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05/13/1992MINUTES OF THE ALCOHOL ON PUBLIC PROPERTY COMMITTEE May 13, 1992 The Alcohol on Public Property Committee met in special session, Thursday, May 13, 1992, Thomas Justiss School, 402 N. W. 18th Street, 5:30 P. M. to 7:00 P. M. Chairman Jim Bell, called the committee meeting to order with Councilman Billy Joe Burnett, and Councilwoman Ingram present. Also present was City Clerk, Mattie Cunningham. Lane Park, Minister of Outreach for First Baptist Church, gave the invocation. Before the public hearing was opened, Chairman Bell discussed the rules and procedures of the public hearing. Chairman Bell explained that in November of last year an issue was placed on the City Council Agenda that called for the allowing or changing the ordinance to allow the sale and consumption of alcohol at the Fairgrounds. The item that was on the agenda would allow the sale and consumption of alcohol at the Fairgrounds, and it was the authorization to prepare an ordinance. The Council was not sure at that time why the item was on the agenda, it was not placed there by any of the Councilmen, it was brought to our attention by a member of the City Staff. The Council was very quick to respond to that ordinance in the preparation of an ordinance in that we did not wish to allow the sale of alcohol on the Fairgrounds, and the Council voted that issue down that night with a number of people that appeared with a 6 -1 vote. Chairman Bell said it was never the intention of the Council to allow the sale of alcohol anywhere. In consultation with City Staff, we then asked as a Council, why was the item place on the agenda. The City of Paris in the 1940's after an incident here, voted this community dry, and it has been dry ever since. It is under the laws of the State of Texas that allows consumption of alcohol within the City under special circumstances. Since the City voted dry for almost fifty years the buildings at the Fairgrounds have had functions in them which alcohol has been consumed. There has not been any major objections that we can document over that time, and in fact, we can not document directly related to those buildings being used in which aiconoi was servea in tnem, that would be consider a me or should not be consumed t not document the date, but changed in the City of Par the consumption of alcohol ordinance, the City Attorne, and a number of occasion! consumption of alcohol, he years ago to say wait a min we do wish to consume alcol because that ordinance does requested the Council's opir in February in which we r feeling that the point tha the Fairground inside those we can not aocument any spec1T1c inciaent-s jor nature on whether or not alcohol should ere. The City Attorney is not sure, he did a number of years ago some ordinances were is. They were changed to further restrict vithin the City, and when they changed that , even though it has been a number of year, , the buildings have been used for the interpreted that ordinance passed several ite, we went too far with that ordinance, if of inside the buildings at the Fairgrounds restrict it. He is the staff member that ion. When the item came before the Council asked the ordinance, it was the Council's for fifty years we had allowed events at buildings, fund raisers or private parties Page 2 Alcohol on Public Property Committee 5/13/92 in which alcohol was consumed, and again, without a major objection, so the City Council at that point chose to pass an ordinance. That ordinance made exceptions for only the buildings on the Fairgrounds, it did not address the Civic Center, it did not address outside the Fairgrounds, on the Fairgrounds itself, it did not allow for the consumption of alcohol during the fair, rodeo, or any other occasion, in fact it was very restrictive, which was what the Council wanted, we wanted an ordinance that reflected what we had been doing for fifty years, and it was restrictive to that point, it allowed the consumption of alcohol inside the building on the Fairgrounds after certain other events had taken place, and that was permission through the State, and that all other ordinance had been complied with. Once that Ordinance was passed, there was a group of people that signed a petition that under the Charter of the City of Paris required the following action to be taken, the Council with the proper filing of this petition, the Council had only two options, call a City Election on that ordinance, or to rescind the ordinance. Chairman Bell stated that the public hearing tonight will be not to determine on any thing else other than that ordinance, and that would be the consumption of alcohol on the Fairgrounds in those buildings, it will be the Council's to determine if we should go through with that election which would be a great expense to the City. Chairman Bell emphasized the fact that the public hearing does not address any other buildings, further sites, alcohol on the Fairgrounds during the Fair, and these things should not be addressed by you the public tonight, we need to decide this specific ordinance, that was what was voted on, that would be what an election would be called on if an election would be held, so that is the issue we would restrict you remarks to tonight. Chairman Bell read the rules to the audience, and a copy of which is attached hereto as exhibit A, and at this point, Chairman Bell declared the public hearing open, stating that no one had registered for the consumption of alcohol on the Fairgrounds. Lane Park of the First Baptist Church, came forward stating that he would like to address the fact that for the past fifty years this has taken place without incident or particular concern. Mr. Park said that many time we as citizens knowing that we are living in a County that has been voted dry, have taken comfort in knowing that this was not taking place, and so many times he felt that the public in general did not know of this type of alcoholic consumption on the Fairgrounds. Mr. Lane said that all of you as public servants running for office have more than you can bear, and he fully respected that. Mr. Park said he was speaking as an individual, not as a minister, he was not speaking of the biblical teaching for or against the consumption of alcohol, this is not a religious issue, this is an issue having to do with the evils of alcohol. Mr. Parks said that we know that alcohol is addictive, it is dangerous, we have more materials than we can say grace over about the dangers of and evils of alcohol. If alcohol was not so dangerous there would not be laws on the books such as driving while intoxicated, and other related laws regarding consumption of alcohol and activities following. Mr. Parks asked for the consideration of this committee as they go back to the City Council Page 3 Alcohol on Public Property Committee 5/13/92 with your recommendation, as long as it is a matter on the books that we are living in a dry city, amd on City property, for those he represents tonight he urged the Committee to maintain it as such because of the evils thereof. Bill Brooks appeared before the Committee in opposition of the proposed ordinance stating he was against any creations of an opportunity for someone to consume alcoholic beverages. Mr. Brooks told of his daughter being killed by a drunk driver. Ronald Barnett appeared before the Committee stating that he is a school teacher at Chisum Elementary, 5th grade, he was opposed to alcohol at the Fairgrounds, and presented facts about anti -drugs programs that is being taught at his school. Mr. Barnett urged the Committee to follow their teaching - just say no, don't do drugs, no to say no. Donna Melton, Senior at Paris High School, was present, stating that she is a registered voter, and practiced her right to vote this year. Ms. Melton stated that she was against the sale and use of alcohol at the Fairgrounds. Ms. Melton said that media shows that drinking is socially accepted, but drugs are not, and asked the question, why is that? Alcohol is a drug, and is the drug of choice of teenagers. There are over one million teenagers with serious drinking problem. Ms. Melton requested the Committee to leave the ordinance as it is. Ken Hollowell, Minister of the Nazarene Church, appeared before the Council stating that he has worked with youth in rehabilitation centers and dealt with families torn apart because of alcohol in the past years. Mr. Hollowell told of his graduation class in high school, that there was only two of them that choose to say no to alcohol. Mr. Hollowell said he knew the legal age to drink is 21, but alcohol is available in this community to all who ask. Robert Hooten, asked the same question that was asked earlier, why all of a sudden is this just now coming out after fifty years. Mr. Hooten said he had been a resident of the City of Paris since 1968, and up until two year ago he knew nothing of anything going on on City owned property. Mr. Hooten requested the Committee to consider the input of the public hearings. David Phillips, said his wife could not be present tonight as she works for the Lamar County Drug and Alcohol Center teaching and counseling with seven young girls on Tuesday night who lives have been damaged by their parents consumption of alcohol. Mr. Phillips told of a young girl driving home from picking up hamburgers when she was hit by a drunk driver and killed instantly. Mr. Phillips pointed out the fact that when a person who has been drinking get behind the wheel of a car their judgement is impaired and people die. Chairman Bell at this time asked if there was anyone in the audience who wish to speak for alcohol at the Fairgrounds, there being none, Chairman Bell said he would grant additional time to those who wish to speak against the issue. . i RULES FOR THE PUBLIC NEARING 1. The meeting will last no more than 1 to 1.5 hours allowing 30 minutes for those in favor of allowing the serving of alcohol and allowing 30 minutes for those against the serving of alcohol. Z. Individuals speaking are limited to three minutes. Individuals representing 10 or more people will be limited to six minutes. 3. All individuals wishing to speak must sign in and will appear in the order of their names on the sign -in sheet. 4. Only residents of Paris may appear and be heard concerning this issue. 5. There will be three public hearings. An individual may only appear one time and may not appear at any of the other meetings. Only one individual may represent a family. 6. Interested parties may submit petitions limited to the topic being discussed either for permitting the serving of alcoholic beverages inside buildings at the fairgrounds as permitted by the laws of the State of Texas or against permitting the serving of alcoholic beverages inside buildings at the fairgrounds as permitted by the laws of the State of Texas. 7. All parties may submit one page summaries of their thoughts whether they speak or not and should include their desire and the explanation of their desire. 8. The City will accept written comments that are hand delivered at the hearing. Written summaries mailed in will not be accepted. Page 4 Alcohol on Public Property Committee 5/13/92 Martha Bone, Marie Larkin, Ruth Faulks, Rob Peterson, Carey Robinson, Steve Phillips, and Rev. Othoe Stegall all appeared against the issue of alcohol being sold or consumed at the fairgrounds. No one else appeared, and the public hearing was declared closed. Seven petitions were received containing 194 signatures against the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public property. JIM BELL, CHAIRMAN ATTEST: MATTIE CUNNINGHAM, CITY CLERK