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Denver officials want to boost the city\u2019s boogie businesses.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s nightlife offerings \u2014 including everything from concert venues and nightclubs to some wine bars and restaurants \u2014 are set to see a major overhaul this year as the city\u2019s licensing department proposes changes<\/a> to its regulatory framework for them.<\/p>\n The last time these policies were updated, songs like Olivia Newton-John\u2019s \u201cPhysical\u201d and Survivor\u2019s \u201cEye of the Tiger\u201d were Billboard Hot 100 Hits. It was the 1980s.<\/p>\n Now, as the city tries to find ways to bounce back<\/a> from the pandemic-era economic downturn, it\u2019s turning to modernizing nightlife rules.<\/p>\n A draft ordinance<\/a> shows that officials are proposing the elimination of licensing requirements for some businesses and simplifying them for others. The new framework would also include new rules intended to make nightclubs safer for visitors and neighbors.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to keep the party going, which means making sure we aren\u2019t the reason it doesn\u2019t get started in the first place,\u201d said Jon Ewing, a spokesman for Mayor Mike Johnston. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to work with the entertainment industry to ensure businesses aren\u2019t getting tangled in red tape and that Denver is as safe, fun and vibrant at 2 a.m. as it is at 2 p.m.\u201d<\/p>\n The city now has 14 different licenses for entertainment businesses. Under the new proposal, there would be just three. The city would also separate liquor licenses and entertainment licenses for the first time.<\/p>\n The draft proposal is still in its early stages. The city is asking for feedback<\/a> on the changes before it brings the concept to a City Council committee meeting set for June 9. Then council members may tweak the rules further before voting.<\/p>\n So far, nightclub advocates and neighborhood organizations that sometimes deal with noise and safety impacts from the businesses say they\u2019re supportive of the effort but aren\u2019t yet satisfied with the specific language.<\/p>\n The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection,\u00a0which is leading the efforts, released its proposed draft earlier this month.<\/p>\n \u201cDenver is striving to be more business friendly,\u201d said Molly Duplechian, the executive director of the department. \u201cWe are overregulating in some areas and underregulating in others.\u201d<\/p>\n The new rules would create three licenses:<\/p>\n The ordinance would exempt several businesses that currently need a license from needing one in the future. That means an entertainment license wouldn\u2019t be necessary anymore for bars that want to host trivia nights, for bowling alleys and for coffee shops that have an unamplified live performer.<\/p>\n Under current law, every business seeking a cabaret license, which includes any that sell liquor and offer live entertainment or dancing, must automatically have a \u201cneeds and desires\u201d public hearing to gauge community response. The new proposal would require them only if there were a request for one from the surrounding neighbors.<\/p>\n That could save time and money for businesses, most of which choose to hire a lawyer to help them with those hearings, Duplechian said.<\/p>\n Nightclubs could also stay open past the 2 a.m. liquor cut-off time set by the state, offering music or dancing until 4 a.m.<\/p>\n That would mean crowds exiting clubs could disperse over a longer period of time, rather than all at once. For years, neighborhoods including LoDo and Ballpark have seen occasional violent incidents<\/a> in the hours after nightclubs and bars close.<\/p>\n The new regulations would also require added safety measures for adult entertainment businesses and nightclubs, such as video surveillance, weapons screening, security guards and the employment of a night manager. They would also be required to help safely disperse crowds after closing, including taking \u201creasonable steps to ensure the orderly dispersal of patrons and to prevent disorderly conduct and unlawful activity\u201d on their properties and those immediately adjacent.<\/p>\n \u201cOther than modernizing and updating and enhancing entertainment options, we also think this proposal will really help us address some neighborhood and safety concerns that these types of businesses can present,\u201d Duplechian said.<\/p>\n Even if the council approves the proposed ordinance, it will set in motion additional rulemaking to flesh out more specific details, with a separate feedback process.<\/p>\n Some of the most interested parties \u2014 including nightlife advocates and neighborhood organizations \u2014 say they support the effort but aren\u2019t yet happy with the draft proposal.<\/p>\n Don Ku with the Denver Lower Downtown Neighborhood Association<\/a> said his group mostly experiences safety and noise problems from nearby clubs. Its goal is to help bars, businesses and residents peacefully coexist.<\/p>\n \u201cI think simplifying the code makes sense. However, I\u2019m not sure (the department) has hit the mark,\u201d he said, \u201cand I\u2019m hoping there will be room for another draft and round of feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n He would support the city adopting more safety rules for nightclubs to follow, he said.<\/p>\n The nightlife advocacy organization ONE Denver<\/a> \u2014 an acronym for Office of Nighttime Economy \u2014 has also offered feedback<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis needs to happen so badly because our current cabaret laws are ridiculous,\u201d executive director Stephen Brackett said. \u201cWe love the direction of this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n He\u2019s concerned that as written, the ordinance could do the opposite of its intention in some instances by requiring new regulations for some businesses that may not need them. But Brackett, who is also the frontman for the band The Flobots, praised the city\u2019s process so far.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hope is to make cultural events more accessible without regulation,\u201d he said. \u201cThe changing of this ordinance will make it more possible for there to be more events at smaller venues so that people will be able to participate at lower-entry events.\u201d<\/p>\n Baker resident Jonathon Skavroneck said he\u2019s had increasing concerns with noise and chaos connected to clubs on Broadway near his home. He hopes the new regulations will address those, while simplifying licensing.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Denver would be better off if people could open more entertainment venues,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to know the city is working on bettering nightlife and increasing the availability of it, while also trying to solve some of the problems that really impact it.\u201d<\/p>\n The licensing department has hosted two business and community feedback meetings over the past month. It also has a survey posted<\/a> for the public on its website<\/a>. The June 9 council committee meeting will include a public comment period.<\/p>\nThree kinds of entertainment licenses<\/h4>\n
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More feedback needed<\/h4>\n