How are different cities responding to the shifting landscape of outdoor dining?

Thursday, May 18th, 2023

8:30 am - 9:30 am PST

Helms Design Center

Doors open at 7:45 for registration, breakfast and networking before the panel begins

On March 4, 2020 Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Many jurisdictions followed with local emergency orders which called on residents to limit all activities outside of their homes. These restrictions included prohibiting restaurants and retail food facilities from providing indoor dining in coordination with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The financial impact of the public health emergency was particularly difficult for small restaurants. 

Soon after came the temporary outdoor dining programs that have helped to alleviate the financial stress of the indoor dining prohibition. These new programs often suspended certain regulations in order to provide restaurants and other food establishments with an alternative to full indoor dining - temporarily. 

Now that we moved from the pandemic to an endemic and full service indoor dining is allowed, how do cities transition and take the best of what outdoor dining offered during the height of the pandemic into the future? Can cities reclaim the public right-of-way from the very businesses that provided the public a safe respite and gathering place? Will businesses be able to adjust as regulations are enforced and the cost of outdoor dining increases for operators? 

How has the urban landscape shifted, literally and figuratively, and who do our streets and sidewalks belong to after all? Join us to discuss these questions and more.

Panelists: 
Andrew Thomas, CEO, Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.
John Keho, Director of Planning and Development Services, City of West Hollywood 
Madeline Brozen, Deputy Director, UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

Moderator: 
Annette M. Kim, Ph.D, Associate Professor, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

Registration Fees
$50 Members
$65 Non-Members
$10 Student Members & Retired Members
$15 Student Non-Members & Retired Non-Members

Pre-registration closes on Wednesday, May 17th, at 4:00 PM.  After Wednesday, May 17th, onsite registration will be available at the cost of an additional $10.  No refunds or credits will be provided after this day. 

Event Time
7:45 am - 9:30 am
7:45 am - Registration & Light Breakfast
8:30 am - Panel Discussion

Location
The Helms Design Center is located at the Helms Bakery campus at 8745 Washington Boulevard in Culver City.  Google map and directions

COVID UPDATE
Please note that while the use of a face mask will not be mandated, we highly encourage all of our attendees to wear a mask at all times while indoors.  

Transportation & Parking
The garage at 8711 Washington Blvd. will be open for the event. There is also ample street parking, or you can arrive via the Expo Light Rail line that is located one block to the west of Helms Bakery. Parking Map

Thanks to the generosity of our annual Sponsors, WUF has a small number of free tickets available to members of the community.  If you are not able to join as a member or purchase a ticket for this month's panel presentation, but would like to join us, please write us at info@westsideurbanforum to inquire if we have any remaining sponsor provided tickets. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS…

As a non-profit organization we are dependent upon donations in order to continue our monthly programming.  Please keep this in mind when registering for this event; we appreciate contributions of any amount.