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110 <br /> <br />allow the cafes to remain open until December 31st instead of <br />November 30th. Mr. Gouldman explained that the cafe permits <br />for the downtown mall required that the cafes close between <br />November 30th and March of each year because of the need to <br />clear snow from the mall but this was not necessary at the <br />Corner. <br /> <br /> Mr. John Craifax, owner of Littlejohn's Restaurant, <br />asked that he and others present be allowed to speak <br />regarding the cafe permit. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever stated that this was not a public hearing <br />and while he would allow Mr. Craifax to speak, he was not <br />inclined to allow others present to speak on the matter. <br /> <br /> Mr. Craifax stated that he has owned Littlejohn's since <br />1976 and it has been open 24 hours a day since that time. <br />Mr. Craifax stated that he and other merchants on the Corner <br />had agreed to and helped fund the renovation of the Corner, <br />which included plans to widen sidewalks in order to <br />accommodate outdoor cafes. Mr. Craifax continued that he had <br />been approached by Planning Department staff and asked to <br />coordinate furniture that met City guidelines for sidewalk <br />cafes with other restaurants on the Corner which he had done <br />and had spent $3,000 himself on such furniture. Mr. Craifax <br />stated that it was months later that Planning staff told him <br />that he needed to obtain a permit for the sidewalk cafe.~ Mr. <br />Craifax stated that he understood issues of concern to the <br />City regarding the cafe permits were trash and crowds and <br />noted that he collects trash not only from in front of his <br />restaurant, but in front of other businesses as well. Mr. <br />Craifax stated that crowds are the lifeblood of businesses <br />and he felt misled and betrayed by now being told that in <br />order to obtain the cafe permit he would have to close his <br />restaurant at 2:00 a.m. Mr. Craifax stated that had no <br />problem closing the cafe at 2:00 a.m., but felt that the <br />requirement had singled his business out unfairly. Mr. <br />Craifa× added that he does $300,000 worth of business late at <br />night and employs five people during these hours. Mr. <br />Craifax stated that he had been told by City Police that if <br />he obtained a cafe permit they would more easily be able to <br />move people away from the area. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Toscano, Mr. Craifax <br />stated that he did not favor Council passing the cafe permit <br />as written. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated that Council and the City are <br />attempting to address issues on the Corner and noted that <br />permits for outdoor cafes are considered a privilege Council <br />has the right to grant but that they are not granted <br />automatically. <br /> <br /> Mr. Craifax requested that the permit be granted for a <br />six month period to see what happens. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Rev. Edwards, Mr. Gouldman <br />stated that the requirement to close between 2:00 a.m. and <br />6:00 a.m. was not included in cafe permits for restaurants <br />downtown. <br /> <br /> Rev. Edwards stated that it did sound to him as though <br />Littlejohn's was being singled out and he would support <br />closing the sidewalk cafe at 2:00 a.m., but had reservations <br />about requiring the restaurant to close at that time. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated that she felt Council was trying to <br />look at the entire area and that it was the responsibility of <br />Council to look at the safety and welfare of the community. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano stated that significant public and private <br />money was invested in the Corner and he had heard from many <br />Corner merchants who support the 2:00 a.m. closing <br /> <br /> <br />