Roswell council approves ordinance allowing wine at select special event facilities

The Roswell City Council unanimously approved an ordinance June 9 amending Chapter 3 of the city code to permit wine to be brought into certain special event facilities under specified conditions.

Council member Lee Hills, describing a forthcoming cooking school in the Eastside/East Village, said the change is intended to allow participants to bring wine to enjoy with their meals and to receive pairing guidance from instructors. "This is for a cooking school ... allowing folks that are participating in the cooking class to be able to bring a bottle of wine in so that they can enjoy that with their meal," Hills said.

Assistant City Attorney Joe Cusack read the ordinance as an amendment to Chapter 3, Article 7, Section 7 of the Code of Ordinances. City Clerk Nancy Long presented the reading. Hills moved to approve the reading of the ordinance; Council member David Johnson seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

The change was characterized by council members as a targeted update to allow a specific type of business operation rather than a broad relaxation of alcohol rules. Council members did not identify additional regulatory changes such as hours of service or sales licensing in the hearing; the approved text replaces the cited section of the city code and is incorporated by reference into the ordinance.

No resident speakers opposed the amendment during the item, and council did not direct further study or amendments at the meeting. The ordinance was approved at the reading on a unanimous vote and will be incorporated into the city code as described during the reading.

The council vote was recorded as unanimous, with five votes in favor and no votes against. Alan Sells was noted as absent from the meeting.