By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Efforts by an events promoter to sell Williston City Council members on the idea of allowing alcoholic beverages at festivals or concerts in city parks won no support Tuesday night.
Ovidio Santiago of Sarasota County and his business partner, Bill Foster of Williston were turned down when they asked for an exception to a city ordinance prohibiting alcoholic beverages in city parks.
Police Chief Mike Rolls said city parks are for families. City Manager Terry Bovaird, the former deputy police chief, agreed with Rolls.
City Attorney Kiersten Ballou said the ordinance would have to be changed to allow sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages in any city recreation park or on city property but making an exception for one company wouldn’t work.
Councilman Jerry Robinson put an end to the discussion.
“I’m sorry guys, I don’t see us changing the ordinance,” said Robinson, ending the discussion.
Foster and Santiago, who operate Premier Events, the company that supplied fireworks and entertainment for the 4th of July Celebration this year and sponsored the Fiesta Event, Williston Spring Fest, and the Bacon Fest said the sale of alcohol would help the company meet rising expenses.
“We want to invest here but we need to somehow create a way to cover some of our expenses. Our insurance costs are going up, and entertainment is getting very costly,” Santiago said. He said they have found it difficult to obtain local sponsorship dollars to put on events. Santiago said he and Foster have 35 years of experience in promoting events. He said they would be capable of sponsoring a country music concert or a professional MMA fight. Selling alcohol would help the company’s bottom line.
Santiago said the idea would be to hold the events on city property including Heritage Park. He promised increased security and they would have proper insurance if the city would allow alcohol sales.
“We just want an exception to the ordinance,” he said.
City Council President Debra Jones ruled out the possibility of giving Premier Events the exclusive right to sell alcohol at company-sponsored events. She said that could never happen.
City Utilities Supervisor Donald Barber said utilities crews always work during special events to keep an eye on things and clean up the parks afterward. He said city police always provide security at the events. He wanted to hear Rolls’ point of view.
Rolls didn’t think city parks were made for alcohol consumption.
“It is my opinion a park is a park that is designed for families to go in and enjoy themselves, not for alcoholic beverages,” Rolls said. “If that’s clear enough, that’s my opinion.”
Bovaird said staff would be willing to prepare a revised ordinance if that was the council’s desire, but he wanted to get a sense of where the council stood on allowing alcoholic beverages to be consumed at city parks before undertaking the task.
“Is this something the city council is in favor of because it does take a lot of work and time to put this together and a lot of staff hours,” he said. “If there is no desire to have this in our city parks, then I would prefer not to have to do it. Obviously, I will do the work of the city council whatever you want me to do, I will be happy to do it. I do have my personal opinions. I am with the chief.”
Councilman Michael Cox remembered Santiago saying he and Foster have sponsored events all over the state. He wondered how they would control how much people drank. Santiago said they have ways to monitor drinking.
“We have security there on staff and we also have volunteers that are monitoring the bar station serving drinks and they cut people off,” Santiago responded.
Rolls said Cox asked a great question.
“We all know with alcohol there’s problems,” he said. “Currently with the events you’re sponsoring, you’re not serving alcohol and we’re having to have one officer there now,” Rolls said. “If you’re serving alcohol there’s going to be an increase in law enforcement. With that being said, the city only has so much manpower to address this type of situation.”
“We’ll get the Levy County sheriffs out there,” Santiago responded.
“No, you won’t,” said Rolls.
Rolls indicated he was finished talking.
Robinson wrapped up the discussion by leaning forward and looking straight at Santiago, saying he didn’t think the council was going to approve a change in the ordinance prohibiting alcohol on city property.
No one on the council challenged Robinson’s comment.
————————
City of Williston Regular Meeting July 18, 2023; Posted July 20, 2023
