CC 2020-06-23_08i Short Street ClosureMEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: WHITNEY MCDONALD, ACTING DEPUTY CITY MANAGER /
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
BILL ROBESON, ACTING CITY MANAGER/PUBLIC WORKS
DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SHORT STREET SOUTH OF EAST
BRANCH STREET AND NORTH OF OLOHAN ALLEY TO
ACCOMMODATE ITS USE AS AN OUTDOOR EATING AREA DURING
THE COVID-19 REOPENING PROCESS
DATE: JUNE 23, 2020
SUMMARY OF ACTION:
Authorization of the closure of Short Street south of East Branch Street and north of
Olohan Alley for the purpose of allowing its use as a common outdoor eating area during
the COVID-19 reopening process. Closure would begin on June 24, 2020, and would end
when the COVID-19 limitations on restaurant operations are lifted by the State and
County of San Luis Obispo or when the Acting City Manager/Public Works Director and
Acting Deputy City Manager/Community Development Director determine that closure is
no longer appropriate for public health and safety reasons or due to lack of use or misuse.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
It is anticipated that rental of the water walls necessary to safely close the street will cost
approximately $50 per day. In addition, staff time will be necessary to obtain and safely
install and then remove the water walls.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council adopt a Resolution authorizing the temporary closure
of Short Street south of East Branch Street and north of Olohan Alley to accommodate
its use as a common outdoor eating area during the COVID-19 reopening process.
BACKGROUND:
Restaurants in the Village of Arroyo Grande have suffered significant decreases in
business during the COVID-19 pandemic and the shelter-at-home orders issued by the
State and the County of San Luis Obispo in response to the pandemic. Although the State
has allowed restaurants to reopen, the restaurants are required to ensure adequate
physical distancing or protections between tables in order to limit the potential spread of
the virus. The result is that many restaurants have been forced to reduce the number of
Item 8.i. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SHORT STREET SOUTH OF EAST BRANCH STREET
AND NORTH OF OLOHAN ALLEY TO ACCOMMODATE ITS USE AS AN OUTDOOR
EATING AREA DURING THE COVID-19 REOPENING PROCESS
JUNE 23, 2020
PAGE 2
tables and seats available for their customers. In addition, many restaurants are serving
more meals to-go in order to meet the demands of their customers during the COVID-19
pandemic and the suggestions of health officials. These to-go meals also enable
restaurants to serve more customers than they could with the limited tables they can
accommodate under the current limitations.
At the May 26, 2020 City Council meeting, Councilmember Barneich requested that staff
bring back an item to consider closure of Short Street to accommodate outdoor dining for
nearby restaurants in the Village. Mayor Pro Tem Storton seconded the request, if
sufficient interest was expressed by the restaurants.
On June 9, 2020, the Community Development Department received an application for
an Encroachment Permit/Minor Use Permit-Temporary Use Permit from a representative
of Rooster Creek Tavern to use Short Street as a common outdoor eating area for
customers of restaurants in the Village. The application proposes to use tables and chairs
provided by a handful of restaurants in the Village and to maintain the area for customers
who wish to eat their to-go meals while also staying in the Village. The tables would be
cleaned and trash would be emptied by staff of Rooster Creek Tavern.
After receiving this application, it was determined that sufficient interest was expressed
to support closure of Short Street to accommodate its use as a common outdoor dining
area during the COVID-19 reopening process.
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
It is proposed that Short Street would be closed between East Branch Street and Olohan
Alley beginning on June 24, 2020, and ending when the COVID-19 limitations on
restaurant operations are lifted by the State and County of San Luis Obispo or when the
Acting City Manager/Public Works Director and Acting Deputy City Manager/Community
Development Director determine that closure is no longer appropriate for public health
and safety reasons or due to lack of use or misuse.
If authorized, the closure would be accomplished by placing a total of eight water walls in
Short Street just south of the East Branch Street crosswalk and just north of Olohan Alley.
The cost of renting these water walls is approximately $50 per day. To minimize the costs
associated with installation of the water walls, Public Works staff will pick up, place, fill
and return the walls. Approval of the Encroachment Permit/Minor Use Permit-Temporary
Use Permit will ensure that the use of Short Street for outdoor dining will be done safely
and at minimal cost ($50 per day for the water walls) to the City.
The Staff Advisory Committee has reviewed the proposal and determined that closure of
Short Street will not create impacts to emergency response or traffic in the area due to
the ability of vehicles, including emergency vehicles, to access Olohan Alley from Mason
Street.
Item 8.i. - Page 2
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SHORT STREET SOUTH OF EAST BRANCH STREET
AND NORTH OF OLOHAN ALLEY TO ACCOMMODATE ITS USE AS AN OUTDOOR
EATING AREA DURING THE COVID-19 REOPENING PROCESS
JUNE 23, 2020
PAGE 3
Allowing Short Street to be used as an outdoor dining area may encourage restaurant
customers who order their meals to-go to stay in the Village and patron other businesses.
As a result, it is anticipated that the closure will help support the recovery of the
businesses in the Village as the COVID-19 reopening process unfolds.
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for the Council's consideration:
1. Approve staff’s recommendation;
2. Do not approve staff’s recommendation;
3. Modify as appropriate and approve staff’s recommendation; or
4. Provide direction to staff.
ADVANTAGES:
Approval of the temporary closure will support recovery efforts of restaurants and other
businesses in the Village.
DISADVANTAGES:
Inconvenience to vehicles looking to access Olohan Alley from Branch Street and vice
versa.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it
can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that it will have a significant impact
on the environment, as stated in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with
Government Code Section 54954.2. At the time of report publication, no comments have
been received.
Item 8.i. - Page 3
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO
GRANDE AUTHORIZING THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SHORT
STREET SOUTH OF EAST BRANCH STREET AND NORTH OF OLEHAN
ALLEY TO ACCOMMODATE ITS USE AS A COMMON OUTDOOR
EATING AREA DURING THE COVID-19 REOPENING PROCESS
WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code Section 21101 (e) authorizes municipalities to close
any street temporarily for celebrations or other local special events or other purposes
when in the opinion of the local authorities having jurisdiction such closing is necessary
for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during
the temporary closing and such closing must be adopted and provided for by resolution;
and
WHEREAS, restaurants in the Village of Arroyo Grande have suffered during the shelter-
at-home orders issued by the state and county in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,
and, although the state has allowed restaurants to reopen, they are required to ensure
adequate physical distancing or protective measures installed between tables, resulting
in many restaurants being forced to reduce the number of tables and seats available for
their customers; and
WHEREAS, many restaurants are serving more meals to-go in order to meet the
demands of their customers during COVID-19 and to enable them to serve more
customers than they could with the limited tables they can accommodate under the
current limitations; and
WHEREAS, interest has been expressed by restaurants in the Village to create a
common outdoor eating area on Short Street to enable customers to eat to-go meals
while also staying within the Village; and
WHEREAS, closure of Short Street south of East Branch Street and north of Olahan Alley
to allow it to be used as a common outdoor eating area will support restaurants and
businesses in the Village during the COVID-19 reopening process; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works, the Police Department, and the Fire
Department have no objections to the closure.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Arroyo
Grande
1. Authorizes the temporary closure of Short Street south of East Branch Street
and north of Olahan Alley beginning on June 24, 2020, and ending when the
COVID-19 limitations on restaurant operations are lifted by the State and
County of San Luis Obispo or when the Acting City Manager/Public Works
Director and Acting Deputy City Manager/Community Development Director
Item 8.i. - Page 4
RESOLUTION NO.
PAGE 2
determine that closure is no longer appropriate for public health and safety
reasons or due to lack of use or misuse.
2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and shall cause a
certified copy to be filed in the Office of the City Clerk.
On motion of Council Member , seconded by Council Member , and
on the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this 23rd day of June, 2020.
Item 8.i. - Page 5
RESOLUTION NO.
PAGE 3
KEITH STORTON, MAYOR PRO TEM
ATTEST:
KELLY WETMORE, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
____________________________________
BILL ROBESON, ACTING CITY MANAGER
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
TIMOTHY J. CARMEL, CITY ATTORNEY
Item 8.i. - Page 6