by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Downtown’s last call for alcohol may be extended by two hours if a group reviewing the proposal makes that recommendation next month. That group, which has already met a handful of times, was assembled by City Council member Suzanne Jenkins just after legislation that would establish the “Downtown Entertainment Zone” was introduced on April 12.
Members of the informal committee include attorneys Bob Rhodes and Audrey Moran, The Clara White Mission’s Ju’Coby Pittman, Jacksonville Undersheriff Frank Mackesy and Jim Bailey of Bailey Publishing.
Moran, who chairs the committee, said that while she couldn’t predict what the final ruling would be, “there is an interest in having some kind of an entertainment zone downtown.”
“We’ve gotten a lot of good information at our meetings and it’s been helpful to see how other cities have handled similar issues,” she said, “but until we have recommendations from (the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce) and (Downtown Vision Inc.) it will be difficult to make a final determination either way.”
But if the group decides that extending alcohol sales downtown to 4 a.m. is good idea, Moran said some amendments would likely be made to the existing legislation before any Council members take turns debating it.
“I would expect some kind of modifications would be made with respect to the size of the entertainment zone,” she said. “Those boundaries could either be expanded or reduced based upon the additional feedback we receive.”
Currently the proposed zone would span from the U.S. 95 off-ramp near the Osborn Center up Bay Street to A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and out to 1st Street. Portions of the Southbank up to Prudential Drive would also be included.
Dylan Reingold, an attorney in the General Counsel’s Office who has been working with the committee, said another possible amendment could mandate that businesses interested in staying open later must acquire additional permits.
“I’m going to have to do a bit more research,” Reingold said, “but what would likely happen is that businesses who want to serve until 4 a.m. might be asked to pay a fee or even be subjected to a background check.”
Such provisions, he said, would give the City more control in the makeup of the entertainment zone.
“It’s just an idea the committee had, but that would be the goal,” Reingold said.
The downtown entertainment committee will hold their final meeting at 8:30 a.m. June 6 at City Hall.