City hall has updated its alcohol use events policy after city council recently allowed craft vendors to sell adult beverages during community farmers’ markets.
The parks and recreation department believes the policy must be updated to clearly outline the process for municipal approval of alcohol sales permits for off-site consumption and sales in vendor market settings for sealed alcoholic containers.
“With the popularity of craft vendors on the rise, administration has received two special occasion permits for vendor alcohol sales for off-site consumption from the Moose Jaw Homegrown Farmer’s Market and Wakamow Valley Authority Farmer’s Market,” a council report said.
“The updated alcohol use event policy includes language to ensure processes and insurance requirements are in place for these types of requests.”
The alcohol use events policy provides a method for community groups to obtain a special occasion permit from city hall, which is required to obtain a similar document from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) for selling or consuming alcohol in public, the report added.
Council last approved an updated policy in February 2020; it approved this latest policy change during a recent meeting.
Some of the changes include:
- The updated policy now reflects the City of Moose Jaw’s current format
- Definitions have been added for alcohol-use events and vendor-only events to help the department and organizers during the application and permit approval processes; the former would require a special occasion sale permit for sale or consumption in certain areas, while the latter would require a permit to sell alcohol in a sealed container, in an approved market setting and not to be consumed on-site
- Langdon Crescent and Kiwanis River Park are now eligible city parks and venues that the department allows for alcohol use since these are where the farmers’ markets are located
- Approval timelines for discretionary use requests have been updated to respond to requests promptly — within 10 ten days — that provides better customer service
- Language in the fire safety bylaw and noise bylaw has been changed to ensure organizations are fully responsible for complying with the bylaws
- Condition of approval has been updated to address vendor-only sales that do not require a defined space, security or notification conditions
- Insurance requirements for vendor-only sales have been updated to require groups to have $2 million commercial general liability rather than $5 million, while host liquor liability coverage and third-party property damage due to no consumption at the event have both been removed; the booking permit would address property damage
- City hall’s legal counsel has updated indemnity language to protect the municipality from any event liabilities
The next regular council meeting is Monday, June 26.
