The city of Sedona is looking into the possibility of changing a policy to allow alcohol in its parks — with a few stipulations.

The Sedona City Council on Feb. 9 supported one of four options from the Parks and Recreation Commission, and after hearing consensus from council, city officials decided to work with its legal division and law enforcement to iron out issues. The city would then bring it back to council.

The option council supports would modify the policy to allow any government, corporate, social, fraternal group or family to apply to the city for permission to provide alcoholic beverages, so long it is not distributed outside their permitted group.

A few council members wondered about Option 4, which would remove the current policy and depend on local laws for people engaging in

illegal activities.

Interim Police Chief Jim Driscoll said the police department does not support the latter option because it wants someone to be in charge of gatherings.

“The potential would be very high for dangerous situations,” he said, and added it would open “Pandora’s box.”

Driscoll said the police department could work with Option 3, as long as those groups wanting to consume alcohol in the parks be monitored and scrutinized very closely.

He also said allowing alcohol in these locations would not be right for each and every park, so that would need to be worked out.

“I think we can mitigate many of those problems,” he said. “Overall, it is a good thing to do [to raise revenue].”

Council woman Pud Colquitt said she does not have a problem with the proposal, but she questioned allowing alcohol into the nearby Sedona Teen Center for adult functions.

“There is something about Teen Center and alcoholic beverages that bothers me,” Colquitt said, mentioning the two should never be linked together.

She said residents should be informed there would be street enforcement for people wanting to venture outside the park while consuming alcohol.

Colquitt also said there may be a problem with residents not knowing their limits.

“There are some people where one glass of wine will do you,” she said.

Vice Mayor Cliff Hamilton said he is not opposed to the idea, but added he would like for it to be only allowed during the day and for all alcohol to be provided by the sponsor.

If council changes the policy, it would be an about face from what it decided in February 2007 when it voted 5-2 against the Parks Recreation Commission recommendation to allow non-sale of alcoholic beverages with nonprofit organizations for special events.

In 2009, two council members requested the commission revisit the current policy and submit new recommendations for review.

If council changes the policy, the city would retain the right to require organized groups to obtain permission and pay appropriate fees established by the city before sponsoring, advertising, distributing or selling alcohol.

Andi Welsh, administrative services director for the city, said there would be a license fee, but was unsure about the amount.

Michael  Maresh can be contacted at 282-7795, ext. 125, or e-mail mmaresh@larsonnewspapers.com