Columbus’ ordinance on leasing property for events with alcohol will be revised.
City attorney Jeff Turnage said Mayor Robert Smith asked him Thursday afternoon to draft a modified version of an ordinance passed during Tuesday night’s council meeting that regulates events where 100 or more people are expected to attend and alcohol will be served.
The original version mandates all property owners who lease their facilities for large gatherings with alcohol to apply for a permit and pay a fee with the application for each occasion.
Turnage said he’ll have a draft ready for the city council’s next meeting that exempts property owners of facilities that do not have a history of violence during such events, meaning they won’t have to jump through the administrative hoops.
“If you haven’t had any acts of violence, breaches of the peace, public disturbance fights, injury or death at your place in several years preceding the effective date of this new ordinance, you’ll be exempt from the requirements of it,” Turnage said, “but the first time you have (such an incident) you’ll have to comply with it for two years and remain continuously without any sort of (disturbance) and if you go two years without the event you may have your exempt status back.”
Smith said he’s requesting the modifications to what passed Tuesday night in fairness to venues that do not have track records of violent behavior.
“Places that haven’t had any problems shouldn’t be punished,” Smith said.
Owners who don’t fall under that exemption will have to provide their name, the lessee’s name, the person responsible for ensuring compliance, date and time of the event, number of people expected and a certificate of liability insurance for at least $250,000.
There must be a security guard for every 50 people at events that would not be exempt. Fire and police personnel would be able to enter the building whenever they wish to ensure safety and check IDs to make sure minors are not consuming alcohol. The event can be shut down if a party attendee is found drinking under age.
Violators would be charged with misdemeanors and fined $500 for first offenses and $1,000 for subsequent violations, plus denial of future permits.
If an application is incomplete, the owner can be denied the permit, and future permits can be denied if officials find there has been a substantial violation in the terms of the permit or if the number of people in attendance exceed how many the permit stated were expected.
The new ordinance does not apply to restaurants or bars that have liquor and beer licenses. Upon approving the ordinance Tuesday, councilmen also declared an emergency, which put the new law in effect immediately. Normally, the approved ordinance would take effect 30 days after it was passed.
Discussion of implementing new regulations surfaced after a May shooting at the Columbus Fairgrounds resulted in the death of a 21-year-old and an injury.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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