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Council OKs keeping alcohol sales

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By ERIC HORCHY

The Suncoast News

Published: October 24, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - With revenue up, no reports of bad behavior and minimal public dissent, the city council voted 4-0 this week to continue allowing alcohol use in three parks at which public events take place.

An ordinance was passed Tuesday on the first of two readings, extending the city's year-old policy of allowing nonprofit civic organizations to hold downtown events and sell beer and wine on the grounds of Sims Park, Orange Lake and Cavalaire Square, from which alcohol use previously was prohibited.

A sunset provision was written into the 2008 ordinance lifting the ban to give council a chance to re-evaluate the decision after a year.

Tuesday night's vote in favor of continuing to allow alcohol in the parks was only 4-0 because Councilman Bob Consalvo did not attend the meeting. The ordinance will receive its second reading at the Nov. 3 council meeting.

Two residents who spoke during the council meeting expressed concern over continuing alcohol sales in the parks. Allowing drinking in these public places would tarnish the city's family values image, the pair of critics said.

After closing public comment, Mayor Scott McPherson, a lifelong resident, said while he respects such concerns, alcohol use and a family atmosphere at public events aren't mutually exclusive.

Sims Park, McPherson noted, has an amphitheater and alcohol sales help draw paying customers to concerts and other events held there.
City planner Lisa Fierce, sitting in for the absent City Manager Tom O'Neill, said the public alcohol policy now before council has only a few changes from the 2008 version.

These proposed alterations include increasing the number of events at which alcohol sales would be allowed to eight from the current six. Also, the organizers would have to submit an application for a public event with alcohol sales 45 days prior to the event, up from the current 30. The application, however, could be submitted no sooner than 180 days prior to the event.

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.

•The city council may require an applicant to pay to station an off-duty police officer near the playground in Sims Park during events and pay other police expenses related to the sale of alcohol at the event.

•Alcohol can only be served between noon and 10 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays and 1 to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

According to Dan Sullivan, membership director of the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, this month's Cotee River Bike Fest saw alcohol sales total $22,751, compared to $10,350 last year. The chamber's cut of the Bike Fest proceeds this year was $4,200, compared to $1,900 in 2008, while the three nonprofit group's that benefitted from the festival each received $2,100, up from $1,384.

In addition, Sullivan said, alcohol sales mean more people attending events in the parks, which in turns makes sponsors more willing to help offset costs.

The area's Budweiser distributor, for example, increased its Bike Fest sponsorship dollars to $5,000 from $3,000 last year, he said.

With the economic boost and the lack of major problems associated with alcohol use at public events, council members said, there was no reason to reinstitute the ban.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy @suncoastnews.com.

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