Auburn Entertainment Zone addresses key public safety issues, licensing, boundary control

The Auburn City Council approved an ordinance to create "entertainment zones" in the Old Town and downtown areas on Nov. 10 with several conditions and permitting requirements to address public safety. "Business owners recognized that an entertainment zone had a potential to increase economic activity, attract visitors and create a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere in the business districts," said Jonathan Wright, Auburn Economic Development Director who worked with business owners, merchants' associations and property stakeholders to craft the ordinance. An entertainment zone is a designated area, created by local ordinance, where people can purchase alcoholic beverages from participating licensed establishments and consume them within the zone's boundaries. Auburn's entertainment zone ordinance addresses critical safety factors, including optimal operational hours, permitted beverages and safety standards, all of which would ensure the zones address both business interests and public safety concerns. "It is important to note that the entertainment zones do not create a new area where alcohol is sold. It doesn't increase alcohol licenses," said City Manager Sean Rabé. "It only allows those buying alcohol from currently-licensed retailers to take that beverage outside the business. The entertainment zones are meant as a way to increase the vitality of the two business districts." "Establishing entertainment zones in Old Town and Downtown Auburn would allow for the responsible consumption of specified alcoholic beverages in designated public rights-of-way like sidewalks and public spaces, while ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and public safety standards," Wright said in a report to the City Council in October. To enhance public safety and zone control, the Auburn entertainment zones require participating establishments to secure a permit from the city. The permit gives the city the ability to place a variety of conditions on participating businesses and exercise regulatory control. One requirement is that businesses must train their staff to provide accurate information to consumers about the entertainment zones, the boundaries and regulations. Another requirement is that all patrons will be ID checked and marked with a city-approved stamp to show they are of legal age to drink. Each business must provide the patron with a cup specifically branded for the zone. These cups will be provided through the Downtown and Old Town business associations to ensure only the unique branded cups are being used. "A key element of an entertainment zone is that only alcoholic beverages purchased from authorized establishments within the entertainment zones may be consumed in the designated areas," explained Wright. Having a branded cup immediately identifies if a patron is following the rules. The stamp and cup combination will give Auburn police a quick visual reference to ensure unauthorized alcoholic beverages or unvetted participants are not infiltrating the zones. "If someone has a cup in hand but not a stamp, an officer will have cause to check an ID," said Wright. Open-container laws still apply outside the entertainment zones. Through individual business permitting, the city can address complaints against a business directly and will have the power to shut down a business' ability to participate in the entertainment zone. If the city or Auburn police receive too many complaints about activity in the zones, the ordinance also gives the city the ability to shut down an entire zone. The city also retains the right to revisit the ordinance. "The great thing about an ordinance is that it can always be amended or rescinded," said Wright. The entertainment zones are located along portions of Lincoln Way, Commercial Street, Washington Street and Sacramento Street in Old Town. In downtown, the zone would be along Lincoln Way, High Street and Upper Lincoln Way. Public sidewalks, plazas and parks along these sections are also included. Proposed entertainment zone hours of operation are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. On designated federal, state or city-recognized holidays, operations may extend to 10 p.m., including Sundays when the holiday falls on a Monday. Permitted beverages within the zones are limited to beer (12 ounces or less), wine (5 ounces or less) and mixed drinks (12 ounces or less containing no more than one ounce of distilled spirits). The city will provide signage to mark the edge of the entertainment zones clearly, ensuring patrons do not take beverages beyond the zone. Plans include to eventually provide branded receptacles where patrons can discard their cups before exiting a zone.