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City Could Allow Alcohol At Park Events

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By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: November 12, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - A first reading of a proposed ordinance to allow nonprofit organizations to sell beer and wine during events at Sims Park produced over an hour and a half of commentary at last Wednesday's City Council meeting.

When all was said and done, the vote was 3-2 to approve the first reading, with Mayor Scott McPherson and council members Judy DeBella Thomas and Rob Marlowe approving and council members Bob Consalvo and Marilyn deChant voting no.

The ordinance will go into effect if it passes a second reading, tentatively scheduled for the council's next meeting on Nov. 18.

The question of permitting alcohol sales in Sims Park has been a contentious issue for years that re-erupted when the council held a work session on Aug. 28 to consider it again.

McPherson opened Wednesday's discussion with a reminder to everyone to keep the discourse respectful. Then he tried to set the tone by addressing concerns he's heard - that it will unduly expose children to alcohol, that it will take away sales from local businesses and that there is already too much alcohol at downtown events.

"This is, in my opinion one of the most misunderstood and distorted issues that I can recall for residents," McPherson said. "This ordinance, as it is drafted, it is more conservative than the vast majority of ordinances I have reviewed in the Tampa Bay area."

Under the proposed ordinance, a maximum of 12 alcoholic beverage permits would be allowed per calendar year. No permitted event could exceed three days in duration.

The permits would only be available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and City Council would have absolute authority over who gets the permits. Sales and consumption would be allowed only in approved areas.

The permit holder will be responsible for the costs for Police, Fire-Rescue, Public Works and Parks departments' costs attributable to the sale of alcohol at the event. The council can require the permit holder to pay for an off-duty police officer to be stationed at the Super Playground.

The permits would have a sales cutoff time of 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturday, an hour earlier than current permits issued for events at Cavalaire Square and on private land south of Main Street.

The council's vote pretty well reflected the sentiments expressed during the public comments portion of the hearing, at which 23 members of the audience let their thoughts and feelings be known. A majority were in favor of the ordinance.

Many represented nonprofit organizations that would directly benefit if alcohol permits were permitted in Sims Park. Donations are way down, they said, and they need every means to get the money to provide the services they give to the community.

Local restaurant and bar owners were in favor of the measure. Even with beer and wine sales in the park, they reasoned, events in Sims Park mean extra business for them, business that would be lost if the nonprofits took their events elsewhere.

Many of those who opposed the proposal cited personal accounts of the effects of alcohol, of accidents they or loved ones have had with drunk drivers. Others expressed a concern over losing Sims Park's traditional standing as a family-friendly, alcohol-free park.

Once the public had their say, council members explained their positions. There are already places in town where organizations could have alcohol-included events, deChant said, is it really necessary to have it in Sims Park, too?

Consalvo brought up a much-referred to referendum in 2000 in which two-thirds of residents voted down a similar proposal. OK, times have changed, he said, but why not have another referendum and see what the residents think now?

Marlowe said many nearby cities regularly hold family-oriented events at which alcohol is served and that are enhancements to those communities. DeBella Thomas, who is director of Greater New Port Richey Main Street, mentioned the asset Sims Park is as a place where such events can be held within walking distance of many residents.

"Sims Park is a Cadillac," McPherson added to their train of thought. He mentioned how both presidential campaigns chose to hold final-week rallies there; it's an incredible draw to the city, and the occasional alcohol-included event would only enhance that.

"Why does it work everyplace else but not here?" he asked. I think it can and we should try."

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