An ordinance co-sponsored by Ald. Tom Tunney (44) and Ald. Michele Smith(43) first introduced in July is up for committee consideration today. The ordinance would create a one-year Pilot Program for curbside cafes. Permits would cost $100, plus the anticipated cost of any lost parking meter revenue if a parking space is used for the cafe. The cafe would be placed “in a section of the traffic lane closest to the curb that is normally used for parking.”

Just one permit can be issued for a location on the same side of a block. The cafe area must be in a parking area that has less than 8 feet of sidewalk, and can't be longer than 25 feet, nor can it "unduly interfere" with foot or vehicle traffic or parking, or extend into a bike lane. Cafes can operate between 8:00 a.m. and midnight, and can’t have live or recorded music playing.