Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

ORDINANCE

NO.



An ordinance amending the Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance for Columbus,

Georgia so as to revise certain language, amend definitions; and for other

purposes.



---------------------



THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY ORDAINS:



SECTION 1.



Chapter 3 of the Columbus Code is hereby amended by deleting the

following provisions and adding new provisions with new language underlined as

follows:



Sec. 3-1. Definitions.



Section 3-1(f)(4)



(4) Which has no adult entertainment as described in section 3-1(p) of this

Code;



Explanation of Revisions:

Section 3-1(f)(4) to be revised to identify the correct subsection that defines

adult oriented establishment.

Section 3-1(p) defines ?adult oriented establishment?; section 3-1(q) defines

?employee?.



Section 3-1(h)



(h) Private Club: Any nonprofit association organized under the laws of this

state which:



Explanation of Revisions:

Section 3-1(h) to be revised to be more specific in identifying the terminology

of a non-profit organization to read ?private club? rather than ?club? as to

not confuse the terminology as a nightclub.



Section 3-1(n)



(n) Multi-purpose theater: Any theater facility located within a UPT zone

with a minimum seating capacity of 750 persons which offers live entertainment,

plays, musicals, dinner theater or leases space for birthday parties, wedding

receptions or similar events whether such events are catered by a private

catering service or by the licensee; provided, however, that the 600-foot

prohibition contained in section 3-5(d) shall not apply to a multi-purpose

theater licensee.



Explanation of Revisions:

Section 3-1(n) revised to reflect current zoning classifications in the (UDO)

Unified Development Ordinance. The former zoning district was C-1, the new

zoning district for C-1 is UPT.

Section 3-1(cc)



(cc) Importer: Any person who imports an alcoholic beverage into this state

from a foreign country and sells the alcoholic beverage to another importer,

broker, or wholesaler and who maintains a stock of the alcoholic beverage.





Explanation of Revisions:

Section 3-1(cc) to be revised to correct typographical error in the spelling of

Importer.

Sec. 3-5. Prohibited locations.

Section 3-5(a)



(a) It shall be unlawful to issue off-premises alcoholic beverage licenses

within 200 feet of the following locations, and on-premises alcoholic beverage

licenses within 300 feet of the following locations: Girls' clubs, boys' clubs,

Y.M.C.A.'s, funeral chapels, public recreational center as defined herein;

areas zoned SFR1, SFR2, SFR3, SFR4, RMF1, RMF2 and RMH; private residences,

whether such residences be single-family, duplexes or apartments; but the

provisions hereof concerning private residences and areas zoned SFR1, SFR2,

SFR3, SFR4, RMF1, RMF2 and RMH shall not apply to a restaurant or a hotel

located within an area zoned H and shall not apply where a majority of the

private residences within the prohibited distance are within an area zoned UPT,

NC, GC, RO, LMI or HMI or where a majority of the land within the prohibited

distance is zoned UPT, NC, GC, RO, LMI or HMI, and where the applicant is a

private club or the applicant's business is a hotel-motel or a restaurant or

where an off-premises alcoholic beverages license is to be issued. Owner and/or

applicant managers and employees shall be responsible for keeping a clean,

orderly place, and no patrons shall be allowed to stand, sit, mingle or

assemble outside the building in parking lots or automobiles while drinking

alcoholic beverages or causing a disturbance of any kind. For purposes of this

Chapter, ?public recreation center? means a property or building, owned by the

city or other governmental agency, open to the general public for educational

or recreational purposes, and may include swimming pools, playgrounds, tennis

courts, activity buildings, or similar uses.



Explanation of Revisions:

Section 3-5(a) revised to reflect current zoning classifications in the UDO

(Uniformed Development Ordinance) and correct the terminology of club to

private club.

City Playground to be revised to be more specific in identifying public

recreational facilities and areas.

Section 3-5(c)



(c) It shall be unlawful to issue liquor and mixed drinks beverage licenses

within 600 feet and to issue wine and malt beverage licenses within 300 feet of

the grounds of any community teen center or any school or school playground,

including church nursery schools, church day care centers and adjoining

playgrounds; provided, however, where the applicant's business is a hotel or

motel or a restaurant and the license applied for by such applicant for such

business is for retail sale for consumption on the premises only, the

prohibited distance for mixed drinks beverage licenses shall be 335 feet. The

term school does not extend to educational levels above the 12th grade.



Explanation of Revisions:

Section 3-5(c) revised to clarify what is not considered a school in this

Chapter.

Section 3-5(d)



It shall be unlawful to issue an on-premises alcoholic beverage license within

600 feet of a location already holding or which has held within the past 12

months a valid on-premises alcoholic beverage license; provided, however, that

this prohibition shall not apply if the applicant for a new license meets the

definition of a restaurant, a hotel, or a private club, as defined in section

3-1 of this chapter.

Explanation of Revisions:

Section 3-5(d) revised to correct the terminology of club to private club.



Sec. 3-7. Procedure for applying for licenses and for certifying employees.



Section 3-7(b)



(b) At the time of submitting an application, the applicant, owner(s),

stockholder(s), partners, and manager(s) shall complete and submit a form

Waiver For Police Records Check.



Explanation of Revisions:

Under the new revision, Section 3-7(b) is to be deleted in its entirety to be

replaced by a new subsection (b) to recognize the present police background

check forms that are utilized and clarify persons who have to submit police

waiver forms with alcoholic beverage applications.



Section 3-7(c)

(c) In the case of all night clubs as defined in section 3-1 (j) and all adult

oriented establishments as defined in section 3-1(p) and those bar/pubs as

defined in section 3-1(i) where their major source of income is from the sale

of alcohol, the following procedures shall be followed by owners and applicants

for licenses and employees:



Explanation of Revisions:

Section 3-7(c) to be revised to identify the correct subsection that defines

adult oriented establishment.

Section 3-1(p) defines ?adult oriented establishment?; section 3-1(q) defines

?employee?.



Sec. 3-11. Revocation.



SECTION 3-11(a)(7)



(a)(7) Forfeiting bond, pleading guilty, or pleading nolo contendere to

conducting any of the gambling activities described in Title 16, Chapter 12,

Article 2 of the Official Code of Georgia, as now or hereafter amended, upon

licensed premises.



Explanation of Revisions:

Section 3-11(a)(7) to expand the types of commercial gambling activities that

may form the basis for the revocation of an alcohol license.



Sec. 3-12. Regulations for the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on

the premises--Generally.



Section 3-12(k)



(k) The management of on-premises businesses shall maintain a copy of this

section on such premises and shall instruct each and every employee of the

terms thereof.



Explanation of Revisions:

Section 3-12(k) to be revised to correct typographical error in the spelling of

?on?.



Sec. 3-12. Regulations for the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on

the premises--Generally.



Section 3-12(l)

(l) Patios and decks shall be connected to the primary building of the licensed

premises. They shall be bordered by a fence or enclosure no less than 3 feet

high with access gained only through the interior area of the primary

building. Nothing contained herein shall be read to limit compliance with the

Fire Code.



Explanation of Addition:

New Section 3-12(l) establishes guidelines on the use of outside areas deemed a

patio or deck of a licensed establishment.



``Sec. 3-20. Administrative rules.



New Sections 3-20(c) and (d)

At any time, any agent of the City may enter upon the licensed premises covered

under this Chapter for the purpose of inspecting the premises, books and

records, and supplies relating to the manufacture, transportation,

distribution, sale, storage, or possession of alcoholic beverages for

compliance with City and State law.



(d) It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, partnership or other

legal entity to possess, sell, or possess for the purpose of sale at any

business location or transport for the purpose of sale, any alcoholic beverage

where the person does not have a valid alcoholic beverage license. Any person

who violates this or any other provision of this chapter shall upon conviction

be punished as set forth in section 1-8 of this Code, and each day's failure of

compliance with any such provision shall constitute a separate violation.



Explanation of Addition:

Section 3-20(c) allows any agent of the City to randomly inspect an

establishment that has an alcoholic beverage license for compliance.

Section 3-20(d) establishes grounds for penalizing anyone operating without a

valid alcoholic beverage license.



SECTION 2.



All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are

hereby repealed.



-------------------











Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the

24th day of February, 2009 introduced a second time at a regular meeting of

said Council held on the ______ day of ________, 2009, and adopted at said

meeting by the affirmative vote of ________ members of said Council.



Councilor Allen voting____________.

Councilor Anthony voting__________.

Councilor Baker voting____________.

Councilor Barnes voting___________.

Councilor Davis voting____________.

Councilor Henderson voting________.

Councilor Hunter voting___________.

Councilor McDaniel voting_________.

Councilor Pugh voting_____________.

Councilor Woodson voting__________.





______________________________ ______________________________

TINY B. WASHINGTON, CLERK JIM WETHERINGTON, MAYOR



Attachments


No attachments for this document.

Back to List