Council to vote on sidewalk cafes Monday

The Cape Girardeau City Council will give final readings of ordinances for sidewalk cafes and business licenses at its meeting Monday.

Items on the consent agenda include an ordinance setting rules for sidewalk cafes that would be permitted along some downtown streets, and an ordinance on business licenses and fees.

Rules would restrict sidewalk dining areas to in front of restaurants, ensuring pedestrian traffic is not blocked and requiring good-quality and well-maintained furniture. The ordinance would allow sidewalk cafes on Broadway between Water and Pacific streets, on Water Street between Broadway and Independence Street, and on Main and Spanish streets between Broadway and Merriwether Street.

City planner Ryan Shrimplin told council members Sept. 24 the ordinance will establish criteria for allowable furniture, dimensions and layout for outdoor cafe areas in downtown sidewalks.

The ordinance includes rules for the operation of sidewalk cafes, including allowable hours of operation and requirements related to safety and liquor licenses. The ordinance would allow the city to suspend permits when special event permits are issued and suspend or revoke permits if the city determines ordinance criteria or health regulations are not met.

After working to find ways to reduce the number of business license categories and change fees associated with each category, city staff determined the 154 business-license categories cannot be reduced because of possible conflicts with state law. However, a flat-fee annual business license fee will change to $40 a year.

Other issues, such as licenses for peddlers and traveling stores and mobile vending, need to be addressed as well as policies for mobile vending.

The city council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday at city hall.

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.