to the memo.
During a work session Feb. 18, staff proposed an initial permit fee of $100 and an annual renewal fee of $20. During a second work session March 17, the council decided to eliminate the permit and fees altogether in the interest of treating businesses and residents fairly.
