Council OK’s ordinances for alcohol in parks with permit

A long-standing rule in Wickliffe was recently changed.

City Council approved three ordinances that will ultimately permit alcohol in city parks under a special event permit.

The previous ordinances prohibited the sale and consumption of any alcoholic beverages.

Although the majority of council agreed that lifting this ban would be good for the city, one council member opposed the decision.

“I think it’s a mistake to allow alcohol in the city’s parks,” Councilman Matthew Jaworski said at the most recent meeting.

Jaworski voted “no” to amend chapter 951.08 that currently prohibits the sale and possession of “intoxicating liquor.”

While there was no additional discussion during the third reading, the Legislation and Welfare Committee reviewed it before presenting it to council.

Councilwoman Maria Salotto summarized the meeting and said the group talked about adding a special event permit with stipulations involving security and insurance needed to allow alcohol in parks.

Salotto said the following would be a part of the criteria to obtain a special events permit:

• Only nonprofit organizations

• Any event would require appropriate police presence

• Separate insurance for the event must be obtained

• Permit would have to be procured from the building department

• This would apply after some discussion to all parks in the city

Salotto said that some nonprofits, including Wickliffe Forever, have expressed interest in holding events in parks that include alcohol.

The legislation was introduced by Law Director Scott Zele in late May.

After three readings, all three ordinances were passed by council.