HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-17; State Street Activation and Temporary Closure; |Rocha, Laura| Graham, David|To the members of the:
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Council Memorandum
July 17, 2020
To:
From:
Via:
Re:
Honorable Mayor H_all and Members of the City Council
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
David Graham, Chief Innovation OfficeQ
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~
State Street Activation and Temporary Closure
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2020148
State of California and County of San Diego public health orders have required the closure or
modification of operations for many businesses in Carlsbad. To address the closure of indoor
operations, or reduction of usable space, the city has implemented measures to allow for easier
activation of outdoor public and private spaces.
This memorandum provides information related to the economic response to the COVID-19
health emergency with a focus on activating private and public spaces including the temporary
closure of State Street.
Background
Recognizing the impact of state and county public health orders on businesses, the city has taken
steps to allow for the use of outdoor spaces for business operations to address for the loss of
indoor space.
State Street Farmers Market
Temporarily closing and activating State Street occurs regularly during the State Street Farmers
Market, which first launched in 1996. It is also closed for various other events, and in conjunction
with the closure of several streets in the Village for the Carlsbad Village Street Faire.
The farmers market reopened with modified operations on May 6, 2020, and has operated every
Wednesday since then. The current operations include:
• Approximately, 1,200-1,300 attendees with a high of 1800 attendees on July 15, 2020
• 43 vendors reduced from 56 pre-COVID-19
• Eliminating all tables, chairs and music
• Mandatory face coverings
• Social distancing markings and sanitization stations
• A-frame signage communicating safe practices
Administrative Services Branch
Office of Innovation & Economic Development
1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-434-5992
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
July 17, 2020
Page 2
• Vendors limited to packaged food, seafood, poultry, meat, meatless products and
produce
• At this time no hot food, crafters, or non-profit group booths are allowed
• Booths are taped off and the purchase is touchless with the vendor bagging the purchase
for the buyer
The famers market has adjusted from being a destination event pre-COVID-19 to operating like a
grocery store.
Engaging with the Carlsbad Village Association (CVA) and observing the operations of the farmers
market has informed the evaluation of the activation and temporary closure of State Street
during other times.
Temporary Closure and Activation of State Street
The city has had a high degree of engagement with the business community and they have been
instrumental in providing ideas for economic response, recovery, and revitalization assdciated
with the COVID-19 health emergency.
Given the need to provide more outdoor space for businesses that were restricted in their use of
indoor space, city staff began working on ideas from the time that the state and county ordered
businesses to close.
On May 8, 2020, city staff discussed the potential benefit of a temporary closure of State Street
to allow for more outdoor space for business operations.
On May 11, 2020, the relevant departments met to evaluate the idea. State Street, between
Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand Avenue, was initially identified as an area for potential
activation and temporary closure because of its logistical advantages. There are movable bollards
at each end of the street and the weekly closure due to the farmers market provided information
on potential operational impacts.
As a result of the meeting, city staff engaged with CVA on the idea of a temporary closure of
State Street between Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand Avenue to allow for increased pedestrian
activity and outdoor business operations.
To support the city in its efforts, CVA quickly put together a survey of businesses that would be
impacted. It focused on businesses along State Street between Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand
Avenue. The survey launched on May 16, 2020. -
During the COVID-19 Actions and Expenditures Report City Council item on May 19, 2020, city
staff reported to the City Council on the results of CVA's initial engagement with businesses. The
response rate of the survey was low with only 19 responses despite direct outreach from CVA.
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
July 17, 2020
Page 3
The following information was provided to the City Council:
• Overall 58% opposed the temporary closure for the creation of a pedestrian walkway
ve~us42%insupport
• A majority of those surveyed (55%) believed a closure and pedestrian activation would
have a negative impact on their businesses and only 35% believed it would have a
positive impact
• The elimination of parking was identified as a significant concern
• Concerns regarding curbside pick-up and delivery operations were identified
• Some businesses were open to a time-limited temporary closure like the farmers market
• Office uses were concerned that their parking would be impacted
The CVA provided a letter to the City Council summarizing the results oftheir survey and
recommending that more information be gathered including regarding the type and location of
the temporary closure.
In the presentation, city staff stated that they would proceed with conducting a survey of all
businesses along the State Street corridor.
Temporary Use of Public Sidewalks and Private Parking Lots
As a part of the reopening allowed by the state and county on May 21, 2020, restaurants that
could follow state guidance were allowed to resume dine-in functions. For many businesses the
modified dine-in operations reduced their space available for patrons and reduced occupancy.
However, it did allow for other revenue streams like curbside, take-out, and delivery service ..
While working on the idea of the temporary closure of State Street, city staff was working on
other measures to allow for the temporary use of outdoor public and private space citywide.
On June 9, 2020, city staff issued a memorandum regarding the temporary use of public
sidewalks and private property such as private parking lots during COVID-19. The memorandum
provided information on how the city would process permits for activating private parking lots
and city sidewalks.
City staff have aggressively promoted this program through social media, direct email
communication, incorporation in the joint communications with the Carlsbad Chamber of
Commerce and CVA, and one-on-one calls. To date, 19 permits have been submitted and 14 have
been issued.
Along State Street, permits have been issued for Jeune et Jolie, Pure Brewing, and permits for
Vigilluci's and Shorehouse Kitchen are in process. City staff are actively contacting businesses in
the Village and around the city to let them know that they can apply for this permit.
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
July 17, 2020
Page 4
City staff are also investigating the city's existing curb cafe regulations to determine whether that
may provide an additional route to expand outdoor operations for businesses.
Temporary Activation of State Street for Expanded Business Uses Survey
City staff developed and distributed an electronic survey regarding the temporary closure and
activation of State Street. It expanded the scope of potential closures to the entire State Street
corridor and presented several scenarios for temporary closure including:
• Closure 24 hours/day, seven days/week
• Daily closure from late afternoon until early Monday morning
• Closure from late Friday afternoon until early Monday morning
• Closure that still allows one-way vehicle traffic
The survey also was designed to gauge opinions on the factors that would impact business
operations and potential ways to mitigate the impacts.
To ensure a strong response rate, staff provided notice of the survey via email to every business
along State Street three times, via the CVA twice, and featured the survey in social media posts.
The engagement was also was designed to inform businesses of existing ways to permit
expanded outdoor operations.
To increase participation in the highest density area of State Street, staff partnered with CVA to
canvas the blocks between Beech Avenue and Oak Avenue, engaging 65 businesses in one day.
The survey closed on July 10, 2020, at 5 p.m. and had 46 total respondents.
On July 13, 2020, an informational item on State Street activation in response to COVID-19 was
presented to the Ad Hoc City Council Economic Revitalization Subcommittee.
Discussion
Forty-six businesses responded to the survey which is approximately 35% of the business license
holders along the corridor. The breakdown by business type is as follows:
• 35% retail
• 24% food and beverage
• 22% personal services
• 19% other
One goal of the survey was to educate businesses on existing options for outdoor activation.
Though there has been significant outreach with the business community on options to activate
public sidewalks and private places like parking lots, there are still businesses that could take
advantage of the program that are not applying. This survey found that 32% of businesses are
applying or want more information about applying to the city's program for temporary use of
public and private outdoor spaces.
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
July 17, 2020
Page 6
When gauging support or opposition for the four temporary closure scenarios there was no
scenario that gained a majority of support.
The scenario with the highest degree of support was a weekend closure starting from Friday
afternoon through Monday morning. The second highest was a daily closure in _the afternoon
through the following Monday. In both two scenarios support and opposition was split although
the intensity of opposition was higher than the intensity of support.
A closure of 24 hours a day for seven days of the week garnered the least amount of support. A
closure that still allowed for one lane of traffic to be open received the most amount of
opposition.
QUESTION: During the COVID-19 health emergency, businesses are required to modify
operations which may reduce the usable indoor space and occupancy of buildings. Would you
support the temporary closure (during stay-at-home order) to vehicles on State Street in front
of your business if you were allowed to expand customer service operations into the road, for
the following durations?
Closure Support/Strongly Undecided Oppose/Strongly
24/7 30% 22% 47%
Daily Aft/Evening 39% 20% 41%
Weekend Fri-Mon. 41% 18% 41%
One Lane Open 33% 15% 52%
Intensity of support or opposition can be viewed on a continuum with 100% being the strongest
support and 0% being the strongest opposition. The strongest support is the lighter colors of blue
while the strongest opposition are the darker colors with the middle color being undecided.
Opposition to the closure scenarios was generally more intense than support.
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
July 17, 2020
Page 10
Next Steps
The survey data will be shared with the CVA and Chamber of Commerce prior to presentation to
City Council. Insights that are derived from staff discussions with our business organizations will
be incorporated into the report to City Council.
Staff will present this survey data during the COVID-19 Actions and Expenditures Report City
Council item on July 28, 2020;
Staff will continue education and engagement with businesses on existing processes for
permitting public and private spaces.
Attachment: A. Temporary activation of state street for expanded business uses survey report
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney