Petoskey City Council approves social district hour extension to 10PM

The Petoskey City Council convened on July 9, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including amendments to the social district and the authorization of a fiscal recovery fund agreement.

The meeting began with a discussion on the proposed amendment to the social district comments area and service hours. Council member Thomas expressed support for the amendment, which would extend the comments area to include spaces adjacent to buildings near the Darling parking lot. Additionally, the service hours for alcohol consumption would be expanded from 9 PM to 10 PM year-round, aligning with events such as the winter open house. However, some council members voiced concerns regarding the promotion of alcohol consumption at family-oriented events. Council member Moore reiterated his opposition to the expansion of alcohol service hours, emphasizing the existing availability of bars in the area. Despite the dissenting opinions, the motion passed with a vote of 3-2.

Following this, the council moved on to the adoption of a resolution that would authorize the city manager to execute an amended agreement regarding the local fiscal recovery fund distribution between Emmet County and the city of Petoskey. City Manager Horn provided context, noting that the city had previously received two rounds of funding from Emmet County, which were matched with city resources. The first round, amounting to $50,000, was allocated for improvements at Winter Sports Park. Horn requested an extension for the grant agreement, which was set to expire in July, to allow for the completion of the projects. The extension request was also on the Emmet County Board of Commissioners' agenda for that evening.

The meeting concluded with a focus on ensuring the timely execution of the amended agreement and the continuation of funding for local projects. The council's discussions highlighted ongoing efforts to balance community needs with fiscal responsibility and public health considerations.