By Andrew Edwards
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
To view the meeting in its entirety, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH3uUZNpK6o&list=PLGmBaZToEEGY7uDWROKqu3NY2SYm_Bo3F&index=1
Confusion, disagreement, and some hostility were included in the Prattville City Council meeting on Tuesday night.
After postponing the Outdoor Alcohol Service Ordinance “for an indefinite period of time” at their last meeting, the Prattville City Council brought the highly divisive issue up from the table once again in an attempt to vote the ordinance into existence.
The motion was met with grunts and eye rolls from audience members.
Basics of the Ordinance
The ordinance would require business owners to present plans for approval of a permanent outdoor barrier which is “aesthetically pleasing, not readily removable and is constructed with materials, textures and colors which keep with the principle of the existing structure of the building.”
The ordinance also reads that the permanent outdoor barrier “shall be located in such a manner on the business property that so it is readily visible and distinguishable, and so that it does not impede the regular flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the public right of way, parking lots, paths of ingress/egress, and/or easements.”
After approval by the City Planning Department and/ Prattville Police Department, the business owner would be able to obtain a permit for Outdoor Alcohol Service.
Downtown business owners who serve alcohol have to jump through extra hoops. Those establishments must go through a historic review committee before any type of barrier is constructed.
The topic on Tuesday night that would ultimately table the ordinance once again revolved around easements/egress, especially in the downtown area.
Derri Edwards, owner of Adrienne’s Downtown Bar, was present at the meeting. He expressed his concerns about the ordinance, citing that there’s still ambiguity for the fencing perimeters surrounding his establishment. Edwards said that when he originally received a liquor license for his business, the fencing perimeters allowed for more space. He explained that with the passing of this ordinance, his perimeters would be drastically decreased.
“I would be fine putting a fence up with the perimeters that were shown to us with our original liquor license. Right now, it’s looking like it’s trying to be condensed all the way to our front door to where we won’t have any outdoor seating because of the stipulations that we have up the hill. We’re just trying to make sure we get the proper spacing that we actually have with the liquor license that was approved with the city and state,” Edwards said.
Edwards also explained that he wouldn’t be opposed to try to expand his original perimeter even more, to make way for more room for activities such as cornhole fundraisers.
Mayor Bill Gillespie said that the issue is more complicated than just expansion. Not only would Edwards’ expansion impede the egress that was formed during the city’s creek walk improvement, it would essentially put an age restriction to people in the area. Edwards owns a lounge license, not a restaurant license, meaning that people on the property must be 21 or older. If he were to expand onto the egress and easement, then that would limit who could and couldn’t walk through the area.
Lia Muir, owner of Kimberlia’s in Downtown Prattville, was also present at the meeting. She explained that she currently doesn’t have enough space on her sidewalk parallel to Court Street to erect a fence. The City of Prattville owns the majority of the walking area.
“I have five tables out there and I want people to be able to sit out, enjoy brunch, have a mimosa and soak in the beautiful view. I would be more than happy to rent some extra space for a nominal fee for a year,” Muir said.
Gillespie said that he’s been in talks with City Attorney Andrew Odom to discuss how the property could be leased out.
The council also decided that they would form a committee to further discuss the ordinance, of which Albert Striplin, Marcus Jackson and Blair Gornto would represent. The committee will consist of members of the Prattville Police Department, Fire Department, Historic Preservation Commission, among others. Striplin will head the committee.
Ultimately, the council decided that the ordinance was not ready to be voted upon and tabled the issue until October 5. It was a 6-1 decision to table, with President Pro Tempore and District 7 Councilor Lora Lee Boone being the lone no vote.
Boone was vocal about the tabling.
“I believe half the time we spent tonight was a waste. As the legislative or law-making branch, we should have simply said, ‘Yes we’re voting this in. Yes, we’re voting in a time limit that’s going to give the executive department, the city staff, as well as our constituents who own businesses, time to put together what they need to find the boundary, to find the fence, to lease or sell property to establish an easement. Whatever the day-to-day operation was, we had to provide the road for them to get down. We just put up another road block so that another department could not run business efficiently. I’m very disappointed,” Boone said.
District 2 Councilor Marcus Jackson also had closing comments.
“Due to my stance on the particular issue, I just ask that the mayor and his executive staff not solicit the police chief or the police department to retaliate against my family, my constituents, or myself,” Jackson said.
To view the City Council meeting from beginning to adjournment, visit
