Dunsmuir council introduces downtown "entertainment zone" ordinance after public hearing

The Dunsmuir City Council voted unanimously to introduce Ordinance 586, which would add chapter 5.36 to the Dunsmuir Municipal Code to create a downtown "entertainment zone" where patrons of participating Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)-licensed establishments could carry and consume alcoholic beverages within a defined boundary.

City Attorney David Glenn presented the draft ordinance at the public hearing and recommended waiving a full first reading by title and scheduling a second reading at the next available meeting, with the ordinance to become effective 30 days after adoption. "Rather than belabor the point of going over it again, I made the necessary changes based on your direction," Glenn said when presenting the draft.

The proposal came with a staff and law-enforcement review. Staff said Sergeant Ortiz and Sheriff LeRue did not object to the ordinance as written but asked that the city remain able to amend the rules if public-safety concerns arose. The draft also includes a required two-year review under ABC rules.

During the public hearing David Hicks, who participated online, urged the council to exclude certain properties and the children's park from the zone. "Why is my residential property included in this zone? And why is the children's park included in this zone?" Hicks asked. City staff responded that the mapped boundary was developed by the Economic Development Committee as a starting point based on the historic commercial district, that private property owners retain the right to prohibit drinking on their property, and that separate park ordinances would continue to bar alcohol at the children's park.

Councilmembers asked several clarifying questions about the mapped boundary (including the treatment of Sacramento Avenue where Union Pacific railroad property lies) and whether changes would require another first reading. Glenn and staff advised that the ordinance itself allows downtown entertainment-zone boundaries to be amended later by council resolution, and recommended proceeding with introduction and allowing any needed boundary changes to be made by resolution prior to implementation.

Councilmember Clarno moved to introduce and read Ordinance 586 by title only and waive further reading; Vice Mayor Seabring seconded. The motion passed on a unanimous roll call vote. Staff said signage and modest implementation costs would be considered separately if and when the ordinance is adopted at second reading.

The council discussed scheduling the second reading at a special meeting because of timing constraints: an adopted ordinance would enter a 30-day ratification period before becoming effective. The council also directed staff to prepare details on signage and implementation costs for future consideration.

Next steps: the council introduced Ordinance 586 and will take a second reading and final vote at the next scheduled meeting or a specially noticed meeting within the statutory timeframe.