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St. Cloud council streamlines entertainment-district permitting, adopts clear-cup rule
Summary
The City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 2025-78 to combine duplicate special-event permits in the downtown entertainment district and require clear plastic cups for carry-around alcohol, aiming to simplify permitting for organizers and reduce staff workload.
The St. Cloud City Council on Jan. 15 voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2025-78, a revision to the city code intended to streamline permitting for events and outdoor alcohol service in the downtown entertainment district.
Unidentified city staff told the council the change removes overlapping approvals by consolidating the entertainment-district special-event permit and the city’s major special-event permit into a single review. “It reduces administrative burden to have an entertainment district permit plus a special event permit,” staff said during the presentation, adding the change “enhances the consistency and the transparency” of reviews for both organizers and staff.
The ordinance also narrows the language about permitted containers: where the code previously allowed unspecified “cups” for patrons to walk downtown with alcohol, the updated text specifies clear plastic cups. Council member Irvin supported the change, saying it would reduce confusion among business owners and customers; Deputy Mayor Mary Gilbert urged staff to consider making hours consistent daily rather than limiting the district to certain days of the week to serve shift workers.
Council members asked the city manager for comparative research before considering broader changes to district hours. The manager said staff would return with options and findings from other entertainment-district policies.
A motion to approve the ordinance passed on a 5-0 roll-call vote. The council clerk recorded “Aye” votes from Council members Fletcher, Paul, Irvin, Urban, Deputy Mayor Mary Gilbert and Mayor Robertson. The ordinance takes effect according to the schedule printed in the adopted document.
