For the third time in the past month, St. Joseph Today Executive Director Amy Zapal appeared before the St. Joseph City Commission tonight seeking approval to advance the concept of a Downtown Social District to help business owners to survive. After another lengthy discussion running more than hour, the City Commission voted 4 to 1 in favor of submitting the plan to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. The lone no vote came from Commissioner Dr. Jeff Richards.
The plan is designed to help increase business for those establishments that have faced severely restricted capacity limits by state mandates, and/or been forced to close completely at times, by allowing beverages to be sold for take out and consumption in designated “Commons” areas in the central business district.
Zapal first introduced the concept at the April 12th City Commission meeting but met resistance and concerns about the size and scale of the “commons” areas, the footprint of the district, and worries over safety and cleanliness. She returned two weeks later at the April 26th Commission meeting with a small footprint, and a fairly sizable support system from many of the merchants in the district both those who would be licensed to conduct that type of business and fellow merchants. Nevertheless, there was still reluctance on the part of Commissioners still voicing concerns over safety and trash issues, and still pushing back on the size of the proposed social district.
Zapal returned tonight with a smaller footprint including:
- West side of Main Street
- Elm Street to Ship Street
- West from the 600 block alleys to Lake Boulevard
- East side of Main Street
- Pleasant Street to Court Street
- Court Street to Ship Street
Zapal told the City Commission that a survey of non-license holding businesses in the downtown district “exhibited strong support for a social district, with a total of 33 responses received from which 27 voiced support, 1 remained neutral and 4 declined to support the plan.” She shared the database of answers from those merchants in an anonymous fashion to protect individual business owners identities. While some who support the social district say they would, nevertheless, not allow drinks into their establishments, 19 of the 27 supporters indicated they would allow Social District beverages inside.
The revised St. Joseph Downtown Social District plan from St. Joseph Today also provides for a reduced impact on both the Public Safety and Public Works Departments, by:
- Having all participating license holders provide garbage cans that they will maintain, empty and clean…
- Relocating some garbage cans to pilot area boundaries…
- Providing large, clearly-marked, signage around the perimeter of the District from St. Joseph Today…
- Limiting the hours of the Social District to 11am to 9pm daily…
- Shrinking the pilot district plan to a smaller, more easily managed footprint…
Zapal also provided the city with a comprehensive, 8-page, Management & Maintenance Plan defining the intent of the district, the process it will follow, multi-point compliance rules, the defined hours of operations and other limitations, the requirements and responsibilities of the licensees who will be engaged in the district plan, what the City of St. Joseph would provide for the plan, what St. Joseph Today brings to the table in support of the plan, rules regarding social distancing and the response to COVID-19, and plans for regular review of the plan to keep everyone in the loop regarding how things are proceeding.
There are currently some 45 municipal Social Districts around the state of Michigan, including one in Niles and the process is underway in Bridgman following approval by that communities government last week.
The plan now goes to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for their approval after which individual licensees can make application to become a part of the district plan location by location.
