Athens City Council hears DORA amendment, residents voice their concerns
Athens City Council held its bi-weekly meeting on Monday, April 15, one of the last meetings before its annual July recess. Councilmember Jeff Risner filled in for Council President Sam Crowl who was out of town for the meeting.
The Council announced an ordinance for the first reading that would amend the Athens uptown designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) and its hours of operation. All council members introduced this ordinance, which was declared an emergency.
If passed, the ordinance would expand the DORA footprint to cover Stimson Avenue and extend its hours from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Mayor Steve Patterson was the first to voice his support for the amendment, believing that it is necessary for the city.
“I think we need to do it because it’s been proven to be successful in the past,” Patterson said. “It provides for our business within these corridors to extend their hours if they choose to… this is a tool to promote commerce and it’s not uncommon for cities to do.”
Patterson also took the time to reiterate that an open container in a DORA-authorized cup can only be consumed in the authorized area, within the authorized time frame. Service-Safety Director Andrew Stone spoke on the ordinance from a public safety perspective, also showing support.
“Our police department has found zero problems with this configuration,” Stone said. “In fact, there’s indications that there would be a curbing of excessive alcohol consumption because you can leave an establishment without feeling compelled to finish your drink.”
Councilmember Michael Wood voiced his support from an uptown business standpoint, saying that the DORA amendment would help bring in traffic to the businesses that do not serve alcoholic beverages. With the Athens Uptown Brew Art Hop, a celebration of Athen’s four local breweries, approaching on May 8, Wood hopes for the ordinance to get passed promptly.
While members of the council along with the mayor and service-safety director are in support of the amendment, an Athens local shared a concern.
“Has there been any discussion or consideration of extending the DORA down Stimson Avenue and the weekday extension of it going until 11 p.m. when the noise ordinance ends at 10 p.m.,” Kate Blithe said.
Patterson addressed this concern by stating that the only areas a DORA zone can be created are within a business sector, so the residential areas will not be affected. The ordinance will be up for a second reading at the council’s next meeting on April 29.
In other business:
The Athens Arts, Parks, and Recreation Committee was awarded $20,000 for the Changing Lives Grant for improvements at the Richland Avenue park.
A temporary closure of the bike path from Stimson Avenue to the new fire station headquarters will begin on April 18 and run through early July. This closure is for the installation of an emergency watercraft ramp.
Athens was granted the Local Public Agency of the Year award for excellence in diversity and inclusion. This award was presented by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Ohio and the Ohio Contractors Association.
A full video of the meeting can be found on the City of Athens Ohio YouTube channel at the following link.