No Decisions On Alcohol Ordinance
Community Meeting Planned For November 24

November 17, 2008
A large crowd was on hand for the Arab City Council meeting Monday night expecting to hear discussions relating to changes in the ordinance governing alcohol sales in the City of Arab.  Changes to the ordinance were discussed briefly in the thirty minute work session prior to the regular council meeting but no decisions were made regarding the ordinance. 

Assistant Arab City Attorney Rodney Edmondson shared a "marked up" version of the current ordinance with the proposed changes inserted in red print with council members.  Edmondson said most of the changes involved clarifying definitions and wording within the ordinance and are need to head off problems that other cities have experienced.   The changes will be discussed in more detail at the next council meeting scheduled for December 1.

Arab Mayor Gary Beam announced a community meeting with Alabama Alcohol and Beverage Control officials will be held next Monday at 7 p.m. in the Senior Center.  The meeting is open to all Arab citizens and businesses who would like to ask questions regarding the sale of alcohol.

Most of the discussion regarding the changes centered around the definition of a "lounge" and the required distances from churches, schools, day cares and residences.  The section dealing with lounges sets the minimum distance at 500 feet and includes the residential reference.

Councilmen Johnny Hart and Ronny Shumate led most of the discussion regarding the section dealing with the lounge section.  Both said that it would be almost impossible for most businesses to meet the requirements due to the close proximity of business districts and residential areas.  Edmondson said the new section was intended to make the Arab ordinance define a lounge the same way that the state law does.  According to Edmondson the distance and residential requirements are specific to Arab and are not included in the State law.  Edmondson said that the City can adopt rules more restrictive than the State but can not adopt rules less restrictive than the State.

Discussion was still ongoing when the allotted time for the work session expired.  The council then moved to the regular meeting and will take up the ordinance at the next meeting.  Councilman Ronny Shumate suggested allowing more time at the next meeting.

The proposed by-laws governing the Alcohol License Review Committee were not discussed and will be on the next meeting agenda.

The council did appoint the citizen member of the committee during the regular meeting.  Two people were nominated for the position. Councilman Brian Bishop nominated Dewayne Hollaway and Councilman Chris McNeese nominated Susan Varano.  Hollaway was appointed to the position on a 4-1 vote.  Other members of the committee will include the Arab Police Chief Mike Blackwood, Arab Fire Chief Ricky Phillips, Arab Building Inspector Sammy Waldrop, Arab City Clerk Tony Willis, council president pro tem Ronny Shumate, and Mayor Beam or his designate.