MONROE — The City of Monroe is temporarily reducing certain fees and business licenses to ease “the hardships and unprecedented times our residents and business owners face” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Louis Armstrong signed a resolution May 18 approving the temporary measures for 2020-21. The fees will return to normal prices in June 2021.

Some alcohol license fees are reduced, while all annual fees were waived for amplified sound permits, dance licenses, amusement device permits and sidewalk cafe licenses.

In addition, there’s a waiver of late fees on utility payments as well as cross-connection inspection fees. The 3% charge for using a credit card is now also waived for all payments to the city.

The reductions and waivers came out of the city’s COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee, which has been meeting since April 27 and is focused addressing financial hardships impacting local businesses to help the downtown area and beyond recover, including potential measures like small business loans.