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Umatilla council weighs permit process to allow alcohol at park events; city attorney and police chief urge phased approach
Summary
Councilors discussed allowing alcohol at select park events through an administrative special-use permit. City Attorney Joanna Lions Antley emphasized insurance and indemnification requirements, and the Police Chief recommended starting with event permits and monitoring before broader policy changes.
City staff asked the Umatilla City Council to consider changing the city’s parks alcohol policy to allow consumption at permitted events, while keeping a general prohibition at other times.
Staff said the proposed approach would retain an overall ban on open containers and public intoxication but allow exceptions through a special-use permit approved by the city manager or designee. The proposal is modeled on processes used in other Oregon jurisdictions and would require permit conditions such as insurance and indemnification.
City Attorney Joanna Lions Antley told the council that insurance is typically required to back up indemnification clauses: "During a permit process... we require the insurance to back that up," she said, noting that enforcement without insurance can be difficult.
The Police Chief (who did not give a name in the transcript) said he did not expect permitting events to add undue strain and recommended a cautious, phased approach: begin with permits for specific events, educate the public, and evaluate before expanding to other park areas such as the marina beach.
Councilors expressed general support for starting with a permitting process and asked staff to draft an ordinance and bring back analysis and comparisons ahead of a public hearing. No ordinance vote was taken at this meeting.
