Saratoga is adding a pilot outdoor dining program to its efforts to improve economic vitality in its commercial areas.
The city council voted to form an ad hoc committee to spearhead those efforts in May, and the committee has since been surveying and meeting with community members. The ad hoc committee, led by Vice Mayor Belal Aftab and councilmember Chuck Page, presented an update on its efforts at the Aug. 21 council meeting.
Aftab announced that the city, in partnership with Hero Ranch Kitchen on Big Basin Way, will be piloting an outdoor dining project for the restaurant, which in this case refers to expanded dining on a widened sidewalk outside the establishment. The pilot program is still in the works, Aftab said, but the fine dining restaurant will foot the bill for construction and any related costs as city staff help out with the permitting process.
“This is a way for us to sort of iron out all of the kinks when it comes to outdoor dining and figure out what that process will look like,” Aftab said at the meeting.
The city council voted 4-0 to provide direction to the ad hoc committee, including plans to further develop the structure of the pilot program and look for other restaurants to join. Councilmember Kookie Fitzsimmons recused herself from the vote because of the possibility that it could affect areas within 500 feet of property she owns in the Saratoga Village.
The committee held a community listening session on June 11 and mailed out surveys to solicit feedback from business owners, landlords and commercial realtors on July 29. They plan to come back to the council with more details and responses before the end of the year, Aftab said.
A few members of the public turned out to speak at the meeting in support of the ongoing efforts to revitalize the city’s commercial areas, but some urged the city to take further action and do more to support the cause.
“These are steps in the right direction for our long-term goals for the Village,” restaurant owner Nick Miller said. “However, there are things that the city in tandem with the Chamber of Commerce can do in the short term to make the Village a destination. Some of those things that come to mind are a block party or small business Saturday or restaurant week, or even live music in the streets.”
