LARGO – City commissioners have approved plans for the sale of beer and wine at an Aug. 15 concert that is expected to draw about 5,000 participants throughout the day at Largo Central Park.
The City Commission agreed to allow the sale of beer and wine from 5 to 10 p.m. and allow patrons to move freely with their beverages throughout the park.
At a previous meeting the commission was deadlocked in a vote on whether to restrict the sale of beer and wine to a contained area next to the Largo Cultural Center or let patrons carry such beverages throughout the event area in the park.
The issue came up again at the commission’s June 16 meeting. Commissioner Harriet Crozier questioned what do the police think about the two options.
Police Chief Lester Aradi said that it would be easier on his department if patrons could only have beer and wine in a restricted area, but allowing them to have it in the event area would not be a problem.
“We have the manpower; we have the planning ... It’s something we can certainly handle,” he said.
“Because this is a brand new event, I don’t think we should put any barriers between people coming and having a good time,” Commissioner Woody Brown said. “I would hate to see low attendance and people complaining about I have to go over there if I want to consume an adult beverage or whatever.”
Commissioner Mary Gray Black said she didn’t think the commissioner has the authority to act on the issue. Reading city codes, she believes that the city manager has been given the discretion to make that decision. She said that the commission can’t “collectively nor privately tell the city manager how to do his job.”
Mayor Pat Gerard said she had no problem expressing an opinion and letting the city manager take the “pulse of the commission” and do what he’s been delegated to do.
Black said the beer and wine should be sold in a confined area because “we want to keep Largo Central Park a family-friendly facility.”
Commissioners then recommended to the city manager that alcohol sales be sold from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. through the entire event area as opposed to from the start of the event, which is 2 p.m.
City officials said the event will include a motorcycle show, merchandise vendors, food vendors, and family games. Local southern rock bands will play throughout the day with a headliner closing the event by 10 p.m.
