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Council adopts expanded outdoor-dining program and Kirkwood conversion after public debate
Summary
After staff presentations, business testimony and council debate, the Common Council adopted an amended outdoor dining ordinance allowing parklets and an annual, staff-guided Kirkwood street conversion (March–November window) to support downtown activation and consistency for businesses.
The Bloomington Common Council on Jan. 22 adopted an amended ordinance to continue and broaden the city's outdoor dining program, authorizing both parklets and a predictable seasonal conversion of specified Kirkwood Avenue blocks subject to annually adopted program guidelines.
Jane Cooper Smith, director of Economic and Sustainable Development, reviewed the program's origins in the COVID response and staff improvements since 2020, including raised, ADA-accessible parklet platforms and updated accessibility standards. Staff said the ordinance's structure sets a March–November operating window while the Board of Public Works will adopt annual guidelines and dates.
Chaz Modinger, special projects manager, briefed council on outreach: staff surveyed 50 Kirkwood businesses and received 22 responses; about half supported full-block closure for the conversion, 40.9% supported parklets only and 9.1% opposed any outdoor-dining program. Staff said the guidelines will allow staff to tailor blocks each year for construction, ADA needs and business preferences.
Multiple downtown business owners and associations urged adoption for predictability. Galen Cassidy of Uptown Cafe said the conversion "has offered a lifeline for businesses" and business owners testified that closures encourage foot traffic, safety and investment. Some speakers and council members raised accessibility concerns; staff said they added robust ADA guidance (Exhibit B) and will inventory and adjust on-street ADA parking as needed. Staff also said they are seeking alternatives to orange-jersey barriers (concrete, steel, modular barriers or planters) and budgeted assistance to help businesses with accessibility upgrades.
The ordinance sets fee ranges and implementation details in subordinate guidelines; staff said current charges will remain similar to past practice and the ordinance places a ceiling on future fees. After debate about predictability versus flexibility, council approved Amendment 1 (a repeal-and-replace that incorporates the Kirkwood conversion and annual guidelines) and adopted Ordinance 2025-02 as amended, on a roll-call vote, 9–0.
The ordinance authorizes parklets citywide in the downtown overlay and a default Kirkwood conversion from the 100 East block through the 500 East block, with the precise blocks and dates set in yearly guidelines. Staff said a public planning process for Kirkwood is anticipated in 2025–2026.
