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Wausau committee explores city-run beer garden pilot and ordinance changes
Summary
Committee members supported exploring a municipal beer-garden program, asked staff to draft an ordinance or resolution to allow staff-run beer gardens, and recommended starting small with rotating locations and partner breweries/food trucks.
The Parks and Recreation Committee discussed the feasibility of a city-run beer garden on March 3 and directed staff to draft the regulatory language needed to pilot the program.
Jamie, Parks Department staff, said research included meetings with Milwaukee County, De Pere and Ashland and that municipalities can operate beer gardens without a separate liquor license if the statutory and local ordinance frameworks allow it. "...the city and the county have the ability to operate a beer garden without having a liquor license," Jamie said, adding that staff would pursue training for responsible beverage service if the program proceeds.
Committee members broadly supported a pilot approach that starts small and can rotate through neighborhood parks. Members cited examples where municipal or county-run beer gardens used rotating food trucks, limited hours (for example late-afternoon to evening) and vendor partnerships to generate revenue while keeping the event family friendly. Several alderpersons favored the city operating the program rather than requiring an independent vendor to obtain picnic licenses, which the committee said can be administratively burdensome for rotating pop-up events.
Committee members also discussed operational details: whether the city should supply a trailer or rely on vendor trailers, payment methods (cash/ATM vs. mobile point-of-sale), hours of operation consistent with park closing times, training for servers, and how to delineate boundaries without permanent fencing so that public intoxication in the right-of-way is minimized. Locations suggested included Marathon Park, Riverfront areas, Kickbusch Plaza and neighborhood parks such as Stewart Park; staff noted parking and neighbor impacts vary by site.
Jamie said staff will draft the necessary ordinance or resolution and work with city attorney Anne and public health to bring the proposal through the committee process. "Even though the state statute allows us to sell without a license, the city still has to pass an ordinance resolution or regulation that gives the staff permission to do it in the park," Jamie said. The committee asked staff to return with a proposal that includes pilot timing, location options and operational details.
No formal vote was taken; members recommended moving forward with a pilot approach and asked staff to return with draft language and implementation options.
