Public comment and downtown committee push to allow DORA more broadly despite car-show concerns

A downtown committee recommended that Salem’s designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) rules be changed to remove a longstanding exemption for the Super Cruise and allow event-specific DORA decisions, and the council scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for 6:45 p.m. on May 7.

Visitor Eugene Johnson urged council not to allow DORA during the Super Cruise, saying the car event is intended to showcase vehicles rather than to be a beverage-focused gathering. "DORA does not bring anything to this event other than the fact it's going to create more problems for your police department, for your medical department and eventually the car people," Johnson said during public comment. He described a nearby drag-strip event that "changed from a car event" into a party atmosphere when alcohol became a major focus and said that shift drove car enthusiasts away.

Downtown Committee minutes read into the record summarized testimony from local business and downtown leaders who supported renewing and updating DORA. Will Klein of the Downtown Salem Partnership told the committee DORA "encourages increased foot traffic" and helps differentiate Salem from neighboring communities. The minutes included sales data presented by a chamber representative: "328 total DORA cups sold in 2025, 146 sold during the Super Cruise weekend alone," recorded in the committee notes.

Committee members discussed concerns about alcohol near high-value show cars and enforcement challenges. Proposed compromises included designating zones where alcohol would be allowed and using the city’s event-application process to make DORA decisions on a case-by-case basis during large events. The Downtown Committee ultimately passed a motion to remove the Super Cruise exemption from the DORA language and to add a provision allowing event-specific DORA approvals; it forwarded the recommendation to the law director for drafting and to council for consideration.

Council formally moved the May meeting to May 7 to accommodate the public hearing; no final council decision on the DORA language was made at the April 21 meeting. The hearing on DORA renewal and the proposed change to the Super Cruise exemption is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. on May 7, prior to the council meeting.