Title
Alcohol Sales and Consumption Outdoors Downtown and Special Event Permits for Bars (B)
The basis of these referrals is an interest in addressing increasing demand for outdoor events in the downtown area that allow the sale and consumption of alcohol on City property and also the interest of private alcohol serving establishments to allow for the temporary outdoor sales and consumption of alcoholic beverages beyond University of Florida football home games. A draft re-write of the City's alcohol ordinance will be presented for City Commission consideration and direction. *Estimated staff presentation time 20 minutes*
Explanation
The Public Safety Committee has discussed referrals relating to Alcohol Sales and Consumption Outdoors Downtown and Special Event Permits for Bars on a number of occasions. The basis of these referrals is an interest in addressing increasing demand for outdoor events in the downtown area that allow the sale and consumption of alcohol on City property and also the interest of private alcohol serving establishments to allow for the temporary outdoor sales and consumption of alcoholic beverages beyond University of Florida football home games.
The City Commission has made a number of changes to the City's alcohol ordinance to address interest in these types of events including changes to allow alcohol at the United Downtown events on Fridays before home football games and at the Santa Fe Spring Arts Festival. The Public Safety Committee and City Commission have been receiving additional requests to make other City properties available for the temporary sale and consumption of alcohol including Parking Lot 10.
In reviewing these requested changes to the alcohol ordinance, the City Attorney's Office and staff reviewed the history of changes to the ordinance and felt that a more practical approach would be to re-write the alcohol ordinance to address these ongoing issues in a more holistic fashion. The City Attorney's Office and staff met several times to develop the proposed draft ordinance. City staff provided the draft ordinance to those interested in the subject and met with GDOT at their September 10, 2013 meeting. The draft ordinance was presented to the Public safety Committee on September 25, 2013 . The Public Safety Committee decided to forward the items to the City Commission for discussion and consideration without making specific recommendations.
Fiscal Note
The City will need to recover costs from event organizers for services provided to support outdoor special events. Even with cost-recovery, as more events take place requiring City support, staff resources may become stretched.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a presentation from City staff; 2) provide City staff with direction on any concerns or proposed changes to the draft ordinance; and 3) direct the City Attorney to prepare and the Clerk of the Commission to advertise revisions to the City's alcohol ordinance.