PBOT + PIRA : Healthy Business Program Overview

PIRA had the pleasure of welcoming Healthy Business Managers Greg Raisman and Rich Eisenhauer for a conversation last Friday, June 12th about PBOT’s new Healthy Business Program . Our goal was to understand more about the vision of the initiative and how small businesses can utilize it in the coming months. Below we have included a video of our Q&A Session, a slideshow presented by PBOT and our key takeaways.

We learned that the goal of the Healthy Business Program is to allow small businesses to safely welcome and serve their customers by allowing them to utilize the open air streets outside of their businesses. The area that a business can use is not only their sidewalks, but also the parking spaces and roadways. The Healthy Business Permit will be allocated to businesses for an outdoor space they can designate as safe according to state wide social distancing guidelines.

This program is expected to go into affect in Multnomah County upon entering its Phase 1 of reopening; which has still yet to happen.

There were many questions regarding this program and below are our key takeaways from the conversation. You can also find much more information on the PBOT site, where they include a Business Toolkit on the ins and outs of the permit and a link to the application. They also encourage business to reach out to them directly to coordinate on the application process. You can reach them by phone at 503-823-4026 or PBOTBusinessToolkit@portlandoregon.gov .

As you read through, please keep in mind that guidelines and city programs are changing rapidly to adjust to the reopening process, so the points made below may change in the future. We recommend contacting PBOT directly for any questions you may have.

The goal for the Healthy Business Program outlined below is to allow businesses to sustain through this COVID-19 crisis while keeping our community safe. PBOT values small business and wants to work with us to figure out options to move forward. We thank them for joining us for this important conversation and look forward to working with them in the future.

Key Takeaways

Traditional Sidewalk Permits allocated through PBOT are cancelled and will not be renewed until 2021. Any fees associated to these permits will either be refunded or will roll over into your 2021 application.
If businesses want to have outdoor seating, they must submit a Healthy Business Permit and the PBOT department will work with you to create a plan on how to best utilize the outdoor space to its fullest capacity.
The Healthy Business Permit is free of charge and permits are valid until November 1st, 2020.
You can submit a permit as a stand alone business, but PBOT would love for businesses next to one another to collaborate on the best seating options. For example, businesses can create a plan to shut down a portion of a street to welcome guests from all businesses on the block in their designated seating area. Examples of this can be found on the slideshow below.
Business Insurances must be extended to cover the new space in which you are occupying and serving. More on these insurance requirements can be found here.
In order to serve beer, wine and alcohol in these newly designated spaces, you must attain a service area extension for their alcohol license through the OLCC. This is explained in an OLCC re-opening fact sheet found here.
Businesses can apply to have bus stops moved in order to accommodate seating outside of their businesses.
PBOT and city services will not be providing barriers or any other seating arrangements for businesses to use. Businesses are responsible for sourcing these on their own.
In order to shut down a city street for seating, areas must account for an 11 foot emergency vehicle lane that must remain clear at all times.
Sidewalks and walking areas will be difficult to divert because these clear walkways are essential for our disabled community. Walkways must be compliant.