Any person who shall deposit, place, paint, write, erect or maintain any structure, material, article, substance, decoration or thing on, in or above any street, curb, gutter, park, parkway, sidewalk or public place of the city, except as specifically authorized by the city council by resolution, or as otherwise provided for by ordinance or this Code, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, however ,:  

     (a)      that a person owning or operating a restaurant, coffee shop or other business may provide tables, chairs, plants or seating accommodations for its customers on the sidewalks adjacent to the business subject to the condition that a straight, unobstructed pathway at least sixty (60) inches wide be maintained on the sidewalk along the entire length of the sidewalk used by the business; and

(b)        that nothing in this section shall be so construed as to prevent any merchant or tradesman from placing any packages of merchandise, which he the merchant or tradesman  may be receiving or sending away, upon any sidewalk if the packages   same do not occupy more than one-fourth of the width thereof of the sidewalk , or remain thereon   on the sidewalk for  more than two (2) hours.

(Code 1964, § 14.010)