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Organizers seek full downtown closures for Smoke on the Square; council places street-closure requests on agendas
Summary
Organizers of Smoke on the Square and a Lincoln Park District 5K asked the council to authorize street closures for late-August events; council discussed policing, porta-potties, towing and whether to handle items on the consent or regular agenda and decided to place the 5K on consent and Smoke on the Square on the regular agenda.
Event organizers and council members debated street-closure logistics for two summer events, focusing on safety, setup timing and impacts to downtown businesses.
Miss Baitman presented the Lincoln Park District's request for a 5K on Aug. 29 and asked the council to place it on the consent agenda; councilors discussed signage, drivers ignoring barricades and the potential for police escorts. The council placed the 5K request on the consent agenda given no objection was anticipated.
The committee then discussed Smoke on the Square (Aug. 28—29), an annual barbecue festival. Organizers requested closing all downtown streets at 5:00 a.m. on Friday to allow setup and explained heavy logistic needs including porta-potties, trash removal and laying electrical cable. Speakers described problems from the previous year (cars parked in closed areas, confusion with court schedules) and advocated for earlier closure and closer coordination with law enforcement; organizers said they will pay for porta-potties and coordinate volunteer trash crews.
Council discussed whether items belonged on the consent agenda or regular agenda because the Smoke on the Square requester will need to abstain; the committee placed the Smoke on the Square closure on the regular agenda so the requester could abstain when the council votes.
Council also clarified event responsibilities: requesters are responsible for sanitation and cleanup; police availability for escorts and towing depends on scheduling and staffing and may require a services contract if additional officers are needed. The committee did not take a final vote on closures during the meeting and directed staff to include the items in the agendas.
