Title
Emergency ordinance regulating third-party food delivery platforms during the COVID-19 Emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant local and state emergency regulations and ordinances and orders continue to restrict the operational options and capacities of Food Establishments within the city, thereby increasing the need for take-out meal services; and
WHEREAS, the necessary public health operating restrictions within the city have had severe and ongoing financial impacts on all food service establishments within the city; and
WHEREAS, while some restaurants may receive take-out orders directly, there are many Third-party Food Delivery Platforms and other services that operate through websites and/or mobile phone applications used by consumers to quickly and easily order pick-up and delivery meals from local restaurants; and
WHEREAS, in many instances the Third-party Food Delivery Platforms and services, without the local restaurant’s knowledge or consent, will purport to sell meals from the local restaurant to consumers, and sometimes charge exorbitant fees to the already struggling local restaurants during the time of the declared emergency and the operational restrictions attendant thereto; and
WHEREAS, the fees charged by a Third-party Food Delivery Platform should be capped for the period that the local public health emergency results in necessary restrictions on the operations of Food Establishments to avoid further harm to such valuable and important establishments in the city; now, therefore,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES ORDAIN:
SECTION 1
DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY
On March 13, 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-10 Declaring a Peacetime Emergency and Coordinating Minnesota’s Strategy to Protect Minnesotans from COVID-19” pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 12.31, Subd. 2. This Delcaration has been extended and remains in effect. On March 15, 2020, Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter...
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