City staff described a request from the Merit Center coordinator, Patty Hogue, to allow classes or events at the Merit Center that would include alcohol, such as a “wine and canvas” event, and council discussed possible restrictions and how such events would be permitted.

Jeremy (identified in the transcript as a department speaker) told the council Patty Hogue asked whether the city would allow a class involving alcohol and said the organizer would need an appropriate license or temporary permit to serve alcohol. “Anyone who would be either providing or selling any kind of alcoholic beverage would need to have either a temporary permit or a catering license that qualifies them to serve,” Jeremy said.

Councilmembers asked practical questions about timing, security, daycare hours and whether events would be limited to a single room rather than the whole facility. One councilmember suggested limiting alcohol events to after-hours, specifically after on-site daycare services close. Council consensus was to have the Merit Center board and staff develop a proposal with details about timing, security, tenant notification and licensing and bring that proposal back to council for consideration.

Why it matters: Allowing alcohol at Merit Center events could expand programming and help draw new users to the facility, but council members raised concerns about safety, interaction with daycare programs, rental logistics and building security. The council did not take a formal vote; the meeting record shows direction to staff and the Merit Center board to draft rules and return with a proposal.

Ending: Councilmembers asked staff to return with a written proposal from the Merit Center that lays out proposed hours, location within the facility, licensing requirements, tenant notification and cleaning/security arrangements before any policy change is approved.