Staff recommends decreasing outside eating as indoor restaurant restrictions are eased
Avalon staff updated the council on the status of outdoor dining Tuesday, March 16. The council received and filed a staff report about outdoor dining, which was written before LA County officially moved into the Red Tier. Basically, staff advises phasing out the outdoor dining as pandemic restrictions phase in the indoor dining.
The Red Tier allows indoor dining at 25% capacity. Los Angeles County moved into the Red Tier of pandemic restrictions earlier this week.
The outdoor dining update was a Consent Calendar item.
“To date, 11 restaurants have utilized the City’s outdoor dining program — Catalina Cantina, Coyote Joe’s, El Galleon, Luau Larry’s, The M, Maggie’s Blue Rose, Mi Casitas, Steve’s Steakhouse, Three Palms Arcade, NDMK Seafood and the Lobster Trap,” wrote City Manager Denise Radde and Administrative Analyst Devin Hart in their staff report to the council.
“As weather improves, and restrictions on indoor dining become more lenient, City Staff recommend implementing a process that would phase out outdoor dining as indoor dining phases in,” Radde and Hart wrote.
“Staff proposes once indoor dining resumes at 25%, outdoor dining is reduced by 25% based on the maximum permitted allowance of tables and chairs approved for each restaurant,” Radde and Hart wrote.
“At this time only three restaurants have been utilizing the beach for breakfast and/or lunch service — Maggie’s Blue Rose, NDMK and Luau Larry’s. Lunchtime operations would be subject to the same proposed phasing as dinner,” Radde and Hart wrote.
“Staff propose allowing these restaurants to continue to operate at their current capacity for breakfast and lunchtime service on the beach until indoor dining restrictions are lifted by 25% or until April 1, 2021 — whichever date is sooner,” Radde and Hart wrote.
“On April 1, 2021, regardless if indoor dining restrictions have not been lifted, the restaurants will be asked to reduce capacity so that more people can enjoy the beach,” Radde and Hart wrote.
The Lobster Trap is currently allowed to use the sidewalk adjacent to the restaurant (and across the street) from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., according to their report. Avalon city staff recommended allowing The Lobster Trap to use the sidewalk until May 18 or until indoor restrictions are completely eliminated, according to the report.
