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Council reviews draft allowing seasonal decor and seating on downtown sidewalks, removes fee and seasonal restriction
Summary
Council reviewed a draft ordinance permitting décor and movable seating in downtown sidewalks with a required 48-inch pedestrian walkway and liability insurance; the council removed the $25 permit fee and deleted the seasonal-placement restriction and the related permit-fee subsection and will return the edited draft for further consideration.
The Dike City Council reviewed a first-draft ordinance on Jan. 14 that would allow property owners in the downtown business district (Main Street between Elder and Front) to place movable décor and seating on the public sidewalk, subject to a permit and specific safety and spacing requirements.
Key provisions of the draft included definitions for “décor” and “seating,” a requirement that the sidewalk retain a clear 48-inch unobstructed walkway for pedestrians, a requirement that fixtures be movable (not permanently affixed), and an application process that originally required a site plan and proof of liability insurance naming the city as an additional insured. The draft also limited placement to the area between the building face and the 48-inch walkway and included enforcement and permit-revocation language.
During discussion council removed the $25 permit fee and directed staff to eliminate subsection C1 (the seasonal-placement restriction requiring placement only between April 1 and Nov. 1) and subsection D4. The edited ordinance will be returned to the council for further review at a future meeting.
The draft also references compliance with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act of 2008 for smoking restrictions in the seating area. Council did not adopt a final ordinance at the Jan. 14 meeting.
