Ocala seeks statutory exemption for alcohol sales downtown during events

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Posted October 7, 2021 | By Jennifer Hunt Murty
jennifer@ocalagazette.com

The Ocala City Council agreed unanimously on Tuesday, Oct. 5, to submit to the Marion County Legislative Delegation a proposed bill that would loosen restrictions for licensed establishments to sell alcohol during downtown events.

The bill addresses only alcohol sales inside a specific area defined as the Downtown Ocala Event Zone. The zone runs from the downtown farmer’s market along the Osceola Trak that connects Citizens’ Circle to the rest of the downtown square area, crossing a block over the north side of Silver Springs Boulevard, with a west border along SW 2^nd Avenue.

Historically, by state law, downtown businesses have only been allowed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on their licensed premises. The law prevented event patrons from purchasing alcoholic beverages from downtown establishments and returning to an event, such as a festival with booths set up around the downtown area, for drink consumption.

On the other hand, nonprofits that held events downtown were able to pull alcohol permits from the state and city for an event that authorized them to sell drinks to patrons to consume within the event space approved by the agencies.

This type of event license only gave authority to the nonprofit hosting the event and left downtown businesses missing out on a revenue opportunity.

Some downtown merchants have complained that events can become counter-productive to their business interests when road closures cut off street parking access to their usual customers.

Under the proposed bill, licensed alcoholic beverage establishments located in the Downtown Ocala Event Zone could choose to sell alcohol during these events to patrons who could consume the beverage outside of the establishment.

Each event that would qualify for this type of special alcohol sales would require obtaining approval from the city council through a public hearing in which the event organizer identifies specific event details and which licensed establishments would be selling in that event zone.

Events approved by the council would require a police presence and all alcohol would need to be served and consumed in a special cup unique to the event.

Without the statutory exemption this bill would provide, the City of Ocala has to limit events that require street closures in order to reduce the negative financial impact on downtown businesses.

“The alcohol is going to be sold anyway, so this gives the downtown businesses the opportunity for their share of that revenue,” said Councilman Jaye Musleh.

Musleh asked what other cities had sought this type of exemption. Assistant City Manager Pete Lee cited Celebration Point in Gainesville and the City of Leesburg as having similar measures in place for events.

Councilman Ire Bethea asked Lee if the city would impose limitations on how much alcohol could be served during events. Lee explained that the same rules preventing an establishment from serving an intoxicated person would stay in place.

“The Ocala City Council’s vote last night allowed staff to bring the information forward to the Marion County Delegation. For this proposal to move forward, we must receive support from the Delegation and secure a sponsor from both the House and the Senate. Staff will formally present the proposal to the Delegation later this week,” said Ashley Dobbs, spokesperson for the city.

However, even if the bill does find support with the Marion County Delegation, it would not be heard by the House and Senate until they meet again in the Spring of 2022.