By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners will vote Thursday on whether to approve a common consumption area in downtown Hays, which would allow people to drink alcohol outdoors.
Kansas law allows municipalities to establish common consumption areas, a designated area where patrons of restaurants and bars can move freely in the public right-of-way with alcoholic beverages.
Commissioners first discussed the issue in early June, when they heard about enforcement of the law from Agent Justin White from Kansas Alcohol Beverage Control and Don Scheibler, Hays police chief.
In July, they continued the discussion with input from downtown Hays businessman Dustin Roths, who favors passage of the ordinance. Roths is the owner of the Fox, the Strand, and Diamond R Jewelry.
Earlier this month, Leland Olive, owner of downtown's Couture for Men, spoke against the proposal.
Areas of consideration include Seventh Street to 13th Street and Fort to Oak, or Walnut to Oak in order to include Taco Shop and The Golden Q.
Staff is endorsing approval of the common consumption area ordinance.
Other agenda items include:
• Annexation approval of property for "The Grove" proposed housing development at 2520 Canterbury
• Annexation approval of property at 4945 General Hays Road, the former Hays Livestock Commission sale barn. It's owned by Vernie’s Trux-N-Equip, Inc., which plans to relocate its facility to this property.
• Accept minor changes in the 2023 Uniform Public Offense Code and 2023 Standard Traffic Ordinance to reflect changes made by the Kansas Legislature
• Consideration of a bid for staining of wood structures at the Hays Aquatic Park
• Further review of the proposed 2024 budget
The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.
The complete agenda is available here.