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Council advances discussion of downtown DORA ordinance, schedules further review
Summary
Council held a second-reading discussion of a proposed Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) ordinance to allow controlled outdoor alcohol consumption within mapped downtown areas and events; the item remains at second reading with staff and WDBA planning a trial event.
Councilmembers discussed a proposed ordinance to authorize designated outdoor refreshment areas (DORA) that would allow people 21 and older to consume alcohol within defined downtown zones and special-event footprints if state rules are met.
Alderman Matthews, who referred the item based on a request from the Waukesha Downtown Business Association, said the measure would enable safer, more-business-friendly outdoor events and allow trial runs such as the William Street festival. City Attorney Brian cautioned that state laws — for example, rules about tamper-evident seals and extension of premises — still apply and cannot be suspended by the city. “The only thing that prevented us from being able to do something like this was a city ordinance which prohibits open containers on public property…this ordinance does is it suspends that open intoxicant rule at certain times and in certain places,” he said.
Council members raised implementation questions including footprint maps, enforcement, tamper-evident seals for to-go containers, and whether the change would expand Friday Night Live or remain event-specific. WDBA representatives and some alderpersons said police support and business interest are strong; several council members favored a limited trial prior to broader adoption. Because the item is at second reading, no final vote occurred at the June 17 meeting.
