MARSHALL — Starting June 1, Minnesota bars and restaurants will be able to start serving customers at outdoor seating. Not all Marshall restaurants have patios or outdoor seating areas, but members of the Marshall City Council made a decision Tuesday night that could potentially help businesses create temporary outdoor seating areas.

Council members voted to speed up the process by which businesses can get permits to temporarily use public sidewalks and parking lots. Restaurants and bars can now get permits approved without action by the city council. The move would mean there isn’t a delay for business owners who want to serve diners outdoors, said Marshall City Administrator Sharon Hanson.

After Gov. Tim Walz announced the outdoor seating guidelines for restaurants, Hanson said, “We did receive several inquiries.” Some Marshall businesspeople wanted to know if the city would work with restaurants and bars if they wanted to set up outdoor seating.

Hanson said it would likely be restaurants in the area around Main Street that would be able to use city sidewalks and parking lots by permit. Restaurants in other parts of town tend to have their own parking lot space, or outdoor patio space, she said.

“I’m not entirely sure what kind of response we’re going to get,” Hanson said — especially with limits on the number of outdoor diners allowed by the state, and uncertain weather. But by giving Marshall Public Works the ability to approve permits for private use of sidewalks or public parking, bars and restaurants wouldn’t have to wait until the next city council meeting to set up temporary seating. City staff could also help with marking off areas of parking lot for seating, she said.

They could also let restaurants make use of city-owned picnic tables that would normally be available for rent or for community gatherings, Hanson said.

“We think we could cover quite a few restaurants,” Hanson said. Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes added that the city can’t use the tables right now, due to limits on public gatherings.

The question would be whether the city wanted to rent out the picnic tables or require a damage deposit, Hanson said.

“I know this isn’t the ideal fix, but I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction,” council member Craig Schafer said of the proposal. Council member James Lozinski said he agreed, but thought the city should only require a damage deposit for use of city-owned picnic tables.

Council members voted in favor of the streamlined permit process and damage deposit on picnic tables.