Proposed boundaries for a social district in Gladstone are shown. The city invites the public to attend an informational meeting and hearing on May 12.

GLADSTONE — The City of Gladstone is ready to present its proposal for a social district, complete with details on boundaries, times of operation, and nuances of the rules to citizens during a hearing on May 12. Social districts, which allow marked alcoholic beverages from licensed establishments to be consumed in an outdoor area, have recently been adopted in other communities, and proponents believe such a district may help boost Gladstone’s gathering momentum.

The State of Michigan initially introduced social districts as a means of encouraging people to patronize local businesses while keeping safe distances during COVID. Now, the hope is that the appeal of a social district may increase foot traffic, bolstering the downtown as a whole, and potentially bring new businesses to Gladstone.

However, rather than pushing a decision forward rashly, Gladstone officials are doing their best to be thorough, weigh the options, and find out what its citizens want in a social district — if they desire one at all. An early exploratory phase in January included an online community survey, and 79% of the responses were in favor of a social district. Some people surveyed provided thoughts and suggestions which guided the next steps.

A steering committee was then established to fine-tune some details of a maintenance and management plan for the potential district before bringing the matter to the City Commission again.

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) brought a suggested management and maintenance plan forward on Monday.

The proposed borders are just three blocks wide and include five licensed establishments: Saunders Point Brewing, Dew Drop Family Restaurant, American Legion, Wally’s Bar, and MIDD Bar and Lounge (formerly Sand Bar). About the size of Manistique’s social district, this is a small area compared to the City of Escanaba’s recently-approved district, which is over 20 blocks long –though not yet operational.

Since there is hesitancy about children being around alcohol, suggested operating hours for Gladstone’s social district begin after school lets out to allow kids time to get home. It would be in effect from 4 to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 10 p.m. on weekends. While some municipalities have enacted seasonal districts, Gladstone’s steering committee decided that year-round would be less confusing.

Some concerns have been raised about enforcement and security. In order to clearly mark the boundaries, signs would be posted, and DDA Director Patricia West said that education would have to be a priority. Public Safety Director Ron Robinson was on the steering committee and reportedly does not anticipate issues with the district.

“It should continue to be emphasized that any alcohol related crimes are still illegal,” said West. “Public intoxication is still illegal, and so all of those items should still be reported to law enforcement if you see any activity that should not be happening.”

If an instance should arise that requires more patrol, such as a busy event, the DDA or an event sponsor could fund that need.

Costs to the city would include signage and receptacles for disposing of beverage containers, whether they be trash or recycling bins. However, the DDA hopes to solicit sponsorships from local businesses to offset the pressure on city funds.

As for the beverage containers themselves — which by law must be less than 16 ounces, not glass and marked with both a logo unique to the social district and a logo for the alcohol-serving establishment — the DDA suggests the licensee (bar or restaurant) purchase those themselves.

In order to maintain the district and discuss its impact, annual meetings would occur between DDA staff, participating establishments, and other downtowners with feedback.

The district could be temporarily closed with seven days notice if appropriate for certain circumstances.

If the social district is enacted but the community or governing body decides at some point in time it is being abused, it could be revoked after a public hearing.

A public hearing before implementation is not a requirement, but the DDA and the City Commission would like to give the people the opportunity to learn more about what having a social district in Gladstone would mean. All members of the public, whether Gladstone residents or frequent visitors, may attend the meeting at Gladstone City Hall (1100 Delta Ave.) on Monday, May 12 at 6 p.m. for further information.