Fiscal Note
Fiscal note pending.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Establishing a moratorium on issuance of new alcohol licenses in a high density, high police call area in downtown Madison and establishing a Task Force on Downtown violence.
Body
WHEREAS, there is an increasing number of and concentration of bars, taverns, restaurants, and other establishments that serve alcohol in the downtown Madison area; and
WHEREAS, that concentration has led to increasing numbers of violent fights and injuries, particularly at closing time for the bars and taverns, and particularly on weekends; and
WHEREAS, videos of incidents show violent fighting between inebriated persons, between inebriated and sober persons, with injuries to them and to innocent bystanders watching the crowds, who are sometimes attacked, and incidents between all persons congregating outside bars and taverns and the Madison Police Department officers, all of which show the extreme risk of injury to citizens, residents and MPD officers; and
WHEREAS, the City has not adopted a policy to deal with the problems caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, the density of bars and taverns, and the risk to MPD officers and other persons in the downtown area; and
WHEREAS, the increasing number of calls to MPD for incidents in the downtown area often means other areas of the City have fewer MPD officers available, especially on weekends when there may be a greater need for officers; and
WHEREAS, studies have shown the health and social impacts of excessive consumption of alcohol extend beyond the users to others in the area impacted; and
WHEREAS, the City needs to develop long term policies and solutions to the problems presented by the density of bars, taverns, restaurants and other places serving alcohol beverages.; and
WHEREAS, including stakeholders concerned with the success of the downtown provides the best opportunity for defining such policies; and
WHEREAS, establishing a moratorium on issuance of new al...
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