Government Affairs Committee approves Village Alfresco street-dinner permit for July 29

Wauwatosa — The Government Affairs Committee approved a special event permit on June 3 for Village Alfresco, a ticketed multi-course dinner planned for State Street on July 29, where organizers plan to close the roadway and seat attendees at long tables for meals provided by local restaurants.

The event applicant, identified in the record as Rob Boss of the Tulsa Village BID, told the committee the dinner will run on July 29 from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and involve 10 local businesses. Maria Pano, identified as the BID director, said the road closure is planned from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., but she told the committee the police department will look to reopen the street earlier when cleanup allows: "The road will be closed from 2 to 10PM. But after talking with the police department, I know that they tried to get that cleaned up earlier than that and back open." She also said organizers will notify residents, Milwaukee County Transit and emergency services and that "tickets go on sale June 9."

The committee discussion focused on neighborhood notification and event logistics. Alder Arnie said she expected about 170 attendees and pressed organizers to make an intensive effort to notify nearby residents: "...since it's my district, I would really appreciate an intense effort as a part to notify neighbors so that they know to change their plans as they were going planning on using State Street." Pano said the BID conducts multiple notification runs and will repeat them for this event.

The committee recommendation of approval noted one outstanding administrative requirement: organizers must provide a certificate of insurance before the item goes to the Common Council. The committee made a motion to approve the permit; the committee vote was recorded as an affirmative voice vote and the motion passed.

The permit as approved includes the planned road closure and the organizer commitments described to the committee. The city staff recommendation recorded in the meeting packet and read at the meeting indicated no other department holds unresolved objections but confirmed the police department and proof of insurance reviews remained pending prior to final council action.

The committee took no additional formal directions beyond approval and the pending administrative items. The matter will appear on the Common Council agenda for final action with the certificate of insurance and the police review expected to be on file by that meeting.