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ORDINANCE NO. C��l —OS -01
<br />AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT
<br />ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN BATESVILLE,
<br />ARKANSAS
<br />WHEREAS, the State of Arkansas passed into law Act 812 of 2019, hereinafter referred
<br />to as "Act 812," to promote hospitality and tourism; to establish areas of a city or town that
<br />highlight restaurant, entertainment, and hospitality options; to establish temporary or permanent
<br />designated entertainment districts; and for other purposes., and
<br />WHEREAS, the State of Arkansas passed into law Act 874 of 2021, hereinafter
<br />referred to as "Act 874," which amended the definition concerning the creation of a
<br />designated entertainment district to read "contains any number and any combination of
<br />restaurants, taprooms, taverns, entertainment establishments, hospitality establishments,
<br />music venues, theaters, bars, private clubs, art galleries, art studios, tourist destinations,
<br />distilleries, dance clubs, cinemas, or concert halls., and
<br />WHEREAS, "Act 874" also amended the definition concerning the creation of a
<br />designated entertainment district by a city, municipality, or incorporated town to read "A
<br />city, a municipality, or an incorporated town collecting a gross receipts tax on prepared food
<br />or hotel and motel accommodations under Arkansas Code §§ 26-75-602 - 26-75-613 AND
<br />located in a county with established entities authorized by the Alcoholic Beverage Control
<br />Division to sell alcoholic beverages"., and
<br />WHEREAS, the City of Batesville has previously established the Batesville
<br />Advertising & Promotion Commission and currently collects a gross receipts tax on hotel and
<br />motel accommodations., and
<br />WHEREAS, there currently exists within the proposed entertainment district the Las
<br />Playitas Mexican Restaurant at 350 Harrison Street which holds an active private club permit
<br />to sell alcoholic beverages and the "109 Main" Restaurant at 109 Main Street which also
<br />holds a private club license to sell alcoholic beverages but is currently closed for
<br />remodeling., and
<br />WHEREAS, "Act 812" together with "Act 874" allows the Council to establish an
<br />entertainment district within the corporate limits of the City of Batesville, Arkansas., and
<br />WHEREAS, the Council has considered the merits of establishing such a district and
<br />believes that it will benefit the downtown area., and
<br />WHEREAS, the Council believes that the creation of an entertainment district will
<br />help promote an atmosphere aimed at facilitating business and promoting tourism., and
<br />WHEREAS, the Council finds that other cities, have had success with such districts, and
<br />believes that it is in the best interest of the City of Batesville, Arkansas, to provide for the creation
<br />of such a district as provided in this ordinance., and
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