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Council allows expanded alcohol consumption for Ames Main Street festival with conditions
Summary
The Ames City Council approved a request by Ames Main Street to let patrons carry alcohol throughout the designated event footprint rather than restricting consumption to a single beer-garden area; staff and organizers outlined safety, security and communications measures.
The Ames City Council approved an Ames Main Street request to allow patrons at the 5'15 Days event to carry purchased alcohol throughout the festival footprint, suspending a municipal code provision that would otherwise limit minors from entering areas where alcohol is the majority of sales.
Staff said the exception is limited to the daytime festival format, which ends before sundown, and is organized by an experienced downtown nonprofit with a plan for security, volunteer staffing at barricades and ID checks. Brian (city staff) told council the change is justified by the event's daytime, family-focused orientation and Ames Main Street's experience producing safe downtown events.
Travis Tolliver (Ames Main Street/Alliance) said the organization has coordinated with affected businesses and will hire additional security and volunteers for barricades and ID screening. "We feel like this proposed change would bring this event in line with similar type events throughout the region and the state," Tolliver said.
Council action: The council approved agenda items 36a through 36g (event permits and the code suspension for alcohol movement) in a single omnibus motion and roll-call vote.
Conditions and next steps: Staff emphasized the approval includes event-specific safety measures: extra security, ID verification at points of sale, volunteer staffing at street barricades and coordination with downtown businesses. Staff said they will monitor the event and expect Ames Main Street to follow the conditions for future permission to use the model again.
What happens next: The event will proceed under the approved permit and the code suspension for this one event; staff will review outcomes and any issues raised by businesses or attendees after the event.
