Monterey Special Event Alcohol Ordinance Nearing July Reading

Monterey will have its first reading of an ordinance that allows special event alcohol consumption at its July 12th Board of Aldermen meeting.

Members of the board and City Attorney Will Mullins reviewed the proposed draft in a work session Monday. Mullins said the ordinance was modeled after Sparta’s with some language changes.

“What we wanted to add to Sparta’s was we wanted to make sure if we drank in the city at a special event, that the special event drinking was limited to that special event zone,” Mullins said.

Mullins said in order to host an event, a fee and deposit must be paid. Mullins said the special event zone would then be approved by the town’s Beer Board.

“The fee is nonrefundable and the deposit is discretionary,” Mullins said. “You can only get a permit every 29 days. So, the Beer Board is not permitted to issue a permit to a special event if they are holding a license or applied for a license in the last 29 days.”

Mullins said proof of private insurance also must be shown at least 10 days before the event date. If a vendor had alcohol above 8 percent, Mullins said a liquor license would be required.

All special event permits allowing alcohol have to be approved by the town’s Beer Board.