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When Florida's restaurants reopen, Melbourne officials will let them set up outdoor tables and chairs to boost seating capacity amid social-distancing regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Some (restaurant owners) that I have talked to have talked about hiring back about 35% of their workforce. Because they feel like people are going to be very apprehensive about coming back," said Kim Agee, Melbourne Main Street executive director.

"They want to utilize outdoor spaces ... maybe allowing people to go onto the sidewalks, have tables outside for a café area. I think people are going to be more comfortable with that," Agee said.

"Like Meg’s: They don't have an outside, but they might want to do something like that," she said.

Since March 20, Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered all Florida restaurants to close dining rooms and offer only take-out and delivery orders to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Now, DeSantis' Re-Open Florida Task Force is expected to deliver its first report Friday with strategies on how to reboot the Sunshine State's virus-battered economy.

Agee promoted alfresco dining Tuesday night during a Melbourne City Council special meeting on proposed COVID-19 small-business assistance initiatives.

Council members also discussed launching a “Melbourne: Back in Business” social media blitz — featuring outdoor banners, signs and a website packed with listings — to encourage residents to buy local.

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"I've been in regular communication with more than 200 businesses and property owners downtown since this started. They are getting really desperate over the last week. They're very, very worried," Agee told council members.

“It’s getting to a point where they're not going to be able to survive. I've talked to a few bankers that are within this area — and believe that probably 30% of businesses will fail," Agee said.

"And that's terrifying,” she said.

A city economic task force debuted Friday, featuring officials from City Hall, Melbourne Main Street and the Melbourne Regional Chamber, Eau Gallie Arts District and Orlando Melbourne International Airport. The City Council approved a list of small-business incentives, which will be enacted via executive order and last through Sept. 30. Among the incentives:

Let restaurants create or expand outdoor seating areas upon reopening, up to their allotted occupancy level.

Waive special activity application fees for business promotions.

Waive building/fire prevention review fees for small business improvements of up to $25,000.

Eliminate code enforcement fines, except in cases of serious health or safety concerns.

"I really want an aggressive buy-local campaign. I want to make sure we haven't changed our purchasing habits. Now, it's very comfortable to buy online at Amazon, and we'll just have it shipped in," Vice Mayor Paul Alfrey said.

"And also, going to the big-box retailers. They've done very well, where the small businesses have struggled," Alfrey said.

In 2009-10, the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco flagged a few downtown Melbourne restaurants for sidewalk alcohol sales. Council members briefly considered a permitting process that would have let businesses lease sections of city-owned sidewalk.

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Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1. To subscribe: https://cm.floridatoday.com/specialoffer/