CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FOURTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-20-54 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Brook Bassan and Trudy E. Jones
RESOLUTION
title
Urging The New Mexico Department Of Regulation And Licensing To Provide A Method For Temporary Expansion Of Liquor Service Areas For Restaurants And Bars; Establishing Policy For The City To Similarly Authorize Such Expansions Through Its Local Option Authority (Bassan, Jones)
body
URGING THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF REGULATION AND LICENSING TO PROVIDE A METHOD FOR TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF LIQUOR SERVICE AREAS FOR RESTAURANTS AND BARS; ESTABLISHING POLICY FOR THE CITY TO SIMILARLY AUTHORIZE SUCH EXPANSIONS THROUGH ITS LOCAL OPTION AUTHORITY
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued Executive Order 2020-004, Declaring a Public Health Emergency in New Mexico relating to the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, in subsequent weeks the New Mexico Department of Health has issued orders limiting public gatherings and requiring non-essential businesses to close or limit business activity; and
WHEREAS, unfortunately, local businesses, including restaurants local breweries, pubs, and bars, together with retail and service employees in the City, have been severely impacted by the public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, after several weeks of mandatory closures, it appears that the state of emergency has improved at least enough to contemplate the re-opening of restaurants and other liquor serving establishments within the foreseeable future at limited capacity and with greater physical distancing and other safeguards in place; and
WHEREAS, the profit margin within restaurants and other liquor-serving establishments with onsite consumption can often be very narrow, and liquor service is an important component to the success of these businesses; and
WHEREAS, restaurants and similar service-oriented businesses may need to expand their floor...
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