Palm Desert council backs removable-sidewalk plan for permanent outdoor dining

The Palm Desert City Council on Thursday directed staff to continue developing a permanent outdoor dining program that would allow restaurants to use public parking spaces if they build removable, accessible sidewalks.

The proposal would replace the city’s temporary outdoor dining program, which began in 2020 and is set to expire June 30, 2027.

Deputy Director of Development Services Carlos Flores told the council during a study session that without a permanent program, the two restaurants currently using public right of way — Kitchen 86 and Little Bar — would have to remove their structures by that deadline. Outdoor dining entirely on private property would remain permitted.

Under the proposed rules, restaurants expanding onto adjacent public sidewalks would have to build replacement walkways in the street, typically occupying parking spaces.

The approach would keep outdoor seating connected to the restaurant rather than requiring servers to cross a public sidewalk. Flores said that would simplify compliance with alcohol-service regulations while addressing accessibility concerns.

To explore the concept, the city hired a consultant under a contract worth just under $40,000 to develop designs using removable pedestal pavers.

Preliminary estimates put the cost of a 120-square-foot replacement sidewalk between $12,000 and $21,000, depending on features such as planters and specialty materials.

The consultant developed three design options: one with wheel stops at either end of the walkway; a second, known as A2, that adds a white stripe and vertical delineator posts; and a third incorporating a ramp for longer restaurant frontages.

Similar concepts were developed for the Highway 111 frontage roads, where angled parking could result in the loss of an additional space compared with El Paseo.

Several council members raised questions about how the designs would work in practice. Councilmembers Karina Moreno and Gina Nestande said they had difficulty visualizing the proposed layouts.

Flores explained that staff had postponed preparing renderings until the council indicated whether it wanted to proceed. He also said staff had been unable to find comparable examples of such sidewalks next to moving traffic in other cities.

Mayor Evan Trubee and Councilmember Jan Harnik favored the A2 design, including both wheel stops and a painted stripe. Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto supported requiring restaurants that occupy public space to pay for its use and contribute to building accessible, high-quality sidewalks.

Pradetto and Harnik also cautioned against applying the same design everywhere. They said the Highway 111 frontage road near Little Bar differs significantly from El Paseo and would likely require a separate approach.

Pradetto noted that the area attracts visitors traveling to specific destinations rather than pedestrians strolling between businesses.

Based on the discussion, Flores summarized the council’s direction as favoring the A2 design for El Paseo while allowing restaurants elsewhere to participate through individually tailored designs.

The program would operate through ongoing, revocable licenses subject to periodic review. Staff would also evaluate whether to retain the existing annual fee of $7.08 per square foot and develop objective design standards, with restaurant operators responsible for preparing their own plans.

Moreno, however, opposed moving forward, questioning whether the effort justified the staff time involved with only two restaurants currently participating.

Flores acknowledged that PizzaVino, a former participant, and Little Bar had indicated the proposed approach might not work for them, while Kitchen 86 could relocate. He said staff had received no other expressions of interest.

Moreno argued that the program “has fizzled” and cautioned that describing it as permanent could mislead restaurant operators, particularly because the state rules governing such arrangements have been extended repeatedly.

The discussion also touched on possible limits to the number of outdoor dining decks. At Moreno’s suggestion, Flores said staff could explore restrictions based on the total number of decks, linear feet occupied or the number allowed per block.

Harnik suggested considering the effect on public parking availability.

Staff plans to return with a final program proposal, with the goal of adopting new rules before the temporary program expires in June 2027.