OZARK — Downtown Ozark soon could get a little bit more lively following the establishment of an entertainment district last week.
City Council members voted 4-2, with Randy Melton and Charles Meeker objecting, to establish the district. The district would allow residents, on certain days, to take open containers of alcohol out of local businesses and carry and drink them within the district.
Local residents, both for and against the proposed district, came to the council meeting to voice their opinions.
Crystal Wright, vice president of Main Street Ozark, said her group helped draft the proposed ordinance and believes the city can implement it in a way that doesn’t cause problems.
“We have done our due diligence that this is a successful and responsible ordinance to present to you,” Wright said.
“This is not about partying, this is about giving families, couples and friends a reason to support and enjoy local establishments safely and responsibly.”
City Attorney Kevin Barham said the rules of the district dictate customers of businesses in the district may exit the business with only one alcoholic beverage and only inside a paper, plastic or Styrofoam cup with the district’s logo printed on it. Customers will also be required to wear a designated wristband while in the district.
The ordinance prohibits people from drinking or openly carrying a glass, bottle or can containing alcohol within the district.
Entertainment district rules will be active every Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight and every Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to midnight.
Barham also noted the times of the district can be extended on nights with certain events, up to 1 a.m., but that can only be done with written permission from the mayor.
City officials said the district boundaries will be the intersection north of Commercial Street from Fourth Street east to Second Street, the block of Third Street to College Street east to Second Street, the intersection south of Commercial Street from Fourth Street east to First Street, the intersection of Main and Third streets east to the Anderson building and Riverview Plaza on River Street west to Third Street.
The district will include an oversight committee that will include a representative from a business at large within the city, a business within the district, a City Council member, a member of the Advertising and Promotion Commission and a member of Main Street Ozark.
At the council meeting, two local residents spoke in opposition to the district.
Resident JoAnne Perea said she believes allowing the entertainment district to be established downtown would discourage other businesses that cater to all ages from expanding or moving there.
“I am concerned that this ordinance serves a special interest group, a targeted age group with a perceived need of public alcohol, concerts and other events,” Perea said. “I am concerned that people were told that Ozark will die if this ordinance will not pass, that is simply not true.”
Michelle Brown, the second speaker, said as an educator, she is trying to protect the public streets and public property, along with nearby families, from those who are openly drinking.
Brown said the city should instead take after Bentonville and allow alcohol only on patios of the businesses that sell the drinks. She said Bentonville dosen’t have an entertainment district and Ozark shouldn’t either.
“The outdoor consumption of alcohol beverages on sidewalks and outdoor public spaces sends a message about our priorities,” Brown said. “It sends a bad example for our young people and children and will inevitably have detrimental effects on our quality of life.”
Wright said that Main Street Ozark, an organization aimed at helping grow the downtown area, has started organizing events to take place downtown to complement the entertainment district.
One event is a concert series expected to take place in July, August, September and October of this year. Other events include Franklin County hosting the carnival locally as well as a local group that has expressed interest in reviving the farmers marker and another that aims to bring an arts and crafts festival.
Wright said she knows alcohol isn’t a cure-all for growing the downtown, but added she knows the city has many neighbors who have implemented similar districts successfully.
“We are better together, we are better when we unify and we are better when we look for solutions for growth and community instead of only finding problems,” Wright said.
Wright also agreed with Perea and Brown that there were other actions, such as hiring a city planner, that could help. She added the city couldn’t do that right now and something should be tried to improve downtown.
One point of concern about the entertainment district came from Melton, who was worried about whom would be held liable if someone was injured in the district.
Barham said the city couldn’t be sued because it has sovereign immunity. He noted that any lawsuit from something that happened in the district would come back to whomever a case can be made for negligence.
Another concern came from Meeker, who was worried the city did not exclude local children-focused events from having the entertainment district involved.
Melton also noted there are two businesses currently located within the district’s proposed borders.
Council member Loren Maier disagreed with Melton.
“If you don’t have the traffic, you won’t have the business,” Maier said. “The whole idea of an entertainment district is to increase the traffic.”
Melton said with the increased traffic and the rules implemented, the district will require people, presumably police officers, to watch and regulate what is going on. This need for a more consistent police presence was another issue Melton said he had.
“I understand that we need to do something with the downtown area, it has been that way for years, and we need to do something to bring some life in that,” Melton said. “But, to me, we need to bring some businesses in there first before we start trying to have this entertainment district. We don’t have anything there for an entertainment district, and I think we are getting the cart before the horse.”
Melton asked Maier during the meeting why he had his business up for sale and was planning on moving out of the city if he thought the entertainment district was such a good idea.
Maier responded he wanted to live near his grandchildren, who do not live in the city, but noted he would vote the same way if he were staying.
“I have lived in Ozark for 3o years, and Ozark has had 3,500 people for 30 years,” Maier said. “That is because (the city) won’t progress. We got to try something different or it is not going to be different.”