Upper- and lower-level businesses on State Street now have the ability to establish sidewalk cafés, according to a new ordinance unanimously passed by the Madison Common Council Tuesday.

The Council created a new priority system under the new ordinance, which still gives priority of use to first-level business.

Under the previous law, upper- and lower-level businesses could not use sidewalk space.

"If [the first floor] business does not apply to the respective license by March 15 of a given year, then a basement, second or third floor business could apply for such a license," Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said. "This law fosters continued use of the sidewalks by area businesses."

The ordinance was proposed last year by the city's Vending Oversight Committee, which oversees a majority of State Street and Capitol Square vending ordinances.

"It will create an equitable system of priority for food and liquor vendors," Vending Oversight Committee member Rosemary Lee said.

The Committee created the proposal after many non-street level businesses requested to use sidewalk space, according to both Lee and Verveer.

Basement-level East African restaurant Buraka has long requested to use sidewalk space outside of its establishment on State Street, Verveer said.

However, Jamie's Cookies — located on the first level — also wanted the space, but eventually could not apply because of eligibility restrictions.

"I think this law will help businesses like Buraka, who want to use that space," Lee remarked.

According to Verveer, the law could potentially help businesses like Casa de Lara, the Sunroom Café and Nadia's, among others, but he added he did not know specifically which businesses were interested in using the space.

"I think this law will allow for at least one or two businesses to get out on the sidewalk," he said. "They can use that valuable space that so many businesses seem to appreciate."

In addition to the new ordinance, the Council approved an order to present parchments of recognition to 17 city workers for their service in the military.

The Council did not spend much time on other matters of business at Tuesday's meeting, which lasted less than an hour.