Moline amends park rules to allow nonprofits to serve alcohol; council narrows exception to exclude Riverside and Green Valley pools

The Moline City Council on Sept. 9 approved an amendment to the city code that lets nonprofit organizations apply for a park special‑use permit and a Class 1 nonprofit special event license to possess and serve alcoholic beverages at city parks, while explicitly excluding Riverside and Green Valley pool facilities. The ordinance change amends Chapter 23, Article 2 (operations of park and recreational facilities) to repeal and replace subsection 7 so that nonprofit events may serve alcohol in compliance with Section 43‑3309 (Class 1 special event nonprofit license) and after approval by the Park Board.

City staff described the change as an update to let nonprofits that already run events in city parks apply for the same special‑event alcohol permissions used for other public events, such as the Belgian Fest. “This is an update to allow nonprofits through the special use application to have alcohol in the parks,” staff said, noting applicants must secure the park board’s special‑use approval and obtain the nonprofit license through the city clerk’s office.

Council members debated whether the ordinance language left pools open to park‑board discretion. Councilmember concerns prompted an amendment to add the pools by name: council moved to insert “Riverside” after “Green Valley,” making the exclusion explicit in the ordinance. City staff said the park board currently would not allow events with alcohol at pool facilities, but the plain wording of the ordinance could allow it in the future; the amendment was framed as a “belt and suspenders” measure to ensure the pools remain excluded regardless of future park board policy changes.

Council also clarified that the ordinance as written applies only to parks and general park property; it does not change private rentals at Green Valley where alcohol is already permitted under existing rental rules. The council approved the ordinance as amended; the motion to amend and the ordinance then passed in voice vote.

Discussion-only items included questions about whether allowing alcohol for nonprofits would create an inequity compared with private groups, and confirmation that the policy mirrors existing licensing for public events. Staff noted events require both the city license and park‑board approval; both approvals would be prerequisites to serving alcohol at a park event.

The ordinance amends the parks code to permit nonprofit special events with alcohol under a defined approval process, while the council’s amendment makes clear the city’s two pool facilities are prohibited locations for such events.