Economic Vitality Committee Agenda and Packet 2024 01 26

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L: Cityof ECONOMIC VITALITY COMMITTEE Louisville COLORADO • SINCE 1878 SUBJECT: DISCUSSION/DIRECTION — TEMPORARY MAIN STREET CLOSURE FOR 2024 DATE: JANUARY 19, 2024 PRESENTED BY: AUSTIN BROWN, ECONOMIC VITALITY SPECIALIST SUMMARY: In 2020, the City closed Main Street to vehicular traffic, block -by -block from Walnut Street to Elm Street. The closure began on June 10, 2020 and continued through December 4, 2020. The closure was a significant component of the City's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions this placed on small businesses, particularly restaurants. In 2021, the City again closed Main Street to vehicular traffic from April 26 to November 1. The 2021 closure included an emergency access lane down each closed block of Main Street in order to accommodate improved emergency access. In both instances, RTD rerouted the DASH bus from Main Street to LaFarge Avenue. Main Street was not closed at all in 2022 or 2023 following the elimination of indoor dining restrictions. The City reinstated its outdoor patio program for these years. DISCUSSION: Both the Downtown Business Association (DBA) and the Louisville Revitalization Commission (LRC) submitted letters to Council in support of temporarily closing Main Street in 2024 (Attachments #1 and #2). The DBA's request specifically asks for the closure of the 600 to 900 blocks of Main Street from March to November. To help support its request, the DBA conducted three surveys. The results of the surveys are summarized below: • A survey of restaurants on and near Main Street showed over 90% of respondents would support the closure (with two non -respondents). • A survey of 190 present and former DBA members also showed over 90% support. • A survey exclusively of the businesses in the 900 block of Main Street shows 100% support among those who responded. This third survey is still ongoing. City Council will be discussing this item during its January 16 meeting. If the City were to explore a temporary closure for 2024, it may make sense to start with the closure plan for 2021 as a guide (Attachment #1). As a note, this map only indicates restaurants that participated in the 2021 program. An overview of the 2021 closure plan is included below: • Main Street was closed block -by -block from Walnut Street to Elm Street, with all eastbound and westbound streets remaining open to vehicular traffic. Agenda Packet P. 11