Alcohol sales at White Auditorium were officially approved by Emporia City Commissioners during their action session Wednesday night.
The ordinance, which was unanimously approved only allows the sale, consumption, possession or distribution of cereal and malt liquor beverages in portions of White Auditorium or its surrounding grounds which are being utilized by an event at the time of the event. The ordinance also carries several criteria which must be met.
This includes organizers of said events having a written agreement with the city and that any vendor providing the alcohol is a city-approved vendor.
City Commissioner Rob Gilligan believes the new ordinance will now open up White Auditorium to a whole new list of potential future events.
Gilligan adds, however, it may take time for those events to begin lining up at a steady pace due to the fact that White Auditorium has never allowed sales on the grounds in the past. The ordinance will officially go into effect on January 1st.
As of now the new policy will have no effect on events such as ESU basketball games or other university athletic events. Also, Patrons attending events at White Auditorium will still not be permitted to bring their own alcohol to White Auditorium.
Also during the meeting Commissioners approved a second ordinance which will expand the retail sale of alcohol in Emporia to some specific holidays.
Following approval of Sunday alcohol sales earlier this year, the commission has now approved sales to take place on Independence, Memorial and Labor Days within the city limits.
Gilligan says in the past, the sale of alcohol by local retailers was prohibited on any holidays. As this was not the case for commercial supermarkets and gas station chains, Gilligan believes this will lend a sense of fairness to local store owners.
Holiday sales will go into effect on Memorial Day 2019.
In other business commissioners approved a request of a bid for a wheelchair lift at White Auditorium, appointed members to the Convention and Visitors Advisory Board and an appointee to the Emporia Enterprises Board. The 2019 City Legislative Policy and Joint Legislative statement were also approved as well as the 2019 rate schedule for the Emporia Municipal Golf Course.
The Emporia City Commission will not meet next week to accommodate for travel during the holidays.
