Santa Rosa city council endorses plan to let you wander downtown with drinks in hand

The Santa Rosa City Council just gave a thumbs-up to a plan that would turn its downtown core into an “entertainment zone,” allowing thirsty locals and tourists to wander the sidewalks with open containers of booze.

Under the proposal, residents and visitors could sip and stroll through two core areas of downtown–most notably between Old Courthouse Square and Railroad Square Friday through Sunday at designated hours, according to reports from The Press Democrat.

With the new rules, participating businesses will be able to sell beer and wine in designated reusable or recyclable cups. Patrons would then receive a wristband that would let them stroll through a specified area of the downtown district without fear of getting slapped with an open-container citation.

“This could be a great thing for the city,” Mayor Mark Stapp said.

Santa Rosa’s downtown has reportedly struggled in recent years to attract the kind of foot traffic seen in bigger cities — and local business owners have loudly supported the program as a creative way to spark economic activity.

With a reputation for closing up early, supporters of the new zone argue that loosening the rules could be a game-changer for restaurants, bars and breweries.  

“I think Santa Rosa goes dark and a little boring after hours,” Council member Natalie Rogers told the Press Democrat.

Other council members worry that the move might have unintended consequences and may be difficult to enforce, particularly with a decrease in police officers due to budget cuts. Nonetheless, they supported a trial run.

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City staff are still ironing out the specifics–from safety protocols to enforcement details–with planning officials expected to discuss potential steps next week.