Submitted By
Emily Egan, Development Services Director
Reviewed By
Erin E. Baynes, Assistant to the Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Resolutions Approving Temporary License Agreements with Six (6) Oak Park Businesses to Allow the Use of On-Street Parking Spaces for Outdoor Dining Through October 31, 2024 and Authorizing Their Execution
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Overview
Overview
The Village Board has previously approved the ability of Oak Park businesses to use on-street parking spaces for outdoor dining. The 2024 season runs from May 6th through October 31st. The Village Board established the fees for this type of utilization in 2023, and of the Oak Park businesses that can utilize on-street spaces for outside dining, six (6) have submitted applications and signed Temporary License Agreements that, if approved, will allow the Village to install cement barricades in May to allow for the start of outdoor on-street dining.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the resolutions.
Background
Since the start of the COVID-19 emergency in 2020, the Village Board has worked to support local businesses' use of public on-street parking spaces to expand the utilization of outdoor dining. The Village Board waived fees associated with the use of these public spaces in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and then in 2023, established a per space/per day fee structure for the utilization of on-street parking spaces. That fee structure was utilized in 2023 and will again be utilized in 2024.
In 2020, 2021, 2022, and again in 2023, several Oak Park businesses signed temporary license agreements and were approved for outdoor dining utilizing on-street parking spaces. This year, six (6) businesses have indicated a desire to participate in the on-street outdoor dining program. Those six businesses include Kettlestrings Tavern, Mora Asian Kitchen, Scratch on Lake, Oak Park Waffles, Papaspiros Angora Bistro, and Rustico OP. As in the past, all of these interested businesses have completed application forms and signed Temporary License Agreements that can be executed upon approval of this agenda item. Copies of application forms, signed temporary license agreements, and resolutions for each of these businesses, are attached.
The Villages’ Development Services (DS) and Public Works Departments have worked together in conjunction with restaurants/businesses like Mora Asian Kitchen and Anfora to move planters and benches in front of restaurants to more appropriate locations to maximize space for on-sidewalk outdoor dining. In May, after the execution of the temporary license agreements, the DS Department will work with the Village’s Public Works Department to put in place the Village-owned cement barricades at each of the approved locations. The cement barricades were purchased in 2021 and there is no need to acquire additional barricades. The DS and Public Works departments have already begun the planning for the deployment of these barricades so that the process can be expedited following approval. If additional businesses who did not submit applications or signed Temporary License Agreements to the Village this past month indicate a desire to participate in the on-street dining program, their applications will be reviewed and brought to the Village Board for consideration at a later date.
Fiscal Impact
This year, the on-street outdoor dining program will run for approximately six months from Monday, May 6th through Thursday, October 31st. Businesses who wish to participate in the on-street outdoor dining program in 2024 will compensate the Village for the costs associated with the program, including the lost parking space revenue when spaces are taken out of commission, as they did in 2023 at the same ordinance-established rate. In 2024, restaurants participating in the Village’s on-street outdoor dining program will pay the Village $10 per parking space utilized per day, six days a week. This equates to the following reimbursement to the Village: 1.) One parking space utilized = $10 a day totaling $1,550 for six months; 2.) Two parking spaces utilized = $20 a day totaling $3,100 for six months; and 3.) Three parking spaces utilized = $30 a day which totals $4,620 for six months. As in 2023, restaurants are allowed to spread out the payments over a six-month period.
DEI Impact
The restaurants that qualify for on-street outdoor dining and have not previously told staff that they are not interested in this option have been contacted about this opportunity. The businesses that have requested this opportunity are presented here for your consideration. If additional businesses express interest in the future, Village staff will bring them to the Board for consideration. The environment may have been modified in some areas by moving street furniture and flower planters to protect the required five-foot clearance for accessibility and encourage street-level activity. The fees established for this opportunity are equal for every business that applies.
Alternatives
Not approve the resolutions
Not allow interested Oak Park restaurants to utilize and pay for the use of on-street parking spaces for outdoor dining
Previous Board Action
The Village Board most recently approved six (6) resolutions in 2023 that allowed outdoor on-street dining for qualified restaurants in Oak Park. Similar on-street dining, approvals were also granted in the spring of 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
The Village’s various outdoor dining programs have been discussed with the Business Association Council.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A