A picnic with a bottle of wine in the hamper is a possibility in Orillia parks this summer.
Council decided to have staff deliver a report with information about possibly changing the municipal alcohol policy to allow alcoholic beverages at city-owned parks. The status quo does not allow alcoholic beverages in public parks unless there is an event with a special occasion permit.
Coun. Whitney Smith supports allowing alcohol in public parks as she says it's happening anyway.
"Realistically, you see people with YETIs and you know there is more than water in there," Smith said.
Immediately, Mayor Don McIsaac said, "No," but added he is in support of the move as long as it's done responsibly.
"I think somebody having a beer or a glass of wine with a hamburger is not a huge problem," he said.
Coun. Luke Leatherdale said Toronto tried it last summer and it proved successful.
"I don't think it's that big of a deal and it gives people freedom," he said.
However, not all on council are in support of that type of change.
"I think this is wrong," said Coun. Ralph Cipolla. "We just had the OPP report ... 459 impaired driving offences here, so I think it wouldn't be wise for us to support a motion to allow the public to sit at a bench and drink. I will not support consumption in public parks."
The municipal alcohol policy consists of a range of measures designed to prevent alcohol-related problems and to increase the enjoyment of those who use the facilities and parks who do not drink alcohol or drink moderately within a licensed area, reads the policy.
Cipolla added allowing alcohol consumption "creates a safety hazard for people."
Coun. Jay Fallis wanted to know what prompted staff to bring this issue to council.
Amanpreet Singh Sidhu, deputy CAO and city solicitor, said it came out of the Toronto experience.
"Staff wanted to see if this was something Orillia would like to experience or not," he said.
Sidhu said situations like what Cipolla detailed are controlled by the Criminal Code.
"There is nothing that staff would recommend that would be in breach of rules and regulations," he said.
In addition, Sidhu knows people are currently drinking in parks.
"We know that this policy is being breached," he said.
He explained the question before council members is whether they want more information about new possibilities or to keep the status quo.
The motion was carried.
Terriers, Kings requesting expanded area for alcohol sales
Council is also having staff prepare a report that could open more space at Orillia facilities such as Rotary Place to allow for alcohol sales.
The Orillia Terriers Jr. C hockey and Orillia Kings Jr. B lacrosse teams have requested expanding the licensed area from the meeting room to also include the standing-room area on the second level of Rotary Place overlooking the rink so spectators can have a drink while watching games. Currently, alcohol is only allowed in the meeting room on the blue side of the twin-pad arena in west Orillia.
"If approved, this would provide the Jr. C Terriers and Jr. B Kings organizations with the opportunity to extend their booster club sales during game play as patrons would be able to watch the game while in the booster club," reads a staff report.
All rules and regulations associated with provincial and federal statutes, the Liquor Licence Act and regulations of Ontario would remain in effect, the report states.
The motion for a report on the topic was carried by council.
