Iowa City may adopt exceptions to 21-only law

The city is poised Oct. 26 to give a pass to concerts held in bars, but those establishments may not even need the special treatment a week later.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on two ordinances Tuesday night relating to live entertainment in bars and the city's new 21-only law. Staff has asked for expedited action on each, and council members have been supportive of the measures, so the council may adopt them that night.

One gives bars the option to physically separate their spaces into alcohol-free and alcohol-allowed areas during city-approved special events like concerts.

The other would establish an “entertainment venue” designation for bars that meet certain requirements that show their main purpose is to provide live entertainment like concerts, comedy acts, or poetry or prose readings.

Bars that qualify for either would be exempt from the city's 21-only ordinance, which prohibits people younger than 21 from being in bars after 10 p.m.

Iowa City voters are being asked in the Nov. 2 election whether they want to repeal the 21-only law. If 21-only is overturned, there would be no need for the split-venue and entertainment-venue options, so they would be automatically repealed.

The council explored ways to protect events like concerts from the 21-only law after representatives from the city's music scene said the law was hurting their ability to attract national acts.

The council meeting starts at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 410 E. Washington St.