DATE: June 1, 2021 TO: Mark Washington, City Manager COMMITTEE: Committee of the Whole LIAISON: Mark Washington, City Manager FROM: Louis T. Canfield, Chief of Staff Executive Office SUBJECT: Resolution revising the existing Downtown Grand Rapids Social District to include additional commons area in the vicinity of Bridge Street and Stocking Avenue The COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact the local Grand Rapids business community, especially restaurants and bars. Even as the vaccination rate increases, demand for outdoor dining is expected to remain high due to changing indoor occupancy restrictions and consumer health expectations. On May 21, 2020, the City Commission established a "COVID-19 Recovery" special event (proceeding 89878). That resolution designated the entire City as the general extent of the event, authorized the issuance of individual permits for multiple "Social Zone" outdoor dining areas as part of the event, and provided a general framework of rules and regulations for operations within Social Zones. On March 9, 2021, the COVID- 19 Recovery event was extended to November 1, 2021 (proceeding 90618). On July 21, 2020, as authorized by Michigan Public Act 124 of 2020, the City Commission designated two Social Districts – one of which was the Downtown Grand Rapids Social District – containing Commons Areas where purchasers may consume alcoholic beverages sold by multiple qualified Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) licensees who obtain an MLCC Social District Permit (proceeding 90066). (Note: this concept is distinct from, but may overlap with, the City's Social Zones.) On April 27, 2021, the City Commission revised the designation of the Downtown Grand Rapids Social District by merging the three previously distinct Commons Areas into a single Commons Area and by adding a provision to the City’s Social Districts designation to "exclude premises authorized by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission under a special license during the effective period of the special license" (proceeding 90744). During the past month, Retail Retention and Attraction Specialist Richard App identified additional businesses in the vicinity of Bridge and Stocking that would like to participate in a Social District. While a new Social District designation was considered, that approach would have resulted in several problematic issues, including the need to transfer already-participating businesses to the new district and the inability of visitors to carry alcoholic beverages between adjacent districts. Rather than designating a new district adjacent to the existing Downtown Grand Rapids Social District, City staff have worked with Mr. App and partner staff at Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. on a proposal to extend the existing district to include those businesses. A map of the revised Downtown Grand Rapids Social District is attached to this agenda item. City staff will be available to answer your questions about the proposed resolution at the City Commission meeting on June 1, 2021. Thank you for your consideration of this request. .. YOUR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE recommends adoption of the following resolution revising the existing Downtown Grand Rapids Social District to include additional commons area in the vicinity of Bridge Street and Stocking Avenue. WHEREAS: 1. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause unprecedented economic disruption worldwide and within our local business community; and 2. Restaurants and bars, which have been key contributors to the vitality of downtown and neighborhood business districts have been, and will continue to be, hard-hit by the economic impacts of the pandemic; and 3. Continued availability of outdoor dining space will help downtown and neighborhood business districts to recover; and 4. The City Commission previously authorized the City Manager, or designee, to permit Social Zones through November 1, 2021; and 5. Public Act 124 of 2020 empowers the City Commission to enhance Social Zones by designating them as Social Districts with Commons Areas where purchasers may consume alcoholic beverages sold by multiple qualified Michigan Liquor Control Commission licensees who obtain Social District Permits; and 6. The City Commission designated the Downtown Grand Rapids Social District on July 21, 2020 and revised the designation on April 27, 2021; and 7. Additional business near the Downtown Grand Rapids Social District would like to participate in a Social District; and 8. Extending the existing Downtown Grand Rapids Social District to include the additional businesses will avoid the need to transfer already participating businesses to the new district and will enable visitors to carry alcoholic beverages from the additional businesses to the previously designated Commons Areas; and 9. The City Commission has considered the potential impact of the proposed changes to Social Districts on public health, safety, and welfare; therefore RESOLVED: 1. That Downtown Grand Rapids Social District containing Commons Areas is designated within the limits shown on the attached map; and 2. That the Commons Areas within the Social District shall be as noted on the attached maps with the City Manager, or designee, authorized to make minor reasonable adjustments to the limits of the Commons Areas required by regulatory or operational requirements, or to safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare; and 3. That each Commons Area is contiguous to at least 2 qualified licensees; and 4. That signage shall be placed to define and clearly mark the limits of the Commons Areas; and 5. That the City-designated Social Zones shall remain as permitted (subject to permit modifications) within the Social District; and 6. That the management and maintenance plan for each Commons Area, including the hours of operation, shall be the same as for the corresponding permitted Social Zone; and 7. That the Commons Areas shall be maintained in a manner that protects the health and safety of the community; and 8. That the Social District shall exclude premises authorized by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission under a special license during the effective period of the special license; and 9. That this resolution supersedes any conflicting provision of City Commission proceeding 90744. Prepared by Louis T. Canfield Frank St. Carrier St. Leonard St. Leonard St. FOR ENLARGEMENT OF THIS AREA Leonard St. Davis Ave. Davis REFER TO PAGE 2 Ave. Muskegon Barnett St. DOWNTOWN SOCIAL DISTRICT Ionia Ave. 12th St. St. Seward Hamilton Ave. College Ave. Elizabeth Ave. Brodway Ave. Turner Ave. Scribner Ave. Front Ave. PROPOSED NEW COMMONS Hubert St. DISTRICT + COMMONS AREA Coldbrook St. AREA ADDED TO ORIGINALLY Coldbrook St. 11th St. LOCATION MAP AND OVERVIEW AUTHORIZED 2020 COMMONS Cedar St. AREA: BRIDGE/MICHIGAN 10th St. Walnut St. 9th St. STREET CONNECTING BRIDGE 9th St. Matilda St. DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS SOCIAL Jennette Ave. Jennette Alpine Ave. Alpine Shirley St. Prospect Ave. Prospect Lafayette Ave. Lafayette Clancy Ave. Coit Ave. STREET TO DOWNTOWN. Ave. Davis Union Ave. DISTRICT BOUNDARY Seward St. Seward 8th St. Mason St. Hopson St. 7th St. Ottawa Ave. INDICATED WITH 7th St. Bond Ave. Bradford St. Bradford St. North Ave. North 6th St. Lydia St. PROPOSED NEW COMMONS Newberry St. Brodway Ave. 5th St. Bissell St. DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS COMMONS AREA ADDED TO ORIGINALLY 5th St. Turner Ave. More St. Sinclair Ave. Sinclair Front Ave. AREA INDICATED WITH AUTHORIZED 2020 COMMONS St. Seward Fairbanks St. Fairbanks St. 4th St. Livingston Ave. Lafayette Ave. Prospect Ave. Fairview Ave. Clancy Ave. 4th St. Hester Pl. Coit Ave. AREA: STOCKING AVE FROM BRIDGE North Ave. Davis Ave. Davis Scribner Ave. Ionia Ave. Ionia ST TO 2ND ST INDICATED WITH 3rd St. Trowbridge St. Trowbridge St. Sinclair Ave. Sinclair Division Ave. Dexter Pl. 2nd St. 2nd St. Stocking Ave. Monroe Ave. Monroe 1st St. Hastings St. College Ave. PROPOSED NEW COMMONS AREA ADDED TO 1st St. FOR ENLARGEMENT 1st St. Coit Ave. ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED 2020 COMMONS Fremont Ave. Fremont Union Ave. Milwaukee Ave. Milwaukee Pettibone Ave. Pettibone OF THIS AREA REFER Ave. Cadwell Alabama Ave. Bridge St. AREA: MONROE AVENUE CONNECTING TO PAGE 6 Michigan St. Douglas St. Douglas St. Vineland Pl. MONROE NORTH TO DOWNTOWN. DeVos Place Ottawa Ave. Chatham St. Ave. Indiana INDICATED WITH Calder Crescent St. Chatham St. Plaza Lafayette Ave. Barclay Ave. Claremont Pl. Ionia Ave. Ghilda Pl. Ford DeVos Jackson St. Museum Performance Hall Mt.Vernon Ave. National Ave. National Lexington Ave. Lexington Straight Ave. Straight Pine Ave. Pine Lane Ave. Lane Lyon St. Marion Ave. Marion Gold Ave. Gold Summer Ave. Lyon St. Sibley St. Ransom Ave. Winchester Pl. Prospect Ave. FOR ENLARGEMENT OF THIS AREA College Ave. PROPOSED NEW COMMONS Pearl St. Lake Michigan Dr. Monroe Center St. REFER TO PAGE 3 GR Public Museum AREA ADDED TO ORIGINALLY Lafayette Ave. Fountain St. California St. Fountain St. GRAM Seward St. Seward Campau Ave. Louis St. AUTHORIZED 2020 COMMONS Front Ave. Winter Ave. Veto St. Sheldon Ave. Library St. AREA: BRIDGE ST FROM GOLD AVE John St. Portsmouth Pl Ionia Ave. Ottawa Ave. W. Fulton St. TO PINE AVE INDICATED WITH E. Fulton St. E. Fulton St. Prospect Ave. PROPOSED NEW COMMONS AREA ADDED TO Gay Ave. Winter Ave. Jeerson Ave. Mt. Vernon Ave. Weston St. Weston St. Weston St. Ottawa Ave. VanAndel ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED COMMONS Watson St. 2020 Arena Washington St. AREA: VAN ANDEL ARENA PLAZA. INDICATED Oakes St. Commerce Ave. Oakes St. Madison Ave. Gold Ave. Gold Division Ave. LaGrave Ave. National Ave. National Straight Ave. Straight Indiana Ave. Indiana FOR ENLARGEMENT OF THIS AREA Ave. Lexington State St. Union Ave. WITH REFER TO PAGE 5 Cherry St. Cherry St. Butterworth St. Jeerson Ave. Gelock Pl. Front St. Finney Ave. Emperor St. Williams St. Williams St. DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS COMMONS Central Maple St. Prospect Ave. Station Madison Ave. Morris Ave. College Ave. Paris Ave. Ionia St. Ionia Olive Ave. Olive Bartlett St. Bartlett St. AREA INDICATED WITH FOR ENLARGEMENT OF THIS AREA Letellier St. Goodrich St. Ney Ave. Goodrich St. REFER TO PAGE 4 Market Ave.