Common Council approves downtown outdoor refreshment area with weekend hours and one-drink limit

The Green Bay Common Council voted to adopt an ordinance establishing a downtown designated outdoor refreshment area with revised operating hours and a one-drink possession limit.

Alder Profett offered two amendments to the ordinance: set DORA operating days and hours to Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and add a provision limiting possession of alcoholic beverages within the DORA to one drink per person. "So a patron would only be able to purchase one beverage at a time rather than purchasing two, three, four and then they walk out the door and we don't know where those beverages are going," Alder Profett said while explaining the one-drink limit.

The council debated briefly and adopted the amendments by voice vote. Alder Presley then moved to adopt the ordinance as amended; the clerk recorded the vote and the council chair stated the motion passed unanimously, reported as 11–0.

Council members said the changes reflected concerns raised by downtown businesses and nearby neighbors and were intended to standardize hours and reduce public-safety and enforcement uncertainty. The amendments were described in the meeting record as resulting from conversations with business owners and the downtown BID.

The ordinance will take effect as provided in the city code; the meeting record did not specify an ordinance number or an effective date beyond the usual municipal process. Council members indicated staff will proceed with implementation details consistent with the approved changes.

The council moved on to other items after the roll call vote.