DORA resolutions OK’d, spark Westfield City Council debate

A pair of resolutions that will allow outside vendors to operate inside Westfield’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area at several Grand Junction Plaza events sparked a spirited debate during the May 11 Westfield City Council meeting. The resolutions passed 5-2, with Councilors Jon Dartt and Noah Herron casting dissenting votes. The first resolution allows Vino Mobile Bar to operate within the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area during the 2026 Farmers Market season and at the May 16 Westfield International Festival. The second resolution allows Fishers-based Hollow Head Brewing, MashCraft Fishers to operate during July and August’s Jams at the Junction and at December’s Westfield In Lights. After the vote, Westfield Mayor Scott Willis said he had made calls to local businesses about interest in a similar mobile setup in the DORA, but none were interested. Dartt said he knew of two businesses, which he didn’t name, that opposed approval. “We are at a point where we need to step up and start supporting the brick-and-mortar businesses (downtown), specifically on Park Street,” Dartt said. “The businesses on and around Park Street have suffered yearly during State Road 32 construction. They are going to continue to suffer a bit with the reconstruction of Park Street … I’m not against other businesses coming into Grand Junction Park. I think it helps drive more variety for the consumers who visit the Farmers Market and other events, but I don’t think now is the right time to do that.” Willis took issue with Dartt’s comment. “From a consistency standpoint, are we saying no food or beverage at any of these events because we’re taking away business from businesses in brick and mortar?” Willis said. “I don’t think that’s consistent with what we’ve done up to this point as a city. I think from a liability standpoint, we take on liability by all of a sudden picking winners and losers here.” Willis insisted his administration supports downtown businesses. “It’s insulting to me that you would say we haven’t supported those businesses since I’ve been mayor,” Willis said. “We have paid for multiple parking garages. We’re investing millions of dollars into Park Street to help them capture more business, quite frankly, making it much more pedestrian friendly and more accessible to residents. … These businesses came in before I was mayor, before you guys were councilors, and they took the risk to go and put a business in a place that had no infrastructure. That’s on them, that’s not on us. But we have spent millions of taxpayer dollars to help them be successful and to say otherwise is very insulting, quite frankly.” Other councilors noted that the resolutions were restricted to DORA participation by the applicants, which had already been approved to participate in the Grand Junction Plaza events by the Westfield Parks and Recreation department. Without DORA approval, those businesses could still sell alcohol, but would have to do so inside cordoned off areas. Based on part practice, those restricted areas would be constructed at the expense of the Parks department. Related posts: No related posts. Share. Tumblr