Currently, most of Round Rock is “fully wet,” but roughly 15 percent of the city is only “partially wet,” meaning certain bars and restaurants can only sell drinks with liquor if the business implements a membership system. The majority of the “partially wet” area falls in the eastern area of Round Rock, south of Hwy. 79, as well as the La Frontera area. The Round Rock Chamber is seeking about 6,600 signatures from registered voters living within Round Rock city limits to ask voters in November to make all of Round Rock “fully wet,” allowing businesses to sell mixed drinks without requiring membership. Mike Odom, president and CEO of the Round Rock Chamber said there are currently two businesses that use the membership system—Buffalo Wings and Rings, located at 1901 Town Centre Drive, Round Rock, and Beluga Japanese Restaurant, located at 661 Louis Henna Blvd., Ste. 300, Round Rock. Several other businesses fall in the “partially wet” area but do not use the membership system. Those businesses can still sell beer and wine, but not beverages made with liquor. The future site of Kalahari Resort and Convention Center also falls in the “partially wet” area. Odom said that the issue was brought to the chamber’s attention by a resident. When the chamber reached out to impacted businesses, business owners expressed frustration with the designation, which drove the Chamber to move forward with the petition. The membership system required by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission obligates the business to implement a system in which a customer’s identification card is scanned each time the customer visits the establishment and purchases a mixed drink. Per the state’s definition, mixed drinks include any drink with liquor. The equipment necessary to accommodate the membership system can cost a business up to $20,000 per year, according to the Texas Restaurant Association. To place the proposition on the November ballot, the petition to change the policy must obtain roughly 6,600 signatures from registered voters within Round Rock city limits. Once the required number of signatures is met, all of the signatures must be verified and the petition would then be presented to City Council to be placed on the ballot. “We want to get this done as quickly as possible for our businesses that are suffering through this,” Odom said. The proposition must go to City Council by August to meet the November election deadline. Registered voters in Round Rock who are interested in signing the petition can call or visit the Round Rock Chamber, located at 212 E. Main Street, Round Rock.