Saratoga is adding a pilot program for outdoor dining to its efforts to increase the economic vitality of its business parks.

The City Council voted in May to form an ad hoc committee to lead this effort. The committee has been conducting surveys and meeting with community members since then. The ad hoc committee, led by Vice Mayor Belal Aftab and Council Member Chuck Page, presented an update on its efforts at the August 21 council meeting.

Aftab announced that the city will be piloting an outdoor dining project for the restaurant in partnership with Hero Ranch Kitchen on Big Basin Way, which in this case means expanding the dining options on a widened sidewalk in front of the eatery. The pilot program is still in the works, Aftab said, but the fine-dining restaurant will foot the bill for construction and all related costs, as city staff will help with the permitting process.

“This will allow us to get any issues related to outdoor dining out of the way and figure out what that process will look like,” Aftab said at the meeting.

The City Council voted 4-0 to give the ad hoc committee directions, which include plans to further develop the structure of the pilot program and to find additional restaurants to join. Council member Kookie Fitzsimmons abstained from voting because of the possibility that the program could affect areas within 500 feet of her property in Saratoga Village.

The committee held a hearing with the public on June 11 and sent out questionnaires on July 29 to get feedback from business owners, landlords and commercial brokers. They plan to provide more details and responses to the council before the end of the year, Aftab said.

Some residents at the meeting expressed support for ongoing efforts to revitalize the city’s business districts, but others called on the city to take further action and become more committed to the cause.

“These are steps in the right direction for our long-term goals for the Village,” said restaurant owner Nick Miller. “However, there are things the city can do in the short term, working with the Chamber of Commerce, to make the Village a destination. Some of those things that come to mind are a street festival, Small Business Saturday, Restaurant Week, or even live music in the streets.”