DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Amendment to Chapter 22 of the City Code - Alcohol in City Parks
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the amendment to Chapter 22 Article 1, Section 22-1 of the City Code to remove ten City parks located within Council District 5 from the list of alcohol exemptions and to add the Northern Hills Golf Course and Northeast Golf Center to the exempted list.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Section 22-1 of the City Code establishes restrictions on the sale and use of alcoholic beverages in public parks. In 2002, City Council approved an Ordinance which established a restriction on alcohol in all City parks, except for those specifically exempted and listed in the Ordinance. As a result, the alcohol prohibition makes it unlawful for any person to sell, possess, consume, or distribute alcoholic beverages in any City park except for a list of exempted park locations. The majority of parks exempted from the alcohol restriction, fall within one of three categories: 1) park designed or traditionally utilized for large group functions; 2) park serves as a destination for tourists or convention groups; and 3) park is under lease or license that allows alcohol to be served. Under the current Ordinance, alcohol is permitted at 53 parks and facilities, listed on Attachment 1, out of a total of 245 locations. Through City Council action, parks may be added or deleted from the list of exempted parks as necessary. The Director of the Parks and Recreation Department may authorize a special permit to allow the possession and consumption of alcohol within restricted parks for special events.
On May 26, 2015, Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales asked staff to consider prohibiting alcohol in the following parks located in Council District 5: Amistad, Father Albert Benavides, Calderon Boys and Girls Club, Cassiano, Elmendorf Lake, Kelly Are...
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