By Steuart Pittman
Dear Restaurant Owners and Operators,
When I took this job, I knew I’d have unpleasant decisions to make. The ones that restricted business activity during the pre-vaccine months of the pandemic, particularly in restaurants, were the worst.
Ever since, I’ve been looking for ways to help your industry recover, and we’ve done some good things: waiving license fees, creating the Restaurant and Food Service Grant Program at Economic Development, providing the $500 gift cards for restaurant employees through Workforce Development, and of course the permitting of outdoor dining in parking lots and other areas that county code does not normally allow.
Outdoor dining was made possible by a county declaration of emergency that is no longer in effect. We extended it until November 1, 2021, so it is due to expire soon. Some of you have made the case to me in meetings that the program has added to your revenues and had no negative impacts on parking or public safety. I have observed the same and agree.
I am sending legislation to the County Council tonight that extends the program through January 2, 2023. We need at least five votes from the seven-member council to implement this extension, and we are confident that we will get seven. During calendar year 2022 we will be assessing our minimum parking requirements to determine whether they should be adjusted to allow for expanded outdoor dining permanently.
On another topic, I want you to know that I have been in conversations with our Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation and Workforce Development Corporation teams, as well as some of you personally, about the hiring and retention challenges your industry is facing. My hope is that we will be able to create a targeted program to help you adjust in the short term to the changes in the labor market. Please share any ideas that you have on this front with me personally at countyexecutive@aacounty.org.
Thank you for your strength, creativity, and service to our residents over the last eighteen months. You are making Anne Arundel County The Best Place - For All.