With summer approaching, hanging out at sidewalk cafe may sound like a good idea. The Ames City Council may even help enhance the enjoyment of that street-side view.

At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, members discussed whether they should amend a code that would allow more space for sidewalk cafes. Typically, the council allows sidewalk cafes to operate only from April 1 to October 31 each year.

The present ordinance requires a cafe to take up less than 50 percent of the sidewalk, as measured from a “parking meter or planter, whichever is closer to the building.” It also states that at least 4 feet of sidewalk be clear for people walking by the sidewalk cafe.

The city council staff said the 50-percent stipulation was too restrictive. City Clerk Sandy Ryan said it is almost impossible for staff to enforce the 50-percent rule because chairs are moved around so much. Thus, there was a call for removal of the stipulation, reducing the requirement to 4 feet between the cafe and the curb.

Steve Schainker, city manager, agreed that the current ordinance is difficult to enforce. “As soon as they pull a chair out,” he said, people can be violating the ordinance.

The council tabled the issue until its May 13 meeting.