City Council Minutes 2024 03 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes March 19, 2024 Page 4 of 14 closure. Staff has brought a Main Street closure option for Council to consider. The Revitalization Commission and the Chamber also support this request. Staff is proposing a closure of the 600-800 blocks of Main Street from April 29 to November 8. All east -west streets would remain open to vehicular traffic and the RTD bus would be temporarily re-routed to LaFarge Avenue. There would be a required 16- foot fire lane with an additional 2-foot buffer on each side down the center of Main Street. The rest of the street could be used for restaurant seating and activation. Staff would design and install directional signage in downtown to help people find parking and avoid the closure. The closure would look very much like the COVID closure. Restaurants could consider communal dining areas on each block. Areas not being used for restaurant seating could be used for activities. Staff has asked the DBA to take on the activation of those areas. Councilmember Hamlington asked if the seasonal patios would be used with tables for the restaurants. Community Development Director Zuccaro stated they would not be used as they take up a great deal of space and keep it from being a totally open area. Councilmember Kern asked Fire Chief Willson to explain the 16-foot fire lane. Chief Willson stated that would accommodate a fire truck with its stabilizers extended and allow the truck doors to open safely. He stated the width could be reduced slightly to 14 feet for short sections if desired. Councilmember Bierman asked how a parking plan would work. Director Zuccaro stated people would be directed to park in DELO as that has the most parking available. There would be in an information campaign to direct people there. Staff would look to see if any businesses would lease additional parking to the City for this as well. Councilmember Hoefner asked if the dates could be altered or perhaps have the seasonal patios April — November with a full closure in June and July. Director Zuccaro stated the dates align with previous seasonal patios but could be changed. Councilmember Kern asked if traffic could be routed down Front Street rather than La Farge. Director Zuccaro stated it could be done but reminded her that the downtown businesses depend on the first couple of blocks on either side of Main Street for parking when the street is open and it likely would just push that parking further west into the neighborhood if the street is closed. Councilmember Kern asked if the closure were delayed some could staff create a system for at least some resident parking. Director Zuccaro stated that would not be enough time to create such a program. Councilmember Kern asked if there would be a way to do the patios for some of the time and do a full closure for some of that time. Deputy City Clerk Kline noted that each