Establishment of a downtown “entertainment district” obtained its first airing at Monday’s Magnolia City Council assembly.

CLICK THE PDF to learn your entire ordinance.

Should the council move the proposal after listening to the ordinance throughout its February, and probably March conferences, patrons of eating places inside the district would be capable to devour alcoholic drinks open air inside the boundaries of the district.

The proposed district is comprised of the Magnolia Square and chosen parts of neighboring streets. Consult the map accompanying this text and notice the blue-shaded space, which is the proposed leisure zone.

The ordinance is 10 pages lengthy however distills into these factors:

People could be allowed to have and drink alcoholic drinks open air within the district between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday by means of Saturday. Time adjustments could possibly be made to accommodate particular occasions within the district.

While no drinks could possibly be taken outdoors after 10 p.m., the authorized closing time indoors would stay at 2 a.m.

The drinks must be offered to individuals by eating places within the district which have applicable licenses for alcohol gross sales. Sellers would offer drinks to clients drinks in specially-branded cups, and with an permitted wristband.

An individual may have just one drink at a time. Drinks could be permitted in cups solely – no bottles or containers with model names of drinks.

People gained’t be allowed to take drinks outdoors the district. Signage will probably be supplied by town to point district boundaries. Waste and recycling receptables will probably be positioned at district boundaries and high-traffic areas.

Businesses within the district, together with these not permitted to serve alcoholic drinks, might point out their participation within the district by displaying applicable window signage. Those companies that achieve this will probably be deemed to consent to the entry of consumers with alcoholic drinks.

During dialogue of the ordinance, council members set a minimal $150 effective for individuals violating provisions of the ordinance.

Mayor Parnell Vann mentioned that town would offer video cameras and extra lighting within the leisure district.

Council members additionally talked about whether or not to move the ordinance with an “emergency clause,” which might have the impact of creating the ordinance energetic instantly after its passage.

Ellie Baker, who’s proposing the ordinance as head of town’s Economic Development Office, mentioned she wished the emergency clause to make sure that the leisure district could possibly be operating by the Magnolia Blossom Festival, May 19-20. Placing the ordinance on the usual three separate readings may imply that it wouldn’t go into impact till late April.

City Attorney Joel Hutchinson expressed discomfort with utilizing emergency clauses for issues that don’t contain public well being and security.

The council left the matter of an emergency clause hanging.

Baker mentioned the creation of the district appears towards the way forward for the Magnolia Square as an leisure venue.

“This is not for what we have today. This is for what it could potentially bring – more offerings to our town,” Baker mentioned.

Baker instructed magnoliareporter.com after the assembly that having the leisure district is crucial to get essentially the most out of night occasions on the new Square Park and its Albemarle Stage.

Citizens who wish to remark to the council concerning the ordinance might contact the mayor’s workplace, 870-234-1375, and ask for a spot on the agenda for the Monday, February 27 assembly. The council permits people as much as 5 minutes to remark, supplied they’ve requested for a spot on the agenda.