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Outdoor Dining May 3, 2022 Page 2 the custom parklets, the City built the outdoor dining patios to meet the highest City expectations and standards. These outdoor dining patios were completed with wood - finished decks, umbrellas, bistro lights, outdoor furniture, and commercial planters. To date, businesses continue to utilize the City's provisions allowing the parklets and outdoor dining patios. More importantly, the City sustained its commitment to the merchant community to deliver a high quality outdoor dining program that promotes economic development to businesses and reassure safety for residents and visitors during the pandemic. Undertaking the effort to rethink outdoor dining on and on -street dining opportunities with an emphasis on design and placemaking would activate our local downtown streets and would create an enhanced dining atmosphere citywide. DISCUSSION As COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted and local businesses have begun returning to normal operations, the City has an opportunity to consider making outdoor dining permanent and develop standards for an outdoor dining that is beneficial for all businesses. Accordingly, staff recommends that City Council direct staff to review and prepare for consideration an ordinance amending the SAMC to establish expanded outdoor dining standards. The direction to modify the SAMC will allow staff the opportunity to work in coordination with other agencies involved in the reviewing and approving of outdoor dining spaces to analyze how the current program worked during the pandemic. Based on lessons learned and feedback from community members, business owners, and industry stakeholders, staff can develop a program that continues to promote economic viability of the food and beverage industry, which verifying its appropriateness of its use of private and public property areas. The public outreach would ensure evaluation of potential impacts and support by businesses citywide. Transitioning to a permit program would simplify the application process for those businesses that are eligible and interested in participating. In addition, it would create a path for those outdoor dining areas installed using grant funds during the pandemic, the ability to remain in place. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. Submitted By: Minh Thai, Executive Director of Planning and Building Agency Approved By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager