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Council discusses adding alcohol service at Venue 1921; staff to draft ordinance and vendor rules
Summary
City staff briefed council on steps needed to allow alcohol service at the new Venue 1921 at East Ridge, including a proposed ordinance, Tennessee ABC requirements, vendor qualifications and recommended processes for approved bartenders and caterers.
City staff told the East Ridge City Council on Sept. 11 they will draft an ordinance to permit alcohol service at Venue 1921 at East Ridge and return to council for review. Venue 1921 is the multipurpose facility at Camp Jordan Park being completed behind City Hall.
Venue manager Jennifer Collins briefed the council on research into licensing and operational needs for weddings, receptions and private events. She said the city’s current ordinances do not include Venue 1921 and that the council will need to add the new facility to the municipal code to allow wine and spirits there under the rules the council approves.
Collins said she and city staff have been working with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission on requirements and have prepared a draft approach that would require renters to use a list of approved bartenders or licensed firms and provide certificates of insurance naming the city as an additional insured. She told the council a cash bar would require a specific permit from the TBAC and that donations or other kinds of beverage service also have permit implications that must be tracked.
City clerk Jennifer Qualls and Collins said the city has issued two RFQs: one to identify approved bartender/licensed firms and another to identify recommended caterers; responses will be opened in October and staff plans to present recommended language and vendor lists after council direction. Council members asked whether the city or the renter would handle service; staff said the typical approach is to require renters to contract with approved, insured vendors and that the venue manager would verify licensing and insurance prior to events.
Why it matters: Allowing alcohol service is a revenue and booking-driver for event venues, but it also imposes regulatory and insurance requirements the city must manage. The draft ordinance and RFQ process are intended to reduce city liability and ensure compliance with state law.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a draft ordinance and supporting vendor/insurance procedures and return to council (meeting schedule discussed for October).
