City adopts new cafe ordinance

SANDPOINT — Just in time for spring, city officials are hoping a newly-approved sidewalk cafe ordinance will encourage business owners to bring their goods outside.

The ordinance, which was unanimously approved at April’s council meeting, streamlines existing cafe rules, clarifies federal sidewalk guidelines and generally makes it easier for business owners to extend their services outside, according to Councilman Stephen Snedden, who spearheaded the changes.

“I looked at our existing sidewalk cafe ordinance and it was so unwieldy, it was so difficult and complex to just put a couple of chairs and a table outside a restaurant and just enjoy Sandpoint by eating a meal or having a glass of wine outside,” Snedden said.

Among other changes, the new ordinance allows business owners to serve alcohol at sidewalk cafes without serving food. The previous ordinance said alcohol could be served outside only when included in a meal. Other changes include a ban on smoking and less specific requirements for sidewalk cafe enclosures and railings.

Councilwoman Carrie Logan said she hopes the ordinance will stimulate the local economy and create a more lively downtown. Logan rejects the idea that banning smoking will limit certain types of businesses and said it was a necessary part of the ordinance.

“I don’t think you should be smoking around food, and that’s a state law,” Logan said. “You can’t have smoking around food, so if you’re going to extend restaurant service outside in a cafe, that rule goes with it.”

Few local businesses currently offer sidewalk cafes, and Snedden said he would revisit and alter the new ordinance if any of the changes adversely effect those businesses. He said he will keep an eye on existing sidewalk cafes, such as Monarch Mountain Coffee, to see how the ordinance is working.

“If this ordinance fails a business like Monarch Mountain Coffee, if this fails them then I’m willing to give it another try so we can get something closer to working for everyone,” he said.