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Council approves first-and-second reading for riverfront district to manage downtown liquor licenses
Summary
Ordinance 26-03 passed first and second reading to create a Riverfront District that will allow the redevelopment commission to manage restaurant liquor-license applications in a defined downtown area, easing market pressure for licenses and allowing local application rules.
The Common Council approved first and second reading of Ordinance 26-03, sponsored by Councilman Salinas, to establish a municipal riverfront district under state statute that allows the city to manage restaurant liquor-license applications within defined downtown boundaries. Councilman Salinas said restaurants — not bars — would be eligible and that the district will permit a local application procedure to review hours, days of operation and other conditions, reducing competition in a constrained state quota system for licenses.
Salinas described the district boundaries as Willow Court to the north; Douglas and Ogden to the south; State Line to the west; and Oakley to the east. He told the council that three establishments are already awaiting passage so they can apply under the new process. The ordinance was advanced on first and second reading and set for council-as-a-whole consideration on Feb. 9 at 5:15 p.m.
Supporters said comparable districts have been adopted in nearby cities, and proponents argued the measure will help downtown commerce by easing license access without changing the state's licensing authority.
