A committee designated by the Gilroy City Council is reviewing
ordinances mandating all those who give, carry on or conduct public
dancing must first get a permit from the city administrator.
A committee designated by the Gilroy City Council is reviewing ordinances mandating all those who give, carry on or conduct public dancing must first get a permit from the city administrator.
By requiring a permit for public dancing, the committee says city regulations are deterring new entertainment businesses from coming to Gilroy while limiting possibilities for coffee shops or other establishments that don’t have a permit to host live music.
“I’ve never heard something like this,” said Gary Walton, one of the committee members and owner of Lizarran Tapas Restaurant in downtown Gilroy. “The only place I could find is Afghanistan, but that’s legal there now.”
Dancing in downtown Gilroy has been reviewed and new ordinances have passed since 2003, according to a 2009 report from Police Department Chief Denise Turner. But in August 2009, the City Council requested staff to prepare information on city ordinances and the Downtown Dancing Committee was formed.
Chapter 8 of the municipal code, which incorporated the ordinances, regulates venues that provide a dancing space or any people engaging in it. The permit can be revoked if it’s detrimental to people’s health and safety and mandates security personnel to be present at a dance if the city administrator requires it.
Together with councilwoman Cat Tucker, Development Center Manager Kristi Abrams, Gilroy Police Sgt. Kurt Ashley and Downtown Business Association President Eric Howard, Walton is trying to relax restrictions, he said.
Walton has hired a consultant from Responsible Hospitality Institute, a firm that assists cities and businesses on issues involving entertainment and nightlife. The committee hasn’t presented any official suggestions yet, but Walton is arranging an informative session for the committee with the consultant next week.
Though Walton opposes the current restrictions on dancing, he acknowledges there was a time when downtown Gilroy at night was a lot more dangerous, and dancing – or rather dance halls – were very much involved.
“The restrictions were a knee-jerk reaction to problems that the city was having with clubs and fights,” said Walton.
“In the past there were a lot of public safety problems and stabbings and all kind of bad stuff,” said Turner. “Over the years the issue has come up again and we’re trying to come back to a balance.”
Some of the suggestions coming from Gilroy Police will include enhanced checking of IDs and monitoring alcohol service, said Turner. Chapter 8 already requires businesses to close their doors between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m.
“We don’t want it to be the Wild West again, but we want people to be able to enjoy the downtown area and dance,” said Turner. “What we try to do is look at it from a public safety perspective and make sure there is no adverse impact on the community.”
