HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/20/2021 Item 7a, Hamilton
From: Maryalice Hamilton <
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2021 2:59 PM
To: E-mail Council Website
Subject: Parklets
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To San Luis City Council Members,
The Covid-19 Pandemic had many negative effect on our local restaurants, coffee shops and other businesses serving
food and beverages. As a result temporary Parklets were created for downtown, which extended the service area,
keeping the 6' distance mandated by the government. Thus allowing restaurants to accommodate enough customers to
remain financially viable.
The Parklet Program allowed food service business to remain open, however as a result there was a major loss of
income for the city parking department. More than 100 parking spaces were given up for The Parklets and curbside
pickup at no cost to the businesses.
As we move forward and transition into a more normal way of operating our businesses downtown, it's time to evaluate
the usage and shortfalls of these Parklets. Many Parklets downtown are not being used to their capacity, mostly due to
those restaurants already have outdoor dining spaces and do not need these Parklets, which are taking up parking
spaces. Many of the restaurants that have Parklets are only open late in the day, therefore these Parkets go unused
during normal retail business hours and are taking up valuable parking spots.
The Downtown has lost valuable parking spots not only to Parklets over the past few years but to new Hotels going in,
taking away hundreds of parking spaces without being replaced with the proposed new Parking Structure. With all
these spaces being taking away from our visitors to Downtown SLO have very limited parking available in the downtown
corridor itself.
It is my proposal to remove the Parklets that are not being used to their capacity and charge a monthly rental fee to
those restaurants who choose to keep their Parklets equal to the loss of income the Parking Department. I also support
an idea that shared Parklets between restaurants and food service be an option, limiting the amount of parking spaces
taken over by Parklets.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Maryalice Hamilton
Blackwater