AgdaPkt 2014-05-12 Joint with Planning

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7.3.A. - Page 1 REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager May 12, 2014 SUBJECT Pilot Program Authorize Sidewalk Cafes to be Located in Parking Spaces RECOMMENDATION Adopt a Resolution Approving A Pilot Program Pursuant to Redwood City Municipal Code Chapter 33A to Authorize Sidewalk Cafés to be Located in Parking Spaces. BACKGROUND The City has been approached by several business owners seeking to widen sidewalks to replace one or more parking spaces in front of businesses in order to accommodate more tables and chairs in sidewalk cafes. Many cities throughout the Bay Area have sought to increase the use and activity on sidewalks in their downtowns by allowing adjacent businesses to construct cafes and other amenities on the sidewalks, and also using parking spaces as temporary extensions of the sidewalk to provide additional café space. Widening the sidewalk enables an adjoining business to provide new or additional outdoor seating. Rather than build permanent and expensive new sidewalks, these sidewalk extensions are constructed in a temporary and removable manner so that a city and the business community may test the demand for the outdoor space and remove it if it is unsuccessful. San Jose and Davis are some examples. ANALYSIS Staff recommends that the City Council consider instituting a pilot program to temporarily modify the City Sidewalk Café concept established in Chapter 33A of the Redwood City Municipal Code, on a six month trial basis, during which time the benefits of the pilot program will be evaluated. The City's long-standing Sidewalk Café program already enables businesses within the Downtown to apply to create sidewalk cafes. The City adopted design standards and application procedures. Staff recommends that the Sidewalk Café program be temporarily modified to include the option of expanding the sidewalk to allow temporary use of one or more parking spaces for up to three Sidewalk Café permits.