Ferndale Social Districts

Social districts are on tonight's city council agenda for approval; what are your thoughts?

𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: The Ferndale Social District includes two Commons Areas, which will be referred to as PATIO Zone East and PATIO Zone West. These zones will be separated by Woodward Avenue. Cups must be disposed of before exiting the Commons Area. See the map below or online at https://ferndale.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html...

𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: The Ferndale Social District will operate year-round. It is the intent of the Ferndale DDA to launch the program on April 1, 2021.

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: The boundaries of the Ferndale Social District will be clearly designated and marked with signs and graphics in clearly visible areas.

𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴: Participating licensees are required to pay for their permit from the MLCC ($250 permit fee + $70 inspection fee). Necessary supplies (cups and stickers) will be ordered by the Ferndale DDA and sold to participating businesses. A surcharge may be added to each cup to assist with the cost of increased safety and sanitation personnel.

𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀: The district will operate Thursday-Saturday from 10am-10pm and Sunday noon-10pm. After 10pm, Social District beverages cannot be sold in participating establishments nor possessed and consumed in the Common Areas. After 10pm, consumption of alcoholic beverages must be contained within the license holders’ service areas.

𝗕𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: The Ferndale Social District will be branded as the Ferndale PATIO Zone: Pay and Take It Outside. A logo will be printed on 16-ounce plastic cups and sold to participating establishments along with stickers designating each participant’s business name that must be placed on the cup before sale. The cups may not be reused, must remain in the establishment where they were purchased or in the Commons Area, and may not be taken into a bar or restaurant that did not sell the beverage. Cups may be taken into retailers at the discretion of each business. Options for compostable cups will be explored.

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Ferndale DDA will develop and launch a marketing campaign using free and paid social media channels, Google Ads, and print media.

𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Options for entertainment such as music will be explored.

𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀/𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: The law does not allow special event liquor licenses to participate in a Social District. If a special license for an event is issued within the social district, the holder of a social district permit shall not sell and serve alcoholic liquor during the effective period of the special license. If feasible, event perimeters can be established with clear signage that outside alcohol is not allowed into the event space.

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: The City of Ferndale is not required to have additional insurance for Social Districts based on information provided by MMRA Representative, Keith Potter of IBEX Insurance.