The proposed outdoor drinking area in downtown Vermilion is on hold for the year.
Due to conflicting opinions within the community that were brought to Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer’s attention, he decided to wait and conduct more research before giving the idea his nod of approval.
The Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) program allows patrons of certain downtown restaurants and bars to leave the establishment with an alcoholic beverage and walk around a designated area.
At a Vermilion City Council committee meeting June 27, board members heard comments for and against the proposed DORA program, Forthofer said.
Since the decision to apply for the DORA designation falls on the mayor’s shoulders, he said he decided there was too many conflicting opinions on the matter and denied the request.
“My intention is to let these conflicting passionate opinions cool off,” Forthofer said. “At this point, DORA would not work its way through the application process in time to be enacted during our summer season anyway.”
Though there are more than 70 other communities with a DORA program, Vermilion isn’t like other municipalities in that the designated area includes both commercial and residential.
“Over the past weeks, I have received a lot of correspondence and verbal opinions from the public on DORA,” Forthofer said.
Main Street Vermilion, advocates of DORA, did its own study, and Ward 1 Councilwoman Pat Stein, who represents the proposed DORA area, did her own study, he said.
“We are naturally disappointed, but not discouraged. From what we know about other communities trying to add a program like this, they all approach and reach it differently,” said Marilou Suszko, executive director of Main Street Vermilion. “Main Street Vermilion’s DORA committee has put an incredible amount of research into introducing this initiative into our downtown.
“But the reality is that the mayor needs to be comfortable with moving this program forward, and we have to not only respect that, but keep making information available to him on why this could be an economic development tool.”
Main Street Vermilion started months ago spearheading the program with a proposal to the Council.
Recently, it received a grant to help with some of the related costs such as signage.
Residents and business owners were welcome to voice their opinion “as to how they feel about a program of open alcohol downtown,” Forthofer has said.
“Our DORA committee will want to continue this conversation in the future, and while Mayor Forthofer is not ready to introduce DORA this year, we will continue trying to provide information about what DORA is, and clearly is not, all about,” Suszko said. “That’s all we can do and hope for approval of the trial next year.”
Forthofer said is he can find a version of DORA that takes most people’s concerns into consideration and fits the unique situation of Vermilion, he may proceed.
Although Main Street Vermilion is asking for a six-month trial period, the mayor is required to introduce the matter to the Council in order to “activate the program,” Suszko said.
“The impact and benefit of this program can’t be realized until it’s trialed,” she said. “It can only make an impact when it’s in place and we are asking for a six-month trial period that will provide the information we need, like the economic benefit to businesses, to have this program in Vermilion.”
