City of Gainesville - File #: 140840.

• File #: 140840.
• Version: 6
• Name: Underage Drinking Ordinance
• Type: Discussion Item
• Status: Committee Report Out
• File created: 3/18/2015
• In control: General Policy Committee
• On agenda: 5/19/2016
• Final action: 8/4/2016
• Title: Underage Drinking Ordinance (B) This item requests the City Commission to hear a presentation on proposed changes to the Underage Drinking Ordinance and provide City staff with guidance. **ESTIMATED PRESENTATION TIME: 15 MINUTES**

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
1/11/2016	5	Public Safety Committee
6/18/2015	4	City Commission	Referred	Pass
4/27/2015	3	Public Safety Committee	Discussed
4/7/2015	2	Public Safety Committee	Discussed
2/19/2015	1	City Commission	Referred	Pass

Title
Underage Drinking Ordinance (B)

This item requests the City Commission to hear a presentation on proposed changes to the Underage Drinking Ordinance and provide City staff with guidance. **ESTIMATED PRESENTATION TIME: 15 MINUTES**

Explanation
At the February 19, 2015 City Commission meeting, the Underage Drinking Ordinance was referred to the Public Safety Committee for discussion. Under the current ordinance, which has been in effect since 2009, the City has the ability to issue an underage prohibition order which has the effect of prohibiting patrons under the age of 21 in an establishment that has a certain number of underage drinking incidents. However, several prohibition orders issued by the City have been challenged and an administrative hearing officer rescinded the orders. As a result, the City is not currently issuing prohibition orders.

The Public Safety Committee discussed this referral at their meetings on April 7 and April 27, 2015 with several business owners in attendance. The Public Safety Committee voted by consensus to recommend that the City Commission direct the City Attorney to draft amendments to the Underage Drinking Ordinance so that the ordinance achieves the desired intent and is enforceable by limiting access to bars for those under 21 (18-20 year olds) until 10 p.m. unless a special permit is issued by the City. Bars found in violation of the ordinance could be denied permits allowing those under 21 in the bars after 10 p.m.

During the Public Safety Committee Meeting on January 11, 2016 representatives from the University of Florida, University of Florida Police Department, and Santa Fe College participated in the discussion. The members of the Public Safety Committee voted to send this updated proposal to the full City Commission for consideration.

Fiscal Note
None.

Recommendation:
The Public Safety Committee recommends that the City Commission: 1) hear a presentation from staff outling the proposed chang...