Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Event Policy Alcohol topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Winery asks county to allow alcohol at Daffodil Festival; board says policy change would require time and review
Summary
Frank Zoll of Zoll Vineyards asked the Board of Supervisors to allow ABC‑licensed alcohol sales at Daffodil Festival events on county or adjacent property; board members said any change to longstanding practice would need advance review and possible ordinance or administrative policy work and will respond to the applicant.
Frank Zoll, owner of Zoll Vineyards, asked the Board of Supervisors to consider allowing alcohol to be served by ABC licensees at cultural events on county property, citing tourism and business growth opportunities.
Zoll said the winery has been barred from offering alcohol at the Daffodil Festival when it occurs on county or state property and asked supervisors to "consider looking at allowing alcohol to be served by ABC licensees, for events specifically like cultural events like the Daffodil Festival on town property." He contrasted farm‑winery sampling privileges at farmer’s markets with restrictions placed on beer gardens and said permitting changes could create more opportunities for local businesses.
The nut graf: supervisors acknowledged the request but told Zoll any change to the Daffodil Festival’s longstanding practice — the county administrator has previously restricted alcohol at that event because parts occur on county and state property — could not be accomplished in time for the current year and would require formal consideration, including possible ordinance changes or administrative policy adjustments and coordination with event organizers.
County staff and supervisors noted vendor application timelines typically open in September–October for selections in January, so policy decisions for the next festival would need to be made well before the event. Supervisors discussed options including partnering with nearby private property owners or local organizations (for example, the fire department or a chamber event) to host a controlled beer/wine garden that is not on county park property as a near‑term workaround.
Board counsel and staff advised that any change to allow alcohol on county parks or property would require careful drafting and public review. The board directed staff to draft a response to Zoll and to consider the issue more broadly, including whether to study an ordinance amendment for parks or other county properties.
No formal policy change was made at the meeting.
