Janesville could expand alcohol sales
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JANESVILLE — Drinking a beer at Dawson Ball Fields or a glass of wine at a function in the Janesville Senior Center could soon be reality.
Residents attending events in city parks, however, might have to stick to lemonade.
City Manager Eric Levitt included in the proposed 2012 city budget $5,000 in revenue from the sale of alcohol permits for park pavilions and the senior center and from beer sales at the Dawson Balls Fields concessions stand.
The city council discussed the issue at a recent budget study session. The council continues its study of the proposed 2012 budget Thursday.
The city already allows alcohol sales at Janesville Jets games in the ice arena, on city golf courses and in Rotary Gardens.
Shelley Slapak of the recreation department told the council her department gets many calls from people who want to rent the senior center.
“Once we tell them they cannot have alcohol or beer, most oftentimes they do walk away,” Slapak said. “We’re seeing a loss of revenue for city rental.”
Other communities allow alcohol sales with no problems, and surveys have long supported beer at the ball diamonds, Slapak said.
“Are we then going into competition as far as entertaining the team after the game and dispensing alcohol as compared to their sponsors?” Councilman George Brunner asked.
Slapak said she didn’t think that would happen.
“The general idea is that people like to come before their game, maybe have one or two drinks, play a game and move on to their sponsor if the (sponsor) is a bar establishment,” she said.
The proposal to allow beer at Dawson Ball Fields and alcohol at the senior center at this point remains in the 2012 budget.
Council members opted to talk about beer in the parks another day. The logistics of allowing one group with a permit to drink while another group a short distance away could not drink seemed problematic to some of them.
“That would say to the resident, ‘Unless you were a part of this group over here—in this rental, in this particular pavilion—you can’t bring your six pack and have a beer at your family reunion,’” Brunner said.
Under the proposal, alcohol would be restricted to park pavilions and immediate surrounding areas, Slapak said.
“It will take enforcement,” she said.
City workers already find empty beer cans in parks.
“I realize Janesville has been different than other communities,” Brunner said. “If we’re going to open it up, we need to have that discussion to be fair to all our citizens.”
Councilman Russ Steeber said he didn’t have a problem allowing alcohol in the parks with permits. Janesville allows alcoholic beverages on the golf courses, so expanding it would not be “out of whack,” he said.
“I don’t look at it as supporting alcohol use,” Steeber said. “It is an enhancement of the adult activity that could eventually draw more users into it, which would mean our subsidy goes down.
“The only problem could be the perception that someone in the pavilion paid for a permit and could drink beer while someone nearby couldn’t,” he agreed.
“It is worth the discussion to look at parks in general for pavilions, totally separate from the budget session.”
Councilman Sam Liebert agreed that conversations about equity would arise when someone who pays the city for a permit could have a beer while “10 feet away, Joe Shmoe can’t bring in a six pack and sit under a tree.”
Councilman Yuri Rashkin said the city is moving in the right direction concerning alcohol on public property.
“We were so concerned about the Jets, and it really has been, in my opinion, a non-issue,” Rashkin said. “I hope—and expect—this to be as well.”
Nov 4, 2011 at 12:57 a.m.
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any thing to bring in money ! and i like beer more than most . But this is feel good legislation plain and simple . kinda like see were not all bad .
Nov 3, 2011 at 9:37 p.m.
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open at noon; drunk by three.
Nov 3, 2011 at 4:20 p.m.
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Oh, eerrr, I mean interesting discourse, indeed.
Nov 3, 2011 at 3:43 p.m.
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Bwaaahahahaha!
Nov 3, 2011 at 3:04 p.m.
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I would bet you could write a book on dumb people.
Nov 3, 2011 at 2:29 p.m.
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Idiotic logic is the thought that alcohol makes people dumb. Stupid parents make dumb people. Dumb people drinking alcohol, are still dumb people. Alcohol is not the issue, dumb people are the issue.
Nov 3, 2011 at 1:15 p.m.
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I am just glad I am not a worthless drunk in Rock County, and have a life.
Nov 3, 2011 at 10:36 a.m.
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Good idea for the softball diamond. Sure there will be an idiot here and there from time to time, but they are everywhere. Can't have them ruin everything.
Nov 3, 2011 at 10:12 a.m.
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It's all about the money.
Alcohol sales raise revenue.
Not fat and stupid enough?
Have a drink.
There you go.
Nov 3, 2011 at 9:44 a.m.
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taxandspend: You are correct that all these places are empty. but why, not due to the city manager. You have to blame the companies that built new buildings leaving the old empty. In the last 3 months 2 more strip malls will open up leaving even more empty buildings when those companies move to the new strip mall. Janesville is just over built with buildings and there just is not enough companies around to fill them. Also Janesville is a very cheap town when it comes to spending making it hard for any company to survive. I hope this helps you understand why empty store fronts..
Nov 3, 2011 at 9:44 a.m.
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Monster Shouters!!!!
Nov 3, 2011 at 9:18 a.m.
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It it truly sad to see what is happening to what used to be a good city and a great place to raise a family. I am happy to live in a place where alcohol is not allowed in public places like parks and ball fields. Strange as it is, our town is one of the fastest growing towns in the country and we do not have a bar or liquor store in our county.
Nov 2, 2011 at 10:09 p.m.
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yes, a drunk wanderer possibly making passes at children. how wonderful
Nov 2, 2011 at 10:01 p.m.
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These proposed beer sales are a logical progression from the notion that Janesville Jets Hockey Games, featuring teenage athletes, were not viable without beer sales. That sad and slippery slope is evident. The idea that we will solve budget problems this way recalls the old notion that a State Lottery and later Dog Tracks would eliminate much of the need for taxation.
Nov 2, 2011 at 8:52 p.m.
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I have seen many party's in the parks with alcohol I don't know if they had permits or not. Most looked like families with kids etc. No one ever was out of control. These kinds of parties are not a problem if they become a problem call police. If a business or club would like to serve alcohol at a meeting at the senior center I doubt this is going to be a rowdy bunch. Seems like a tempest in a tea pot or should I say punch bowl.
Nov 2, 2011 at 8 p.m.
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Maybe they could sell tobacco too!
Nov 2, 2011 at 6:04 p.m.
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Good point Third Eye.. but must the city mandate where booze will be allowed for recreation, when most of the city activities have beer tents? Instead of tearing up the "rules" I would prefer it to be on a per-request basis. JMO... Does EVERY public activity have to include alcohol?
Don't peg me as a "goodie-goodie", I love my brandy and rum... I just don't want to be around idiots that can't "hold their booze".
Nov 2, 2011 at 5:36 p.m.
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All this hanky ringing over beer.
First their is the "can't have fun without beer" crowd who knows that is not the issue.
Then there are the city nanny's who don't want anything to happen involving beer without city supervision.
And best of all the "family friendly event" crowd, most of whom do not attend the events that are "family friendly".
The fact is that Janesville is behind reality in this area. Just go to Beloit, they have family friendly events that serve beer.
Riverfest, Music at Harry's Place, and the Street Dance in August are just 3 examples.
.
Regarding Dawson Field, when softball was played at Back 'O The Yards beer was served and I don't recall that being an issue.
Nov 2, 2011 at 5:35 p.m.
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there all ready a problem with driving and drive so why add to it.
Nov 2, 2011 at 5:11 p.m.
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I agree with Mr. Brunner.
Nov 2, 2011 at 4:46 p.m.
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Yeah - because there aren't enough places to drink beer in this town already........can't get together and have a family function or anything else without boozing it up? Sad.
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