Wheeling City Council To Vote on Allowing Designated Districts for Open Containers

WHEELING – Members of Wheeling City Council are expected to vote tonight to establish a Private Outdoor Designated Area, where people can take their alcoholic beverages from business to business.
Council will hold its first regular meeting for the month of February beginning at 5:30 p.m. tonight in council chambers at the City-County Building on Chapline Street downtown. Only two items of unfinished business are on tonight’s agenda for final readings and a vote before council, one of which is an ordinance to amend and reenact a portion of the city code to create a new section under “Streets, Utilities and Public Service” for the PODA district.
Under the new code, customers of establishments with licenses from the West Virginia Alcohol and Beverage Control Administration can carry their drinks with them outside of the bar, restaurant or other establishment where it was purchased and socialize and visit other businesses within the area.
Similar programs – also known as Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas or DORAs – have been established in Ohio and in other municipalities in West Virginia. These programs have been implemented successfully and not only encourage community activities but also promote local business, according to the legislation.
The district will extend from the area of 10th Street downtown south to the area of Centre Market in Center Wheeling. Also downtown, the district will run from Water Street to Chapline Street. Businesses located within the PODA district will be able to choose whether or not to permit people to enter their business with an approved open container in hand that was sold from a qualified permit holder.
Operating hours for the PODA district will be from 4-10 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Wheeling City Councilman Ty Thorngate, who introduced the proposal to council, said that if approved, the new PODA district is expected to become operational during the first week of May this year. Participating bars and restaurants will need to obtain a stock of approved and labeled PODA district disposable to-go cups, and signage to designate the district will have to be erected.
Also during tonight’s meeting, council is expected to vote on an ordinance authorizing the purchase of a 2024 Dodge Ram pickup truck from Stephenson Auto Center of Danville, W.Va., in the amount of $45,612. The truck’s purchase will be charged to the Water Pollution Control Division’s Vehicle Replacement Fund.
A handful of new legislation is expected to be introduced during tonight’s meeting, including a resolution authorizing the city administration to proceed with the demolition of the former Clay School building, with the ultimate goal of constructing a new community recreation center in the East Wheeling Neighborhood.
A new ordinance up for a first reading would be to authorize the expenditure of $91,227 with Breathing Air Systems of Reynoldsburg for the purchase of an air system for the new Wheeling Fire Department Headquarters. This purchase is to be charged to the City Service Fee.
Another new ordinance up for a first reading will be to spend $28,414 with Witmer Inc. of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, for fire gear for Wheeling Fire Department Station 2. This purchase is to be charged to the city’s Community Development Block Grant funds.
An ordinance is also being introduced to spend $27,000 with Insynch Systems of Zelienople, Pennsylvania, for a Wheeling Police Department records management system. This purchase is to be charged to the Police Department Communications Maintenance fund.
Prior to tonight’s regular council meeting, the Development Committee of Council is scheduled to meet beginning at 4:30 p.m. to discuss a lane abandonment on Mull Avenue. The Development Committee is also slated to meet in executive session to discuss property acquisition.