Aransas Pass city staff introduced a draft ‘Sip and Stroll’ ordinance to allow patrons to carry beer and wine within a designated downtown pilot area, and after more than two hours of public comment the council agreed to hold a public hearing and pursue a two-reading ordinance process.

The proposal, presented by the city’s Director of Development Services, would limit portable container size to 12 ounces and run as a one-year pilot in a defined section of South Commercial Street (from Wheeler toward Greenwood). Staff said participating businesses must register with the city, prohibit glass, comply with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) rules and post signage if they opt out of participation.

Supporters — including Crystal Gautreaux, owner of Pook’s Pub — told the council that sip-and-stroll districts have helped similar Texas towns by increasing foot traffic and encouraging retail and dining businesses. “Sip and Stroll districts work because they encourage people to stay longer downtown, to browse, to shop, to dine,” Gautreaux told the council, adding that participating businesses remain responsible under TABC rules.

Opponents stressed public-safety and quality-of-life concerns. Leroy Theriault, a former chemical-dependency counselor and EMS worker, warned that public drinking can lead to harm and urged caution. Other residents asked who would pay for extra policing and cleanup and suggested starting with limited days rather than seven days a week. Several speakers, including former mayor Karen Gale, said the city should specify clear operational guidelines and measurable success metrics before adoption.

Council and staff responded that enforcement would rely on established TABC responsibilities for servers and that the city planned to increase patrol visibility during pilot hours. Staff also committed to outreach to businesses in the downtown area before formal adoption and said the council could end the pilot early if problems emerged.

The council did not vote on final adoption. Instead, members agreed to a public hearing at a future meeting, directed staff to solicit input from downtown business owners and recommended studying peer programs in comparable cities. The next procedural step will be the scheduled public hearing and consideration of the ordinance for two readings before a final vote.