If the Warsaw Common Council approves the two ordinances on second reading at their March 4 meeting, the city could have its first Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) downtown.
The ordinances were approved with five votes on first reading Tuesday. Council President Jack Wilhite was absent and Councilman Jerry Frush abstained.
Mayor Jeff Grose, in introducing the two ordinances required to create the rules and location for the Downtown Warsaw DORA, read a statement from City Planner Justin Taylor, who was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting due to illness.
In part, the statement said, “Today I am asking you to consider a piece of legislation that will help facilitate the burgeoning collaboration between small businesses downtown. This ordinance, if adopted, benefits businesses that have invested downtown by enhancing their liquor licenses to allow carry-out beverages. Today is an advertised public hearing for the first reading of this proposed ordinance.”
In July 2023, the state passed the legislation needed for Indiana communities to create DORAs. A municipality can now create up to seven areas within its jurisdiction allowing citizens to purchase alcohol at designated establishments and consume the beverage anywhere within the DORA boundaries, he said.
Since the legislation passed, the city has been in discussions with Main Street Warsaw and other stakeholders about the possibility of taking advantage of the program locally. The first ordinance was regarding the proposed rules governing the creation of local DORAs, and the second ordinance was for the creation of a downtown Warsaw DORA.
If both ordinances are approved after the second reading, Taylor said documentation will be sent down to the state for review.
City attorney Scott Reust said the second ordinance sets the boundaries for and the vendors participating in the DORA.
Councilman Mike Klondaris asked who gets to decide who can be a vendor in the DORA. Reust said it has to be someone who already has a liquor license. Those businesses with an alcohol license are allowed to ask the city to be allowed to participate in a DORA. The DORA up for consideration Tuesday was specifically for downtown Warsaw. He said the city could designate up to seven different areas for DORAs.
Grose said there are 10 businesses currently interested in participating in the downtown DORA. According to the ordinance, those businesses are Mad Anthony Brewing Co., Paradiso, Anthology Whiskey Room, Oku Roji, B+B Courthouse Market, Rocksteady Pizza Parlour, Rex’s Rendezvous, Downtown Eatery & Spirits, One Ten Craft Meatery and one labeled as “Ghost Spot - Mi Lindo Acapulco.”
More businesses could be added or removed from the DORA.
The downtown DORA’s border begins at the intersection of Lake and Main streets, runs east along Main Street, south along the west side of Indiana Street, turns west along the north section of Jefferson Street, turns north on Columbia Street, heads east on Center Street, turns north on Lake Street and terminates at the intersection of Lake and Main streets.
Main Street Warsaw CEO and President Rob Parker spoke in favor of the DORA. He said at the Main Street Board meeting Tuesday, the board unanimously agreed on a resolution to support the DORA, which he read to the council.
He then also said, “I think when you look at this, I think there’s really a couple different aspects of the DORA. One is the social aspect. It’s people gathering. We have a great downtown. We have some great spaces that we created. ... We also have awesome events in the downtown. And one of the events that we have down here is the Fat + Skinny Tire Festival.”
As part of that festival, there’s a beer tent where adults can drink inside that tent. Parker said he calls that tent Beer Jail.
“I’ve seen adults, who bring their kids to an event, and the adults will go into the Beer Jail and the kids will wander. And so what I want to create is a more family atmosphere, so when we do have events, if someone wants a beer, that they can be with their kids and not be separated,” Parker said.
He said communities he’s talked with have seen economic improvements to their downtowns because they’re more vibrant, not necessarily because they’re selling more alcohol.
Greg Demopoulos, director of the Fat + Skinny Tire Festival, also spoke in favor of the DORA. “This will certainly help,” he said, with putting on a great event.
The details of the DORA will be administered by Main Street Warsaw, and there will be a QR Code on the cups for the DORA that have a map for the DORA. No taxpayer dollars will be used for the cups or signage of the DORA.
Councilman Josh Finch emphasized the importance of educating people about the DORA, especially encouraging participants not to drink and drive.