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Santa Rosa council backs staff to draft entertainment‑zone ordinance, favors pilot program
Summary
City staff proposed downtown, Railroad Square and event‑specific entertainment zones allowing outdoor alcohol consumption under state law; police data showed limited alcohol‑related arrests in the proposed hours, and council members broadly supported a pilot Fri–Sun activation with a management plan and law‑enforcement coordination.
Santa Rosa City Council on Tuesday directed staff to draft an ordinance and management plan for pilot “entertainment zones” in parts of downtown and Railroad Square, after a staff presentation and a long public comment period on how to balance nightlife, safety and neighborhood impacts.
City planning staff presented a vision for three possible zones — Courthouse Square, Railroad Square and a station‑area zone activated for signature events — and recommended a two‑step approach: adopt a broad ordinance to establish boundaries, days and permitted containers, then use a more detailed management plan to set operational rules. “The ordinance sets the days, hours, and boundaries … and the management plan has the authority to further regulate the entertainment zone,” staffer Sachinor Bisla said during the study session.
Bisl…
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