The Evanston City Council will vote on sidewalk dining and outdoor festivals at tonight’s meeting.

The council will discuss an ordinance allowing restaurants outside of the downtown area to serve alcohol at tables on their sidewalks, with a possible vote at the June 11 meeting. The planning and development committee has postponed the vote on the ordinance twice since it was proposed last summer.

Mayor Lorraine Morton, commissioner of the city’s liquor control review board, said the current laws create a bias against restaurants outside downtown Evanston, especially on Central and Main streets.

“If they serve dinner and go to the expense of putting tables outside, then they should have the same rights as other restaurants,” Morton said. “I hope (the ordinance) goes through.”

Sidewalk cafe permits for three downtown restaurants are scheduled to come before the council for a vote.

McDonald’s, 1700 Orrington Ave.; JK Sweets, 720-1/2 Clark St.; and Chipotle Mexican Grill, 711 Church St. have all asked the city for permission to serve food at their storefronts.

The council has already granted similar permits to The Unicorn Cafe, 1723 Sherman Ave., and Einstein Bros. Bagels, 1745 Sherman Ave.

Summer is also a time for outdoor activities, meaning several groups have asked the council to close down streets for their events during the weekend of June 23-24.

The council will vote to close a portion of Darrow Street for the Springfield Missionary Baptist Church’s gospel music event, part of Simpson Street for an annual open house at The Cradle just east of Ridge Avenue, and the Fountain Square Arts Festival on Church Street and Sherman Avenue.

In other business, the council will vote on issues concerning the status and construction of the Levy Senior Center.

The council could create an agreement that would allow members of the senior center to use the services of the Evanston Athletic Club.

The council also will vote on construction costs for the center’s new facilities.