From: Stephanie, Wansek
To: Council, City
Cc: City Mgr; Clerk, City
Subject: Subject: Written Public Comment – Agenda Item 7 – Ramona Street Outdoor Dining Hours Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025 3:25:36 PM
Attachments: Cardinal Hotel Letter – Agenda Item 7 – Ramona Street Outdoor Dining Hours – Aug 2025 (1).pdf Letter to Palo Alto City Council - Cardinal Hotel _ Ramona Street Closure Nov 2021 (1).pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
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Dear Mayor Lauing and Councilmembers,
Please find attached my written public comment regarding Agenda Item 7 on the August 18 City Council agenda, addressing the proposed operating hours for outdoor dining on Ramona Street.
I have included two attachments:
1. Cardinal Hotel Letter – Agenda Item 7 – Ramona Street Outdoor Dining Hours – Aug 2025 (current letter)
2. Cardinal Hotel Letter – Ramona Street Closure – Nov 2021 (previous correspondence on the same issue for reference)
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Wansek
General Manager, Cardinal Hotel
--
Stephanie Wansek| General Manager
THE CARDINAL HOTEL
235 Hamilton Ave | Palo Alto, CA | 94301 | www.cardinalhotel.com p: (650) 323-5101 f: (650) 325-60856 | [email protected] This message could be suspicious
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August 14, 2025
Mayor Ed Lauing and Members of the Palo Alto City Council
Palo
Alto
City
Hall
250
Hamilton
Avenue
Palo
Alto,
CA
94301
Via Email: [email protected]
Cc:
Ed
Shikada,
City
Manager
–
City
Clerk
–
Subject: Codify 10 PM Closing Time for Ramona Street Parklets – Separate from CUP Hours
Dear Mayor Lauing and Councilmembers,
I am requesting that the City codify a 10:00 PM closing time for all parklets and other outdoor dining
areas
on
Ramona
Street,
separate
from
Conditional
Use
Permit
(CUP)
hours.
This
request
is
in
reference
to
Agenda
Item
7 (Attachment
A,
June
18 Retail
Committee
Staff
Report).
As General Manager of the Cardinal Hotel, a business that has operated in downtown Palo Alto for
over
100
years,
I
know
firsthand
the
impact
late-night
outdoor
activity
has
on
surrounding
businesses.
Twenty-five
percent
of
our
guest
rooms
face
directly
onto
Ramona
Street.
Even
low-level
conversation
from
small
groups
carries
clearly
into
these
rooms,
leading
to
guest
complaints,
refunds,
and
loss
of
repeat
business
—
all
of
which
create
ongoing
operational
challenges
for
a
century-old
hotel.
When
hotel
operations
are
disrupted,
it
diminishes
the
appeal
of
downtown
for
overnight
visitors,
which
in
turn
affects
restaurants,
shops,
and
other
local
businesses.
Under the current draft Outdoor Activation Standards, Section 11.2 (Packet page 41; Staff Report
page
18)
ties
outdoor
activation
hours
to
the
same
hours
allowed
under
a
business’s
CUP.
This
means
any
business
with
a
late-night
CUP
—
such
as
Nola,
The
Wine
Room,
or
the
recently
reviewed
application
for
541
Ramona
(Old
Pro)
—
could
legally
operate
a
parklet
until
1:00
AM.
While
Planning
staff
have
confirmed
that
the
current
CUP
at
541
Ramona
does
not
authorize
outdoor
alcohol
service
and
that
any
such
request
would
require
a
new
CUP,
the
hours
provision
still
leaves
the
door
open
for
late-night
outdoor
use
without
safeguards.
I have raised this same concern with City Council before, including in November 2021 when Ramona
Street’s
closure
to
cars
was
under
review.
At
that
time,
I
requested
that
parklet
operations
end
at
10:00
PM
to
protect
hotel
operations.
For
your
reference,
I
have
attached
that
2021 communication, which reflects the same request I am making today. The consistency of this
request
underscores
that
this
is
not
a
new
issue,
but
an
ongoing
operational
need
to
sustain
a
balanced
downtown
business
environment.
When the hotel was closed in 2022, Ramona Street briefly became a late-night venue.
Reversing
that
trend
when
we
reopened
required
significant
effort
from
all
stakeholders.
Without
clear,
codified
limits,
the
same
pattern
could
repeat
—
not
from
bad
intentions,
but
because
the
code
would
allow
it.
The original purpose for closing Ramona Street to cars was to create a vibrant, outdoor dining, pedestrian-friendly
destination
—
not
a
late-night
entertainment
zone.
Parklets
were
a
pandemic-era
solution
for
outdoor
dining,
and
their
hours
should
reflect
that
purpose.
Restaurants
on
Ramona
already
honor
a
voluntary
10:00
PM
closure
for
outdoor
dining.
This
successful
practice
should
now
be
formalized
in
the
Municipal
Code
to
ensure
consistency
over
time,
protect
hospitality
and
retail
operations,
and
maintain
a
balanced,
sustainable
downtown
economy
—
regardless
of
future
changes
in
ownership
or
management.
I respectfully request that Section 11.2 be amended to read:
“Parklets and other outdoor dining areas on Ramona Street must close for use and operation
by
10:00
PM
every
night,
and
this
limitation
shall
apply
regardless
of
the
hours
permitted
under
any
associated
Conditional
Use
Permit
(CUP)
or
the
business’s
indoor
hours
of
operation.”
This adjustment would create a clear, enforceable standard separate from CUP hours, preserve the
balance
between
vibrancy
and
livability,
safeguard
hotel
operations,
and
ensure
Ramona
Street
remains
a
destination
that
supports
a
healthy
mix
of
dining,
retail,
hospitality,
and
other
businesses.
Thank you for considering this straightforward change that preserves the balance between outdoor
dining
and
the
needs
of
nearby
hospitality
operations.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
Wansek
General
Manager,
Cardinal
Hotel
4/15/24, 6:02 PM Cardinal Hotel Mail - Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=ff74a7e72a&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-a:r4972141515747115230&simpl=msg-a:r688557806573289… 1/4 Stephanie, Wansek <[email protected]>
Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure
3 messages
Stephanie, Wansek <[email protected]> Mon, Nov 15, 2021 at 1:56 PM To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected], Kara Apple <[email protected]> Dear City Council Members,
I appreciate the ongoing consideration and deliberation about whether to keep certain streets in Palo Alto closed to traffic and open to outdoor dining.
As the owner of Bistro Maxine, a restaurant on Ramona St, I am pleased to have half of Ramona street remain closed to traffic through June 2022.
As the GM of the Cardinal Hotel, located on the corner of Ramona and Hamilton and currently closed for renovation, I want to ensure that (1) any potential noise impacts of this street closure which would negatively impact the hotel guest experience and (2) the loss of two commercial loading zone parking spaces are being considered as these discussions about Ramona street remaining closed continue.
1. Permitted hours for Parklet operation: Hours of operation for permitted parklets should be limited to 10 pm.
2. Additional noise concerns: No additional noise be permitted in parklets or from restaurants into the streets to reach patrons dining in parklets. Concerns include, but are not limited to: volume for televisions in parklets, music playing into the street from restaurants with open windows or exterior speakers and live music (except special permitted events with end time of event clearly defined and enforced)
3. Commercial Loading Zone: replace the two commercial loading zone spaces on Ramona with the two remaining parking spaces in front of the Osteria / Cardinal Hotel on Hamilton St. Make these two spots Commercial Loading Zone 8am-6pm and Loading Zone only after 6pm to accommodate guests arriving at the hotel (similar to Nobu with all parking spots on either facade of the hotel dedicated to the hotel for commercial loading and passenger loading and unloading.
Additional information:
Over the 20 + years, having two restaurants / bars on Ramona street has posed the biggest challenge to the hotel when it comes to late night noise and its negative impact on the guest experience.
Over ten years ago, The Old Pro was renovated with large open windows, and ledge tables attached to the building on the sidewalk side and seating on the sidewalk. After I reached out on behalf of the hotel, the City reviewed the CUP and restricted the hours the windows could be open and did not allow the tables / seating on the sidewalk. Over the years hotel employees call regularly (both Old Pro directly and PAPD) to request that the windows be closed per their CUP and it is important there is something to refer to to enforce. In 2018 we had issues with both the Old Pro and NOLA with speakers attached to the exterior of the building playing music later in the night. The City was involved with helping to resolve that at the time.
4/15/24, 6:02 PM Cardinal Hotel Mail - Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=ff74a7e72a&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-a:r4972141515747115230&simpl=msg-a:r688557806573289… 2/4 If Ramona street is to remain closed to traffic beyond June 2022, I would like to request that the parklets be permitted for outdoor dining only and the hours that restaurants / bars are allowed to use the street for business are limited to 10pm. The “Uplift Local” effort has been discussed as “outdoor dining”. I would like to request that this is formalized and that bars can not serve customers on the street after 10pm.
If bars are allowed to serve alcohol out on the street until 2am this will make accommodating guests on our Ramona side impossible. After our renovation, each room night should generate at a minimum $50 per night in Transient Occupancy Tax for the City so it is important for both the Cardinal Hotel and the City that a “pedestrian only” Ramona street supports a successful hotel operation and is not an option for outdoor bar business from 10pm -2am. Ramona is the hotel’s most favorable side with views to Roxy Rapp’s beautifully renovated building and City Hall Plaza. In our renovation we plan to have our largest rooms that will command higher rates located on Ramona. We project that on certain dates we will regularly be able to generate upwards of $100 per night in TOT for the City from these rooms on Ramona St.
As a hotel GM, I want to be able to provide an extraordinary guest experience in the renovated Cardinal Hotel, a Palo Alto business of almost 100 years. The Cardinal needs the support of the City Council and the City Manager’s Office to remain a viable and popular hotel in the community. The owners are poised to invest over 10 million dollars in this renovation. For this reason,we want to take this opportunity to clarify how important the downtown environment -noise, streetscape and cleanliness - is to the future success of the Cardinal Hotel.
Let me end by saying that I believe, if done properly, having a closed Historic Ramona Street could be beneficial to all, including the hotel.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Stephanie
GM, Cardinal Hotel
--
Stephanie Wansek| General Manager
THE CARDINAL HOTEL
235 Hamilton Ave | Palo Alto, CA | 94301 | www.cardinalhotel.com p: (650) 323-5101 f: (650) 325-60856 | [email protected]
4/15/24, 6:02 PM Cardinal Hotel Mail - Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=ff74a7e72a&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-a:r4972141515747115230&simpl=msg-a:r688557806573289… 3/4 Stephanie, Wansek <[email protected]> Mon, Feb 7, 2022 at 5:01 PM To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected], Kara Apple <[email protected]> Dear City Council Members,
I am forwarding this email sent on Nov 15, 2021 as a reminder of additional information to consider when evaluating the street closure on Ramona St.
I am including three recent videos (see Vimeo link below) that show the activity on Ramona after 10 pm which would be disruptive to guests at the Cardinal Hotel.
These are amateur videos taken with a cell from a guest room facing Ramona St. to show the activity on Ramona St late into the evening / early morning.
https://cardinalhotel.com/video/
Friday Jan 28 11:30pm ( 51 second video)
Friday Feb 4 11:30 pm (24 second video)
Sat Feb 5 12:30am (29 second video)
I am in favor of the street remaining closed to traffic and open for outdoor dining. I am requesting that Council put enforceable hours of operations for the parklets that correspond with dining hour so that noise after 10pm will not negatively impact the operation of the Cardinal Hotel.
Thank you,
Stephanie
Cardinal Hotel, GM
[Quoted text hidden]
Cormack, Alison <[email protected]> Mon, Feb 14, 2022 at 3:16 PM To: "Stephanie, Wansek" <[email protected]>
Thanks for le ng us know and sharing the videos, Stephanie. For my part, I do not read any emails sent a er our mee ng starts at 5 pm, so did not receive this un l a erwards.
Sincerely,
Alison Cormack
From: Stephanie, Wansek <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 7, 2022 5:01 PM
To: Council, City <[email protected]>
4/15/24, 6:02 PM Cardinal Hotel Mail - Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=ff74a7e72a&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-a:r4972141515747115230&simpl=msg-a:r688557806573289… 4/4 Cc: City Mgr <[email protected]>; Apple, Kara <[email protected]> Subject: Fwd: Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure
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Notice of Confidentiality: This communication is intended ONLY for the recipient(s) identified in the message, and may contain information that is confidential, privileged, or otherwise protected by law.
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