Alcohol Sales Under Scrutiny In Unincorporated Riverside County

Riverside County supervisors took the first step Tuesday toward ensuring that businesses selling alcohol in unincorporated communities follow the letter of the law and operate in a manner that deters nuisance activity or face the prospect of losing their licenses.

"As the population density increases and urbanization continues, so do the problems," Supervisor Jeff Stone said. "We are not seeking to close down businesses that follow the law."

Stone proposed to his colleagues that the county develop a "deemed approved" permit process to expand the county's authority in dealing with stand-alone retail outlets that sell alcoholic beverages, including liquor stores, gas stations and convenience stores.

A "deemed approved permit" would be similar to a conditional use permit, only its terms would leave less room for transgressions and make it easier for county officials to revoke the permit, according to Stone.

Deemed approved permits would supplant conditional use permits and be utilized to target stand-alone establishments with an unfavorable history.

The City of Ontario was held up as a model.

"It has actually been fruitful in the city," Ontario police Cpl. Brad Alvarez told the Board of Supervisors. "There was such an abundance of alcohol- related problems, it really degraded the communities."

He said a program implemented by the city council and enforced by the police department proved successful in straightening out or shutting down alcohol-selling outlets where graffiti, public drunkenness, loitering, litter and other nuisances were a constant.

Domestic violence-related calls also decreased when the deemed approved permit process took root, according to Alvarez.

Stone said the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control lacks the resources to closely monitor the 84,000 liquor licensees throughout the state.

According to the supervisor, an "oversaturation" of alcohol sellers in some communities has resulted in a lower quality of life and falling property values.

The board directed county staff to begin hammering out details for a possible deemed approved ordinance process that would aim to improve performance standards for existing and future outlets, lay out specific conditions that must be met for a business to obtain a permit, create "tracking software" that monitors compliance, offer training to alcohol sellers to help them avoid violations, identify a funding mechanism, including penalty fees, to support the program and demonstrate to cities throughout the county the positive aspects of partnering with the county in the endeavor.

Several people addressed the board to air their feelings about the proposal.

Hemet High School Principal Emily Shaw welcomed any type of enhanced enforcement program, pointing out that 1,600 students were disciplined last year for alcohol-related offenses. She described how youths will "fish" for merchants with a lenient attitude toward supplying alcoholic beverages to minors.

"Kids are smart. They will travel around the county to find places where they can obtain alcohol," she said.

But Riverside-area resident Steve Figueroa complained that the last thing businesses should be burdened with in the current economic climate is more rules and regulations.

"There are enough laws on the books to be implemented today," he said. "Aren't all you guys Republicans? The last thing you should want is more regulation. What is this, 1920?"

The board directed staff to return with a proposed ordinance in 90 days.  --City News Service