The Champaign City Council on Aug. 5 adopted an ordinance amending section 5-62.2 of the Champaign Municipal Code, which governs the downtown festival district, to allow additional local businesses to participate in downtown festival district activities.

A downtown business owner, Kayla Brown of Fire Doll Studio, spoke in support of the code amendment and thanked the city for accommodating a new liquor-license arrangement that she said helped her business model. Brown said expanded customer access during festivals gives businesses more opportunities to bring festival attendees into storefronts.

The ordinance passed by an 8-0 roll-call vote. Council did not attach additional conditions during the meeting; staff and the city clerk will process the ordinance codification and provide any necessary implementation guidance to downtown businesses.

Action: adoption of the ordinance amending the downtown festival-district rules passed 8-0. Staff recorded the relevant code section amended as 5-62.2 and will follow standard publication and implementation steps.