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City staff: outdoor dining pilot is halfway through; code changes planned to make program permanent
Summary
City staff told the Downtown Management Commission the five-year outdoor dining pilot is halfway complete, that most participating businesses reported revenue gains, and that staff will seek code changes this year to make the program permanent.
Reagan, staff member, told the Downtown Management Commission on Jan. 14 that the city’s outdoor dining pilot is “citywide. It’s a 5 year pilot, currently expires in October of 2027.” She said staff plan to bring ordinance language to City Council later in 2025 to make a permanent code change.
Why it matters: the pilot allows businesses to install dining infrastructure in the public right of way and on private property; decisions about permanence and code will set rules for lighting, heating, maintenance and lease terms going forward.
Staff said the pilot offers two installation options in the public right of way: businesses can lease infrastructure from a city-approved vendor, ModStreet, or supply their own compliant infrastructure. ModStreet, based in Durango, has switched to outsourcing standard products and told staff it can supply approved installations in about six weeks, staff said. The current application window opens Feb. 1; staff will move to a rolling application process in February to reduce delays for businesses and to smooth workflow for city reviewers.
Staff surveyed current participants: 12 of 21 current participants responded. According to staff, “almost all” respondents agreed the program increases Boulder’s vibrancy; the respondents reported an average 7.3 percent increase in business revenue and said the program helped them hire 14 new employees and add hours for existing staff. Staff said survey feedback also called for clearer, shorter program guidance documents and an application timeline that better aligns with vendor lead times.
Reagan said staff will “simplify the guidelines” and embed a 6-week delivery expectation in briefings to ModStreet. She also confirmed leases for leased infrastructure run three years and that approved vendors will continue to be an option for businesses that do not wish to buy and maintain their own parklets.
What’s next: staff plan to present proposed ordinance language to City Council later this year that would make the program a permanent regulatory option, while keeping elements such as standards for lighting, heating and maintenance under city review. The rolling application change will begin in February.
Commissioners praised the program’s uptake and suggested staff continue reporting on business impacts and timing so Council can consider permanence with the operational details in hand.
