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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Deborah Lang, Assistant Corporation Counsel III
Jennifer Stallings, City Clerk
DATE: March 31, 2026
SUBJECT:
An Ordinance amending Chapter 25 of the Code of Ordinances by creating Article 25-XV Temporary Outdoor Seating and Parklet Permits.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this proposed ordinance is to codify the City's regulations regarding the permitting of temporary outdoor seating and parklets.
BACKGROUND:
In early Spring of 2020, the State and City were working to develop ways for restaurants and bars to resume operations with severe limitations having been imposed upon them due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In conjunction with State guidelines, City staff began the development of protocols for temporary outdoor seating and parklets to allow restaurants and bars to host patrons outdoors. Initially implemented in 2020 primarily utilizing State requirements, the City continued to develop our local outdoor seating and parklet program in subsequent years. On March 16, 2021, staff presented the current state of the program to the Committee of the Whole via Zoom with Legistar item #21-0191. Since that time, staff has developed an online application process and has reviewed and updated the Mayoral Rules for Approved Outdoor Seating, on a yearly basis. While City Council has been informed of this program, staff wishes to obtain City Council input and approval on the future administration of the program.
DISCUSSION:
Once restaurants and bars were allowed to fully reopen without restrictions, some establishments wished to continue to offer outdoor seating. The City has continued to allow businesses to obtain permission to host patrons outside, and along the way rules have been created to regulate the hours of operation, location of operation, to identify the temporary outdoor seating "season", to regulate sound and to provide design guidelines. Documents utilized for temporary outdoor seating in 2025, including the 2025 Rules ...
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