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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 4/6/2021 - Memorandum From Brad Buckman And Eric Keselburg Re: Inquiry From 3-29-21 Lpt Meeting Regarding Outdoor Dining Engineering Department 281 North College Avenue P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580 970.221.6605 970.221.6378 - fax fcgov.com/engineering Planning, Development & Transportation MEMORANDUM DATE: March 31, 2021 TO: Mayor Troxell and City Councilmembers THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager Caryn Champine, Director of PDT Dean Klingner, Deputy Director of PDT FROM: Brad Buckman, Interim City Engineer Eric Keselburg, Manager Parking Services RE: Inquiry from 3-29-21 LPT Meeting Outdoor Dining The purpose of this memo is to provide a response to the following issue raised at the 3-29-2021 LPT Meeting: Talked with a local restauranteur about keeping city streets open for outdoor dining, with specific focus on keeping them open throughout the summer season. Response: General update on outdoor dining: City staff has worked closely with affected business owners on outdoor dining issues since summer of 2020. The number of total outdoor permits approved is as follows: Number of approved outdoor permits - 49 Number of approved permits that are in the ROW - 32 Number of approved permits that are on private property 17 Currently, we are requesting a 3-month extension with CDOT on the special use permit for outdoor dining in the CDOT right of way (on US287 or any other state highway), and this would extend the use until the end of June 2021. There are currently 5 outdoor dining permits in the CDOT right of way. In June, depending on the status of the pandemic, we would consider options for pursuing an additional 3-month extension to get us through the summer season. We also have liquor license approval for alcohol use in the approved outdoor dining spaces. The current liquor license approval is good until October 31, 2021. However, the Declaration of Local Emergency is the basis for the patio dining allowances, and the Declaration could end if deemed appropriate by the state and local health officials based on the status of the pandemic. City staff will be conducting a survey in April with the affected businesses to ask questions regarding their desire for outdoor dining moving forward. This survey will also explore potential design guidelines and process improvements to the initiative. We will use the results of the survey to plan out our strategy for the rest of this year. If there is desire to keep the status of the outdoor dining initiative throughout the summer season, it will have to be discussed with respect to the Declaration of Local Emergency. In the Fall of 2020, City staff (through Economic Health) conducted a survey to see what the utilization of outdoor dining would be going into the 2020/2021 winter season. The responses confirmed there is a desire to keep the program in place to increase business and sales revenue in light of the pandemic . No permits have been revoked from businesses since the initiative began in 2020. The outdoor dining initiative has also been a positive outlet for local arts. The City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places, in partnership with the Engineering, Streets, and Traffic Operation Departments (in collaboration with the Downtown Fort Collins Creative District, and the Jason and Lucy Greer Foundation for the Arts) hired local artists to paint 15 temporary murals on the downtown concrete barriers that surround outdoor dining areas. This was an effort to enhance the outdoor patio experience while creating opportunities for the creative sector. S : In an effort to continue to support the downtown businesses and their recovery efforts, Parking Services has been collaborating with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) throughout their Business as Unusual campaign. Communication between the DDA and downtown businesses occurs regularly to determine need for and/or removal of the temporary curbside pickup parking spaces. May 11, 2020: approximately one hundred (100) curbside pickup spaces were designated; including repurposing existing short-term parking spaces. Continual review and adjustments have been made to fit community business needs. Removing, relocating, and adding, per blockface, based on business use and/or request. As restrictions were lessened, the number of necessary curbside pickup parking space locations were reduced, to accommodate in-person availability at restaurants/retailers. During the holiday season, additional locations were added to accommodate increased restrictions. There were approximately sixty-six (66) designated curbside pickup parking spaces during the holidays. Current level, March 30, 2021, of curbside pickup parking spaces is fifty-two (52). Parking Services met recently with the DDA to share the locations of existing short-term parking stalls and to identify possible desired locations to convert curbside pickup locations to short-term parking stalls; based on business type/need, so that use/time may be regulated. Parking Services is actively working with Traffic Operations to determine allowance to temporarily identify regulated spaces with the DDA Business as Unusual campaign placard. As well, once converted, additional temporary curbside Business as Unusual spaces may be utilized through recovery efforts to continue to support the downtown economic recovery. Next Steps: City staff to conduct a survey in April and get feedback from business owners on outdoor dining. City staff (Engineering, Parking Services, Economic Health) will collaborate with the DDA on these next steps and will update the Mayor and City Councilmembers by late Spring 2021 on status.