HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.18.22 BLA Agenda Item 16 a. MJC letter re outdoor dining program
City of Boulder- Finance Dept. 1136 Alpine Ave, Boulder, CO 80304 | LicensingOnline@bouldercolorado.gov | (Main) 303- 441-1919
May 16, 2022
Sent Via Email only to BLA members for inclusion as a May 18, 2022 hearing packet exhibit
To: City of Boulder’s Beverage Licensing Authority
Re: Update on Outdoor Dining Pilot Program
Dear Beverage Licensing Authority,
City staff respectfully submits this letter to update the Authority on the current state of the outdoor dining
pilot program for the City of Boulder and how the newly created pilot program will affect liquor licensing for
outdoor, temporary modifications.
Prioritizing public safety concerns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Boulder emergency
orders 2020-16 and 2020-18 (as amended) were passed in alignment with guidance from federal, state and
county public health agencies. Those emergency orders, and therefore the Boulder Business Recovery
Program, were extended and will now expire on August 31, 2022. In anticipation of the upcoming
termination, on April 19, 2022, city staff presented an idea for a pilot program to city council that would
extend the outdoor dining program beyond August of this year. With approval from the council, the city will
be implementing a year-round, city-wid e 5-year Outdoor Dining Pilot Progra m (the “Program”) following the
expiration of the emergency orders to:
• Aid th e continued economic recovery of Boulder’s hard-hit restaurant industry;
• Enhance the sense of place in Boulder; and
• Inform other Access Management and Parking Strategies.
City staff has been crafting the Program from direction given by council in April and will be presenting the
more refined Program and accompanying ordinance to council in Jun e. Based on the current timeline, if
approved by council, the ordinance will be passed, by emergency on second reading, on June 21, 2022
making it effective on June 21st. C it y staff will propose an initial application windo w of June 27 to July 15,
2022. This time frame allows licensing staff and planning services, among others, time to process the
applications before th e expiration of the current emergency orders.
While drafting the ordinance and program guidelines, city staff publicly posted a “request for proposal”
(RFP) regarding the infrastructur e that will be used for the outdoor dining areas, RFP responses are expected
back b y Friday, May 20, 2022. The RFP outlines the infrastructure as modular barriers and platform
structures for assembly in the public right-of-way including on sidewalks and in existing on-street parking
areas, as well as on private property. The purpose of the RFP is to support the bulk purchase of the required
infrastructure and reduce costs for restaurants intending to participate in the outdoor dining program.
Additionally, the infrastructure must meet more stringent requirements for the outdoor dining areas,
including requirements such as a minimum of three-foot high barriers between the designated dining area
City of Boulder- Finance Dept. 1136 Alpine Ave, Boulder, CO 80304 | LicensingOnline@bouldercolorado.gov | (Main) 303- 441-1919
and other areas for proper alcohol contro l. The requirements align with current laws and regulations
includin g clearly defined boundaries for liquor service in outdoor dining spaces.
City staff will provide updates to the Authority including providing materials submitted to council.
Sincerely yours,
Mishawn J. Cook
Licensing Manager
Certified Municipal Clerk
Phone: 303-441-3010
Main: 303-441-4192
Email: cookm@bouldercolorado.gov
Website: https://bouldercolorado.gov/government/departments/regulatory-licensing
Attachments:
Presentation to Council on April 19, 2022
RFP for Outdoor Dining Parkets