FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2020
Councilmember Palmer Encourages Cantrell Administration to Implement Parklet Program, Increasing Outside Occupancy for Restaurants and Businesses During COVID-19 
Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer
NEW ORLEANS -  District "C" Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer will introduce a resolution (R-20-134) at the regular meeting on Thursday, May 21, encouraging Mayor LaToya Cantrell to design and implement a parklet program for restaurants and businesses located along commercial streets. Parklets are defined as a small seating area or green space created in front of a business alongside a sidewalk or within a parking space(s). 

Restaurants are allowed to open during the City's Phase One COVID-19 reopening plan but must reduce indoor capacity to 25 percent occupancy. By activating open spaces such as parking spots, parklets would allow restaurants to increase occupancy with outdoor seating, generating additional revenue while adhering to social distancing requirements. 

The resolution also requests that the administration strongly consider allowing parklets on Frenchmen Street, St. Claude Avenue, and commercial streets in the French Quarter.  

"Parklets are an inexpensive and innovative way to allow restaurants to safely reopen and expand their serving areas. This concept has been implemented in other cities across the country, and creative, responsive policies such as parklets are necessary to support local restaurants and businesses through and even after the coronavirus health crisis, which has severely impacted the City's economy. Having a designated space could help create a more welcoming environment for locals to gather responsibly, while showing them what a progressive city can do to improve its physical environment. Mayor Cantrell has already started making progress for additional restaurant seating by suspending off-street parking and issuing temporary sidewalk use permits, and we would support her implementing a parklet program as well," said Councilmember Palmer.






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Media Contact:
Tiffaney Bradley
Communications Director
Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer, District "C"
(504) 295-4970
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New Orleans City Council
The New Orleans City Council is the legislative branch of New Orleans city government. The Council considers and enacts all local laws that govern the City of New Orleans. The Council also approves the operating and capital budgets for the City, as recommended by the mayor, and continually monitors revenues and expenditures for local government operations. The City Council is also the regulatory body for public utilities. It also reviews and has final say on many land use and zoning matters, as well as considers major economic development projects for the City. As a Board of Review for Orleans Parish, the Council examines appeals of property tax assessments for real estate taxes, and certifies tax rolls to the Louisiana Tax Commission. Other responsibilities of the Council include overseeing the operation of the public access television in Orleans Parish. Streaming video and video archives of the City Council's Regular and Committee meetings can be found on the City Council website .

The City Council is comprised of five districts and two Councilmembers-at-large. Council President and Councilmember-at-Large Jason R. Williams; Council Vice President and Councilmember-at-Large Helena Moreno; District "A" Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso; District "B" Councilmember Jay H. Banks; District "C" Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer; District "D" Councilmember Jared C. Brossett; and District "E" Councilmember Cyndi Nguyen.