Longview council approves new alcohol rules for parks; requires library to be closed during beer-garden events

The Longview City Council on March 27 approved a revised city parks alcohol policy that expands the types of alcoholic beverages that may be served at permitted public events, sets new fencing rules keyed to beer-garden size and requires police or security on site. Council members also amended the staff proposal to require the Longview Public Library to be closed for regular business hours during beer-garden events.

The policy matters because it changes what event organizers and nonprofit partners must do to host beer gardens and similar events on city property, affects which downtown and park locations can host alcohol, and sets public-safety and insurance requirements that will affect event budgets and volunteer organizers.

Justin Brown, the city’s recreation manager, presented the staff proposal and said the update was intended to align city permits with Washington State Liquor Control Board practice and to address gaps that excluded local products such as mead and hard seltzers. “If you guys are okay with that as written, we can go that direction,” Brown said when asking council for direction on expanding allowable beverage types and the security/fencing approach.

Key points of the approved policy: - Allowed beverages: The policy as approved now allows organizers who obtain the appropriate Washington State Liquor Control Board special-occasion permit to serve…