New Ulm council approves temporary alley closure for B and L Bar, requires owner-provided security

The New Ulm City Council on Tuesday approved a temporary closure of the alley adjacent to the B and L Bar and authorized an extension of the bar’s liquor license into the closed alley and Minnesota Street for a series of 2025 downtown events, provided the bar owner supplies on-site security during events.

The council’s decision covers multiple summer and fall events, including Crazy Days (July 25–27), scheduled car-and-bike roll-ins (Saturdays June 14, July 12, Aug. 16 and Sept. 13), a Spiking in the Streets weekend (Aug. 1–3), Oktoberfest (Oct. 3–5) and the Parade of Lights (Nov. 28). The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all councilors voting yes.

Council members said the alley closure aims to support downtown activity while responding to repeated complaints from a neighboring property owner about vandalism and public disorder tied to large events. A neighbor who identified themselves as living at 16 South Jefferson told the council that temporary barricades and staffing attempts have failed and that “the barricades don’t work... they’re movable,” and described the alley as “14 foot wide” with multiple access points that are difficult to monitor.

City staff and Police Chief Borchardt said the police department lacks the staffing to provide continuous one-to-one monitoring of the alley during events. “We really don’t have the staffing to just have someone literally sitting down, you know, monitoring that alley,” the chief said. The chief explained licensed private security or off-duty law enforcement can be contracted for public-right-of-way policing and confirmed that Minnesota requires licensed security for activities occurring off an establishment’s own property.

Councilors proposed several measures before approving the closure. The final motion requires that the B and L Bar provide a security detail during events; available options discussed included using the bar’s own employees, licensed private security, or off-duty law enforcement. Councilors noted the bar owner could be required to contract and pay for officers under the city’s fee schedule (the council sets hourly rates for off-duty officers). Council discussion also encouraged the owner to consider a permanent patio or parklet as a longer-term alternative to using the alley.

Councilors agreed to monitor the first roll-in event as an early test and to revisit conditions if necessary. Director Jorgensen conducted the roll call after the motion and the council voted unanimously in favor.

Community members and city leaders framed the decision as balancing downtown activation with neighboring-property concerns; the council tied approval to the condition that the bar owner provide supervision during any time the alley is in use for events.

The council’s action is limited to the temporary alley closures and liquor-license extensions for the listed event dates; no code changes or permanent closures were enacted in this vote. The city staff and police will monitor compliance and the council may revisit the conditions if problems continue.