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recommends that the City Council authorize the continuation of the two previously- <br />issued extension permits for the duration of the twelve month Pilot Program. <br /> <br />The City’s long-standing Sidewalk Café program, as established in Chapter 33A of the <br />Redwood City Code, already enables businesses within the Downtown Precise Plan <br />Area to apply to create sidewalk cafes. The City has design standards and application <br />procedures in place. If the pilot is successful, staff plans to return to Council within <br />twelve (12) months with a recommendation to modify Chapter 33A to allow sidewalk <br />extensions into parking spaces on a permanent basis. <br /> <br />During the twelve (12) month continued Pilot Program, the applicant for the permit <br />would be responsible to construct, install and maintain the sidewalk extension; provide <br />tables, chairs and other amenities; and would also be required to remove them when <br />the permit is terminated. <br /> <br />All of the current requirements for sidewalk cafes in Chapter 33A of the Municipal Code <br />would apply to these permits plus additional review for safety purposes. Permits would <br />require all structures to be designed so they are visible to drivers and also protected <br />with sufficient barriers to avoid injury to pedestrians. The applicant’s proposed design, <br />construction and installation would be subject to approval by the City. <br /> <br />The recommendation is to allow sidewalk extensions in the Downtown Precise Plan <br />Area for a twelve (12) month period; to authorize the continuation of the two <br />previously-issued extension permits for the duration of the twelve month Pilot Program; <br />and to authorize an additional four (4) extensions (for a total of seven (7) authorized <br />extensions). Staff has evaluated the parking supply and demand as well as circulation in <br />the Downtown Precise Plan Area and determined there is sufficient parking vacancy to <br />warrant this program. <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVES <br />The Council could determine that this is not an appropriate program at this time. The <br />Council could also determine that a trial period longer than twelve (12) months is more <br />appropriate to determine the success of such a program. <br /> <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />There would be a loss of parking revenue with each parking space removed for this <br />program. <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW <br />Categorically Exempt pursuant to Section 15305, Class 5 of the California <br />Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. Class 5, Minor Alterations in Land Use <br />Limitations, exempts from CEQA the issuance of minor encroachment permits, and the <br />permits to be issued as part of the Pilot Program qualify as minor encroachment <br />permits. <br /> <br />6.3.A. - Page 2