Ask Mr. Answer Person several questions about sidewalks

Chris e-mails Mr. Answer Person to discuss a couple of issues:
 
1.  I see downtown business people watering the large potted plants on the corners in front of their businesses.  Why must they take their valuable time to water when the watering cart drives by the pots twice a day to water the hanging plants?
 
2.  In the last few weeks I have noticed Magpie has put additional chairs out for their outdoor tables and has also added a large 3 wheel bike and uses the basket for 'free' coffee grounds.  This does not leave much room for a pedestrian to walk down the street, especially on days when it is pouring rain.  Why can they use the whole sidewalk but the city is opposing someone having a hot dog stand in downtown?  Other cities have food stands on the sidewalks that are paid by taxpayers.

Mr. Answer Person replies:

1)  There are over 200 hanging baskets that are watered twice a day by the watering carts--so many baskets that three watering routes are needed.  This project costs around $10,000 a year.  I suppose the watering carts could also water the large potted plants, but I'm sure the people who run the hanging basket project would ask who was going to pay the additional labor costs and other operational costs.

However, it's my experience that downtown business owners don't seem to mind watering the potted plants.

2)  The city's ordinances say "It is a misdemeanor to willfully obstruct the free passage of or injure or deface sidewalks by digging or breaking or placing objects on such sidewalks without permission from the street commissioner."

Of course, this is a general guideline.  For the most part, city officials want to keep the portion of the sidewalk clear next to the street.

If you have a concern with a business, however, it's probably best to talk directly to them and ask them to make sure there's a clear pathway on the sidewalk.

As for your question "Why can (Magpie) use the whole sidewalk but the city is opposing someone having a hot dog stand in downtown?" I would point out that the city is NOT opposing the hot dog stand--it's still discussing the application.