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BACKGROUND As a business support measure during the early stages of COVID, the City allowed businesses to temporarily expand dining and other business activities outdoors into private parking lots, sidewalks, and the public parking spaces — these temporary areas are known as pop-ups. On July 20, 2021, the City Council discussed the existing temporary pop-ups, and advised that the program would conclude at the end of the calendar year and directed staff to prepare a permanent parklet program. On December 21, 2021, the City Council was presented with a draft parklet program which the Council approved, with a few additional clarifications made regarding the width, wheel stop locations, and timing on January 4, 2022. The approved program includes guidelines related to parklet location, size, design, maintenance, and other considerations. The Council directed staff to have the program operational as soon as possible so that businesses could install approved parklets beginning March 1, 2022, while allowing time for the City to conduct necessary and deferred street maintenance during January and February. Also discussed at the December 21, 2021, Council meeting was potential financial assistance in the form of a grant to help businesses with the associated costs of a parklet, if approved for their business. Based on the City Council's direction, staff has prepared a Downtown Parklet Grant Program. In developing the draft program, staff researched similar existing grant programs and talked with staff at other cities who have offered grant programs for outdoor operations. This proposed program is consistent with elements included in similar grant programs, particularly the amount proposed, eligibility requirements, and restrictions. DISCUSSON The Downtown Parklet Grant Program is intended to provide financial assistance to businesses in the Downtown commercial district interested in having an outdoor area for dining. The program will reimburse eligible expenses incurred by the business related to the outdoor development, construction, and operation of a parklet. Elements of the draft program are presented below. Grant Amount Grants up to 50 percent of the total cost, not to exceed $10,000 will be available for eligible expenses approved under the Downtown Parklet Program. Total funds allocated for the Downtown Parklet Grant Program will not exceed $250,000. This amount is based on the number of downtown businesses that operated a temporary pop-up and is anticipated to be sufficient for the number of anticipated applications; however, if additional funding is necessary as the number of applicants is greater than expected, staff will provide a program update to the Council with a request for consideration for additional program funding. Business Eligibility Requirements and Restrictions Under the Downtown Parklet Grant Program, eligibility criteria include, but are not limited to: • Be an approved parklet by the City of Pleasanton Community Development Page 2 of 4