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Police recommend midnight cutoff for outside alcohol in St. Cloud entertainment district; council signals move to shorten hours
Summary
After hearing enforcement and business perspectives, councilmembers signaled support for limiting outside alcohol consumption in the entertainment district to midnight (down from 1 a.m.) and agreed to finalize hours at second reading; first reading of the ordinance was approved for advertisement.
Council members debated changes to the special‑purpose entertainment‑district overlay that would revise days and hours for authorized possession and outside consumption of alcoholic beverages. The council conducted a first reading of the ordinance and discussed trimming the authorized hours after input from law enforcement and downtown stakeholders.
Councilmember Colby Urban said he favored simplifying the rule to a single, consistent closing hour across all days. “I think it’s best if it’s, for the second reading, to keep the cut off at midnight,” he said. Police Chief Douglas Gherkin and CRA Officer McDonald told council that downtown enforcement has been largely educational so far and that late‑night open‑container incidents are rare, but both advised midnight as a practical enforcement cutoff. “After midnight, we really don't see a lot of people walking around with alcohol,” Chief Gherkin said.
Officer McDonald, who patrols the CRA district, told council the 7‑day approach would be more straightforward for residents and businesses and could increase foot traffic: “Why can't they walk around with their wine or their beer and see our shops and increase the revenues, especially with the 300 new units coming right across the street?” he said.
Deputy Mayor Mary Gilbert and other councilmembers expressed concern about noise and resident impacts; Gilbert asked staff to consider stronger noise enforcement if hours are extended. Councilmember Urban favored a consistent midnight cutoff seven days a week to avoid enforcement confusion. The council approved the ordinance on first reading and agreed to advertise it as presented; councilmembers indicated they intend to adopt a midnight cutoff (or consider 11 p.m. on weekdays) when the ordinance returns for final reading.
Next steps: the ordinance will return for a second reading and final adoption, when the council is likely to set the final closing hour.
