Filippo Tiny Italy(Mayor Al McDonald, left, talking to Filippo Suriano, the owner of Tiny Italy after a City Council meeting on Feb 29th 2016)

Filippo Suriano says his patio had a big impact on business last year.

He is the owner of Tiny Italy and they were the only restaurant to have an outdoor sidewalk patio in the city’s downtown core last year.

Suriano says he’s hopeful council will approve all the recommendations for other businesses to build their own patios this summer.

Deputy Mayor Sheldon Forgette says the changes are aimed at showing North Bay is “open for business.”

Forgette says those grants are available through the Downtown Community Improvement Plan.

He says Councillor Mike Anthony brought these recommendations to the committee and they will come forward for a final vote next Monday.