Provide staff with direction on the potential provision of access to public space and private adjacent property to restaurants for open-air operations, in anticipation of revisions to county health guidelines that will allow for the safe reopening of the economy.

INTRODUCTION

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, City Administrator signed a Proclamation of a Local Emergency on March 12, which the City Council ratified at a Special City Council Meeting held on March 13. The Monterey County Department of Health issued a shelter-in-place order on March 17 and the State of California issued its own order on March 19. 

On May 4 Governor Newsom announced that the state would be entering into Stage 2 of the Resiliency Roadmap allowing certain businesses to begin reopening under specific guidelines. On April 8, in response to the State’s announcement, the Monterey County Health Officer issued an amended order that also allows certain businesses to begin reopening under certain conditions. Among those included are restaurants and retail stores. 

OUTDOOR SEATING

Carmel-by-the-Sea has 52 restaurants, around 25 of which have been offering curbside pick-up or delivery options during the shelter-in-place order. Although restaurants will be able to resume dine-in services public health orders will likely continue to significantly limit indoor space for their patrons for many weeks, and likely months. Restaurants may struggle to survive with current operations at half capacity or less. 

To this end many cities and communities, including Carmel, are beginning to explore the options of allowing restaurants to use public spaces where possible to offer outdoor seating, while complying with public health guidelines for social distancing. 

In any situation, the City seeks to administer guidelines, processes, and regulations that will ensure the safety of residents and visitors, protect public property, and strike an appropriate balance between the benefits of any deviation from current City policy or regulation and its associated impact on the community and environment. 

Any exception from current City codes, rules, regulations, restrictions and policies governing activities on City property requires City Council authorization including street closures and consumption of alcoholic beverages on public property. 

Staff is seeking Council direction on the potential provision of access to public space for open-air operations, in anticipation of revisions to county health guidelines that will allow for the safe reopening of the economy.

The City Administrator proposes that Dolores Street between Ocean and Seventh Avenues and Ocean and Sixth Avenues be closed to traffic and be utilized for outdoor seating. Dolores Street is often used for special events and is centrally located in the business district. 

There are many factors for consideration when discussing a street closure in the commercial district such as: 

1. What are the days/ hours that the street will be closed? How will deliveries be made to businesses when the street is closed? 

2. Will restaurants be providing the tables and chairs? If so, how often will they be cleaned? 

3. Will the tables be for table service or will they be available to the general public as communal tables? 

4. If providing dining services at outdoor tables, and serving alcohol,  how will the area be fenced off to maintain compliance with ABC regulations?

5. What are the impacts to adjacent businesses?

6. What will be the economic impact to businesses located on a street that has been closed?? 

7. How do you choose which street(s) will be closed? 

Another option that the Council may wish to consider is encouraging businesses who are interested in using public space  for open-air operations, such as sidewalks or parking stalls to work with the Community Planning and Building Department to discuss potential options.

Council may also wish to ask the business community for information on any plans they may be developing for re-opening that could further provide direction. 

CONCLUSION

The purpose of this discussion is to look for ways that the City can help support our local businesses by thinking outside the box. While both options are viable, there is the potential for an increase in the need for staff time to facilitate and monitor any new program and there may not be the capacity for this in the near future.  Therefore, staff expects the business community to very actively participate and indeed regulate future implementation of any such program.