By Positively Osceola Staff
KISSIMMEE — In a marathon July 1 meeting, the City Commission voted 4–1 to move forward with Ordinance 25-09, which creates a $250 annual “After-Midnight Alcohol-Sales Permit” for bars and restaurants in the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The permit will allow licensed establishments to continue serving alcohol from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m., provided they meet new safety and compliance standards.
Mayor Jackie Espinosa—herself a downtown business owner—acknowledged that the ordinance “will impact me the same way it impacts every other operator,” but emphasized that “Kissimmee is open for business.” She reminded attendees that the current commission is working through issues “handed down from before any of us took our seats.”
Vice Mayor Angela Eady seconded Espinosa’s motion; Commissioners Noel Ortiz and Carlos Alvarez joined them in the affirmative, while Jeanette Martinez cast the lone “no” vote.
Ray Parsons, owner of the Breeze Bar and 1881 Restaurant on Dakin Avenue in Downtown Kissimmee, urged commissioners to allow the upcoming Broadway streetscape project to be implemented first before making additional regulatory changes, saying downtown businesses have supported similar ordinance changes in the past.
Why tighten the rules?
City staff linked a spike in late-night noise complaints—and two recent shooting incidents near a downtown bar—to the hours between midnight and 3 a.m. Police say the permit framework will help them focus resources on businesses that remain open past midnight.
Permit checklist for owners
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Apply & pay | $250 once a year through the City Clerk |
| Stay compliant | Meet fire, building, noise and any new security rules |
| Cooperate with KPD | Allow inspections and follow agreed crowd-control plans |
| Post permit | Keep it visible for on-site verification |
Penalties
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1st violation: civil citation
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2nd violation: triggers a show-cause hearing
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After two founded violations: City may revoke the after-midnight permit and ask the state to suspend the liquor license for the location
Voices from the audience
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“These extra fees and rules won’t help downtown businesses— they’ll hurt us,” one longtime resident warned during the public-comment period.
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Another speaker countered, “Nothing good happens after midnight. We need Kissimmee to be safe for residents, businesses, and families alike.”
Dozens of attendees—residents, stakeholders and entrepreneurs—expressed both pride in the community and concern that stricter regulations could have unintended economic consequences.
What’s next?
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Second reading & final vote: July 15, 2025
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Effective date (if adopted): Oct. 1, 2025, giving businesses roughly 10 weeks to secure the new permit, City Manager Mike Steigerwald confirmed.
Noise ordinance on hold
A separate overhaul of the City’s noise rules was tabled for additional outreach to the roughly 12 businesses most affected. Both the noise revisions and the alcohol-permit requirement apply only inside the Downtown CRA.
Positively Osceola will continue to follow the issue as the final vote approaches.
