Aldermen Grant Extension For Downtown Businesses to Comply with Bar Ordinance

By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

Restaurants that sell alcohol will have 10 extra days to hang security camera, hire security guards and put together an emergency response plan after the Oxford Board of Aldermen approved the extension Friday morning.

On Sept. 4, the board approved the Regulation and Safety of Patrons and Employees of Restaurants, Bars and Similar Businesses, Including Event Venues ordinance, once known as the Downtown District ordinance, to go into effect in 30 days for businesses in what was identified as the downtown district, and Jan. 1 for all other restaurants that serve alcohol inside city limits.

On Friday, during a special meeting, the aldermen approved a new deadline date of Oct. 15, giving downtown businesses an extra 10 days to prepare. The ordinance would have gone into effect on Oct. 5 if the extension was not granted.

At the start of the meeting, the board went into executive session to discuss “litigation and possible litigation related to the alcohol ordinance.” After the session, the board voted to approve the extension.

Mayor Robyn Tannehill said the reason for the extension to make sure all restaurant owners were clear on whether they were inside the downtown district or had until Jan. 1 to make the accommodations required by the ordinance.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to extend it,” Tannehill said Friday morning after the meeting.

The ordinance requires all local restaurants serving alcohol to have security and evacuation plans in place; include adequate security guards who wear clothing that identifies them as such; have security cameras at all entry/exit doors. all open common areas, all entry/exit doors of bathroom/restrooms, all entry/exit doors and the common area of any other area or room where the public is granted access, and the use of ID scanners to check for fake ID cards.

The Downtown District is defined as the area which lies adjoining and to the north of University Avenue starting at 9th Street, proceeding east until 14th Street; proceeding north on 14th Street to Jefferson Avenue to include all businesses on the west side of 14th Street; and proceeding west on Jefferson Avenue to 9th Street, to include all businesses on the north and south sides of Jefferson Avenue; and then proceeding south on 9th Street to University Avenue to include all businesses on the east side of 9th Street.