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Commissioners do not want liquor allowed in new library
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 |
LARGO – City commissioners have made it clear that they do not want liquor available in the new Largo Public Library when it opens.
An ordinance authorizing the city manager to approve liquor sales in the library and city parks was introduced March 18. A public hearing and final vote is slated for April 1.
First introduced nearly two years ago, the measure is intended to ease restrictions on businesses selling alcoholic beverages in the city’s redevelopment districts and in Ulmer and Central parks to help growth in the downtown area.
The ordinance would eliminate a requirement that bars must have food sales of at least 51 percent of their gross sales. It would also restrict bars from being close to churches, day care centers and schools.
Allowing alcoholic beverages in the city library is intended to allow groups and weddings using meeting rooms to serve drinks. Casey McPhee, library director, said the city already allows alcoholic beverages to be served at library events.
McPhee assured commissioners that she would not permit drinks to be served when the library is open.
Commissioner Mary Gray Black said she was confident Norton “Mac” Craig, city manager, and McPhee would uphold the ban. She reminded commissioners that unless the restriction was in writing the city could find drinks being served when the library was open.
Mayor Pat Gerard said restrictions in writing could leave the city open to an undesirable applicant winning the right to hold their event. She said a promoter recently wanted to hold an event in Central Park and could have met any city requirements. Gerard said the promoter had met Clearwater’s restrictions for an event that turned out to be a major problem. Without having to point to specific problems, she said, Craig was able to legally turn the promoter away.
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Article published on Wednesday, March 26, 2008
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