ITEM TITLE:
Work Session: Reduction of Hours of Sale of Alcoholic Beverages on Licensed Premises
SUBMITTED BY: Bart Hinkle, Chief of Police and Sheri Pierce, MMC, City Clerk
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Work session only.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Following an alcohol related tragedy last April a citizen group came before the city council to ask what the City could do to help prevent alcohol related crimes in our community. Alcohol sales and consumption practices were identified as an action which could be addressed by the council through amendment of city legislation.
On May 29th Chief Hinkle hosted an “Alcohol Committee” meeting at the Council Chambers for a group of citizens who had expressed an interest to Council. There were a number of ideas discussed during the meeting - one of which was to alter the hours of operation for alcohol establishments in Valdez.
It is codified in the Valdez Municipal Ordinance [VMC 5.08.060]:
“No person may consume, sell, offer for sale, give, furnish or deliver any alcoholic beverage on any licensed premises within the city between the hours of five a.m. to eight a.m. each day of the week.”
Chief Hinkle has provided the attached memo regarding the reduction to hours of operation for licensed premises.
The City Clerk has drafted ordinance language which amends section 5.08.060 related to hours of operation. Currently licensed premises are prohibited from serving alcohol between the hours of 5:00 am and 8:00 am. The proposed amendment will prohibit the sale of alcohol during the hours of 3:00 am to 8:00 am.
Chief Hinkle has notified local liquor establishment owners of the proposed amendment and reports he has received no opposition to date. The Alcohol Committee and liquor establishment owners have been notified of the work session and encouraged to attend and offer comment.