By JOSE HERRERA
LOS ANGELES — The City Council approved and finalized recommendations Friday to create a permanent al fresco program on private property, intended to bolster outdoor dining and support local restaurants.
Council members voted 14-0 in favor of a report detailing standards and policies of the al fresco program. The council requested the City Attorney’s Office to now prepare and present an ordinance, taking into consideration the guidelines in the report.
Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson was absent during the vote.
The program was briefly discussed during Wednesday’s council meeting. Councilman Tim McOsker then introduced an amendment that would require at least one vehicle parking space be available when an outdoor dining area is located in a building’s parking area.
Council members continued the item to Friday.
“This is sort of a linking-arms moment — an opportunity to see to a challenge and fix a challenge,” McOsker said prior to the vote.
Councilwoman Traci Park expressed her gratitude for the parties involved to help move this “very important work across the finish line.”
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“Al fresco helped hundreds of restaurants during the pandemic, keeping their doors open and money in the pockets of workers,” Park said. “And while many restaurants are still struggling and potentially face some troubling economic headwinds, today’s action is going to help protect your continued vitality and viability.”
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez recognized that the city has taken about three years to get to the point of finalizing the al fresco ordinance. She said the city should see to passing the program as to avoid “throwing monkey wrenches” in the ability of small restaurant owners to operate in the city.
According to a report from the Department of City Planning, the al fresco program has three key standards: city…
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