St. Paul takes up sidewalk rules

There are more options for sidewalk dining and imbibing in St. Paul these days, and that's putting the squeeze on the original purpose of the concrete walkways: transportation.

While some folks sit and sip, others who want to get from one place to another are finding too many obstacles.

Proposed ordinance changes, introduced at the St. Paul City Council meeting Wednesday, aim to clearly spell out how sidewalk space gets divided and align the city's rules with federal accessibility regulations. The city has been behind in updating its code to comply with the federal rules.

"It really has to be accessible for all," said council Member Dave Thune, whose Second Ward includes downtown. He is sponsoring the proposed changes.

Under the proposed ordinance, businesses would be required:

•To get a license from the Safety and Inspections Department and an "obstruction permit" from Public Works

•To at all times keep clear a minimum of four feet of sidewalk, starting no closer than six inches from the curb, for passersby. That's an increase from the current three-foot requirement.

Restaurants would not be able to serve people outside before 7 a.m. and, except for downtown eateries, after 10 p.m., according to the proposed changes.

The proposal also spells out that grates around trees need to comply with federal rules and it allows for cafes to be set up close to the curb instead of against the building.

In September, a Lowertown restaurant tested a temporary sidewalk made of wood decking that sat in the street where vehicles park. The proposed ordinance changes would make such temporary decks legal.

Rick Cardenas, a downtown resident and longtime accessibility advocate, said the city has been slow to update its accessibility requirements. Still, he welcomed the proposed changes. "It's a big improvement over where we were," he said.

Michael Samuelson, who has been prodding the city for more than a year to make the changes, said the proposal doesn't go far enough. He's anxious to see additional guidelines that will be made public in a couple of weeks.

"It's been a great trend and a great way to bring more vitality to street life," said Joe Spencer, arts and culture aide for Mayor Chris Coleman. Still, he said, the rules for sidewalk cafes need to be clearly defined, both for accessibility reasons and so business owners know what's expected.

A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Nov. 17.