Explanation
Background: This ordinance will authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a public private partnership agreement with BICHHU, LLC (Amara Restaurant) and Downtown Columbus Inc. (DCI) to temporarily extend Amara’s liquor permit to Bicentennial Park property for up to 19 CRPD and DCI community events being held in the park during 2026.
CRPD shares maintenance and operational responsibilities with DCI for Bicentennial Park - requiring a tripartite partnership agreement with DCI to authorize Amara to temporarily extend their liquor permit premises to Bicentennial Park.
BICHHU, LLC, operator of the new park restaurant Amara, will work with the State of Ohio Division of Liquor Control to temporarily extend their liquor permit, as outlined in ORC 4303.188, on the agreed upon dates for the purpose of making DORA beverages available, in a convenient location, to enhance attendee experiences at these events. Under ORC 4303.188, the State requires written consent from the City to be submitted by the permit holder with their request to temporarily extend their liquor permit premises. This agreement will serve as evidence of written consent by the City. BICHHU, LLC will provide trained staff, all product to be sold, and list the City as an additional insured.
Principal Parties:
BICHHU, LLC
229 Civic Center Drive
Columbus OH, 43215
Joshua Dalton - 614-595-8240
Emergency Justification: The Amara restaurant entered its lease in March 2026 and is just now ready to enter into agreement with CRPD. It must be passed as emergency in time for Amara to file for State permits and obtain equipment required to conduct the sale of beverages by May 23, 2026.
Bid Waiver Justification: ORC 4303.188 will only authorize qualifying license holder’s to temporarily expand onto adjacent public property. Due to geographical location of the restaurant, Amara is the only qualifying license holder that can fulfill this service.
Fiscal Impact: N/A
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with the Amara restaurant and Downtown Columbus Inc. to temporarily extend Amara’s liquor permit to Bicentennial Park property for up to 19 CRPD and DCI community events being held in the park during 2026; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Bicentennial Park is a public park owned and controlled by the City through its Department of Recreation and Parks and the City shares maintenance and operational responsibilities with DCI and both share a common interest of community engagement for Bicentennial Park; and
WHEREAS, Ohio Revised Code Section 4303.188 permits, in part, a qualified liquor permit holder to sell alcoholic beverages by the individual drink for consumption in any outdoor area of public property that is immediately adjacent to the qualified permit holder’s premises and that is owned by a municipal corporation, provided that the permit holder obtains written consent from the municipal corporation’s executive officer for each date it requests to expand its qualified liquor permit; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to provide such written consent to Partner to temporarily expand Partner’s qualified permit in 2026 during 19 scheduled events to be held between the hours of 11am and 10pm on 5/23, 6/5, 6/28, 7/10, 7/11, 7/12, 8/14, 9/12, 9/18, 9/19, 9/25, 10/3, 11/21, 12/4, 12/5, 12/11, 12/12, 12/18 & 12/19 of 2026; and
WHEREAS, such temporary liquor permit expansion offers the City and DCI an operationally efficient way to enhance programming experiences for attendees at the Premises during the dates and times listed above; and
WHEREAS, DCI affirmatively agrees the City’s written consent herein to temporarily expand Partner’s qualified permit does not conflict with any rights granted to DCI under Article 7 of its Lease Agreement with the City regarding “use and control” of public property executed September 22, 2025 nor its Memorandum of Understanding with the City regarding the maintenance and operation of the “Fountain” executed May 23, 2024; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Recreation and Parks Department to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Code; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Recreation and Parks in that it is immediately necessary to pass this ordinance as emergency in time for Amara to file for State permits and obtain equipment required to conduct the sale of beverages for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks be and is hereby authorized and directed to enter into contract with Amara and DCI, to temporarily extend Amara’s liquor permit to Bicentennial Park property for up to 19 CRPD and DCI community events being held in the park during 2026.
SECTION 2. That this Council recognizes the Ohio Revised Code authorizes, a qualified liquor permit holder to sell alcoholic beverages on public property immediately adjacent to the qualified permit holder’s premises, with written consent of the property owner.
SECTION 3. That this Council finds it in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of City Code Chapter 329 to enter into this contract and does hereby waive the samee.
SECTION 4. That this Council supports the parties' desire to enhance the attendee experience at Community events.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.