CC MIN 02012022 - Laserfiche WebLink

amendment to the motion to stick to staff's recommendation, including direction to staff to return with a plan for outside of downtown. Mayor Brown advised she feels similar to Councilmember Balch. She explained adding permanent parklets downtown is a big program and she would like to try it to see how it goes. She noted downtown involves using the City's right-of-way and parking spaces for the parklets whereas a City-wide program would include a different configuration. She stated she would support staff coming back with a plan for the rest of the City. Councilmember Testa noted the areas outside of downtown should have also come forward tonight. She advised other restaurants around town are also valuable to the City and this program should have been ready. Councilmember Testa stated she would be agreeable to the friendly amendment if Councilmember Arkin is but stated she does not think it is necessary. In response to Councilmember Testa, Councilmember Arkin advised an extra $100,000 for a parkiet or expansion of outdoor dining if unfeasible is something she supports wholeheartedly. She noted some would argue the pandemic has hit even harder outside of downtown. She reported she did not want to wait six months but would be agreeable if this proposed program could come back at the next meeting. She stated this should not be difficult. She advised staff may have a more reasonable financial figure in mind. Mayor Brown advised $5,000 will not get someone far in outdoor dining design. She cited Eddie Papa's American Hangout as an example where there is already outside dining and expansion could only be into the parking lot. Councilmember Arkin reported Eddie Papa's did expand its outdoor dining during the pandemic and his expenses should be reimbursable just like Mr. Dissel's. She advised she would support the motion as it is while directing staff to bring back a comparable program for businesses outside of downtown at the next meeting. In response to Mayor Brown, Councilmember Testa advised she would prefer it not come back to City Council and noted she and Councilmember Arkin are attempting to be agreeable. Councilmember Arkin advised it does not have to be $100,000 and staff can look at the figure. Mayor Brown clarified $100,000 is in the motion. Councilmember Arkin advised this addendum can come back at the next meeting. She noted she does not want to wait to see how well the downtown parklets work because it is months away so it would be unfair to non-downtown businesses. Interim City Manager Brian Dolan advised it is unreasonable to expect a proposed program to be completed by the time the agenda packet for the February 15 meeting is released on February 8. He explained the March 1 meeting would offer better potential. Councilmember Balch advised he cannot support a motion for $100,000 for a theoretical program. He noted he would like to understand a program and advised $100,000 would account for only 10 potential non-downtown businesses. He requested not deciding this from the dais and letting staff come up with a program. He explained staff was directed to create the Grant Program in December 2021 and did it pretty quickly. He recommended staff to come up with a plan for how to effectively distribute $100,000 of public money, or have a different recommended amount based upon data. He expressed confidence staff could do this expeditiously. City Council Minutes Page 6 of 16 February 1,2022