Committee recommends ordinance to treat Mendel Street parklet as curbside shared space

The Rules Committee voted on April 1 to forward an ordinance that would waive specific Administrative Code requirements so that a food-service shared space at 1429 Mendel Street can be considered a curbside shared space. The clerk described the item as waiving provisions to allow a fixed commercial parklet at the site to qualify under Chapter 94A of the Administrative Code, conditioned on compliance with public-health, safety and design regulations and affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

A committee member provided background that Old School Cafe, a youth-run supper club at that address, installed a parklet on a public right-of-way during the COVID-19 emergency. The speaker said the parklet sits in an area closed to vehicular traffic and therefore does not meet the existing curbside-shared-space definition; the ordinance would permit a waiver to regular location requirements so the business can be treated consistently with other shared spaces.

No public speakers appeared on the item. Vice Chair Shamone Walton moved and the committee voted unanimously to forward the ordinance to the full Board with a recommendation. The clerk will place the item on the Board agenda as scheduled.