The Pima County Board of Supervisors adopted a set of temporary regulations to help restaurant owners expand their outside dining area while under new indoor occupancy restrictions during Wednesday's emergency meeting.

The county's new temporary regulations allow restaurants in the unincorporated areas "to use outdoor spaces for additional customer service, including the use of portions of parking lots, sidewalks, and vacant lots," according to the county's press release.

Supervisors made the concession after limiting indoor dining capacity to 50 percent as a part of the temporary addition of 15 new regulations to the county health code during the pandemic. The health code's new changes will be removed once the county’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Francisco García declares the pandemic over.

"With the additional seating options, many restaurants should be able to reclaim much of the capacity lost as a result of physical distancing regulations that limit in-door seating to 50 percent capacity," according to the release.

Temporary shade, vacant indoor areas, and tent structures are also good to go by the county after owners submit a simple layout plan to Pima County Development Services to make sure the areas are cleared for dining service. The county is planning on providing same-day review and evaluation of temporary outdoor expansion requests in an attempt to help restaurants reach full capacity -or as close as possible - as quickly as possible.

Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik is also planning on proposing something similar to the county's plan during next Tuesday's city council meeting. Kozachik said his plan would be site-specific because "not all restaurants have space outside to allow for it."

Here are the county's new regulations on outdoor dining:

In a 3-2 vote, the Pima County Board of Supervisors approved to immediately update the county's health code to include 15 of the 17 new guidelines recommended by the Pima County Health Department during today's emergency meeting. Supervisors Ally Miller and Steve Christy voted against updating the health code.

"Restaurants and other industries have suffered terribly, have been devastated for many weeks now," Christy said. "Finally, they're open by the governor and in Pima County the first thing that hits these suffering businesses are burdensome regulations and the threat of fines. Does this say Pima County is open for business?"

The health department issued the new guidelines to help combat the spread of COVID-19 as bars and restaurants reopen to dine-in service on May 11. Christy's main beef with these new guidelines vetted by the county's Bars and Restaurant Task Force as a part of the Back To Business initiative is that Arizona Restaurant Association didn't get a chance to review the proposed regulations before the board voted today, although Arizona Restaurant Association Chief Operating Officer Dan Bogert is a member of the Bars and Restaurant Task Force.

"The task force that was created by the Back to Business in Pima County never had the opportunity to hear objections from I think the most significant entity, the Arizona Restaurant Association," Christy said. "Why are we moving so fast without input from such significant entities?"

Among the new protective measures the ARA, Christy, and Miller take issue with is health and wellness checks of all vendors and people making third-party deliveries before coming on-premise or starting a shift. 

"This one is very troublesome. I think it really is an overstep requiring (businesses) to do that for deliveries," Miller said. " I think the point (the ATA) made is, 'This is a violation. We're not medical workers so why should we be required to test everybody else's employees?'"

Christy asked for a "friendly amendment" to hold the vote until their regularly scheduled meeting next Tuesday. He would like to see business owners implement the changes without fear of repercussions if not followed perfectly.

"The county assumes right off the bat that business will do the wrong thing, that business can't be trusted," Christy said. "Governments need to get out of the way and allow businesses to do what they do best and that is to adopt new process changes."

Chairman Ramon Valadez declined Christy's request, saying the county did not have the time to wait because the county's new guidelines needed to be updated immediately to keep customers safe and build consumer confidence.

"Look, these conditions are not meant to keep restaurants out of business. The truth is the intent of this is when there are patrons in these restaurants they can feel certain that we are ensuring their safety as best as we can," Valadez said. "This is not a disease that discriminates. This is not a disease that is gone. The truth is we have a responsibility."

The Protective Measures are:

Minimum Employee, Vendor, Delivery Service and Patron health and wellness measures:

-Wellness/symptom checks, including temperature checks for all restaurant personnel, vendors, contractors, third party delivery service workers, etc. as they arrive on-premises and before opening of a restaurant.

-Cloth masks and gloves and frequent handwashing is required for all servers and restaurant personnel (except gloves not required for servers if hands are sanitized between servings).

-Any patron exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 is prohibited from entering the facility.

Minimum restaurant operation measures:

-Physical and electronic signage posting at the restaurant entrance of public health advisories prohibiting individuals who are symptomatic from entering the premises.

-Indoor occupancy limited to 50 percent or lower.

-Service by take out, reservation or call ahead seating only, including text and/or telephone notification of patrons requesting restaurant in-person service, allowing restaurant patrons to physical distance until called for service.

-Physical distancing of six feet minimum between tables.

-Clearly marked six-foot spacing marks throughout the restaurant, along entrances, hallways, restrooms and any other location within a restaurant.

-Parties no larger than 10 allowed per table and bar top seating is not allowed.

-Menus must be in a format that does not promote potential virus transmission e.g. menu boards, single-use menus.

-Elimination of self-service stations including salad bars, buffets, soda refill stations, and table-side food preparation.

-Expansion of outdoor service areas to increase physical distancing standards.

-Hand sanitizers available at entrances to the facility, restrooms and in employee work areas.

-Sanitize customer areas after each sitting with EPA-registered disinfectant, including but not limited to: Tables, Tablecloths, Chairs/booth seats, Table-top condiments and condiment holders.

-Post documentation cleaning logs online and at the entrance documenting cleaning of all public areas (inclusive of countertops, door handles, waiting areas, etc.) at least every two to three hours.

Additional measures to consider:

-Restaurant personnel should have a national certification in food safety and handling, as well as specific training in the prevention of COVID-19.

-Implement touchless payment methods.




 

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona topped 11,000 of Monday, May 11, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Pima County had 1,602 of the state’s 11,380 confirmed cases.

The coronavirus had killed 542 people statewide, including 134 in Pima County, according to the report.

In Maricopa County, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen to 5,988.

Because symptoms can take as long as two weeks to appear after exposure to the virus (while some people can remain entirely asymptomatic), health officials continue to urge the public to avoid unnecessary trips and gatherings of more than 10 people and have advised people to cover their faces with masks in public.

While Arizona remains under a stay-at-home order through May 15, Gov. Doug Ducey has given the green light for restaurants and bars that offer food service to reopen today. Restrictions have also been lifted on stores, barber shops and salons.

Businesses such as gyms and movie theaters remain shuttered, but Ducey has said he wanted the state’s economy to gradually reopen.

But some members of the medical community said Ducey’s move may have come soon and will result in greater spread of the virus. State Rep. Randy Friese, an emergency room doctor, warned last week that by relaxing so many standards so quickly, Ducey was risking losing all the progress that state has made in stemming the disease.

Dr. Bob England, the director of the Pima County Health Department, said last week that the true results wouldn’t be known for weeks as test results tend to lag behind the actual spread of the virus.

“It will take a few weeks to know the impact of this so we won’t know until early June what all of this is doing to the epidemic curve,” England said in a daily briefing.

England urged people to continue social distancing and wear masks and said older people and those with underlying health conditions should remain at home as much as possible.

Congressman Raul Grijalva said last week that it was too soon to open because the state has not done enough testing.

“All of us are eager to return to some semblance of normality, but this decision cannot be made in haste,” Grijalva said in a prepared statement to the press. “Prematurely reopening the state not only risks losing more of our loved ones, but also further crippling our local communities by deepening the spread of a virus that has already taken far too great of a toll. I am deeply concerned that the state is continuing a push to reopen while the number of new cases has risen over the past 14 days and Arizona is last in the nation in testing per capita.”

COVID-19 symptoms typically occur two to 14 days after exposure, and include headache, fever, cough, and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. However, some cases of the virus are entirely asymptomatic. Practices to avoid infection include social distancing (of at least six feet), washing your hands, avoiding unnecessary trips and not touching your face. COVID-19 can survive on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on stainless steel and plastic surfaces up to three days.

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, speak with a healthcare provider for medical advice. According to the CDC, people who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. Stay at home and avoid public transportation, but stay in touch with your doctor. If you do leave your home, wear a facemask and clean your hands often. If you develop more severe symptoms (persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, bluish lips) get medical attention immediately. Your local health authorities will give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information.

Have you caught COVID-19? Are you feeling ill? Is your small business struggling to make it? Have you lost your job as a result of the outbreak? Are you struggling to manage your kids while schools are closed? Tell us your COVID-19 stories. Send an email or photo to [email protected].

If you're a restaurant owner who plans to reopen your establishment for dine-in service next week, let us know. The Weekly is planning on running a list of restaurants that are offering diners a chance to sit down at a table to enjoy their meal. Please e-mail [email protected] with your hours and location(s).

Tucson’s downtown restaurant community is teaming up to feed unemployed service industry workers, along with those in need, six-nights-a-week during the pandemic.

Feeding Those Who Feed Us is a non-profit program offering free meals, pre-packaged for pick up for service industry workers - and the community at large - currently struggling to make ends meet. Restaurants like La Cocina, Geronimos Revenge & Forbes Meat Company, Pop’s Hot Chicken, and 4th Avenue Deli are all onboard making sure the downtown community is fed.

“We’re trying to make a lot of comfort food and meals that are easy to eat and could last a day or two in the refrigerator,” said La Cocina Owner Jo Schneider. “We’re serving decent-sized meals”.

Schneider started the program after receiving donations from the community once Mayor Regina Romero’s shutdown order went into effect on March 17. Her two sons, Ben and Eli, also shuttered their popular restaurants - TallBoys and Bentley’s Tea House - instead of offering to-go service (TallBoys has since reopened for to-go service). The Schneider family didn’t want to compete against other restaurants pivoting to carryout/delivery service. But with all the newfound downtime came time to think of how to put those recently received donations to good use.

Gov. Doug Ducey has given restaurants the green light to resume dine-in service next week as long as they follow new sanitation regulations and ensure physical distancing between patrons, but some Tucson restaurateurs aren't sure they—or the public—are ready for the change.

“There will be more to follow on this but I want the restaurant industry to know that this is what’s going to happen next week,” Ducey said yesterday. “This is a safe and good option at this time and they’ll have a full week in which to prepare.”

Lindy Reilly, co-owner of Fire N’ Smoke Wood Fired Pizza and BBQ, is not so sure he’s ready to allow dine-in service. Reily isn’t as concerned about contracting COVID-19 as he is about the cost of restaffing his restaurant for a public already leery of take-out and delivery.

“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t know if I’ll be ready by Monday and I don’t know if we’ll do (dine-in) right away,” Reilly said. “If people already have an unforeseen fear of takeout food already, I don’t need that to compound.”

When Reily does open the doors to the public, he said his restaurant won’t return to full-service dining, instead opting for a fast-casual enviornment. It’s the limited capacity aspect that drives his decision to cut full service. “I just can’t afford the staff,” Reilly said.

“If you’re going to open and carry a full staff, you need a full-service restaurant to make that machine work,” said Reilly, who sees opening partially as a recipe for disaster. "I think you’re going to watch some restaurants fold.”

Ray Flores, king of the El Charro empire, said he was surprised by Gov. Ducey’s announcement since it allows restaurants to open a day earlier than the governor previously discussed.

“It kind of caught me off-guard, to be honest,” Flores said. “(Gov. Ducey) had came out and said he was going to work on something for potentially (May) 12, if not May 15.”

Flores is unsure of when they will reopen as they decide the best way to conduct business. In the meantime, the family developed a 100-point-plan to address future protocols from federal, state and local governing bodies, Flores said.

Mayor Regina Romero said she is concerned about local restaurants potentially resuming dine-in service within the month in response to Governor Doug Ducey's aspirational timeline to reopen eateries in upcoming weeks.

"This is about how we prepare restaurant owners and their workers to reopen in a safe way," Romero said.

Gov. Ducey announced an aspirational May 12 date—or within a week or two thereafter—for restaurants to reopen if the state's COVID-19 testing blitz over this weekend provides reassuring results that the current stay-at-home order is slowing the spread of the virus.

"Really, what we're measuring are the cases, the symptoms, and the hospital capacity along with some data from testing. We just need some more data and information," Gov. Ducey said during Wednesday's press conference to extend the April 30 stay-at-home executive order to May 15. "I'm very hopeful. I wouldn't put out an aspirational date if I didn't think that it was achievable or that we wouldn't come within a week or to of it."

Romero said while she is concerned for the survival of restaurant owners, she wants to make sure the City of Tucson, Pima County, and restaurant owners will be working together to set expectations and keep the public safe. But Romero is uncertain about what new guidelines will be implemented to protect restaurant workers and customers alike before food establishments return to dine-in service.

"What I'm concerned about is how we're going to physically distance and how we're going to deal with touchpoints that happen at restaurants," Romero said. "But I'm willing to move in that direction for the benefit of small business owners in the city of Tucson."

Ultimately, restaurant owners will be the decision-makers on whether to offer dine-in service once Ducey gives the green light, Romero said. Ducey's March 30 stay-at-home executive order prevents municipalities statewide from taking further action after the order concludes. 

"It's up to the discretion of the restaurant owners themselves. Just because there's some who are ready to open, there might be others that don't feel like that," Romero said. "Restaurant owners have to be ready and have to feel as though they can keep their employees, themselves and their customers safe."  

Times are tough, money is tight, and local restaurants could use help more now than ever—especially when it comes to advertising themselves to the public on a dime. Although there are orders from the governor limiting service to takeout and delivery, there are still plenty of restaurants open and ready to serve your dining needs during this time. But do you know who they are?

As part of their efforts to provide relief to companies through the COVID-19 pandemic, Cox Media has given the green light to offer its televised advertising platform for free to local restaurants in Tucson.

“During these unfortunate and trying times you realize who is a true friend and partner, for Arizona’s restaurant industry there is no question about Cox Media being our tremendous friend and partner. The Arizona Restaurant Association and industry will long remember and be grateful for the generosity and support of the entire Cox Media family,” says Steve Chucri, President and CEO of Arizona Restaurant Association.

Restaurants in Southern Arizona are taking advantage of this offer to promote not only their takeout specials, but also their availability in general.

We asked Rich Barone, VP at Cox Media, what exactly is being offered, and how they're helping local eating establishments survive.

As if we didn't already have enough of a reason to love eegee's, now they've come through on a request to support those who are helping our city through these trying times.

After an appeal from Mayor Romero, eegee's will bring a special delivery of Watermelon to Tucson Fire and Police members, as well as volunteers from the Community Food Bank.

"Our community is working so hard to make sure our residents are cared for and I thought a watermelon eegees would be a Tucson way to lift the spirits of those on the front lines," Romero said in a prepared statement. "I was delighted when eegee's said they would help."

The crew at eegee's said they dug into the reserves to fulfill the request, said CEO Ron Petty.

"We were pleased to help Mayor Romero with this special request and used what limited watermelon inventory we had to meet the request," Petty said.

Romero will be present when the Watermelon eegees are delivered to members of the downtown Tucson Fire Department at 1 p.m. After this initial stop, eegees will be delivered throughout Tucson to different fire and police stations, as well as to the Community Food Bank, all accompanied by "Thank You" notes from Mayor Romero.

Like almost every other restaurant in town, eegee's has shifted to drive through only at its locations.

Earlier this week, they revealed their new logo, which features a sleek design with some throwbacks to earlier branding.