City of Monroe establishes social district in downtown area

The City of Monroe is establishing a social district in its downtown area.

On Monday, Monroe City Council unanimously approved a resolution establishing the district, which encompasses the city's historic downtown area that features numerous bars and restaurants.

City of Monroe website:Meeting agenda link

Conceived as part of state legislation aimed to help Michigan restaurants feeling the financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, social districts are places where people can drink alcohol outside in common areas.

The law requires a local government to establish a plan for the district, which needs to be approved by Michigan’s Liquor Control Commission. The city will need to post signs and other markers indicating where individuals can and can’t consume alcohol outside, and special cups will be supplied to businesses who pay a quarterly fee to participate.

"The common areas, which are really where people are permitted to gather and enjoy a their beverages throughout the social district, include all sidewalks, city-owned parking lots, Gateway Park, Altrusa Park, and the the rights-of-way that are within the entire social district," said Mark Cochran, Economic and Community Development Director for the City of Monroe. "We did include Saint Mary's Park and the City Hall Government Plaza for special events only... Those two areas of the social district will only be allowed to be open and operating after a special event permit or application has been submitted to the city manager's office and approved."

The city's plan for the social district will now be sent to the Liquor Control Commission for its approval. Assuming it is approved, Cochran said the next step is for the city to design a logo for the social district, then order and erect the signage around its boundaries.

"(Social districts) have been instituted and initiated all across the state," Cochran added. "We did follow best practices on what other communities have done across the state, with the guidance of the Michigan Municipal League and others. We took a look at boundaries (established by) other communities, and the rules and regulations they've put in place that worked... as part of the development of our program."

Cochran emphasized that the boundaries of the social district can be amended in essentially the same process the city is following to establish them now, in the event a business outside the current limits wishes to participate in the future.

"They (the boundaries) can be changed and amended in the future," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe to establish social district in historic downtown area