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MEDFORD Council defies law to allow booze in park City unaware of code preventing alcohol sales Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 19, 2014 at 12:01 AM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 19, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News Medford City Council on Thursday decided to disobey its own law by allowing a beer and wine garden in Pear Blossom Park for the Downtown Art + Sound event scheduled to start today. “It’s not allowed under city code,” warned Lori Cooper, deputy city attorney. A fight broke out last weekend at Harry & David Field at U.S. Cellular Community Park, which alerted city officials to a clearly written code that doesn’t allow alcohol to be served on most city-owned properties. Police said alcohol was a factor in the brawl involving about 50 people. The city has previously allowed other events where alcohol was served on public property, apparently unaware that it was in violation of the code. Diane Raymond with the Metro Medford Downtown Association pleaded with the council on Thursday to override the code because of the sizable investment and planning that went into the Art + Sound event on Friday. She said her organization only found out about the code violation at the “11th hour” after it had already taken out all the permits it thought were necessary for the event. “Here I am, somewhat devastated,” she told the council. Raymond told the council that one main feature of the event was the beer and wine garden, which would be installed around the stage at Pear Blossom Park near Lithia headquarters. Cooper told the council that the city would be in the position of breaking its own code if it allowed the beer and wine garden. “I don’t see there’s any way to satisfy Miss Raymond’s request,” she said. But Councilor Bob Strosser made a motion to allow the beer and wine garden even though it conflicts with the city’s own laws. “We’re in the position of wounding one of our stakeholders,” Strosser said. The Municipal Code Section 5.310 is fairly specific about not allowing consumption of alcohol: “No person shall consume alcoholic liquor in or on a street, sidewalk, alley, public right-of-way, public park, other publicly owned facility, or premises open to the general public for the use of motor vehicles, whether the premises are publicly or privately owned and whether or not a fee is charged for the use of the premises.” Under the code, the city could allow consumption of alcohol in city-owned parking lots. Many councilors had previously stated they took an oath of office to uphold state and federal laws in regards to issues of medical marijuana. Councilors Daniel Bunn and John Michaels voted against allowing the beer and wine garden. “I admit this is a mess,” Michaels said. “But I don’t like the precedence it sets.” City Council will discuss whether to change the code at a future meeting to allow sales of beer and wine in local parks. Councilor Eli Matthews joined councilors Chris Corcoran, Bob Strosser and Dick Gordon in ignoring the city code. “It’s a clear quandary,” said Matthews. “Clearly, it’s our fault.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @reporterdm.   By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 19, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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