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Home My WebLink AboutIV.E - Parklet Funding - PRESENTED AT MEETINGPRESENTED AT MEETING HEDRA Memorandum To: HEDRA Commissioners From: John Hinzman, Community Development Director Date: May 14, 2020 Item: Authorize Allocation of COVID Relief Funds towards Parklets HEDRA Action Requested: Authorize allocation of up to $25,000 of COVID Relief funds toward construction of parklets. Parklets Parklets are the temporary conversion of on-street parking areas into private commercial areas for the use of neighboring businesses. They involve construction of a raised platform flush with the level of the curb with installation of barriers along the edges to demarcate the space. Parklets are generally used as table space for restaurants and can be found throughout many larger cities. Background Information: HEDRA authorized $360,000 of current funding be devoted towards business assistance due to restrictions on commerce from the COVID-19 pandemic. $200,000 of funding was targeted towards the HEART Application with the remaining $160,00 reserved for future use. The HEART Grant Review Committee has authorized approximately $176,000 in grant awards. Most of the proposed funding for parklets would come from the remaining unallocated HEART Grant funding. DBA Plan for Downtown Businesses The Downtown Business Association (DBA) has submitted a Plan for Downtown Businesses which included the construction of parklets. The plan will be reviewed by the City Council on May 18th. Parklet Request The DBA proposes the construction of six parklets throughout the downtown area. City staff estimates a construction cost of approximately $8,400 per parklet totaling $50,400 in all. The construction cost estimate assumes materials and labor each accounting for half the cost. The proposed allocation would fund about one half of the total cost or about 100 percent of the materials. Policies and Regulations Policies and regulations would need to be established prior to implementation which include resolution of the following: o How wide is support among downtown business owners o Social distancing requirements will limit the amount of use. o Will need to have permission of neighboring effected businesses. o Need to ensure a minimum level of appearance - aesthetics o Prefer parklets to be completely privately constructed  City or HEDRA would consider some form of reimbursement, dependent on cost estimate. o Businesses would need to indemnify the City of Liability. o Would liquor be served - How does this affect insurance and sidewalk café rules o Need to ensure emergency ingress and egress to buildings. o Cannot extend any further out towards travel lanes than existing parking stall distance from curb and preferably less to allow buffer space to moving vehicle traffic. o Cannot be constructed over utility access panels, manhole covers, storm drains or fire hydrant shut off valves HASTINGS CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. _________________ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS APPROVING TEMPORARY MEASURES FOR OPERATION OF COMMERCE Council member ___________________________ introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption: WHEREAS, Minnesota Executive Order 20-01 Declaring a Peacetime Emergency and Coordinating Minnesota’s Strategy to Protect Minnesotans from COVID- 19 was executed by the Governor on March 13, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic; and WHEREAS, subsequent Executive Orders executed by the Governor have restricted operation of commerce, causing financial hardship to the local economy; and WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020 the City of Hastings declared a Public Health Emergency resulting from imminent health conditions caused by the presence of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); and WHEREAS, restrictions on the operation of commerce will be removed over time; however, adherence to social distancing requirements are likely to remain for some time; and WHEREAS, the City Council seeks to adopt temporary measures to provide additional opportunities for the operation of commerce that adhere to social distancing requirements; and WHEREAS, Hastings City Code Chapter 90.11 allows for the private use of public streets and parking lots including sidewalk areas. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS AS FOLLOWS: That the City Council of the City of Hastings hereby approves the following temporary measures: 1) Use of Sidewalks for Commerce. Businesses may use a portion of the public sidewalk in front of their business for the display of merchandise or to conduct commerce as outlined under Hastings City Code Chapter 90.11 under the following conditions: a) Any service of food and beverages must adhere to Hastings City Code Chapter 90.14 - Sidewalk Cafes. b) Businesses must provide a corridor or no less than four (4) feet along the sidewalk, building entrances and ADA accessible ramps. c) Sidewalk display areas must be kept neat and tidy. d) Must provide City with a waiver of indemnity from the businesses’ insurance. 2) Conversion of Public Downtown Planters to Table Seating. Large public planters located within the right-of-way may be converted by neighboring business owners into a tabletop platform under the following conditions: a) Construction would be done privately. b) Submittal of a plan to the City to ensure stability and design. c) Cannot impair site visibility at the intersection or ingress\egress consistent with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) 3) Use of TH 61 Bridge Plaza. City will install additional tables, portable toilets, and hand washing facility in the plaza area under the TH 61 bridge. The City will determine if additional waste receptacles are needed. Use of the tables and space for commercial activity shall be prohibited. 1) Increase the number of picnic tables along the riverfront and downtown. City staff will relocate picnic tables from other areas to the Mississippi Riverfront and downtown to increase opportunities to enjoy take-out orders from restaurants. 2) Allow Conversion of Private Parking Lots into Outdoor Dining. Allow conversion of up to 25% of required parking into outdoor dining areas subject to the requirements of City Code Chapter 90.16 - Sidewalk Cafes. 3) Enforcement of temporary signage requirements will be not be prioritized. Signs cannot impair visibility at intersections. Enforcement of the placement of numerous temporary signs in multiple locations throughout the City will continue. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS: The measures identified within this resolution shall expire on November 1, 2020 unless further extended by the City Council. Council member _____________________ moved a second to this resolution, and upon being put to a vote it was adopted by all Council members present. Adopted by the Hastings City Council on May 18, 2020, by the following vote: Ayes: Nays: Absent: ______________________________ Mary Fasbender, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________________ Julie Flaten, City Clerk I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above is a true and correct copy of resolution presented to and adopted by the City of Hastings, County of Dakota, Minnesota, on the 18th day of May 2020, as disclosed by the records of the City of Hastings on file and of record in the office. ______________________________ Julie Flaten, City Clerk (SEAL) This instrument drafted by: City of Hastings (JH) 101 4th St. East Hastings, MN 55033