SILOAM SPRINGS — City board members discussed May 5 the possibility of establishing a temporary entertainment district for nine months in downtown Siloam Springs.
Director Brad Burns initially made the proposal during the April 21 board meeting. The proposal is meant to benefit opening businesses by offering outdoor seating for restaurants and allowing customers dining outdoors to order alcoholic beverages with their meal from their table, he said.
The proposed district would run from Ziggywurst up University Street to Broadway Street then down Broadway to Main Street for the last leg up to Pour Jons. It would be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Burns said he would like the board to come to a decision at Tuesday’s meeting and pass an ordinance with an emergency clause, so it would not have to go through three readings in order to benefit restaurants opening after the covid-19 shutdown.
Don Clark, community development director, said three restaurants don’t have outdoor seating where alcohol can be served — 28 Springs, Cafe on Broadway and Tintos and Tapas.
Clark said the proposal would allow consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages within that district but wouldn’t allow businesses to sell or serve alcohol outside the permitted area. Other cities such as Texarkana, have entertainment districts, he said.
Texarkana’s entertainment district is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Clark said other districts are open at different times and days. He asked for guidance from the board on to how to proceed.
Director Lesa Rissler said she likes the idea but wanted more time to research the issue. Director Carol Smiley said she’s in favor of the entertainment district because she felt it would bring people downtown to shop at other retail establishments as well. She added a bit more thought needed to be put into the issue.
Director Marla Sappington said she felt the information she was presented with was misleading.
“When this was presented to us,” Sappington said, “it was presented as outdoor seating without the entertainment district.”
Sappington said she isn’t against the entertainment district but feels the city has more important things to take care of now such as opening the library, preparing parks and letting families get out and be together.
Director Bob Coleman said he felt the board was “goaded” into looking at this as an outdoor seating arrangement. Coleman said he was firmly against the idea of an entertainment district, temporary or otherwise, because he was concerned it would become permanent. He said many retail businesses close before 11 p.m. Coleman asked for the opinion of Police Chief Allan Gilbert.
Gilbert said he came from a city that tried an entertainment district for a year and it ended up being a good thing for the city. Gilbert said there weren’t really any problems and only two arrests in the entertainment district during that year. He said the arrests were for the same person who had an alcohol problem.
Gilbert said police patrolled the district on bikes, Segways or a golf cart, mingling with residents and visitors.
City Administrator Phillip Patterson said he understood the need to get the proposal passed through emergency clause in order to help businesses in a timely manner.
Director Reid Carroll said he would be in favor of the entertainment district if this was about bringing the community together and not just about carrying a cup of alcohol from one place to another. Director Mindy Hunt asked if the zone could be smaller. She said she wants to help small businesses but wanted Siloam Springs to remain true to itself.
“We are also a family oriented town,” Hunt said. “And so I want to make sure we keep the families in mind too.”
Burns said he appreciated everyone’s input and said he noticed people like to be downtown at night. Burns said quality of life equals economic goals.