The Janesville City Council is mulling a change to the process for businesses to apply for outdoor dining downtown.

Council Member Paul Williams says his biggest issue isn’t with outdoor dining itself, but with the current process implemented during the pandemic which bypasses the Alcohol License Advisory Committee and leaves the decision up to one person, the chief building official.

Fellow Council Member Heather Miller says the goal of the council isn’t to get rid of downtown dining altogether, especially when it has become such a popular feature to downtown establishments.

The council made no decision at their Monday meeting, and set a public hearing on the matter for August 14th.