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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20070904 - VIII-C-1 To: From: Date: Re: Mayor Hicks and City Councilmembers Melanie Mesko Lee August 29, 2007 Oktoberfest Request by Downtown Business Association Council Action Requested: To approve a request by Downtown Business Association for an Oktoberfest event on October 12 and 13,2007, designating the event as a "community civic festival and celebration". As part of the request, also approve the following: · Close off 2nd Street from Sibley Street, west one block on Friday October 12 from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight; · Close off2nd Street from Sibley Street, east one block to Ramsey Street on Saturday, October 13 from noon t06:00 p.m., · Designate the two-day event as a "community civic festival and celebration" under the City Code 111.25. This designation would allow the City to issue a permit fora variance from the provision prohibiting consumption or possession of a liquor container on any street or other public property. The requested variance would be for Friday, October 12, 2007 only. . Staff's conditions regarding access, control, clean-up, etc. Background Information The Downtown Business association has approached the City about hosting an Oktoberfest celebration on the dates identified above. Friday, October 12 They would like to block off 2nd Street from Sibley Street, west one block, on Friday, October 12 from 6 p.m. to midnight, and have a beer garden and live music. City staffhas reviewed the proposal and has the following feedback: · Serving liquor-there is a provision in City Code which allows the City to issue a permit for a variance from the prohibition of serving or consuming alcohol on City streets or public property. The request must come from a non-profit civic organization, having their principal place of business within the City of Hastings, and for the sole purpose of a community civic festival and celebration (City Code 111.25). Additionally, state statute allows that the governing body may authorize the holder of a retail on-sale liquor license to dispense alcohol at a "social affair" conducted on the premises owned by a municipality (MN Stat. 340AA04.subdA). The request by the Downtown Business Association (a non-profit organization, located in Hastings) is to allow the Busted Nut (holder of an on-sale liquor license) to serve alcohol, via a beer trailer, on 2nd Street from Sibley Street, west one block. To allow of H.g0tir~;:. .. 101 Fourth Street East,. H8G'tlf1I$E, MN 55<X33.195~) +!l:6,:HASG..23bO ,. f:e61-4.314>::I;32 "W),fW.ckhasltlngs.mn,u;:s sales, as described above, the City Council would need to designate the event as a "community civic festival and celebration". · Police-The DBA will hire two full-time officers as contract security (one to monitor the bar area and one to roam the overall one block area), and one/two reserve officers to assist the contract officers. · Public Safety-Installation of a snow fence on the east and west ends of the blocked off area to control access; snow fence installed in such a way that emergency vehicles have easy access to the site in the event that is necessary. · Restroom access-provide Port-a-Potties within the fenced off area for patron use. · Insurance-provide proof of acceptable insurance coverage by both the DBA and the Busted Nut. · Garbage-the DBA will be responsible for collecting and removing all garbage generated by the event. · Glass-no glass will be allowed · Monitoring-all patrons would be checked for identification at the limited access points. The Friday event would be limited to those who are 21 years of age or older. Wrist bands would be required by all patrons within the allowable area. Saturday, October 13 The DBA would also like to have an Oktoberfest event on Saturday, October 13. They would like to block off2nd Street from Sibley Street, east one block to Ramsey Street, from noon to 6:00 p.m. This request would not include serving alcohol. City staff has reviewed the proposal and has the following feedback: · Public Safety-Any blocking of the street would be in such a way that emergency vehicles have easy access to the site in the event that is necessary. · Garbage--the DBA will be responsible for collecting and removing all garbage generated by the event. Summary This is a request that has not been addressed recently by the City Council, and it becomes a policy issue for the Council to decide whether to allow, as there are other events which could meet the parameters outlined above and lead to a staff recommendation under current city code and state statute. Therefore, while staff is comfortable recommending approval of the Oktoberfest event proposed by the Downtown Business Association, the Council may consider one of the following actions: 1. Approve the request as recommended by staff; 2. Approve the request, with additional conditions in addition to the ones recommended by staff; 3. Approve the request with or without additional conditions, and refer this item to a Council committee to evaluate possible future policy questions; or 4. Deny the request If you have any questions about this memo or staffs recommendation, please let me know.