WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wausau’s one-season experiment with outdoor block parties for businesses is one step closer to becoming permanent.
The Public Health and Safety Committee voted to send the proposal to the full city council for consideration on Monday. Committee Chair Lisa Rasmussen says the data has shown that these events can be pulled off safely and in an organized manner with help from the business community. “The organizer is tasked with controlling the area. You have to make sure people aren’t wandering off down the block with open drinks. That’s common sense. They’re also required to check the participants to make sure they are of legal age and keep control of that area just like they would their own licensed premise.”
Recent changes at the state level have also made it possible for businesses to briefly extend their premise into a public right-of-way. They also took elements of the “Dining on the Street” concept, which the city implemented in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to allow businesses to expand their capacity during a time when indoor seating restrictions were in place.
The original proposal was put in place with a sunset date of November 1st. The committee is hoping to get the permanent version passed before then because there are two businesses that are hoping to team up for a Halloween-themed block party on November 4th.
Rasmussen adds that she doesn’t expect that block party events will take over the city each summer when the weather allows, but there will be a few businesses every year that apply for them. “I think that it’s good that we have that tool in the toolbox to offer if they want to take advantage of it. It makes some sense if they are on a low-traffic street and they want to have an outdoor event.
“We continue to look for creative things we can do to help businesses thrive. Things that will make Wausau a destination, a place where people want to be. We certainly want to create things that are fun and useful but are also safe. I think this is all of those things,” added Rasmussen.
The full council will consider the measure at a future meeting.
