DORA ordinance

Raised concerns about underage drinking enforcement in the DORA, its overlap with 15 liquor-licensed establishments and 12+ youth-focused areas, the cost of added police patrols (~$109,000/year), and impacts on family events like the farmers market.

Speaking for the Rock County Prevention Network Coalition, warned that normalizing alcohol in shared family spaces increases youth risk and urged robust safeguards and accountability if the DORA moves forward.

Spoke in favor of the DORA and presented a 'Plus One for Janesville' proposal to use the DORA for fundraising to fight downtown homelessness and hunger in partnership with ECHO and Downtown Janesville Inc.

Speaking for Forward Janesville, urged approval of the DORA, citing a decade of successful downtown public-private partnerships and peer Wisconsin communities where DORAs have worked well.

Argued the DORA is confusing and unnecessary — people already take drinks to go — and suggested simply allowing to-go beverages to support downtown businesses without new fees, signage, and enforcement bureaucracy.

Speaking as BID chair, detailed BID's investments in downtown (grants, cleaning, cameras, AEDs) and asked the council to approve the DORA, noting the Grand Prix's drinking-in-public permits had produced no alcohol-related issues.

Initially inclined to support the DORA, she said the 10 a.m. start is a red flag for the farmers market and families, and asked the council to consider a later start time or take more time before voting.