Wednesday, September 25th, 2019
Celina alcohol district possible
By William Kincaid
CELINA - City officials in the coming weeks will consider creating an outdoor refreshment area where people would be permitted to walk around with alcoholic beverages.
Mayor Jeff Hazel this week briefly broached the subject with council members, who decided to discuss the matter in greater depth at a community betterment meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 14 in council chambers on the second floor of the city administration building. The regular council meeting will follow at 7 p.m.
Some downtown merchants would like for people to be able to stroll back and forth with an open alcohol container during events such as Taste of Celina, when Main Street is closed for people to sample food items from numerous vendors.
"One of the (ways) they could do it … required at least three permit holders to apply for their permit and take that responsibility, and as I understand none of the three really wanted to do that," Hazel told councilors.
Some merchants have found another potential avenue - a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area permit through the Ohio Department of Commerce, Hazel said.
"Essentially what it does, council would have to legislatively delineate an area for this permit area," Hazel said. "It would essentially avoid open-container infractions during these days or times, but it all has to be done by ordinance."
Hazel said the board of liquor control has indicated DORA limitations are pretty open and subject to what a community desires. Councilors, if they choose to proceed with the idea, would have to set the boundaries and times of the DORA, he said.
"Downtown merchants, certainly several of them, have expressed interest in having that ability for certain downtown events. We could do that," he said. "It seems like this would be a perfect fit. It allows for up to 150 acres."
Councilors will have many elements to consider, such as charging establishments for providing a police presence as required by law or absorbing the cost.
Correction:
Celina City Council will hold a committee of a whole meeting to discuss creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area at 6 p.m. Oct. 14 in council chambers on the second floor of the city administration building. The error was made in reporting.
