Kamloops councillors will be asked today to allow restaurants and retail outlets to expand onto sidewalks and into parking lots during the pandemic.

That would apply until Oct. 31, specifically for commercial zones in the downtown and on the Tranquille Corridor, and landscaped areas and private service and retail properties in various locations across the city.

City staff say this is one way for businesses to respond to economic hardship caused by COVID-19.

But staff admit there could be logistical challenges, around building permits and around parking, for example.

“The logistics involved in setting up and moving barricades and other resources must be considered to ensure there is sufficient capacity. Creative solutions from the individual businesses to comply with the requirements is anticipated, and the City will be flexible given the temporary nature of the expansion areas,” the city also says in its report.

Staff also say there would be no fees for businesses to apply for expanding onto sidewalks or into parking lots, and staff also say the goal would be to have every application processed within a week.

Speaking last week to NL Newsday, North Shore Business Improvement Association executive director Jeremy Heighton says the expansion idea came up in a discussion he had with Kamloops city staff and with the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association.

“The reality is most businesses don’t want to operate a streetfront cafe that’s in parking spots or whatever. They really want to operate their business within the footprint of their business. So this is a temporary measure that we’re looking at, so how do we make that work in a way that’s most effective and functional for everybody?”

The recommendation will come to councillors during this afternoon’s meeting.