STILLWATER, Minn. — A late bill introduced to the Minnesota legislature could give adults in downtown Stillwater the chance to carry alcoholic drinks on the sidewalk and between designated businesses.
If that sounds familiar, the idea has also gained traction, and positive reviews, in downtown Anoka.
Republican Senator Karin Housley has introduced a bill, which would effectively give Stillwater the chance to duplicate the so-called social district pilot program that Anoka is in the process of testing.
"It has gone so well (in Anoka), and they haven't had any issues," said Sen. Housley, who represents Stillwater. "Even if we could just get a pilot. Just something for downtown Stillwater because there are so many fun events that are happening.
The initial pilot in downtown Anoka, which lasted just 30 days, was the product of several years of planning and politicking between city and state leaders. The city developed a plan that clearly mapped out the boundaries of its social district, while also clearly marking cups from participating vendors and clearly distinguishing which businesses were comfortable with alcohol inside.
"The sip and stroll concept's been working very well," said Anoka City Council Member Erik Skogquist, at the conclusion of the initial pilot program last year. "It gets a lot of new people in town. Something I've heard from a lot of people. And more exposure, not necessarily more drinking, but more exposure and more new faces."
The concept worked well enough that Anoka brought the social district back on May 1st with a bigger footprint and expanded hours.
"They're actually adding more businesses to it," Housley said. "What we did in Stillwater is the city council actually discussed it and they would like to have the option, and so they passed it unanimously to be able to have that option, so they asked if I could author the language."
Stillwater business owners and managers who spoke to KARE11 Reporter Kent Erdahl were largely supportive of giving the social district concept a try.
"You definitely would want more trash cans," said Anna Maria Crespo, store manager of Lakebound Clothing Company. "But I think it would be a great idea, especially during events. Right now, down by the river, you're limited to just right there, and it would be awesome if you'd be able to like come up here and stroll and window shop."
"For the most everybody is pretty enthusiastic about the idea," said Sara Jesperson, who owns the Mad Capper bar and restaurant and the Lumberjack Bar. "So many people come here for all three of those things: dining, staying, entertainment. This could help us. Sometimes people will slam their drink to go and instead they could casually finish their drink and go to their next place, or even if they are retail shopping it gives them the opportunity to stay responsible, instead of slamming drinks from spot to spot."
"I think that's a great idea," said Laura Paulisich, owner of Toxyfree, which sells a range of toxin-free products downtown Stillwater. "I don't drink at all and my husband doesn't either, but I love the idea of people wandering and having more of a community experience like that."
Whether city leaders or store owners love the idea or not, it's unclear whether the legislature will agree with very little time remaining in the session.
Kent Erdahl: "Do you think this is really doable by the end of session?"
Sen Housley: "I've been here quite a few years now and anything is doable in the last few days, you just never know. There are a lot of other huge things on the agenda right now and things that we need to stop, but something fun like this, that could help businesses and create economic development... it's fun to talk about and it's fun to get done."
Sen. Housley says it's too late for her bill to make it through the legislative process alone, but because Anoka has already provided the policy framework, she says the commerce committee could potentially add Stillwater to the existing pilot program and pass it as an amendment to an existing bill.
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