The Iowa City City Council will discuss a new sidewalk-café ordinance during Tuesday’s work session.

The new ordinance would reduce the required amount of sidewalk space between an alleyway and a restaurant from 10 feet to 2.

According to a city memorandum, the original ordinance required that no sidewalk café be located under 10 feet from an alley for patrons’ safety. The city staff decided the 10-foot distance was unnecessary.

The city staff has recommended the first consideration of the ordinance be held at City Council’s April 3 meeting, then have both the second and third readings on April 17.

— by Kristen East