A parklet is a small park, plaza, or creative public space that is physically installed or constructed in an on-street parking space.
On May 13, 2020, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2020-31276, establishing the Restaurant Recovery Outdoor Seating Pilot Program (the "Pilot Program") in furtherance of the City's economic recovery efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Pilot Program allowed restaurants to expand sidewalk café seating areas onto public rights-of-way, or other outdoor seating areas on private property, subject to the Administration's review and approval of a proposed site plan for the expanded area(s) to ensure all public safety and public access issues are appropriately addressed, and further subject to the restaurant operator's compliance with applicable provisions of the Sidewalk Café Ordinance (set forth in Chapter 82, Article IV, Division 5 of the City Code). The Pilot Program was due to expire on January 30, 2022.
In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City extended FY 2019-2020 permits of sidewalk café operators, suspended sidewalk café fees, and provided the sidewalk café operators other benefits all in an effort to promote business operation and economic recovery.
At the July 28, 2021 City Commission Meeting, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 2021-4427, permitting sidewalk cafés to operate in parklets on City rights-of-ways in select neighborhoods.
Due to various COVID-19 extensions, many sidewalk café and parklet operators are not up to date on their permitting applications for the current FY 2021-2022 permit year.
At the May 4, 2022, City Commission meeting, the Mayor and City Commission ratified all prior grace period extensions granted by the City Manager and extended the permit application deadline for the FY2021/22 permit year for sidewalk café and parklet operators through July 1, 2022.
Unfortunately, many sidewalk cafés and parklet operators have not completed the permit application process and have requested an additional extension of the permit application deadline. As such, l have extended the permit application deadline for the FY2021/22 permit year until the next City Commission meeting on July 20, 2022.
At this City Commission meeting the Administration request the ratification of this extension, and extend the application deadline until September 30, 2022. Additionally, the City is currently working on the transition into the Outdoor Dining Concession Program, as approved by the Mayor and City Commission at the June 22, 2022 City Commission Meeting.
Sidewalk café and parklet operators are currently occupying the public right-of-way, payment of permit fees should be paid immediately in order to be eligible for this extension.