Title
Resolution to Approve the Creation of a Social District in the Main Street Area
Memorandum
Last year, the state legislature amended section 551 of 1998 Public Act 58 to create the Social District program. This program allows municipalities to designate a common area where license holding establishments may share space to serve alcoholic beverages to patrons, and the patrons may move freely within that space while consuming alcoholic beverages.
The Main Street Area Association has brought a request forward to create a social district in the Main Street area of downtown. It is important to note that the social district program is separate from the downtown street closures. While some of the proposed times overlap, the social district program would continue to exist only on city sidewalks during times and dates when the street closures are not in effect.
Staff is recommending the management of this program to be similar to the management of the downtown street closures, in that the Main Street Area Association would submit a management plan to the City which would be reviewed and signed off by staff before the program could be implemented. This will allow public safety staff to provide direct feedback and recommend changes on an on-going basis and as needs arise.
Staff
Prepared by: John Fournier, Assistant City Administrator
Reviewed by: John Reiser, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Approved by: John Fournier, Assistant City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Michigan Public Act 124 of 2020 (the Act) was signed into law on July 1, 2020 allowing municipalities to designate Social Districts, wherein license holding establishments could share outdoor dining space and patrons could move freely within the district while consuming an alcoholic beverage;
Whereas, Ann Arbor City Council finds that designating social districts and commons areas pursuant to the Act is in the best interests of the citizens and businesses of the City of Ann Abor in light of the long...
Click here for full text