City of Lebanon, NH Live Meeting Stream

Speakers are labeled SPEAKER_N. This transcript is machine-generated.

Recording

Thursday and Friday evenings, with the full intention that when people come out, they may tell us they
don't want this. We may decide, well, we don't actually want to set dates and times. We want to
set the framework, but only have a social district on specific days, a temporary social district. Does that
sound appropriate to staff? I would also say I'm not necessarily in favor of setting the public
hearing tonight, but just using this as a means to progress the conversation to say that we will
set a public hearing at some point, knowing that, as counselor key pointed out, we probably
have quite a few months before this would be relevant, but we should be thinking that when we set
the public hearing, we do it with a structure in mind that we could then opt not to fully
implement if we only implement parts of. So if you are going to think about a public hearing,
I would think it would be sometime in 27, closer to getting into social district time of year.
I also think that, contrary to maybe what we've talked about, I think social districts are set up
not necessarily for the vendors of alcohol or beer and wine. It's for the people who patronize those
places. I mean, I think it's easy.
you to sell a beer, wine, and drink when you have them contained in your building in your
restaurant. That's pretty straightforward business for them, but now you've got people wandering
outside the building. I don't know if that necessarily enhances your alcohol sales. It may marginally,
but I really think social districts are for the people who choose to participate, giving them
a little bit of liberty to walk around and drink a beer or a glass of wine or a drink.
I think it worked really well in Laconia because there was no place.
to sit outside and have a drink. There was a small seating area on a sidewalk that could
accommodate maybe four to six people outside of craft brewery. When they opened up a social
district, it was a small street surrounded by businesses on each side, and you can only get on to
that street, really, but two spots. But they set up a band on Friday nights at one end of the
street and had food vendors out on the street so people could
then leave the craft brewery, if you will, literally walked just 10 feet around the corner
and they were in that social district. It seemed to work really well and people could meander
and buy trinkets and things like that and hamburgers and listen to music. I don't know if you have
the same thing over here on the pedestrian walkway because you can already sit outside, listen to music
and get a drink at Three Tomatoes or Salt Hill or sit around the corner for quieter time at
the Mexican restaurant. It's just a little different setup there. I think of a social
district. I'm not quite sure how you do it, but I think Thursday nights during Farmer's Market,
being able to listen to music at the front porch music series out here or to walk around and shop
and be able to walk around with your special cup that has a drink in it. It seems to make more sense
but also offers us more challenges and how do we make sure that it remains contained. And how do
you get them if they want to go to Salt Hill across the street. I mean, a couple of little nuances
there. I'm sure we could figure it out, but I think this is more about the people who partake in
drinking and want to walk around, less less about the people selling the beer, I think,
or the wine, but.
Councillor Fons and then Councillor McNamara.
Does the Levin and Opera House sort of alleyway sort of scene, sort of simulate what experience
you're thinking of? I mean, that's sort of contained, but it's not always there.
You know, you have a nice view out to the green, but you're kind of in your spot.
Yeah, that's it, right.
I mean, I think that the mall is just too amorphous.
Yeah, right, yeah.
It's huge, and you may get pushback in that you want some folks that are not alcohol drinkers.
They don't want their family around it, whatever, and, you know, maybe that's a bridge too far.
Thank you, Councillor McNamara.
So a couple of things. I agree with that, and I appreciate the description of the situation of the Coney,
which does sound a lot different than the year.
Yeah.
And even to, you know, get from where you can buy liquor to the area beside them all,
you've got to cross the street, you know,
and it doesn't sound like you have to cross the street in Leconi.
Is that correct?
Yeah, just walk on the sidewalk.
They do have some street crossings in their district now.
Yes.
Well, I would suggest that before we scheduled a public hearing on this,
because we know where the vendors are going to be,
and we know there's a strong possibility that the most logical place is the pedestrian mall.
Couldn't we schedule a meeting with the businesses in that area that face onto the mall and say,
okay, what do you think?
You know, bars, what do you think?
Katie's cookies, what do you think?
You know, I mean, I think they'd be responsive to an invitation to walk up here for an hour someday
and talk about it before we schedule a public hearing.
With, oh, sorry, Councilor Key.
I actually think you're on to something.
And we do have to think about, like, the people that get drawn into the opera house and stuff.
And maybe that would be, we want to build community.
It is a good idea.
Maybe after the show you can get a beer and there is a place you can go
and you don't have to sit at a table in a restaurant to do that.
I mean, I think, but I think you're a good idea.
why don't we bring who we think the stakeholders are really together and say,
we got this thing, what do you think, what do you think the council should do with it?
And maybe that's a good way to kick it off.
And I'll note that as the city manager pointed out, the primary beneficiaries of this,
maybe the business owners, but are certainly the residents who would participate.
I would posit that we could plan to revisit this in the first quarter of next year,
which would be a good time to reach out to the businesses,
perhaps have the council set a public hearing to discuss it further,
try to flesh out what some of this structure would look like,
and really see, you know, what concern.
I think what I would suggest is we want to hear what concerns the business owners have.
rather than necessarily their support or opposition.
What we want to hear is the public's support or opposition,
but we do want to hear from the business owners what their thoughts are,
what their concerns are.
And just to add on to that, you know,
the couple of restaurant-affiliated people that I spoke with,
they need more information.
Their questions were largely about what their liability would be,
concerns about, you know,
very practical issues of this.
So it wasn't even a matter of whether they're interested or not.
They're so lacking in information as to not be able to weigh in yet.
So I think that would be an important step to take as well.
Thank you.
So any opposition to that plan or any additional comments or desires that we extend to the meeting further?
That's what I thought.
Given that, we'll, we know what to do with this next.
We already had a non-public session.
I will welcome a motion to adjourn.
So moved.
Councillor Ford Burley, a second by Councillor Fonce.
Roll call vote, Fonse.
Yes, please.
Key?
Yes.
Appleton.
Yes.
Ford Burley.
Yes.
McNamara.
Yes.
Whittlesy?
Yes.
And I vote yes as well.
Thank you, everyone.