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Monroe City adopts outdoor-furniture ordinance and approves $79,443 Phase 2 purchase for downtown
Summary
Council adopted an ordinance adding Title 15, Section 160.1 to set downtown outdoor furniture standards and approved Phase 2 furniture and accessories from Sister Bay for Franklin, Main and Haines streets at $79,442.80; funding was approved in the FY26 budget with a small project overage covered by staff.
On Sept. 9 Monroe City Council adopted an ordinance adding Section 160.1 to Title 15 of the Monroe ordinances establishing standards for outdoor furniture within the downtown district and approved Phase 2 of a downtown furniture purchase from Sister Bay totaling $79,442.80.
Donna O’Keefe presented the ordinance and Phase 2 plan. She told council the ordinance sets location and design standards for outdoor furniture on sidewalks — including a minimum of five feet of clear pedestrian passage — and establishes rules for business-owned umbrellas and bases. O’Keefe said the ordinance is intended to create a consistent downtown look, protect pedestrian passability (stroller and wheelchair access), and reduce liability exposure from mismatched or unsuitable furniture currently in place.
O’Keefe said Phase 1 (the alley) used the same product line and was installed earlier in 2025; Phase 2 will use a matching product in a different color. The Phase 2 purchase covers outdoor furnishings for Main Street, Franklin Street and Haines Street. The list of businesses that will receive furniture (where furniture had been present or requested) includes Courthouse Pour, Peddlers Paradise, Oasis, Local Logic, Jam’s Pizza, Patty and the Dogs, Gingham Girls, East Franklin, Gin Gin and a recently opened boba tea business. Two additional trash cans like those installed in the alley are included to accommodate increased downtown foot traffic.
O’Keefe said staff found an identical umbrella product from a relatively local supplier at roughly one-third the cost of the originally proposed umbrella; businesses will own the umbrellas if they choose to purchase them. She also said some businesses with existing furniture in good condition are being grandfathered until the furniture reaches a replacement condition.
Finance staff confirmed $77,000 of the Phase 2 cost was approved in the FY26 budget; O’Keefe indicated remaining overage would be covered from other funds in her department’s budget. The downtown advisory board recommended the ordinance and Phase 2 purchase.
A council member asked whether businesses would be restricted to buying the city-selected product; O’Keefe said businesses may propose alternative products that staff would evaluate for material, color and similarity. The council voted to adopt the ordinance and approve the Phase 2 furniture purchase; the motion to adopt and authorize execution of necessary documents was seconded and approved by hand-raise. The ordinance amendment and purchase were recorded as council approvals in the meeting minutes.
