by Kirby Lindsay, posted 6 July 2011
The Fremont Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting, on June 29th, contained several reports, and follow-up, on community projects – including an abbreviated presentation (from that given at the Fremont Neighborhood Council meeting on June 27th) about a proposed development of low-income housing on Aurora Avenue by Catholic Housing Services. (The Board did vote to write a letter of support.)
The meeting also distributed info on proposed City ordinances currently in the works, and of direct interest to Fremont businesses.
Sick Pay Ordinance
This ordinance, sponsored by City Councilmember Nick Licata, may become State-wide legislation. The proposed ordinance requires businesses to pay employees to stay home when sick based on a complex matrix incorporating business size and employee status. For Fremont, a neighborhood district of an unusually high percentage of small business, the discussion quickly identified difficulties faced by this proposal for companies of 10 or fewer employees.
Service businesses that require an employee to be open – boutiques, cafés, gift shops, etc. – would be required to pay for an absent employee as well as the replacement.
Restaurants would be hardest hit, although anyone who carries a Health Card (which is everyone who serves food, legally, to the public) promises never to work when sick. Most restaurants don’t offer sick pay, but allow employees to “make-up” sick time by swapping shifts with their replacements – to replace the pay.
The Board agreed that, for businesses of 10 or fewer employees, the Fremont Chamber opposes mandatory sick pay. The Board voted to empower Executive Director Jessica Vets to speak for the Chamber at a City Council public hearing on July 6th (at 5:30p). The Board also voted to support a Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce city-wide panel discussion on this topic, on July 26th from 5:30p – 7:30p, at a location to be determined.
Food Vendors on Streets & Sidewalks
The pending changes to street use vending permits came up at the Chamber meeting, and then in far more depth at a Chamber Land Use committee meeting the following day. This concerns efforts by the City of Seattle to streamline the process for permits for entrepreneurs to sell food from carts on the sidewalk or from food trucks parked at the curb.
The location of these vendors raises concerns among business owners of brick-and-mortar shops. Allowing a hot dog cart in front of a restaurant, displacing the parking of a shop with a taco wagon, or vendors who leave litter and/or block access may be a death knell for already struggling retailers.
Brian de Place, of the Department of Transportation, and Gary Johnston, of the Department of Planning & Development, attended the Land Use meeting. According to them, food trucks need – under Health Department requirements – access to restrooms for their employees and running water. They would continue to need an arrangement, in advance, with an adjacent business owner, or their landlord. The proposal includes a dedicated parking spot which will be designated at sites proposed by adjacent property owners, or with their notification. Finally, food cart vendors must set up on sidewalks at least 11’ wide – which leaves the majority of Fremont ineligible.
de Place and Johnson promised to get information to Vets, in the Chamber office, on what is currently legal – and what is not legal – now. She also the presentation information, for those who want to learn more as these ordinances get finalized.
de Place also mentioned that clarification will be coming soon on the legality of merchandise displays by existing businesses, and A-frame (sandwich board) signs.
Grant Program & Fair Recap
The Chamber meeting also contained information on two Chamber matters.
Phil Megenhardt, of Bold Hat Productions, gave a recap on the Fremont Street Fair organized on behalf of the Chamber. The weather this year could have been worse, but not by much, yet the Fair went well according to Megenhardt. It made less than last year – $5,024. The new programming on Sunday was well received, increased the Sunday crowd (although the weather helped too) and pleased the vendors. Everyone loved the puppy parade!
Vets gave a report on the community grant projects accepted by the Grant committee, and approved at the meeting by the Board. The funds come largely from the Fremont Oktoberfest. For the mid-2011 cycle, the projects funded are:
- Halloween Hoopla by the Wallingford Boys & Girls Club
- Community Development (a gathering focused on cooperation among the Fremont community groups) by the Fremont Abbey Arts Center
- Historic Plaque Project by Chris Webb and the Fremont Historical Society
- Picnic In The Precincts by the Seattle Police Foundation
- Trick-Or-Treat In Fremont 2011 by Kirby Lindsay and Fremocentrist.com
- Graffiti Abatement by Gene Slagle
Beyond these, many other discussions were held at the June Chamber meeting. To find out more, consider attending an upcoming Board meeting, which take place on the last Wednesday of each month (next one on July 27th) at 8a at History House. As always, everyone is welcome!
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Thank you to Alabastro Photos for the Fremont Fair 2011 photo!
©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.