Development News for Hastings, Nebraska

Hastings City Council Defeats Ordinance Restricting Alcohol Sales and Nudity in Licensed Establishments

The City Council considered Ordinance No. 4831, which proposed to amend section 4-104 of the official Hastings City Code regarding hours of sale for alcoholic beverages and to enact section 4-118 concerning alcohol license revocation or suspension. The proposed amendment would restrict the sale and possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. The proposed new section 4-118 outlined grounds for revocation or suspension of alcohol licenses, including conviction of a felony, operating a gambling house, pandering, violating laws concerning alcohol, making false statements on license applications, or allowing nudity for entertainment or service within licensed premises between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. During public comment, numerous residents expressed concerns about the potential negative impacts of combining alcohol and nudity, citing moral decline and safety issues. Conversely, the owner of the establishment in question argued that the ordinance would effectively shut down his business, which has operated without violations for eight years, and highlighted his contributions to the community and employment of staff. The Chief of Police confirmed that the business had no recorded violations and was not a nuisance. Council members debated the ordinance, with some arguing it targeted a specific business and represented an overreach into personal morality, while others emphasized the community's requests for regulation and the importance of upholding moral standards. Ultimately, the ordinance failed to pass with a vote of four to two, with two council members abstaining.