Council expands Entertainment Zones while debating regulations

The Porterville City Council moved forward with expanding the city’s entertainment zones Tuesday, while also debating how much regulation should be placed on events that allow outdoor consumption of beer and wine.

The city originally established its entertainment zone program in March through Ordinance 1930. The ordinance created two zones: a downtown zone along Main Street between Olive and Morton avenues, including adjacent sidewalks and public rights-of-way, and a zone at the Porterville Municipal Airport.

The proposed amendments expand the downtown zone to include Third Street, D Street and Main Street between Olive and Morton avenues, including sidewalks and public rights-of-way. The amendments also establish a new entertainment zone at the Porterville Sports Complex. The existing airport zone would remain unchanged.

The entertainment zones allow limited outdoor consumption of beer and wine during approved community civic events, subject to permitting, public safety, insurance, and enforcement requirements. Distilled spirits and mixed alcoholic beverages remain prohibited.

During Tuesday's public hearing, resident Iran Salah asked the council to clarify what the term “entertainment zone” means.

Mayor Greg Meister explained the zones provide an area where approved civic events can allow alcohol to be consumed outdoors, including by participating downtown businesses, rather than restricting alcohol consumption to the inside of establishments.

The proposed expansion prompted Councilman Raymond Beltran to revisit several concerns he has raised since the entertainment zone ordinance was first considered.

One of his primary concerns involved the program’s wristbands, which are used to identify people participating in the alcohol portion of an event.

Beltran questioned which city department or event organizer is responsible for distributing and purchasing the wristbands, how the wristbands are accounted for, and where proceeds are deposited.

“If we’re going to take the responsibility of doing something like this, we also should take the accountability side of it as well,” Beltran said.

He also questioned language in the ordinance stating a $10 wristband fee “may” be required, arguing the wording could create uncertainty over whether the fee is mandatory.

Another concern involved the containers used for alcoholic beverages. Beltran said he observed different-sized cups during the first entertainment zone event, including containers that made it difficult to determine whether they contained alcohol.

He suggested establishing a clear, standardized container requirement.

Beltran also raised questions about enforcement and security, including which department would be responsible for enforcing the entertainment zone rules and whether event organizers should be required to provide private security.

City Manager Richard Tree acknowledged the concerns and said the first entertainment zone provided an opportunity to identify areas where the program’s operating standards could be clarified.

Tree said the Finance Department administered the wristbands during the first event and could continue doing so. He also agreed the city could establish better tracking of wristbands distributed, sold, and returned.

Tree further indicated the operating standards could be amended to provide more specific requirements for containers, security, and crowd control without requiring changes to the underlying ordinance each time a procedural issue arises.

Tree said event organizers should begin coordinating with the city well in advance of events so departments can develop an operational plan based on the size and nature of each event.

The first entertainment zone event generated a little more than $1,000 for the city, according to information provided during the meeting.

Vice Mayor Ed McKervey said the city should continue refining the program while allowing flexibility in its operating standards.

“It’s important that we continue to make sure that we’re improving everything every time we come together on some of this,” McKervey said.

Meister emphasized the entertainment zones are intended not only to generate revenue, but also to encourage civic events and bring residents into community spaces.

The mayor said the city’s goal is to create opportunities for events downtown, at the Sports Complex, and at the airport while avoiding what he characterized as unnecessary regulation.

Councilman Stan Green agreed the first event provided an opportunity for the city to learn what worked and what needed improvement.

Following the discussion, the council voted to move forward with the proposed geographic expansion while directing staff to revisit the operating standards.

An amendment was ultimately made to remove the $10 amount from the ordinance and leave the language stating a wristband fee “may be required.” The motion to proceed with the amended ordinance passed 3-1.

City staff is expected to return with potential revisions to the entertainment zone operating standards addressing issues including wristband accountability, approved containers, security, and event coordination.

Council expands Entertainment Zones while debating regulations

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