Non-Profit makes Gains on Alcohol Ordinance

The Blue Ridge City Council this week moved closer to amending the city ordinance pertaining to alcohol. Although still in its infancy, the amendment will include non-profit organizations. The need to update the rule was initiated a few months ago by Blue Ridge Community Theatre Board President Joe Webb.

According to the working version of the ordinance and the discussion at Tuesday’s workshop, the ordinance includes community theatres and art galleries. Under the theatre section, the amendment states that

“the revenues derived from the sale of alcoholic beverages (should) not be a substantial portion of the gross revenue of the non-profit community theatre when compared to all sources of gross revenue.”

Present at the workshop, Webb explained that drinks (beer and wine only) are served during intermission and performances are only on weekends.

The one component missing from the amendment is the cost of the license, which based on the discussion, seemed to be negotiable. Licensing Clerk April Grizzell mentioned a possible price of $1000 for beer and $1000 for wine. Webb said he would like to see those prices cut in half, $500 for each. Local business owner Lynda Thompson chimed in that she thought $1000 per license may prove unaffordable for non-profit organizations. Underscoring Thompson point, Webb added,

“We are a non-profit, helping with tourism and economic development.”

Council agreed to the price and said they would have City Attorney David Syfan make the changes.

The amendment requires two public readings before approval. As such, Council expects to have the first reading at next month’s meeting and possibly the second during a called meeting. However, no date was established for the called meeting.

During Tuesday’s workshop, the city council also discussed revisiting another ordinance, the sign ordinance. According to Mayor Donna Whitener, the last sign ordinance was passed in 1979. As such, Council felt it was time for an update. Although the city has a proposed update, Mayor Whitener said she wanted to hold a public hearing before approving the ordinance, because it involves so many people, she said. Whitener, however, did indicate when the hearing would be held.