Sunday, April 7, 2024–6:21 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The Rome City Commission is expected to vote on the adoption of an assembly permit ordinance when it meets Monday.
If approved, a permit would be required for demonstrations, protests, and other gatherings of 25 or more people.
There are also instances where a permit would be required regardless of the number of participants.
Those include assemblies that would block city sidewalks, public streets, roads, alleys, rights-of-way, squares, or city trails.
In cases where regular means of ingress or egress to any public building, public park, public parking lot, public structure, or similar public facility will be blocked or obstructed, must also obtain an assembly permit.
Also Monday, an alcohol ordinance amendment that would set standardized prices for calculating the 50-50 Food-to-drink ratio is slated for First Reading.
The action comes at the request of Billy Newby, owner of Newby Farm and Winery Tasting Room at 411 Broad Street. During a previous Alcohol Control Commission meeting, Newby explained that his establishment, in addition to beer and wine, specializes in high-end bourbons. These products carry a high price and as such, he has more difficulty in meeting Rome’s food-to-drink ratio. He explained that if the average price of his drink is $35, then he must sell considerably more food than another establishment that is selling the same quantity of alcohol for $7 to $10 per drink. Newby fears as his bourbon sales grow, it will become impossible to meet the ratio.
According to Rome City Clerk Joe Smith, the objective of standard pricing is to not penalize small bars that sell higher-end products.
“We’re not talking about setting the price of drinks,” said Smith. “Each establishment would continue to set the price of drinks and they will continue to pay the corresponding mixed-drink tax for whatever price they set. We’re talking about a standard price for the food-to-drink calculation. The benefit is that it would assist some folks, especially those who have higher-priced products. They may sell a $15, $20, or more drink and that’s just more food to offset the same amount of alcohol.”
A public hearing and vote would come during the next city commission meeting later this month.
Monday’s commission meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Rome City Hall.
The caucus starts at 5 p.m.
