SAFFORD — Cost to reimburse the City of Safford for outdoor dining space was approved by the City Council Monday.
The new fee for a parklet — an outdoor dining space located in a city-owned parking area — is now a maximum of $5 per square foot.
“All we’re doing is giving ourselves an option,” said City Manager John Cassella. “So anybody applying to do a parklet would know that, depending on how we negotiate that agreement, we have the flexibility to go up to $5. It doesn’t mean it has to be $5, it means it could be that high and we would determine that as we sit down and negotiated each individual agreement.”
Parklets were first introduced as a way to help restaurants generate sales during the pandemic, and has now turned into a way of attracting more shoppers to retail areas.
The fee would be used to reimburse the city for construction of the parklet, as well as dismantling of the space should the business decide to discontinue outdoor dining. All items used to serve customers — such as tables, chairs, umbrellas, misters or heaters — would be the responsibility of the business.
Cassella said that, to date, just one business has applied for a parklet.
Mayor Jason Kouts said he would also like city staff to look at alternatives to business in the Downtown area placing trash bins on the curb. Staff said placement of two large communal bins is in the proposed 2021-22 budget and the city is in talks now to negotiate use of the ADOT parking lot for one and the Graham County vaccination building parking lot for the other.
