Pigs, transients, fireworks, and an entertainment district were the four highlights of the Eureka City Council meeting Monday night. All aldermen were present with another full house of citizens.
Mel Shipley, resident artist and local proprietor of two retail stores on upper Spring St. provided the first public comment regarding the proposed establishment of an entertainment district. Recapping, State Senate Bill 492 says “to promote hospitality and tourism; to establish areas of a City or town that highlight restaurant, entertainment, and hospitality options; to establish temporary or permanent designated entertainment districts; and for other purposes.”
This bill allows a person to possess an alcoholic beverage outside of an establishment that holds a permit for on-premises consumption within the physical boundaries of a designated entertainment district. It is the city’s choice to designate an entertainment district.
Shipley said that downtown businesses benefit the most when Spring Street is open at all times for both trolley and public traffic. Vehicle traffic flow is not only paramount for commuters, it fuels businesses to thrive which bring in the tax dollars needed for infrastructure.
Shipley insisted that closing the street would be a detriment to the city, and encouraged aldermen to consider limiting open alcoholic containers to after 6 p.m. and no later than 10 p.m. In so doing, he encouraged the city to maintain a strict noise ordinance for residents who cherish living in the quiet.
He noted that the rocky walls of downtown Eureka act to echo and amplify the noise that the residents must endure, so enforcement of the noise ordinance is vital.
Aldermen took his comments into consideration and voted to organize an Entertainment District Committee made up of eight people; one from city council, which Mayor Butch Berry recommended to be alderman Bob Thomas; one from Planning, one from the Police Department, one private citizen, one retail owner/manager, one Chamber of Commerce representative, and two restaurant/tavern owner/operators.
This committee would be in charge of establishing the rules of the Entertainment District and would make its recommendations to council for final ratification, preferably before the New Year.
Police Chief Brian Young provided input on how the district could affect the city, “Do I think that it is going to be good downtown? Not necessarily,” he said. Young said he worries about what he has seen in the past regarding alcohol downtown. “It could be a really bad deal especially with our terrain, sidewalks, and steep inclines.”
He said he believes an entertainment district downtown could be asking for incidents and increasing the risk of fights breaking out.
Those interested in serving on the entertainment district committee should contact their ward alderman.