12-1 Alcohol Ordinance Workgroup

City of Tybee Island Alcohol Working Group Draft Minutes-12-1-2020 In Attendance: Shawn Gillen, Joel Fobes, Steve Kellam, Lawanna Tsoulos, Anne Delaney, Kathryn Williams, Mary McLemore, Demery Bishop, Paula Crowe, Dillon Patel, Bubba Hughes, William Mosely, Walter Hattrich, Robert Bryson Call to Order by Shawn Gillen (SG) 10:02 Bubba Hughes (BH) discussed the rules and requirements of open meetings/open records. Minutes from 11-23-2020 meeting approved unanimously with some minor adjustments. Kathryn Williams – Did not do the ‘drunk tank’ research. Jenny Orr was not at the meeting. Kathryn Williams – some liability insurance requires training. New Business 1. SG discussed the comments from the 11-23-2020 Public Zoom Meeting. 2. Liquor liability insurance (LLI) a. Kathryn Williams (KW) stated that she got a synopsis of LLC from her agent. She sent it to the group and printouts were distributed. She explained that it offers insurance against lawsuits resulting from bar customers causing bodily harm or property damage. The cost of a $1m policy is  approximately 0.3% of annual alcohol sales. She explained that this issue was an item that City Council had requested this group discuss. b. Mary McLemore (MM) asked if the City required bars to carry this coverage. c. KW explained that only tenants of City buildings are required to carry it. d. Demery Bishop (DB) asked what Council was considering. e. SG stated that council was considering whether to require LLI for all businesses selling liquor by the drink. f. Steve Kellem (SK) stated that he carries it and keeps all of his insurance with one company so there are no disputes over which company is responsible. g. Paula Crow (PC) asked about the cost. h. KW said it is based on sales. She said maybe it shouldn’t be required but the City could educate business owners as some didn’t seem to know it existed. i. Anne Delaney (AD) said it seems like it would be common sense to carry it. j. MM asked if other cities require it. k. SG said that the City will research the issue. l. BH stated that he believes both Savannah and Statesboro require it.  m.SG stated that we will keep the topic on the agenda for more discussion and possible recommendation. m. Luwana Tsoulos (TS) asked who is being protected if it is required. n. KW asked if landlords could be held liable. o. BH stated that was not likely although they could be sued. p. PC stated that she didn’t see how a landlord could be held liable as she doesn’t know what her tenants are doing. q. MM said leasing to a bar may cause more liability. r. SG asked how many establishments don’t have LLI 3. SG asked where the group left off on the discussion of bar cards vs. Safe Serve programs. a. Wally Hattrich (WH) stated that a bar card requirement is in our ordinance. It is just a registration, no training required. Serve Safe is run by the National Restaurant Assoc. and offers an online class for $30 or test only for $20. The card stays with the server. He said that he is looking into taking the instructor’s course. b. SG asked who else requires Serve Safe. c. WH stated that Savannah uses it but doesn’t know if it is required. He said that many businesses require it of their staff. d. SG asked staff to research who requires it. e. SG stated that if serve safe required by Tybee then bar card would go away. f. KW was surprised that bar cards aren’t required. g. WH stated that they are required by ordinance but the ordinance isn’t enforced. Enforcement is cumbersome. h. William Mosely (WM) stated that the bar card system was put in place to cut down on after hours parties at bars. The cards helped identify employees from patrons. This is not much of a problem now. i. PC stated that bartenders are asking for training. j. SK said the course is helpful but maybe for bartenders only and not require of servers. k. SG said we should consider it as a recommendation l. DB asked where staff training and LLI impact alcohol related arrests. m. SG agreed that there is a slim nexus for insurance but larger nexus for training. n. LT stated that insurance does not affect patron behavior but training has some benefit. o. PC stated that training is important. p. KW restated that LLI was being discussed because council asked for it. q. PC mentioned that trained staff may cause higher arrest counts. r. SG stated that more arrests don’t mean things are getting worse. s. SK stated that each business has their own system for removing unwanted patrons.  t. SG stated that when you enforce the rules in place expect results. u. MM asked how we increase enforcement with the issues of police hiring and retention. v. SG state that PD salaries have gone up and will be used as a recruiting tool. w.DG asked if police had quantified cost per new officer. x. JF stated that it is approximately $86k which includes salary, benefits, car and equipment. y. LT asked if new salaries will make Tybee competitive. z. SG stated that going up to $41k should make us more competitive. aa. PC asked what the hourly rate was. bb. JF stated $17.10/hour. cc. Bob Bryson stated that officers get overtime after 40 hours. dd. SG stated that certification increases went into place last year and that increases for education and training will add to base pay. ee. LT asked if the city pays for college degrees. ff. SG stated that is currently not in the budget. 4. Old business – continuing discussion of alcohol restriction. a. SG stated that we need to distill down to several recommendations. b. Ideas removed:  i. Become a precinct of a larger force – this is a complex change. ii. Require bars to have a bouncer/security – let each business plan as they see fit. c. Ideas kept: i. Fill all PD positions. ii. Police presence on South End. iii. PD substation in old Marine Science Center building. iv. Better training for servers. v. Liquor liability insurance. vi. Communication between businesses/bartenders. vii. Regular DUI checkpoints. viii. More cameras. ix. Best of bodycam montage. x. Electronic sign with behavior messages. xi. Corrals at businesses. d. Comments regarding ideas kept: i. MM & DB stated that greater police presence on South End will divert police from the rest of the island. ii. SK stated that a Facebook page exists for bartender business communication but it is difficult in real time. iii. BB stated that DUI checkpoints are difficult due to staffing levels, require GDOT approval create a lot of paperwork and cause criticism  of the PD. He said they are successful and PD will do them if council requests. iv. MM stated that they may be a deterrent if they are regular and folks expect them. v. PC suggested more messaging about checkpoint may be a deterrent. vi. DB stated that a large physical presence is a deterrent without a checkpoint. vii. BB stated that Georgia State Patrol is a big help and they work well with our department. They are a force multiplier. viii. SG stated that more cameras are also a force multiplier and City plans to add beach cameras for code enforcement. ix. MM asked if cameras are recording. x. SG stated that yes and data must be kept for at least 30 days. Beach cameras would not record. xi. DB asked if cameras are permanently mounted and suggested temporary camera poles for large events. xii. SG stated that the City’s emergency response vehicle has camera. xiii. DB asked that we research corral system. xiv. AD says that corral is the same as a ban. xv. MM doesn’t like the look of street full of corrals.  xvi. George Shaw (GS) pointed out that space is limited on our sidewalks and corrals may require additional physical changes. xvii. KW wants more info on PERF. xviii. PC mentioned that more messaging could be added to good neighbor letter. xix. SG adjourn 11:45. xx. Post adjournment SG asked that I add discussion of limiting beach alcohol consumption to ideas list.