HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2406-3126CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, June 10, 2024
Council Chambers & Hybrid
4:00 PM
Agenda Item
AA1.Pre-Approved Parklet Designs and Proposed Revisions to Adopted Ongoing Parklets
Standards New Item added
Item No. AA1. Page 1 of 3
City Council
Supplemental Report
From: Ed Shikada, City Manager
Meeting Date: June 10, 2024
Item Number: AA1
Report #:2406-3126
TITLE
Pre-Approved Parklet Designs and Proposed Revisions to Adopted Ongoing Parklets Standards
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
This item originally appeared on the consent calendar for Monday, June 3, 2024. This
supplemental report transmits additional information and clarifications.
1. Revisions to Interim Ordinance and Resolution regarding the area of Ramona Street
closed to vehicles
Issue: Ramona Street Car-Free Status – On November 6, 2023, Council directed staff to
maintain the portion of Ramona Street between Hamilton Avenue and the Ramona
Street/University Avenue garage as a car-free street. Permanent closure to traffic will
require an additional formal action by the City Council following environmental review,
including evaluation of alternatives. This work is underway (though sequenced to follow
current activities), and no recommendation to reopen Ramona Street to traffic is being
made through the pending actions.
Issue: Applicability of Ongoing Parklet Standards to Ramona Street – To best use space on a
car-free street, staff will need to engage stakeholders and consultants to develop effective
outdoor dining standards for car-free streets (as opposed to parklets which are designed to
be sited next to vehicular traffic). Thus, staff is seeking Council approval to extend the
Interim parklet program on the car-free portion of Ramona Street through March 2025. This
will maintain status quo and ensure that parklet operators on the car-free street portion of
Ramona will not have to rebuild their parklets to comply with standards meant for streets
with vehicular traffic.
Issue: Applicability of License Fees to Ramona Street – If Council does not approve the
recommended changes to the interim ordinance, parklets on this portion of Ramona Street
will nonetheless be required to pay the license fees for using the public right of way
consistent with the Ongoing Parklets Program Regulations on July 1, 2024. They would also
be required to redesign/modify their existing parklets to comply with standards meant for
Item No. AA1. Page 2 of 3
parklets on streets with vehicular traffic, which may not be appropriate nor necessary for a
car-free street. Staff does not recommend this because it would require complying with
standards designed for vehicular traffic and then another round of alterations to comply
with potential future standards for outdoor dining on car-free streets. However, staff
recommends proceeding with implementation of license fee requirements for the use of
public space on Ramona Street. These funds will support the enhanced cleaning and
enforcement requested by stakeholders as well as maintain consistency with other
downtown businesses occupying public spaces.
2. Refinements to the Ongoing Parklet Program Design Standards, including changes
regarding the use of planters on parklets.
Issue: Time-Sensitivity of Parklet Design Standards – Parklet design requirements are time
sensitive to provide parklet operators time to incorporate these requirements into their
“ongoing” parklet designs. Ongoing program deadlines come into effect this Fall.
Per Council direction in September 2023, staff engaged with the Architectural Review Board
(ARB) on parklet standards. Based on input from the ARB and a stakeholder engagement
process, staff is recommending some changes to the ongoing parklet program standards
adopted by Council in September 2023. These standards can be changed administratively;
however, staff is bringing forward key changes for Council approval given the level of
specificity previously reflected in Council direction. There are seven proposed changes, the
most significant one being the addition of planters.
Planters are currently prohibited, based on safety concerns about planters constructed from
brittle materials that could splinter upon impact. The use of planters was a high priority for
the stakeholders and the ARB; staff has worked with the consultant engineer to develop
recommendations that allow planters constructed with non-brittle materials. Some of the
other changes are related to clarifying access and setbacks, removing requirements related
to furnishings, and not requiring gutters and leaders. These changes are described in detail
in the staff report from June 3, 2024.
3. Pre-approved Parklet Designs and Associated User Guide
Issue: Time-Sensitivity of Pre-Approved Parklet Designs – Pre-approved parklet designs are
time-sensitive to provide parklet operators a streamlined path, with options for designs and
materials, for compliance with Ongoing Parklet Program requirements.
Through an engagement process over several months, staff received support in May 2024
from the ARB for pre-approved parklet designs and user guide. With Council approval of the
design on June 10, shop drawings for the designs can be completed and available for use in
August.
The pre-approved designs offer flexibility in terms of materials and finishes, and the use of
these designs is voluntary. The benefit of the pre-approved designs is a streamlined and
expedited design and approval process. Parklet operators using the pre-approved design
Item No. AA1. Page 3 of 3
will expend less time and money on designers and structural engineers. Additionally, they
will be able to take advantage of an expedited approval process through the City’s Public
Works department.
Issue: Coordination with Emerson Street Parklet Operators - The City has worked with
parklet operators along Emerson Street to coordinate a long-overdue paving project
scheduled for July. Based on feedback from parklet operators, staff altered the timeline for
the project and worked with the contractor to phase the project into two parts. If Council
defers action on the pre-approved designs and ongoing parklet standards, the parklets on
Emerson Street would still be removed but the parklets might not be rebuilt as quickly
because parklet operators will not be able to take advantage of the pre-approved parklet
designs and corresponding expedited review by the Public Works Department.
4. Project Timeline
Staff presented a comprehensive timeline for parklets with the City Council on March 11,
20241. That timeline included full phase-in of ongoing parklet standards by November 1,
2024. The timeline was developed to balance multiple interests regarding parklets,
including the desire for immediate implementation and enforcement of an ongoing parklet
program to address safety and aesthetic concerns, allowing existing parklets to maximize
outdoor dining in the summer months, and avoiding ongoing drainage issues caused by
existing parklets during another rainy season.
The only change from the timeline presented to Council on March 11, is the extension of
the Interim ordinance to allow parklets on the car-free portion of Ramona Street to
continue to operate until standards are developed for outdoor dining on car-free streets.
This was done in response to feedback from stakeholders and will minimize disruption to
parklets on this portion of Ramona Street.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Considerations for Council Action
APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada, City Manager
1 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/public-works/engineering-services/parklet-
program/sr2401-2483-3.11.2024-extend-intermin-ordinance-for-parklets-to-7.31.2024.pdf
ATTACHMENT A – CONSIDERATIONS FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Proposed Action Item Council Approves on 6/10 Council Defers Action
Extend the interim parklet
program for parklets and at-
grade dining on car-free portion
of Ramona
• Will maintain status quo until outdoor
dining standards for car-free streets are
adopted
• Ensures Parklets on car-free street portion
of Ramona do not need to be rebuilt to
standards designed for streets with traffic
• Ongoing parklet program regulations will apply
• Will need to comply with standards meant for streets
with vehicular traffic such as clearances and enclosure
heights
Implement license fees under
the interim ordinance for this
same section of Ramona
• License fees will need to be paid under
interim ordinance
• License fees will need to be paid under ongoing parklet
program ordinance
Adopt the revised Ongoing
Parklet Program Regulations
• Regulations will incorporate ARB feedback
and allow shop drawings for pre-approved
designs to proceed
• Pre-approved designs will not be available for use in
August, as previously communicated to parklet
operators
• Planters will not be allowed; use of planters was a high
priority for ARB and parklet operators
• Gutters/leaders will be required, furnishings will be
regulated
Approved Pre-Approved Parklet
Designs and Associated Draft
user Guide as recommended by
ARB
• Pre-Approved Designs and User Guide will
be available for use in August
• Parklet operators will save money on a
custom design and structural drawings
• Approval process will be streamlined
• Parklet operators will need to pay to develop custom
designs
• Review and approval process will take longer
• Alternatively, City will need to further defer
enforcement of ongoing parklet program; drainage and
ponding issues will continue through another winter
season
• Parklets of Emerson Street that were removed due to
re-paving will either have to wait to use the pre-
approved designs or use custom designs