The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to be felt by the Village's businesses, particularly restaurants as they are currently prohibited from serving customers indoors under Tier 3 Mitigation Measures, and weather conditions prevent consistent outdoor dining. 

On May 18th, the Village Board directed Staff to reduce payments for restaurant liquor license fees by 25% and to modify the Village's  zero interest loan program to provide for $10,000 emergency business loans for terms of 3 year with payments commencing on Janurary 1, 2021. 

Based on continued cash flow challenges for restaurants and other businesses, Staff believes that additional help should be offered to our restaurant community at this time. Staff is proposing an additional 25% rebate of 2020 liquor license fees for all classes of liquor licenses other than B and BB out of recognition that restaurants are not fully able to benefit from those licenses, a deferral of the due date for all classes of liquor license renewals from April 30, 2021 to June 30, 2021, and a deferral of the loan payment due date for emergency loans to June 1, 2020. 

Recommendation: 

It is recommended that the Village Board approve the following relief for businesses given the continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic and Tier 3 mitigation measures:

1. Authorize Staff to amend current Covid-19 Emergency Small Business Loan Agreements to allow for the commencement of repayment to occur on June 1, 2021.

2. Issue rebates in the amount of 25% of annual liquor license fees for holders of all classifications other than Class B and BB. Any business whose liquor license consists of a Class B or BB in addition to another liquor license classification (other than Class T) will receive a rebate in the amount of 25% of their total liquor license fees in 2020, including the Class B, or BB fees. 

3. Defer the due date for the 2021 renewal of all liquor license fees to June 30, 2021.