Item 4B- MemoITEM 4B
M E M O R A N D U M
July 27, 2020
TO: Southlake City Council
FROM: Kenneth Baker, Sr. Director of Planning and Development Services
SUBJECT: Approve Resolution No. 20-030, ratifying new and existing temporary
regulations and activities for Southlake businesses during the COVID-19
emergency until September 30, 2020 and authorizing the City Manager
to extend, implement or enact these or similar temporary regulations or
activities beyond September 30, 2020.
Requested Action:
The purpose of this item is to ratify new and existing temporary regulations (deregulations)
and activities for Southlake businesses during the COVID-19 emergency until September 30,
2020 and authorizing the City Manager to enact, extend, or implement simi lar types of
regulations or activities beyond September 30, 2020. The staff is requesting that the City
Council ratify all existing temporary regulations in place related to the COVID-19 emergency.
Also staff is requesting that the City Council consider the ratification of a new regulations to
allow public and private medical or health preparedness related practices or businesses to
set up offsite and/or outdoor for vaccination or testing related services in accordance with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Background:
The City of Southlake realizes that businesses are being severely impacted by the
coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency. To support restaurants and other businesses in
succeeding and to create a safer environment for the public, the City has suspended
enforcement of certain temporary sign code, parking, outdoor patio, landscaping and
sidewalk sale regulations. The City has also allowed tents to be set up outside of the
business for food/merchandise pick up and check out and has allowed food trailers/trucks
to set up if associated with a brick and mortar buildings.
Specifically, the purpose of the suspension of some regulations is to allow businesses to
more effectively communicate with their customers that they are open and hours of
operation, provide information on standard health protocols related to operations,
communicate any Federal, State, or County guidelines related to COVID-19, provide an
opportunity to allow commerce to occur in an outdoor setting including sho pping, dining and
carry-out or provide temporary relief to outdoor landscape requirements (cost savings).
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 2
The staff is requesting that the City Council ratify all existing temporary regulations in place
related to the COVID-19 emergency. Also staff is requesting that the City Council consider
the ratification of a new regulations to allow public and private medical or health
preparedness related practices or businesses to set up offsite and/or outdoor for
vaccination or testing related services in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention guidelines.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused healthcare providers to change how they operate to
continue to provide essential services to patients due to social distancing guidelines and
practices. As such, it is critical that the City provide an opportunity to allow health and
testing related businesses that conduct immunization or testing related services the
opportunity to provide this function in the safest manner possible.
The proposed new regulation would allow medical and health professionals to provide
vaccination or testing related services outside the normal office or clinic setting. The
provision specifically will allow for the setup of clinics or centers for vaccination or testing
purposes at walk through sites (churches, outdoor tents, community facilities), mobile,
curbside or in parking lot settings. This provision is applicable whether the service is routine
vaccination (i.e. back-to -school or annual flu vaccination), testing related to the COVID-19
pandemic, or emergency vaccination (i.e. pandemic influenza or COVID-19 vaccination).
Structures such as tents, mobile units or similar structures will be allowed to be setup at the
off-site location in conjunction with the service to allow for safe storage, handling,
distribution, processing and preparation of vaccine or testing product/equipment. Also,
temporary signage to promote the service, provide directional information to the public or
provide information on standard health protocols related to the operation is permitted.
Prior to allowing an outside or offsite operation to occur, a business will need to submit a
request to receive approval from the Planning and Development Services Department. A
brief application noting the location, site layout, signage, proposed structures and traffic
circulation will be required. The application will be reviewed and approved administratively
by the Planning and Development Services and Fire Departments.
Proposed New Regulation (Deregulation):
Off-Site or Outside Vaccination or Testing
1. Medical and health professional services are permitted to provide vaccination or testing
related services off-site or outside from the normal office or clinic setting.
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 3
2. Vaccination or testing clinics/centers associated with a medical or health operation may
set up operations at walk through sites (churches, outdoor tents, community facilities),
mobile, curbside, parking lot areas or other similar settings.
3. Structures such as tents, mobile units or similar structures will be allowed to be setup at
the off-site location in conjunction with the service.
4. Temporary signage to promote the service, provide directional information to the public
or provide information on standard health protocols related to the operation is permitted.
5. Prior to approval an off-site vaccination/testing application must be submitted to the
Planning and Development Services Department for approval. The application will require
information such as the location of the operation, site layout, signage, proposed s tructures
and traffic circulation will be required. The application will be reviewed and approved
administratively by the Planning and Development Services and Fire Departments.
Existing Regulations (Deregulation):
Temporary Sign Regulations
Effective immediately the City will not enforce certain temporary sign regulations subject to
the following:
The following apply only to a retail business, restaurants, gyms, exercise facilities, personal
care and beauty services.
1. A business can select any two (2) of the three (3) following types of temporary signs (a
through c) to be placed at the site of its location (no off -site signage is permitted):
a. Each business may have up to two large temporary signs not to exceed 25 square feet
for each sign type per location. The sign can be freestanding or on the building (roof
mounted signs are not permitted). Examples of large temporary signs include the following :
banner sign; feather sign; A-frame sign; flat panel sign or similar sign type). Inflatable signs
are not permitted. Also, signs must not be affixed to trees.
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 4
Feather Sign A-frame sign Banner sign
b. Each business may have up to three (3) temporary yard signs per location.
c. Each business may utilize up to 50% of its window area for temporary window signage.
2. In addition to the signage listed above, a business may also utilize the following sign
types.
a. Each business may have necessary signage to communicate any Federal, State, or
County guidelines related to COVID-19.
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 5
b. Each business may have temporary directional signage related to picking up
merchandise or food.
3. Signs must be located on the property of the business. Off -site signs are prohibited.
4. Signs cannot be located in travel lanes, block sight distance at intersections, or located
in any manner that results in a safety issue.
5. Temporary signs cannot be internally illuminated.
6. All temporary signs must be properly maintained.
7. The temporary signs exempted from normal requirements under this provision must be
directional in nature. The signs may identify the businesses name, hours of operation,
open or closed status, hours of operation, or method of service delivery (pick-up, take out,
curbside ordering, etc.) The signs subject to this enforcement exemption may not be used
to advertise a particular product or service, but shall be limited to directional or operational
information only.
The City wants to avoid excessive clutter that results in less than effective messaging. If
temporary sign rules are not followed, or if in the City’s judgement too many signs are
placed in an area, the City reserves the right to work with businesses to collaboratively
reduce the number of signs. The City respectively asks that business place its signs in a
secure and respectful manner that maintains Southlake’s aesthetic visual roadway
standards.
Restaurant Patio Areas
Temporary patio dining areas must meet the following criteria:
1. Must be approved by the City’s Fire Marshal.
2. Must not exceed 25% of the restaurants indoor dining square footage area or 800
square feet, whichever is less.
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 6
3. Barriers must demarcate the patio dining area. Barriers can include temporary
wood, metal or synthetic fencing, planters, or other devices approved by the Fire
Marshal.
4. Sidewalk clearance ADA standards (36”) must be maintained.
5. Must be located on-site and not create a safety or traffic hazard.
6. Cannot be located within a fire lane.
7. Shall be maintained in a clean and orderly fashion and meet all applicable County
and State regulations and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Control Regulations.
8. Furniture, tables and umbrellas must be stored inside the building overnight.
Temporary Sidewalk Regulations
Temporary Sidewalk Sales
The City will allow retailers to display and sale merchandise outdoors during the COVID -19
emergency subject to the following:
Participation
1) Only local retailers who own or lease commercial building space within the city limits
shall be permitted to display and sale merchandise.
Hours of Sidewalk Sales
1) Sidewalk sales can occur anytime during normal business hours but must cease by
9:00 PM.
2) All merchandise and tables, racks, etc. used to display merchandise must be
returned to the store interior by 9:30 PM.
3) No merchandise shall be displayed outside the store earlier than one (1) hour prior
to opening.
Merchandise Displays
1) Display of merchandise or any activity associated with the event must be either 1)
on a sidewalk or designated walkway in front of the principal building leased or owned
by the merchant, and/or 2) in a hard surfaced parking area located on the same lot or
in the same development as the principle building leased or owned by the merchant
and only where the parking is off-street.
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 7
2) Merchandise must be displayed on racks, tables or similar displays unless the
merchandise is normally displayed on the floor.
3) Any merchandise sold as part of the sidewalk sale must come directly from the
participating store’s inventory.
4) Sales may not occur from a vehicle (car or truck) or trailer.
5) No merchandise shall be displayed or sold in the fire lane or vehicu lar travel way.
6) No merchandise shall be displayed or sold in designated accessible parking spaces,
landscaped or loading areas.
7) Each merchant shall be required to maintain a 44” wide clear right -of-way for
pedestrians using the sidewalk/walkway.
8) The display shall not obstruct doorways nor impede pedestrian traffic and all
Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accessibility requirements must be maintained.
9) Normal ingress and egress to and from the merchant’s store or premises shall not
be impaired.
10) No more than 15% of the designated private parking area shall be used to display
or sale merchandise.
11) Merchandise is prohibited to be displayed greater than 30 feet from the store front.
12) Sales transactions can occur within the established sidewalk sale areas.
Miscellaneous Requirements
1) Merchants are responsible for displaying merchandise in a manner that ensures the
health, safety and welfare of the public and all Federal, State and County guidelines
related to the COVID -19 must be followed.
2) Suspension on prohibition on outdoor sidewalk sales regulations will continue at
least through Sunday, May 31st and the City will consider extending the time period if
warranted.
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 8
Landscaping
Landscaping: Defer the replacement of any required tree, bush or landscaping materials
on non-residential properties until the Spring of 2021 (April 15th).
Parking
Parking Standards: Allow the designation of a required parking spaces as curbside parking
spaces for pick up, delivery or paying for transactions. Up to 30% of required parking spaces
can be designated for curbside pickup and delivery but not more than 15 spaces for any
business.
Other Activities
In order to assist businesses to create a safer environment for the public and workers, the
City may allow certain activities for a temporary period such as tents and tables to be set up
outside of the business for food/merchandise pick up , transactions (check-out lines) or
protecting customers as they que up to enter a business from the outside and allow food
trailers/trucks to set up when associated with a brick and mortar building to permit customers
to order food in an outdoor environment.
Financial
Considerations: None
Strategic Link: Focus Area: Safety and Security
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 9
Corporate Objective: C4 -Attract and keep top tier businesses to drive a
dynamic and sustainable economic environment.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: N/A
Legal Review: The City Attorney has reviewed the proposed policy.
Alternatives: Changes as may be desired by the City Council.
Deny the request.
Supporting
Documents: Attachment A: Resolution No. 20-030
Staff
Recommendation: City Council approval of Resolution No. 20-030.
ATTACHMENT A
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 10
RESOLUTION NO. 20-030
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE,
TEXAS, RATIFYING NEW AND EXISTING TEMPORARY REGULATIONS
AND ACTIVITIES FOR SOUTHLAKE BUSINESSES DURING THE COVID -
19 EMERGENCY UNTIL JUNE 30, 2020 AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXTEND, IMPLEMENT OR ENACT THESE OR SIMILAR
TEMPORARY REGULATIONS AND ACTIVITIES BEYOND SEPTEMBER
30, 2020.
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake desires to support restaurants and retail businesses
providing services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake has suspended enforcement of certain temporary
sign code regulations to allow these businesses to more effectively communicate with their
customers that they are open and hours of operation, provide information on standard health
protocols related to operations, and communicate any Federal, State, or County guidelines
related to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake has suspended enforcement of certain outdoor
patio dining regulations to provide an opportunity to increase spacing requirements between
parties or allowing for dining in an outdoor environment; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake has suspended enforcement of certain outdoor
sidewalk sales regulations to provide an opportunity to increase spacing requirements
between shoppers and allow for shopping to occur in an outdoor environment; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake has suspended enforcement of certain outdoor
sidewalk sales regulations to provide an opportunity to increase spacing requirements
between shoppers and allow for shopping to occur in an outdoor environment; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake will allow certain temporary activities such as tents
and tables to be set up outside of the business for food/merchandise pick up, transactions
(check out lines) or protecting customers from weather elements as they que up to enter a
business from the outside and allow food trailers/trucks to set up with an associated with a
brick and mortar building to permit customers to order food in an outdoor environment ; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake will allow medical and health professionals to
provide vaccination or testing related services outside the normal office or clinic setting such
as walk through sites (churches, outdoor tents, community facilities), mobile locations,
curbside, parking lots or other similar settings.
WHEREAS, the regulations and activities are outlined in Exhibit #1 of this resolution;
and
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 11
WHEREAS, the City wishes to provide the City Manager with authorization to enact
similar types of temporary regulations or activities or extend these temporary regulations
(exhibit #1) beyond September 30, 2020 during the COVID-19 emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 1. The City of Southlake hereby approves and adopts the following resolution
effective immediately and expires May 30, 2021.
Section2. That this resolution is in effect upon passage and adoption by the City Council.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS THE ____ DAY OF ________________________,
2020.
_____________________________________
Laura K. Hill, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Amy Shelley, City Secretary
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 12
Exhibit #1
Off-Site or Outside Vaccination or Testing
1. Medical and health professional services are permitted to provide vaccination or testing
related services off-site or outside from the normal office or clinic setting.
2. Vaccination or testing clinics/centers associated with a medical or health operation may
set up operations at walk through sites (churches, outdoor tents, community facilities),
mobile, curbside, parking lot areas or other similar settings.
3. Structures such as tents, mobile units or similar structures will be allowed to be setup at
the off-site location in conjunction with the service.
4. Temporary signage to promote the service, provide directional information to the public
or provide information on standard health protocols related to the operation is permitted.
5. Prior to approval an off-site vaccination/testing application must be submitted to the
Planning and Development Services Department for approval. The application will require
information such as the location of the operation, site layout, signage, proposed structures
and traffic circulation will be required. The application will be reviewed and approved
administratively by the Planning and Development Services and Fire Departments.
Temporary Sign Regulations
Effective immediately the City will not enforce certain temporary sign regulations subject to
the following:
The following apply only to a retail business, restaurants, gyms, exercise facilities, personal
care and beauty services.
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 13
1. A business can select any two (2) of the three (3) following types of temporary signs (a
through c) to be placed at the site of its location (no off-site signage is permitted):
a. Each business may have up to two large temporary signs not to exceed 25 square feet
for each sign type per location. The sign can be freestanding or on the building (roof
mounted signs are not permitted). Examples of large temporary signs include the following:
banner sign; feather sign; A-frame sign; flat panel sign or similar sign type). Inflatable signs
are not permitted. Also, signs must not be affixed to trees.
Feather Sign A-frame sign Banner sign
b. Each business may have up to three (3) temporary yard signs per location.
c. Each business may utilize up to 50% of its window area for temporary window signage.
2. In addition to the signage listed above, a business may also utilize the following sign
types.
a. Each business may have necessary signage to communicate any Federal, State, or
County guidelines related to COVID-19.
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 14
b. Each business may have temporary directional signage related to picking up
merchandise or food.
3. Signs must be located on the property of the business. Off-site signs are prohibited.
4. Signs cannot be located in travel lanes, block sight distance at intersections, or located
in any manner that results in a safety issue.
5. Temporary signs cannot be internally illuminated.
6. All temporary signs must be properly maintained.
7. The temporary signs exempted from normal requirements under this provision must be
directional in nature. The signs may identify the businesses name, hours of operation,
open or closed status, hours of operation, or method of service delivery (pick-up, take out,
curbside ordering, etc.) The signs subject to this enforcement exemption may not be used
to advertise a particular product or service, but shall be limited to directional or operational
information only.
The City wants to avoid excessive clutter that results in less than effective messaging. If
temporary sign rules are not followed, or if in the City’s judgement too many signs are
placed in an area, the City reserves the right to work with businesses to collaboratively
reduce the number of signs. The City respectively asks that business place its signs in a
secure and respectful manner that maintains Southlake’s aesthetic visual roadway
standards.
Restaurant Patio Areas
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 15
Temporary patio dining areas must meet the following criteria:
9. Must be approved by the City’s Fire Marshal.
10. Must not exceed 25% of the restaurants indoor dining square footage area or 800
square feet, whichever is less.
11. Barriers must demarcate the patio dining area. Barriers can include temporary
wood, metal or synthetic fencing, planters, or other devices approved by the Fire
Marshal.
12. Sidewalk clearance ADA standards (36”) must be maintained.
13. Must be located on-site and not create a safety or traffic hazard.
14. Cannot be located within a fire lane.
15. Shall be maintained in a clean and orderly fashion and meet all applicable County
and State regulations and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Control Regulations.
16. Furniture, tables and umbrellas must be stored inside the building overnight.
Temporary Sidewalk Regulations
Temporary Sidewalk Sales
The City will allow retailers to display and sale merchandise outdoors during the COVID -19
emergency subject to the following:
Participation
1) Only local retailers who own or lease commercial building space within the city limits
shall be permitted to display and sale merchandise.
Hours of Sidewalk Sales
1) Sidewalk sales can occur anytime during normal business hours but must cease by
9:00 PM.
2) All merchandise and tables, racks, etc. used to display merchandise must be
returned to the store interior by 9:30 PM.
3) No merchandise shall be displayed outside the store earlier than one (1) hour prior
to opening.
Merchandise Displays
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 16
1) Display of merchandise or any activity associated with the event must be either 1)
on a sidewalk or designated walkway in front of the principal building leased or owned
by the merchant, and/or 2) in a hard surfaced parking area located on the same lot or
in the same development as the principle building leased or owned by the merchant
and only where the parking is off-street.
2) Merchandise must be displayed on racks, tables or similar displays unless the
merchandise is normally displayed on the floor.
3) Any merchandise sold as part of the sidewalk sale must come directly from the
participating store’s inventory.
4) Sales may not occur from a vehicle (car or truck) or trailer.
5) No merchandise shall be displayed or sold in the fire lane or vehicu lar travel way.
6) No merchandise shall be displayed or sold in designated accessible parking spaces,
landscaped or loading areas.
7) Each merchant shall be required to maintain a 44” wide clear right -of-way for
pedestrians using the sidewalk/walkway.
8) The display shall not obstruct doorways nor impede pedestrian traffic and all
Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accessibility requirements must be maintained.
9) Normal ingress and egress to and from the merchant’s store or premises shall not
be impaired.
10) No more than 15% of the designated private parking area shall be used to display
or sale merchandise.
11) Merchandise is prohibited to be displayed greater than 30 feet from the store front.
12) Sales transactions can occur within the established sidewalk sale areas.
Miscellaneous Requirements
1) Merchants are responsible for displaying merchandise in a manner that ensures the
health, safety and welfare of the public and all Federal, State and County guidelines
related to the COVID -19 must be followed.
2) Suspension on prohibition on outdoor sidewalk sales regulations will continue at
least through Sunday, May 31st and the City will consider extending the time period if
warranted.
City Council ITEM 4E
July 26, 2020
Page 17
Landscaping
Landscaping: Defer the replacement of any required tree, bush or landscaping materials
on non-residential properties until the Spring of 2021 (April 15th).
Parking
Parking Standards: Allow the designation of a required parking spaces as curbside parking
spaces for pick up, delivery or paying for transactions. Up to 30% of required parking spaces
can be designated for curbside pickup and delivery but not more than 15 spaces for any
business.
Other Activities
In order to assist businesses to create a safer environment for the public and workers, the
City may allow certain activities for a temporary period such as tents and tables to be set up
outside of the business for food/merchandise pick up , transactions (check-out lines) or
protecting customers as they que up to enter a business from the outside and allow food
trailers/trucks to set up when associated with a brick and mortar building to permit customers
to order food in an outdoor environment.