Making outdoor seating easier for restaurants

Mason City's new ordinance

Service" as restaurants safely welcome guests back into their establishments ... a north iowa community is working to make it easier to allow additional seating.

Live kimt news 3's alex jirgens joins us live in mason city... alex?

Tell us about the new ordinance.

George and katie?

The ordinance offers more outdoor seating... picture an outdoor seating area lining these sidewalks.

Last night?

Mason city city council approved an ordinance change fast tracking applications for outdoor restaurant seating areas on sidewalks and public property.

Restaurants can apply through city administrator aaron burnett's office... their proposals will the be reviewed for liability and safety concerns.

Stampede's owner chad leer says he is considering adding outdoor seating.xxx "it would be nice if we could do that here.

You have to get permits, and right now you have to get permits to do that.

It would be beneficial."

Council members touched on the coronavirus pandemic and its effects on small businesses... the ordinance was quickly and effortless approved in hopes of helping business owners live in mason thank you alex.

The mason's city administrator says each application process is dependant on the width of the sidewalk?

Not blocking pedestrian acces?

And building egresses.///