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Committee extends Active Streets for Business and directs ordinance work to move program to licensing
Summary
DPW told the committee it is extending the Active Streets for Business program and working with Licensing and the City Attorney’s Office to revise the ordinance so licensing — rather than DPW — will handle permits and enforcement for activations created during the pandemic‑era program.
The committee recommended extending the Active Streets for Business program and heard that DPW and the city attorney are preparing ordinance revisions to move administration into the licensing division.
DPW coordination manager James Washington said the program — which includes sidewalk cafes, parklets and street activations — was initially handled administratively by DPW and later codified. Washington told the committee the city intends to shift oversight to licensing to provide “more due process” and an enforcement pathway tied to licensing rules, appeals and neighbors’ rights.
Aldermen asked whether neighbors would be able to object to closures and how support would be measured. Washington said the department historically consulted area aldermen and sought neighborhood support; for some activations DPW would require 51% support of affected neighbors to proceed.
The committee unanimously recommended adoption of the extension request while staff continue ordinance drafting, with a target to finalize changes before the next application season.
