Sean C. Morgan
The City Council has referred to its Public Safety Committee a request to ban the public use of alcohol in Sweet Home.
The Public Safety Committee is already taking up a Parks Board proposal to ban the use of alcohol except by permit in city parks. The proposal may go to the council with recommendations from the Parks Board and Public Safety Committee. The Parks Board recommends use by permit only.
Linda Iljin told the council during its regular meeting on June 9 that she was interested in prohibiting the public consumption of alcohol. She approached City Manager Craig Martin to find out how to submit a petition to put the question before Sweet Home voters.
He said he told her that the council was already looking at a related matter and suggested that she approach the council.
If the council didn’t do anything with it, she said, she still has time to gather signatures and qualify the issue for the November ballot.
Iljin said it was a matter of livability, and people would love prohibiting public consumption of alcohol.
It’s a basic problem to overcome, and cities have overcome the problem in different ways, she said. “I believe all of you together are able to accomplish that.”
About a year ago, Martin said, the city did explore the idea.
The issue is similar to the marijuana issues the council has been wrestling with, Martin said. “To my knowledge, it hasn’t been challenged.”
Some cities restrict alcohol use in any public space, Martin said. Some cities allow public consumption except in parks, business areas or other areas where they have had problems.
Police Chief Jeff Lynn said he doesn’t think cities are allowed to pass laws against public intoxication.
But police can take enforcement action against behavior committed while intoxicated, Lynn said.
Mayor Jim Gourley asked Martin if the council could get some more examples of regulations for public consumption of alcohol, and he assigned the question to the Public Safety Committee.
Present at the meeting were councilors Marybeth Angulo, Ryan Underwood, Greg Mahler, Gourley, Bruce Hobbs, Dave Trask and Jeff Goodwin.