Davis City Council Weighing Nightclub Moratorium After Stabbing

DAVIS (CBS13) — Downtown Davis is considering a moratorium on nightclubs more than a week after a deadly stabbing.

The 45-day moratorium would put a hold on all pending and future permits for bars or nightclubs larger than 2,500 feet.

Many were surprised that a young man trying to break up a fight died at KetMoRee, a Thai restaurant that turns into a nightclub.

The Davis City Council is now considering a pause on new large bars that could range from a month and a half to two years.

"We would be telling them, we can't move forward with your application until we have this broader community conversation," said Davis City Councilman Robb Davis.

He says the conversation will be about safety and what the city, police and community can do to avoid violence downtown, including more officers, metal detectors and tougher restrictions.

"What's being proposed by police and city staff is merely a pause in new permits," he said. "We're not closing any bars, we're not closing any establishments."

Currently, there are only two pending permits for new bars and clubs.

Depending on their age, Davis residents seem to be split on the idea of backing off from new bar development.

"It is worth a discussion by the city to understand what goes on in the middle of the night in downtown Davis and the effect that it has, and in this case it was someone's life," Steven McCord.

"Somebody getting stabbed at a bar is a big deal, they have to handle it someway, but I think they are pushing it a little bit," said UC Davis student Ethan Berman.

The City Council will meet at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday to vote on the moratorium.