PANAMA CITY — Panama City Commissioners on Tuesday will consider the second and final reading of an ordinance that would end the sale of alcohol at 4 a.m. daily year round.
At its last meeting, the commission voted 3-2 to deny an ordinance that would, during March, adjust that time to 2 a.m., matching Bay County and Panama City Beach ordinances.
But Commissioners Mike Nichols, John Kady and Kenneth Brown said Panama City would not have a problem with spring breakers driving drunk to continue drinking on the other side of the bridge, saying the breakers were more likely to go back to their hotels or take a safe mode of transportation. None of those three commissioners are changing their positions.
"My view is the same — people are going to do what they're going to do. If they're going to do that we can make it safe," Brown said, and then gave examples of cabs and shuttles." I'm trying to bring more funds to Panama City."
"Panama City doesn't have a problem," Nichols said. "A lot of them are going to walk back to their condominiums. They're going to hang out with people on the beach."
Mayor Greg Brudnicki and Commissioner Billy Rader also are not changing their votes, citing the plan from Sheriff Frank McKeithen.
"I don't want something terrible to happen, a kid out at 3 a.m. somewhere in the city limits," Rader said. "God forbid something bad would happen."
"I feel we could do that for one month," Brudnicki said of the 2 a.m. alcohol shut off time. "I would rather do that than create entrapment; then have people sitting in the No Name parking lot."
City Attorney Nevin Zimmerman recommended that the city approve the 4 a.m. time to clear up ambiguity within the city’s code and break the “daisy chain” linking the city to other government ordinances. Zimmerman said the city is not liable for any injuries incurred by potential drunk driving because the 4 a.m. time would be a planning level decision.
Nichols offered that if a problem arises during Spring Break, he would be one of the first to call for a special meeting to stop alcohol sales at 2 a.m.
"If it becomes a major problem," Nichols said. "I don't see it."