2026-933ORDINANCE NO. 2026-933
An ordinance creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) for alcohol
possession and consumption, with a sunset provision, and penalties and other relief for
violations as set forth in Janesville General Ordinance 6-104.
THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JANESVILLE DO ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Section 6-30 of the Code of General Ordinances of the City of Janesville is
hereby created to read as follows:
“6-30 Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas.
(a) Preamble.
(1) The City Council of the City of Janesville may create exceptions to the
prohibition of open intoxicants on public rights-of-way by temporarily extending
"Class B", Class “B", "Class C" fermented malt and intoxicating liquor alcohol
beverage licenses, and/or any permit or license issued under Wisconsin
Statutes Chapter 125 or City ordinances, to a Designated Outdoor
Refreshment Area (DORA) adjacent to licensed premises.
(2) A Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) permits the possession and
carrying of open containers and the consumption of alcoholic beverages within
designated boundaries during such times and under such conditions as the City
Council may specifically permit.
(3) The Common Council find it reasonable and in the public interest to create an
exception to the City’s open intoxicant possession and consumption ordinance
within the area requested and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
(b) Alcohol Beverage means any intoxicating liquor, wine, or fermented malt
beverage, as those terms are defined in Wis. Stats. Sec. 125.02.
(c) DORA Participant means a Class B retail license holder whose licensed premises
is within a DORA and who has been designated a DORA Participant by the holder
of an annual DORA PERMIT or a Special Event permit within the DORA.
(d) DORA Boundaries. The DORA shall commence at 205 N. Main Street, continue
south on Main Street and conclude at 62 S. Main Street. The DORA shall also
include the corner of N. Main Street and Wall Street - continuing south from Wall
Street at N. Parker Drive and conclude at E. Court Street. The DORA shall also
include E. and W. Court Street; starting at the corner of S. Parker Drive and E.
Court Street and continuing to the corner of W. Court Street and River Street. The
DORA shall also include E. and W. Milwaukee Street starting at the corner of N.
Parker Drive and E. Milwaukee Street and concluding at the corner of W.
Milwaukee Street and S. Jackson Street - including North Franklin Street, from W.
Milwaukee Street to 13 N. Franklin Street. The DORA shall also include the entire
Town Square - both east and west of the Rock River; including Water Street from
W. Milwaukee Street to W. Court Street. The DORA shall also include the
Riverwalk east of the Rock River from E. Milwaukee Street to 205 N. Main Street;
including the sidewalk from the Riverwalk to Main Street in Firehouse Park. These
spaces, including businesses without an appropriate retail alcohol license would
be permitted with the explicit consent of the Property Owner, pursuant to its
applicable license agreement and as managed and operated by both the City of
Janesville and BID, shall be included in the DORA in accordance with Wis. Stat. §
125.09(1).
(e)Time Period of Operation. The DORA shall be authorized to operate daily
between the hours of 12:00 P.M. through and including 10:00 P.M.
(f)Permitted Areas of Consumption. During the authorized hours of operation,
open Alcohol Beverages may be possessed, carried, and consumed within the
DORA limits on sidewalks and other portions of the public right-of-way not open to
vehicular traffic or bicycles, including crosswalks and other pedestrian crossing
areas while persons are lawfully crossing streets, alleys, or highways, and on
walkways, trails, and in City parks. Possession and consumption of Alcohol
Beverages are also permitted on public rights-of-way, streets, alleys, sidewalks,
and highways that are closed to the public for an approved Special Event within a
DORA, and within retail businesses without an appropriate retail alcohol beverage
license in a DORA with the explicit consent of the property owner or lawful
possessor.
(g)Containers: Alcohol Beverages in the outdoor areas of a DORA can only bedispensed and carried in City approved, branded, and unbreakable DORA cups.
(h)All Alcohol Beverages possessed, carried, or consumed in the outside DORAareas must be purchased only from an Alcohol Beverage licensed DORAParticipant.
(i)No Carry ins: No alcohol from outside a DORA may be brought into, possessed,or consumed within a DORA.
(j)This Ordinance expressly prohibits the possession, carrying, and consumption ofDORA related cups or containers of Alcohol Beverages purchased from one DORAParticipant into another DORA Participant’s alcohol licensed premises.
(k)Annual DORA PERMIT and Designation Required. An annual DORA Permit isrequired that covers the entire DORA area and all events occurring during the fiscal
permit year, which is July 1 through June 30. The annual permit fee shall be as set
forth in the Council’s fee schedule ordinance.
(l)Events Included. All events for which a Special/Temporary Event license/permit
is granted, issued, and held within the DORA, such as, but not limited to, Wine
Walks, or as held for the entire time frame by the Downtown Janesville, Inc., in
conjunction with a Special/Temporary Event license/permit will receive DORA
designation for the event. License/Permit holders follow the same laws as
Temporary Class “B” permit holders and may not block entrances or exits. Permit
holders may sell drinks in approved DORA cups for consumption inside or outside
their event area but may not allow patrons to bring DORA drinks purchased from
other permit holders into the event.
(m) Temporary Suspension of Ordinances. All ordinances, or portions ofordinances, inconsistent with or contrary to this Ordinance Section 6-30 arepreempted within the DORA but only during the applicable days, times, and SpecialEvents.
(n)Only during the authorized DORA time frame and within its boundaries, the
following provisions of the Janesville Municipal Code shall be temporarily
suspended and unenforceable:
(1)JGO Section 4‑95 — Restrictions on Alcohol Beverages in Public Places
(2)JGO Section 4‑103 — Intoxicants, Consumption and Possession
(3)JGO Section 4‑106 — Additional Alcohol‑Related Restrictions
(4)JGO Section 11‑3 — Obstructing Streets and Sidewalks
(5)JGO Section 6‑21 — Drinking in Public Prohibited
(6)JGO Section 6-26 -- Possession, Sale, and Consumption of Fermented Malt
Beverages & Intoxicating Liquor on Public Property (Designated Areas)
(o)DORA Participant Responsibilities include providing additional trash
receptacles of a kind, number, and location as directed, from time to time and at
any time, by the Police Chief or Operations Director.
(p)DORA Participants, their bartenders, and other employees shall verify thatcustomers have reached age 21. All people who have open Alcohol Beverages
must have such an age-verification. DORA Participants may not carry more than
one (1) Alcoholic Beverage per purchase outside of the establishment.(q)The DORA boundaries must be clearly and adequately designated with signs andother obvious markings and attention getting devices.
(r)Severability. If any part of this ordinance is found unconstitutional, contrary to state
law, or unenforceable for any other reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
remainder shall remain unchanged, unaffected, and in full force and effect.
(s)Sunset Provision. This Ordinance Section 6-30 shall expire and be of no force
or effect as of noon, the 30th day of June 2027, but may be extended for a period
of five (5) years.
ADOPTED: May 26, 2026
APPROVED:
Kevin M. Lahner, City Manager
ATTEST:
Lorena Rae Stottler, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Wald Klimczyk, City Attorney
Proposed by: The Downtown Janesville Business
Improvement District (B.I.D.)
Prepared by: City Attorney and City Clerk-Treasurer
Motion by: Miller
Second by: Erdman
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Cass X
Erdman X
Miller X
Neeno X
Pope X
Seeman X
Squire X
Wald Klimczyk
2026-933
Final Audit Report 2026-05-27
Created:2026-05-27
By:Lorena Stottler (stottlerl@janesvillewi.gov)
Status:Signed
Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAOZpvZpgbVtYv0kRwNrkIYRB9i_-zddAP
"2026-933" History
Document created by Lorena Stottler (stottlerl@janesvillewi.gov)
2026-05-27 - 7:29:50 PM GMT
Document emailed to Kevin Lahner (lahnerk@janesvillewi.gov) for signature
2026-05-27 - 7:29:54 PM GMT
Email viewed by Kevin Lahner (lahnerk@janesvillewi.gov)
2026-05-27 - 7:30:03 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Kevin Lahner (lahnerk@janesvillewi.gov)
Signature Date: 2026-05-27 - 7:30:16 PM GMT - Time Source: server - Signature Appearance Selected: IMAGE
Document emailed to Lorena Stottler (stottlerl@janesvillewi.gov) for signature
2026-05-27 - 7:31:18 PM GMT
Email viewed by Lorena Stottler (stottlerl@janesvillewi.gov)
2026-05-27 - 7:31:38 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Lorena Stottler (stottlerl@janesvillewi.gov)
Signature Date: 2026-05-27 - 7:32:03 PM GMT - Time Source: server - Signature Appearance Selected: IMAGE
Agreement completed.
2026-05-27 - 7:32:03 PM GMT