People will now be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages at sidewalk dining sites and in cordoned-off areas at festivals in Athens.

City Council members voted 4-0 this week to amend city ordinances governing alcoholic beverages and sidewalk dining to allow the regulated sale of alcohol during sidewalk dining and festivals. They also approved other amendments to the alcohol ordinance.

Under the changes the council approved Dec. 4, the city may now permit licensees with a special events liquor in a downtown zone to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on or along a portion of a sidewalk, street or public way. The rule applies to those with licenses for festival events, entertainment events or other recreational events the public can attend.

Under the rules, the license holder must install a non-permanent barrier or fencing that clearly delineates the borders of the licensed area during such an event. Beverages must not be served in glass containers and the license holder must have adequate security at the event.

Athens’ new rules regarding festivals are different from the arts and entertainment districts allowed in Huntsville and Decatur, which permit the public to move about an entire delineated district with open containers of alcohol.

District 4 Councilman Joseph Cannon, who said he is probably the most liberal of the five-man council when it comes to alcohol, said he does not have a problem with the changes that allow alcohol consumption at sidewalk dining sites or festivals. He believes the change is conservative because drinkers will not be allowed to move about but must stay at a sidewalk dining area or in a fenced area at festivals.

Mayor Ronnie Marks said the city had been working on revising various aspects of its alcoholic beverage ordinance for about a year. He was in favor of allowing patrons to consume beer or wine at sidewalk dining sites and various festivals.

“It’s a limited area; it’s not like it’s free-roam,” the mayor said.

Marks said he’s not concerned about anyone drinking too much at a festival because he believes those serving will not over-serve anyone.

Council members also took the following action on the alcohol ordinance:

• Adjusted the food/alcoholic beverage ratio for restaurants and similar establishments;

• Established regulations for brewpubs and taprooms;

• Allowed managers of certain public facilities to decide for themselves whether or not to allow alcoholic beverages;

• Removed the classifications of specialty beverage stores and specialty wine and beer establishments;

• Brought various provisions into conformity with the city’s new zoning ordinance;

• Made various other changes of smaller impact.

Council members voting for the changes included Harold Wales, District 2; Frank Travis, D-3; Cannon; and Wayne Harper, D-5. Council President Chris Seibert, D-1, could not attend the meeting as his mother died Monday.

Library alcohol?

A proposed change in the alcohol ordinance could allow alcohol consumption at after-hours gatherings at the Athens-Limestone County Public Library on Jefferson Street in Athens. The library wants to implement the change to increase revenue from those who would rent the library for after-hours functions, said Cannon, who said he will likely vote “yes” on the proposal.

Harper, who considers himself the most conservative member of the five-man council, said he has not decided whether he will support after-hours alcohol at the library.

“I think if it’s up to the library board, and I think if it is after-hour rentals, then I would not have a problem with that,” Harper said. “My concern is making sure there is no alcohol when we have kids in there. I was told, and at least it is my understanding, that it would be after-hours parties, wedding rehearsals, receptions and things like that.”

Council members introduced the proposed measure at their Dec. 4 meeting. They plan to discuss and vote on the proposal at their next meeting Monday, Dec. 18. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at the corner of Hobbs and Marion streets.

A pre-meeting briefing usually begins at 4:30 or 5 p.m., at which time the council typically discusses matters on the upcoming agenda.

Both meetings are open to the public.

 

See Saturday’s edition of The News Courier for more on this story.