During a Community Redevelopment Agency board meeting and the following regular Milton City Council meeting on Monday, council members expressed interest in creating a waiver for an open container policy for special events.
“Right now, there is open container ordinance within the city,” said Brian Watkins, city manager. “It basically says there can be no open containers in the city parks, streets, sidewalks…any city property whatsoever.”
If approved by the council, Watkins said the council could waive city ordinances which would allow residents to have an open container − meaning an open bottle of wine or alcoholic beverage − to a public event, like ‘Bands on the Blackwater.’
“From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., while Bands on the Blackwater was going on, we would waive the open container law,” Watkins gave as an example.
The waiver, which would not allow for the distribution of alcoholic beverages, will be brought before city committees – administration, parks and recreation, public safety, growth and development – at their upcoming meetings, Watkins said.
The proposed waiver would go before the council for approval.
Speaking in favor of the waiver, Blackwater Bistro General Manager Glen Hill addressed the board.
“People like to come and sit with a glass of wine or whatever and listen to the music,” he said.
Hill suggests having a box available on event applications requesting an open container waiver.
The council would have to approve each waiver request, he said.
“It would relieve the liability from our police department and also open a more friendly environment for those people who want to get off work , come listen to the music and have a couple of beers,” Hill said.
Council member Patsy Lunsford had concerns regarding the family-oriented events like the Scratch Ankle Festival in the downtown area.
“Last time, I got reports (from the previous Scratch Ankle Festival) where there were people all over the place drinking,” she said. “Those (events) are not the place for this kind of thing.”
Hill responded to Lunsford by stating that event organizers would not select the waiver for family events.
Former council member Grady Hester voiced his opposition on the matter.
“We need to keep it family-oriented, period,” Hester said. “I would rather have a few drunks not come to town, than a whole lot of family members stay away.”
Hill responded that the waiver would not allow for public intoxication.
“People who are publicly intoxicated are an issue for the police department to deal with,” Hill said. “We have those kinds of issues all over the city. I would never promote that kind of environment.”
Following the discussion, Mayor Wesley Meiss encouraged the council to speak with their constituents on the matter. Meiss also invited all constituents to voice their concerns on this topic at upcoming CRA and council meetings.
After presenting the waiver before the committees first, Watkins said the proposed waiver could appear before the council during their regular council meeting on Dec. 9 at 5 p.m., at the earliest. The next CRA meeting is scheduled on Dec. 9 at 4:45 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton: Council looks into waiving open container policy for community events