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Treasure Island backs loosening of Sunday alcohol laws

 
Published Sept. 21, 2016

TREASURE ISLAND — The city has joined a growing list of municipalities urging the County Commission to change its restrictions on selling alcohol on Sunday.

Treasure Island commissioners Tuesday voted to send a letter of support to the County Commission asking that the current ban on Sunday alcohol sales from 3 to 11 a.m. be dropped.

The county's ordinance supersedes municipal ordinances, city attorney Jennifer Cowan said.

"You can be more restrictive, but that's it unless the county changes its law or you can ask to opt out (of the alcohol ban)," she said.

The ban currently restricts grocery and liquor store sales as well as businesses that sell alcoholic drinks such as bars and restaurants.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has taken the lead in requesting the county change its Sunday restriction to allow sales after 8 a.m., saying the current law hurts tourism and local businesses.

He pushed the Pinellas County Mayors' Council to make an official request for the law change but when faced with less than complete approval, Kriseman sent letters to individual cities asking for their support.

St. Petersburg and the cities of Indian Rocks Beach, Oldsmar and Dunedin have already sent letters supporting the change.

Treasure Island Commissioner Ken Keys said the blue laws were a leftover from days when churches backed nonalcoholic Sundays.

He and other commissioners said they didn't see any need for a ban on Sunday sales.

"I'll drink to that," Commissioner Phil Collins said with a chuckle as he seconded the motion to send the letter.

In other business, the commission approved a new 2016-17 budget of $22.1 million and a property tax rate of $3.33 on every $1,000 of assessed, taxable value, keeping the tax rate the same as this year's.

The commission also approved a developer's request for a median cut to allow turns into and out of a new 16-unit condo development on 107th Avenue near the St. James bridge.