Motion to repeal Sunday alcohol ordinance fails at joint meeting between High Springs and Alachua County Commissions

BY DAVID LIGHTMAN

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – A joint meeting between the High Springs City Commission and the Alachua County Commission was held on June 5 at the High Springs Civic Center. After a long discussion about High Springs’s Sunday alcohol ordinance affecting the High Springs Brewery, a motion to repeal the ordinance failed, 2-2. Other topics discussed were a potential traffic signal or roundabout at U.S. 41 and Poe Springs Road, surtax funding for the Canoe Outpost, and expanding the reach of County resources with Community Resource Centers.

High Springs Mayor Tristan Grunder began by thanking the County Commissioners for coming. High Springs Commissioner Andrew Miller said he wanted to remove the fifth item on the agenda, Repeal of Sunday Alcohol Sales, saying it was a City item and not related to the County. High Springs Commissioner Katherine Weitz agreed. Grunder said, “I disagree. I think it was brought up to the County, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with listening to citizens talk about things that are concerning to them.” County Commissioner Anna Prizzia said, “It does impact them from a tourism development standpoint… I would love a chance to hear from you all about why you have the policies that you have.” Miller said the County doesn’t like the State telling it what to do, and this was analogous to that. County Commissioner Ken Cornell said, “I’d like to hear the history.”

Miller made a motion to remove the item from the agenda, and Weitz seconded the motion. During a discussion about the County agenda (each body votes on its own agenda in joint meetings), County Commission Chair Chuck Chestnut said, “We’re gonna leave it on,” and the County Commission voted unanimously to keep it on the agenda.

Weitz made a motion to change the agenda description to “Discuss Sunday Alcohol Sales” instead of “Repeal of Sunday Alcohol Sales.” Miller seconded her motion, and it passed 3-1, with Grunder in dissent.

Traffic signal at U.S. 41 and Poe Springs Road

The first item of business was the intersection of U.S. 41 and Poe Springs Road. County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler said the main topic of an FDOT presentation attached to the agenda was a proposed traffic signal or roundabout at that intersection. Grunder said no one from FDOT was available to attend the meeting, so there was no additional information available.

High Springs Community Reinvestment Area update

The next item was an update on the High Springs CRA. CRA Manager Amy Bohannon said they are looking to expand the CRA from 109 to 167 acres, which will require County approval. She said improving the parking and connectivity of downtown have been their main goals. Bohannon talked about commercial and residential façade grants and other ways the CRA has been making downtown look better. Wheeler said she is excited to see what they are doing, especially the “walkability” aspects. 

Canoe Outpost

The third item was a discussion of the Canoe Outpost. High Springs City Manager Jeremy Marshall said the County has $333,000 of surtax money set aside for a joint project with High Springs, and they decided a few months ago that the Canoe Outpost was a good project to work together on. Marshall said he estimated the full project will cost about $650,000 for all the renovations needed, including making the boat ramp more ADA-accessible. 

Cornell said he supports the project as long as it is driven by the support of local residents, and he told Marshall, “Put the application in.” Prizzia, Wheeler, and County Commissioner Mary Alford also expressed their support. Grunder said, “It would absolutely be used continuously by citizens here.” During public comment on the item, Rick Testa stressed the potential educational significance of the Canoe Outpost.

Community Resource Centers

The next item was a discussion about the Deeper Purpose Community Church of High Springs and its potential use as a Community Resource Center. County Community Support Services Director Claudia Tuck gave a presentation, and Satori Days said the church serves all ages and provides a wide array of services and programs.  

Prizzia said she thinks it’s important to provide County services at outlying Community Resource Centers, and that’s why the item was added to the agenda. Cornell said, “The best way to serve our community is where they are.” Cornell encouraged the church to draw on County resources and supplies to best serve its local residents.

Weitz said there are other local churches and organizations that are also serving as unofficial Resource Centers, and they could also benefit from County resources and partnerships. Cornell said, “I’m interested in hearing from the electeds on the ones that are serving your public.” Weitz said, “Will do.”

Sunday alcohol sales

The fifth item was “Discuss Sunday Alcohol Sales,” after it was changed at the beginning of the meeting from “Repeal of Sunday Alcohol Sales.” Cornell began by saying, “I just want to hear the history.” 

Grunder explained, “We do not sell liquor on Sundays right now [before 1 p.m.]. We do sell beer and wine. We sell beer, wine, and liquor in restaurants as long as they sell over 51% of their stuff with food…. It goes back to the initial Great Outdoors. Remember there was a small… gift shop. The owners then wanted to open it up for beer and wine.” Grunder said that since then, he tried to put the question on the ballot in 2024, but his motion at the time was not seconded. The current business looking to change the law is the High Springs Brewery, which Grunder said is an important part of the town, allowing many people to interact.

Grunder said he felt the issue had become emotional and personal, and he said he believes “there is a very large majority” of citizens who support Sunday alcohol sales and would have voted for it. Grunder said, “We tend to have these things in place, and it’s just because it’s been that way.” Grunder said it affects High Springs tourism, including bed-and-breakfasts and Airbnb rentals. 

Prizzia asked if there is much alcohol-related crime in High Springs. She mentioned people not drinking in churches on Sundays, and Cornell interjected, “That’s where the opposition is coming from.” Prizzia said, “Jesus turned water into wine… It doesn’t make any sense to me.” She returned to her question about “statistical reasons” for restricting Sunday alcohol sales.

Marshall answered that the City implemented a process last year for Special Use Permits to allow alcohol sales on Sundays during certain events, and there had not been any DUIs or noise complaints associated with the Special Use Permits. 

Grunder said it is “unacceptable” to have an ordinance that he called “a one-business flogging.”

Weitz and Miller said they viewed the option of offering Special Use Permits as a compromise. Weitz said many residents “want one day of quiet” and reminded Grunder that the ordinance was in effect when High Springs Brewery opened and “they understood that.” And, she said, a different restaurant cannot sell alcohol on Sundays because it is close to a church, which is prohibited by a different local ordinance that is still in effect. 

Prizzia talked about wanting High Springs to be successful and how the Brewery is a huge economic driver. She said the permits are “an undue requirement” and “an undue burden.” Prizzia concluded, “Maybe you should let your citizens vote on it.”

Wheeler talked about all the children who play together at the Brewery while their parents socialize. She said restaurants don’t offer that.

Cornell said, “I’m a strong, strong believer in home rule. I also know how to count to three votes.” 

Grunder opened public comment on the alcohol sales item. Most commenters supported changing the ordinance immediately or at least putting the question on the ballot, while a few expressed concerns about things like noise. Local business owners emphasized the economic impact of a shorter weekend for visitors. 

Miller said he had another idea for a compromise ordinance and asked whether the City could limit the number of breweries in a certain area or require a certain distance between them, to alleviate noise concerns. Prizzia and Cornell said they thought it could work. Grunder suggested requiring 300 yards between breweries. 

Weitz suggested having 10% of registered voters sign a petition, which would be a step toward placing the question on the ballot. Cornell suggested, “You could just repeal the ordinance,” which led to applause. He suggested directing staff to bring back Miller’s proposed compromise ordinance and exempting High Springs Brewery from any alcohol ordinances as other options.

Motion and vote

Grunder passed the gavel and made a motion to repeal the Sunday alcohol ordinance with a provision that no breweries may be within 200 yards of each other. Marshall said he would need to check the local code and see if the distance restriction would be permissible. Grunder changed his motion to simply repealing the alcohol ordinance, and Chad Howell seconded the motion. The motion failed 2-2, with Weitz and Miller in dissent and Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth absent throughout the meeting.

Weitz said she favored continuing the conversation at a City Commission Meeting. Marshall said he would review the code and determine whether a distance restriction is possible.

Transportation projects

The last item of business was Transportation Projects Impacting High Springs. Alachua County Transportation Planning Manager Allison Moss gave a presentation about the Countywide Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan and the Alachua County Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan. 

Moss said she spoke with FDOT employee David Tyler before the meeting; the intersection of U.S. 41 and Poe Springs Road has been under FDOT study, and they believe a roundabout would be preferable to a traffic signal, although they are amenable to input from the public.