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New Port Richey alcohol sales ordinance passes 5-0
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Published: November 7, 2009
NEW PORT RICHEY - City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday in favor of continuing the sale of beer and wine at Sims Park, Orange Lake and Cavalaire Square during downtown events, keeping alive an ordinance originally passed in 2008.
The hearing marked the second and final reading of Ordinance 1914, which included a number of amendments.
The changes include:
•A post-event report that must be submitted within four weeks after an event that contains generated alcohol sales revenue.
•Giving approved permits to the city manager before an event.
•Expanding the amount of annual permits from six to eight.
•Requiring optional alcohol-free zones to be shown on a site map.
•Eliminating the ordinance's sunset provision.
•Changing the application submittal time to no less than 45 days prior to an event from 30, and no more than 180.
Among the rules that would be left in place are:
Sale of beer or wine only.
Alcohol can only be sold and consumed within a designated area.
City Council may require an applicant to pay to station an off-duty police officer near the playground in Sims Park during public events at which alcohol is sold and pay other police expenses related to the sale of beer and wine at the event.
Alcohol can only be served between noon and 10 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays and 1 - 7 p.m. on Sundays.
Tuesday's roughly hour-long hearing, though civil, included slightly more opposition than was present at the issue's first reading, on Oct. 20. Five city residents, including the owners of two downtown establishments, The Karl Reef bar and Vincenzo's Ristorante, were against the ordinance, up from two opposing voices heard last month.
Another downtown hospitality business owner, Juan de Sosa of Juan's Black Bean Cafe, voiced his support for continuing alcohol sales.
The business owners in opposition argued that selling beer and wine in the parks during events reduces their alcohol sales.
Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.
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