Council passes ordinance which ‘puts teeth’ into Rice Festival drinking rules

CROWLEY - The Crowley City Council met Tuesday evening to consider the adoption of ordinances, discuss payments for city projects and to consider citizen’s requests.

The first ordinance up for discussion pertained to the addition of a four- way stop sign at the intersection of Avenue B and 15th St., as well as a three-way stop sign at the Avenue B and 14th St. intersection. The council unanimously agreed.

The second ordinance up for discussion pertains to the International Rice Festival, Crowley’s signature event, which will be next month from October 17-20.

It built on last year’s rule, which made armbands necessary for those who are legally allowed to consume alcoholic beverages. While last year’s rule was met with some success, the ordinance discussed on Tuesday dealt with bars and other establishments that serve alcohol year-round and happen to lie within the festival area.

The council voted to require all alcohol licensed premises in the festival grounds to make available approved identification devices for all their patrons who may be leaving the bar with an alcoholic beverage. They will also be required to post warnings to their patrons which are visible prior to their exiting the premises of the ordinance.

The council voted in favor of the ordinance.

“This give our drinking rules some teeth,” said Alderwoman Kitty Valdetero.

The third ordinance up for discussion has already been used by the council for the previous two months. It made for all of the council’s committee meetings to be held on the Wednesday prior to their meetings which are held on the second Tuesday of every month. The committee meetings were formerly held on the Wednesday and Thursday before the Tuesday meeting.

“This makes it easier for the public to know when each committee meets,” said Valdetero.

Before the council adjourned, they heard from Robert Gaspard Sr. who is trying to have an alley shut down which runs behind East Jeannette St. Apparently, the alley serves as a gathering area for young people who drink and misbehave.

Mayor Greg Jones told Gaspard that all the property owners along the alleyway would have to agree but “I can assure you if they do, we wouldn’t have a problem with it.”

The council also agreed to let Elizabeth Goodwill and Brenda Lambert, the mother of murder victim Theresa Mayfield, use the MLK Building on September 28 free of charge for a fundraiser for the victim’s family.

There will be more on Tuesday’s meeting in our next edition.