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Colfax council narrows outdoor-dining footprint, votes to shift seating north and maintain area
Summary
After months of ad-hoc installations and ADA concerns, Colfax council directed staff to move the temporary outdoor-dining footprint 1.5 parking spaces north, clean and maintain it, and pursue phased engineering and design work.
The Colfax City Council on March 26 voted to relocate and continue maintaining the downtown outdoor-dining area on North Main Street after staff and council concluded the existing installation was not ADA-compliant in its current position.
Staff reported that a recent field survey found the walking surface around the current dining area exceeded the two-percent slope maximum required under accessibility guidance for permanent installations, and that placing permanent features such as fence footings would trigger full compliance obligations. Carl Moore, the city engineer, told the council the correct process is to obtain a topographic survey, civil design and, where needed, geotechnical input before making permanent upgrades.
Councilors and business owners debated options including reducing the footprint, moving the seating slightly north so it aligns better with neighboring storefronts, selecting different paving materials (asphalt, concrete, decomposed granite or decking), and staging the work in phases to fit the available budget. Merchant and property owners expressed concerns about lost parking, maintenance, and the appearance of the temporary ramp and fencing already in place.
After extended public comment from downtown business owners and patrons, the council considered competing motions. The council adopted a motion — by majority voice/roll call — to move the current seating footprint 1.5 parking spaces to the north, direct staff to clean and maintain the area, and have a two-member ad hoc committee meet with staff to develop phased design options and cost estimates, including topographic work and possible landscape-architect input. Staff was also instructed to consult with an ADA specialist and to refine cost estimates; councilors identified decomposed granite (DG), sealing methods, decking and concrete as options to evaluate and noted maintenance trade-offs.
Council members emphasized a phased approach: create a smaller, usable phase 1 that meets ADA and safety requirements while deferring more expensive permanent work until budget or grant resources are available.
