As the pandemic continues, so too does at least one positive idea in Kamloops that sprung up last year as a result.

Extended patios are expected to start popping up again soon at restaurants and coffee shops, according to the city’s director of development services, Marvin Kwiatkowski.

“Council did approve the additional $200,000 dollars for all-weather patios or sidewalk extensions, whatever we want to call them… I expect quite a few calls to come in, in the near future.”

Extended patios were permitted last year as a way to add seats while maintaining social distancing, and 13 businesses applied for city funding.

Council provided $195,000 last year to those businesses, to cover the costs of let-down ramps for sidewalks. Businesses can apply for free to expand their patios onto sidewalks and into parking spots, and last year, the city processed those applications within a week.

The money to help subsidize the cost of patios is coming from part of the $6.68 million in COVID-19 Safe Restart Funds that the city received from the B.C. government. Council did agree to revisit the $200,ooo-dollar cap if all of that money is used.

“It’s $200,000 dollars, basically first come first serve. We’ve been in contact with some of the businesses that have called in, but we can make a connection with the (business improvement associations) to make sure they get word out to their membership that everything’s a go,” Kwiatkowski says.

At this point, the temporary patios could be put up at any time by businesses and will have to come down by Oct. 31.