HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated June 10, 2025ITEM #:30
DATE:06-10-25
DEPT:ADMIN
SUBJECT:REQUEST FOR AMES SUMMERTIME SERIES - CAMPUSTOWN ON JUNE
18, 2025
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
On March 11, 2025, the City Council approved several requests from Ames Main Street for
the Ames Summertime Series - Campustown. Ames Main Street is now requesting
suspension of enforcement of Section 17.16 of Ames Municipal Code for the event to
allow alcohol to be served in the area where minors may be present.
Section 17.16 makes a distinction between alcohol-licensed premises that function more like a
restaurant, with food sales making up the majority of the sales, and premises that function as
a bar, where alcohol sales are a majority of the business. For the former, minors may be in the
premises without a legal-age adult. For the latter, minors are not permitted without a legal-age
adult accompanying them. The Police Department relies on business records of transactions
to make the determination regarding whether minors would be allowed or not under the
ordinance's criteria.
Typically for events such as the Summertime Series, since the license holder sells the alcohol
and separate vendors sell food and other items, and since no historical pattern of sales can be
evaluated for intermittent events, the alcohol sales have been treated like a bar--a designated
alcohol consumption area has been created using fencing, and those allowed in must either
be 21 years of age or older, or (if the organizers wish) a minor child accompanied by their
legal-age parent or guardian.
Ames Main Street has requested the ability to license the entire event area as the
premises for the event and not be required to fence a separate beer garden area. This
would allow attendees of all ages to move freely throughout the event area. This
request follows a similar waiver being granted for 515 Days, which was held Downtown
in May. City staff notes that there were no reported issues with the alcohol service at
that event.
The City has had a long history of requiring alcohol consumption for special events to occur in
a designated area without intermingling of legal age adults and minors. The concern from staff
has historically been the challenges observed with minors being able to obtain alcohol in
establishments that advertise or operate like a bar, but where just enough food sales occur to
qualify for minors to be allowed on the premises.
Staff discussed these issues with Ames Main Street and has developed a list of the
specific circumstances for the proposed event that the Council could consider
justifying allowing a suspension of Section 17.16 in this instance. It should be
emphasized that other events in the future, with circumstances outside of these
described below, are not likely to receive staff support to allow minors on the premises.
1
The circumstances related to this event that may justify the requested suspension of
enforcement of Section 17.16 include:
1. The event includes entertainment and activities that are the focus of the event (alcohol
consumption is incidental to the event).
2. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be offered in a meaningful variety. No distilled
spirits are involved.
3. The event is non-ticketed, intended to be family-friendly, and includes promotional
materials that suggest it as a family event.
4. It is organized by a locally established entity, with a track record of hosting events
successfully and with an interest in continuing to do so.
5. Private security is being hired for the event, in addition to volunteers to manage the
event area.
6. The event is on a weekday night and will take place entirely during daylight hours.
Additionally, the event is being held when Iowa State University classes are out of
session, reducing the potential for larger crowds that can be challenging to manage.
7. The event area is in a parking lot that contains permanent fencing and walls, making for
a well-defined space that is simpler to manage than an open event area.
Organizers have provided a letter (attached), which outlines the event plans in greater detail.
Separately from the alcohol request, organizers have requested that the event boundaries not
be fenced using the typical high or wide fencing but instead relying on the permanent fencing
and walls in place in the parking lot. Staff believes that some minimal fencing is still necessary
on the west portion of the north event boundary, but that relieving the organizers of the
requirement for additional fencing would be acceptable.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the request to waiver enforcement of Section 17.16 of Municipal Code to allow
minors to be present for Ames Summertime Series - Campustown on June 18, 2025.
2. Refer this item back to staff for additional information.
3. Do not approve the request.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Ames Main Street is a well-established local entity that has successfully hosted many
events with alcohol components in Downtown . Most recently, for 515 Days, Ames Main
Street demonstrated an ability to handle an event at which this same provision of
Municipal Code was suspended, allowing for minors to be present in the alcohol
service area. The factors listed in the report above make a case to support a waiver of
enforcement of Section 17.16 of Municipal Code. Therefore, it is the recommendation of
the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1 as described above.
2
ATTACHMENT(S):
Alliance Letter of Request for All Ages Event Status.pdf
3
May 28, 2025
Brian Phillips
Assistant City Manager
City of Ames
515 Clark Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
Mr. Phillips,
On behalf of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, I am writing to formally request approval to
designate the upcoming Campustown Summer Series event on Wednesday, June 18, from
4:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., as an all-ages event with permitted alcohol consumption throughout the
event space.
Following the positive experience and smooth implementation of a similar request by Ames
Main Street during the recent 515 Days celebration, we believe this adjustment will significantly
enhance the experience for attendees. As with that successful event, we are confident that
appropriate safety measures and event management protocols as discussed by our team,
yourself, and Police Chief Huff, will ensure a secure and welcoming atmosphere for all
participants. Additionally, our team plans to ID individuals as they enter the area, use wristbands
to identify those who are of age to consume alcohol, and will have professional staff and trained
volunteers who will be on hand to monitor the entire event from beginning to end.
The Campustown Summer Series is designed to be a family-friendly, community-oriented
gathering that aligns with our organization’s mission to attract business, foster connection, and
activate Campustown during the quieter summer months. Scheduled mid-week and during
daylight hours, the event offers a relaxed and inviting environment for people of all ages to enjoy
live music, local food truck vendors, and outdoor games and activities. This creates an
atmosphere well-suited for responsible alcohol consumption within the event’s boundaries in
Campustown Parking Lot Z.
We appreciate your consideration of this request and your continued support of our efforts to
bring vibrancy and economic activity to Campustown. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with
any questions or if additional information is needed.
Respectfully,
Dan Culhane,
President & CEO
4