Subject:
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Authority to advertise a public hearing to be held on March 7, 2017 regarding a proposed ordinance amending Section 6-29 of the County Code relating to the closing hours of business establishments dealing in alcoholic beverages.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Authorize a public hearing to be held on March 7, 2017, regarding a proposed ordinance amending Section 6-29 of the Pinellas County Code relating to the closing hours of business establishments in Pinellas County dealing in alcoholic beverages.
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Strategic Plan:
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
Summary:
The proposed ordinance will modify the hours of alcohol sales in County Code, so that sales may start at 8 a.m. across all days of the week. Currently, sales start at 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The change would apply countywide to package sales as well as bars and restaurants.
Background Information:
The Pinellas County Mayors’ Council began discussing changes to the County’s “Blue Laws” regarding alcohol sales in 2016. After multiple discussions and consultation with the Sheriff, they voted in October of 2016 to support changes to the alcohol sales code with a provision to allow municipalities to have a more restrictive code. The proposed ordinances would allow the municipalities to preserve a more restrictive code that they already have and would not pre-empt their authority to adopt a more restrictive code in the future.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Mary Scott Hardwick, Intergovernmental Liaison, Office of the County Administrator
Partners:
Municipalities
Pinellas County Sheriff
Local Area Chambers of Commerce (Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Beaches)
Attachments:
Ordinance
Mayors’ Council Letter