The Glendale City Council voted on Tuesday, August 4 2020, to issue emergency orders to support local businesses as a result of a State-mandated shutdown in 19 counties, including Los Angeles. Given the success of the pilot Al Fresco Program, which facilitates outdoor dining for restaurants, the City Council voted to expand the program to include retail, personal care, and gym businesses, and increase the funding levels of the program to $300,000. The expanded program will:

•    •  Allow retail businesses to temporarily conduct outdoor sales on their adjacent sidewalk and/or their outdoor private parking lots. This will exclude retail establishments or sidewalk sales of products that require a minimum age for purchase, such as tobacco or alcohol. 
•    •  Allow personal care businesses such as hair salons and barbershops to provide services on outdoor private property including private parking lots. 
•    •  Allow gyms and health clubs to offer their services in an outdoor setting on their private property, including private parking lots. Additionally, the Director of Community Services and Parks may identify City-owned parks, where facility permits may be issued with specific requirements, including 
•    •  Payment of fees and proof of insurance.
•    •  Waive the application fees for Sidewalk Retail and Temporary Certificate of Occupancy Permits until capacity levels return to 100 percent, or until August 31, 2020. 
•    •  Allow for the continued creation of additional parklets, which utilize public parking spaces for the purpose of allowing businesses to establish seating and dining options for customers.

“The City of Glendale is committed to supporting its local businesses as we navigate the challenges of  COVID-19 through creative solutions, while protecting the health and safety of our community,” said Mayor Vrej Agajanian. The Al Fresco Glendale Program idea stemmed from a collaboration between the City and the local business community through the Business Recovery Task Force, in an effort to develop solutions to common challenges businesses are facing because of COVID-19. The Al Fresco Program was established to ensure businesses have the greatest ability to operate successfully and safely through the recovery process. This expansion will allow the City to serve more brick and mortar businesses whose indoor capacity has been limited due to State and Los Angeles County public health orders.

This program  is a part of the City of Glendale’s larger Business Recovery Strategy, which allocated $4.2 million for the Glendale business community to assist in their recovery. To learn more about the Business Recovery Strategy and available grants, visit GlendaleCA.gov/BusinessResources

Public health and safety will continue to be of the utmost importance. As business recovery programs are implemented, participating businesses must comply with all relevant ADA requirements, as well as established re-opening protocols. For program guidelines and information please visit GlendaleCA.gov/AlFresco or contact the City of Glendale Business Concierge at (818) 548-2005.

https://www.glendaleca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/7517/16