WILLITS, CA., 9/29/25 — Willits city staff are drafting a new version of an entertainment zone ordinance after receiving feedback from the City Council last week. The proposal would allow downtown businesses to serve alcohol in open containers at approved outdoor festivals and events.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the council gave city staff direction on what the ordinance should look like, and the requirements needed for its safe and effective implementation in downtown Willits.
The Willits City Council will discuss the next draft of the ordinance at an upcoming meeting in the next couple of months, but a date has not yet been set.
Willits city planner Connor Stack presented the proposal last week and requested recommendations on the types of alcohol that should be permitted, the times and types of events allowed, and how administrative requirements should be managed.
Stack said that the draft ordinance would likely include an entertainment zone extending in and around Main Street between Wood and Commercial streets in downtown Willits.
Stack explained that for an event to be held in the downtown entertainment zone, each event organizer would need to submit a management plan outlining the event details that meets the requirements of the Willits Police Department and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control regulations.
Councilmember Larry Stranske asked about security and if the Willits Police Department would be requested to help with security at downtown events. Stranske has expressed skepticism about the proposed entertainment zone ordinance and public safety.
“I think it’s a great idea, but you can’t ask the Police Department to do this every week. They will say that they’ll do it, but who would pay the bill for the Police Department,” Stranske noted.
Stack explained that if police are unavailable to help with security, event organizers would be required to provide their own.
“It requires nothing from the Police Department except looking over the plans for the event, and if they cannot provide security then it would be whatever security or personnel is required by the event organizers,” Stack responded.
Council members also discussed labeling the entertainment zone ordinance as a “pilot program,” and it could initially allow about four events per year, likely including the Harvest Moon Carnivale, Frontier Days, the Willits Car and Bike Show, and a spring Chamber of Commerce event. This could change in the future to allow more events to be held in the entertainment zone once the City Council evaluates the implementation of the program.
Elsewhere in Mendocino County, the Fort Bragg City Council recently approved their own pilot entertainment zone ordinance last week.
During public comment, one community member commended city staff for discussing the potential ordinance and said it could boost the downtown Willits economy.
“This is an opportunity to encourage people to spend money in their local downtown businesses,” said Nick Johnson, the organizer of The Lot on Main in downtown Ukiah, an outdoor art market. “Having this opportunity could be huge.”
The Willits City Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Council Chambers at 111 E. Commercial St. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. Public comments can be emailed to council members using this link or by calling (707) 459-4601.
Not really a new idea. In the early 1980’s over 4th of July the bars served drinks in plastic cups and you could walk with your drink from one bar to the next. There were 5 bars within walking distance, (only one of them is still open and it’s for sale.) I don’t remember hearing about anything bad happening.
It’s not the drinking that’s the problem. It’s the driving home afterwards.
The most obnoxious dog owner with a dog who was allowed to jump on members of the public, run around the meeting room in the way of the public speaking podium, and drag is stormy but on the ground was the worst part of this meeting. Reporters don’t have a license to do whatever they want just because they’re “the press”. I hope to never see this abhorrent behavior again. Get your dog dewormed and leave it at home.