Parkersburg City Council approves first reading of special alcohol zone legislation
URA votes to raze St. Marys Avenue building
Mayor Tom Joyce, left, thanks city Personnel Director Sondra Wallace, at the podium, for her seven years of service during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting. Wallace will retire Feb. 2. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg Personnel Director Sondra Wallace listens during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting as Mayor Tom Joyce thanks her for her service. Wallace will retire Feb. 2 after seven years with the city and 31 years in the public sector. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg City Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl, left, praises Personnel Director Sondra Wallace’s work over seven years with the city during Tuesday’s council meeting as Councilman Bob Mercer, center, and Councilwoman Wendy Tuck listen. Wallace will retire Feb. 2. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Mark Lewis speaks in favor of the Public Outdoor Designated Area ordinance, which would allow alcohol to be carried and consumed in public areas along Market Street from Third to Ninth and One-Half Street during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg Development Director Ryan Barber answers a question about the proposed Market Street Designated Area where alcohol could be consumed and carried during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg City Planner Connor LaVelle, left, speaks during an Urban Renewal Authority meeting Tuesday as City Attorney Blaine Myers listens. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg City Councilwoman Wendy Tuck, left, asks a question during an Urban Renewal Authority meeting Tuesday at the Municipal Building as council President Mike Reynolds listen in front of a projected picture of the interior of 1349 St. Marys Ave., which the authority voted to demolish. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Mayor Tom Joyce, left, thanks city Personnel Director Sondra Wallace, at the podium, for her seven years of service during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting. Wallace will retire Feb. 2. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg Personnel Director Sondra Wallace listens during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting as Mayor Tom Joyce thanks her for her service. Wallace will retire Feb. 2 after seven years with the city and 31 years in the public sector. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg City Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl, left, praises Personnel Director Sondra Wallace’s work over seven years with the city during Tuesday’s council meeting as Councilman Bob Mercer, center, and Councilwoman Wendy Tuck listen. Wallace will retire Feb. 2. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Mark Lewis speaks in favor of the Public Outdoor Designated Area ordinance, which would allow alcohol to be carried and consumed in public areas along Market Street from Third to Ninth and One-Half Street during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg Development Director Ryan Barber answers a question about the proposed Market Street Designated Area where alcohol could be consumed and carried during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg City Planner Connor LaVelle, left, speaks during an Urban Renewal Authority meeting Tuesday as City Attorney Blaine Myers listens. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg City Councilwoman Wendy Tuck, left, asks a question during an Urban Renewal Authority meeting Tuesday at the Municipal Building as council President Mike Reynolds listen in front of a projected picture of the interior of 1349 St. Marys Ave., which the authority voted to demolish. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg City Council granted the first round of approval for the carrying and consumption of alcoholic beverages in a designated stretch of Market Street Tuesday before voting as the Urban Renewal Authority to raze a problematic structure on St. Marys Avenue.
Council unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance establishing the Market Street Street Designated Area. If approved on final reading Feb. 13, the legislation would allow people to purchase alcohol in marked cups and carry it between Market Street businesses from Third to Ninth and One-Half Street, similar to the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in Marietta.
"This proposal will bring more people downtown, they will stay longer, and we hope they will visit multiple" establishments, Downtown PKB Executive Director Amanda Stevens said during the public forum.
Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Mark Lewis said he hopes the Public Outdoor Designated Area, authorized under recent West Virginia law, will help existing businesses and encourage new restaurant and retail ventures downtown.
"Support for local business is crucial to the success of any community," he said.
Lewis said he spoke with representatives of Marietta Main Street and some Front Street businesses about Marietta's D.O.R.A. and "they have had no complaints and no issues."
Holders of a Class A licenses from the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, of which there are four in the area, can apply for a special permit to participate.
City Development Director Ryan Barber said that in order to carry drinks between businesses, customers must purchase a recyclable aluminum cup.
"They cannot carry that non-glass container outside of that district," he said.
If approved, the designated area would operate from 4-11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays between April 1 and Oct. 31.
As the URA, council members unanimously voted to demolish 1349 St. Marys Ave., a building that belonged for many years to the nonprofit Kootaga Indian Dancers Inc. The city closed on its purchase of the building for $2,000 Friday, something City Planner Connor LaVelle said the nonprofit agreed to due to problems with break-ins at the building.
Recent drug overdoses by individuals who had gotten into the structure "heightened the urgency" to address the issue, LaVelle said.
In other business, council unanimously approved a resolution repurposing $122,637.70 in American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to the Parkersburg Utility Board for the extension of water and sewer service to the top of Fort Boreman Hill. That project came in under budget, and the money would now be used for a fire hydrant replacement project on Ridgeway Avenue.
Mayor Tom Joyce asked council to approve allowing the PUB to use any leftover money for additional fire hydrants, which are becoming more expensive and harder to acquire due to supply chain issues. Council unanimously approved the resolution, with the mayor's suggested amendment.
During his executive message, Joyce announced Personnel Director Sondra Wallace would be retiring Feb. 2 after seven years with the city and 31 years overall in the public sector.
"She's really advocated for employees but at the same time advocated holding our employees accountable," Joyce said, noting Wallace worked to enhance benefits and improve training opportunities.
Unanimous votes also authorized an election during the May primary to renew the city's levy supporting the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority at its current rate and approved the reappointments of Joyce and Dave Poling and appointment of Tom Farrah to the Wood County Recreation Commission. They also confirmed Joyce's nomination of Amy Gonzales, who has more than 30 years of residential and commercial real estate experience, to the Municipal Planning Commission.