CC MIN 02152022 - Laserfiche WebLink

residences from Main Street. She added downtown businesses had issues with limited access for vendor and customer parking and delivery services. The PDA's recommendation is to hold Weekend on Main on the first weekend of each month from May through .December, closing from the Main Street Bridge to Old Bernal Avenue with street activation activities on Saturdays. PDA will incorporate Weekend on Main into annual downtown programming, collaborate with restaurateurs and retailers on shopping local cross -promotion, and hold its Concerts in the Park on Friday nights during non -street closure weekends. The monthly recommendation is due not only to the interests of the PDA's constituents but also the PDA's pandemic -depleted resources and event -hosting abilities. Interim Assistant City Manager Ott noted the event incurs expenses for barricades and staff overtime. For 2022, closing monthly from May through October costs an estimated $118,000 and about $170,000 monthly from May through December. Using only staff and no outside vendors would be either $50,000 from May through October or $64,000 from May through December. The staff -only option, largely from the Operations Services department, would be feasible no more than once a month. Due to the PDA's severely reduced revenue, the Council is asked to consider sponsoring the 2022 series for $100,000 allocated from the Business Support Fund; the Fund's balance is currently about $1.35 million. Staff's recommendation for 2022 is to hold Weekend on Main on the first weekend of every month from 4:00 p.m. on Friday until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday from May through October, closure of the Main Street bridge to Old Bernal Avenue, and PDA street -activation programming on Saturdays. Council direction is requested on whether to add November and December to this proposed schedule. She noted the frequency could be expanded in future years but will have to consider if the City can handle Concerts in the Park and a Main Street closure. Mayor Brown noted the first weekend in December is the City's Hometown Holiday Parade. In response to Mayor Brown, Interim Assistant City Manager Ott stated there was a discussion about how the parade and Weekend on Main could coexist and while not infeasible, there would be logistical considerations needed. In response to Councilmember Balch, Interum Assistant City Manager Ott clarified Weekend on Main predates the formal parklets and staff is recommending something similar to the old procedures for businesses without a formal parklet, allowing them to expand out into the street. In response to Councilmember Balch, Interim Assistant City Manager Ott confirmed staff is recommending holding only six or eight Weekend on Main events. She confirmed businesses that went through a design review for parklets can begin construction on March 1. In response to Councilmember Testa, Interim Assistant City Manager Ott clarified the standardized parklet design will be ready by the beginning of April. She also reported at last year's discussion there were significant staff concerns about opening one side of the street for vehicular traffic, that blend cars with a pedestrian downtown experience. She recalled challenges for both vehicles and pedestrians at the intersection of Main Street and Neal Street. In response to Councilmember Testa, Interim Assistant City Manager Ott stated there are more restaurateurs than retailer's downtown but could not provide a ratio for comparison. In response to Councilmember Testa, Interim Assistant City Manager Ott clarified the $100,000 sponsorship is intended to help the PDA bring programming to the event, such as a band or creative activities. She confirmed the City is already paying for the cost of the Main Street closure. City Council Minutes Page 11 of 16 February 15, 2022