From:John Sherwood
To:City Council
Subject:November 15, 2022 item 12.C
Date:Friday, November 11, 2022 2:59:21 PM
External Email
With regard to item 12.C on your November 15th agenda, i encourage the Council not to create permanent parklets in any public rights of way.
The parklets were a reasonable emergency response to the covid-19 pandemic to assist local restaurants while the scientific community developed knowledge and procedures and the public became educated. While there is still a great deal to learn, the emergency period has passed and we are now entering the period where our new understanding should be put into practice. Parklets should be phased out.
Restaurants have moved to a business model that includes more take-out and outdoor dining and or better ventilation. The city should be encouraging these business owners to adapt their facilities to these practices rather than turning over public rights of way.
Perhaps subsidies for HVAC improvements based on public health concerns and/or streamlined permit procedures for pandemic adaptions should be considered. Allowing some percentage of existing off street parking to be converted to outdoor dining might also be considered so long as an equal amount of indoor space is converted as well so that there is not an incentive to simply increase the number of tables at the expense of parking.
It’s time for restaurants to adjust to reality and relinquish the public’s right of way.
Thank you for your service,
John Sherwood
189 Seacliff Drive
Shell Beach CA 93449
310/663-2000