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Evansville council adopts ordinance to create downtown designated outdoor refreshment area
Summary
By a 9-0 vote, the Evansville Common Council approved Ordinance G-20-25-04 to establish a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) in downtown Evansville under Indiana code IC 7.1-3-31. Proponents said the DORA is intended to boost foot traffic, support businesses and include safety measures such as signage, designated cups and patrol funding.
The Evansville Common Council on Feb. 10 adopted Ordinance G-20-25-04, creating a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) in downtown Evansville under Indiana Code 7.1-3-31. The ordinance passed by a unanimous roll call vote of 9-0.
Downtown Evansville Economic Improvement District representative Adam Trinkle told the council the DORA is designed to increase foot traffic and economic activity while including safety and waste-management measures. "A DORA is more than just a policy — it's a catalyst for economic growth and continues our efforts to build a more active and inclusive and vibrant downtown atmosphere," Trinkle said, reading prepared remarks.
Trinkle said the district expects participating businesses and properties to fall within boundaries that include Main Street, the riverfront, the food hall area and the hotels near the riverfront. He said the DORA would cover properties that volunteered to participate and noted Downtown Evansville EID funds services including clean-and-safe operations and law-enforcement patrols paid by the district.
The ordinance, Trinkle said, requires visible signage at each entry and exit point, time restrictions, and the use of designated cups. Trinkle said the EID has a partnership with a supplier (named in the ordinance) to provide an initial in-kind donation of cups; the district plans to charge a nominal fee to participating businesses to recoup costs and to fund recycling receptacles. "We will be working to add recycle receptacles as well because we recognize that's an important piece of this," Trinkle said.
Council members expressed support during discussion and asked about boundaries, whether additional DORAs could be created elsewhere in Evansville, and how the perimeter would be marked. Trinkle said the state law allows a municipality to create up to seven DORAs, and that the district would return to the council if it needed to expand or alter the initial boundaries. He said the group will proceed with an application to the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission and hopes to implement the DORA by spring.
The ordinance passed with the clerk calling the roll; the transcript records nine ayes and zero nays.
Details recorded in the council file for the ordinance show the city will require the district and participating businesses to meet the signage and other requirements in the ordinance before the DORA can operate. No public opposition was recorded in the meeting minutes.
The council's approval allows the EID and participating businesses to begin the administrative steps required by state law, after which vendors will be permitted to serve alcohol beverages in approved containers within the DORA boundaries during permitted hours.
The council will consider any future boundary changes or additional DORAs through the standard ordinance process.
