Mayor Fred Eisenberger has laid his cards on the table. The patio table, that is.

Eisenberger says the bylaws that forbid live and amplified music on outdoor patios are as senseless as the widely mocked ban on tobogganing, which council finally overhauled last year.

"Right now, there is a flat-out, outright ban throughout the city for any kind of music or live entertainment anywhere on a patio anywhere in the city," he told councillors.

"(It's) kind of like the tobogganing rule. You know what, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, and I'm hoping that we can find a path where we make some sense out of that and make some allowances, with obviously appropriate restrictions."

This isn't the first time Eisenberger has talked up relaxing the music ban. The difference now is he has a chance to do something because the long-anticipated debate is finally in sight.

Jason Thorne, general manager of planning and economic development, hopes to put a report before council by July.

Thorne says the restriction on live music will also be up for discussion in May and June as part of engaging the public over proposed changes to commercial-mixed used zoning and zoning along the LRT corridor.

He plans to combine feedback from those meetings with a review of how other municipalities handle noise and time-of-day issues. The goal is to provide council with amendment options that strike a balance between helping bars and restaurants thrive without negatively impacting surrounding neighbourhoods.

"The spirit of what we're looking at is we want to be open for business; we want to be able to help businesses be successful, and a number of businesses have said they want to have the ability to do this," Thorne said.

"But we also know the downside to that. We know the impacts that can have on neighbours and surrounding businesses."

The issue of moderating the music ban stems directly from the squabble with the upscale waterfront restaurant Sarcoa, whose patio parties generated complaints and bylaw charges.

Sarcoa, which is still alive and kicking, is now suing the Hamilton Waterfront Trust and city over allegations they breached their lease agreement by not exempting it from the noise bylaws.

During his council meeting pitch, Eisenberger argued that patio music would add a "whole other level of vitality" to the city.

Tellingly, he made his comments during a discussion over a new pilot program also intended to generate some vigour and verve by allowing businesses such as restaurants and coffee shops to open temporary "seasonal patios" at on-street parking spaces in commercial districts.

Council hasn't approved the plan yet, but it tasked staff to develop guidelines with the goal of being ready for his summer.

"We're going to have to move fast but I'm pretty sure that we're going to get something before council in early June, and if they're happy with it then the program can open," said Thorne.

Seasonal patios would feature more durable structures than the "pop-up patios" that take over parking spaces for only a day or two. Thorne figures they'd be in operation for a couple of months at a stretch — from, say, June or July to September or October.

The trick is to come up with guidelines that are safe and don't impede things like truck routes and loading spaces and yet won't require building permits or planning approvals.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

"We're not going to say here's all the hoops you have to jump through. We're going to look at those hoops and see if we can actually get rid of some of them before we come forward with a program."

Thorne's excited about the idea, which was put forward by Coun. Matthew Green. He's seen a lot in other cities and says they're great for businesses and street life.

Between seasonal patios and options for ending the ban on outdoor music, 2016 may turn out to be the year of the patio for Hamilton.