California passes ordinance assessing fees on university
A public hearing was held Thursday at the California Borough building to discuss possible alcohol sales at the California Univerisity Convocation Center.
Listening to testimony are (from left) Tom Agrafiotis, borough solicitor; Councilman Patsy Alfano; and Councilman Anthony Mariscotti; during a public hearing held by California Borough about a proposed ordinance to regulate alcohol sales at the California University of Pennsylvania's Convocation Center.
California University of Pennsylvania's Craig Butzine, vice president of marketing; speaks at a public hearing held by California Borough Thursday. Butzine expressed the university's opposition to a proposed ordinance to regulate alcohol sales at the university's Convocation Center.
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.com
Representatives from California University of Pennsylvania, (from left) Craig Butzine, vice president for marketing and university relations; Norman Hasbrock, special assistant to the president; and Bob Thorn, vice president of administration and finance, attend a public hearing held by California Borough to state the university’s opposition to a proposed ordinance to regulate alcohol sales at the university’s Convocation Center.
Holly Tonini
Officials from the California University announced Monday that they have terminated a contract with the company hired to manage entertainment and other events at the facility. University interim president, Geraldine Jones, said the decision came after officials realized they could not continue to pay for the company’s professional services.
CALIFORNIA — Officials from California University of Pennsylvania voiced objections Thursday to an ordinance regulating the sale of alcohol at the university’s Convocation Center.
The ordinance establishes the sale of alcohol as a conditional use in the institutional zone. It also sets the fee to be paid to the borough for each event at which alcohol is served, with the fee based on the number of people in attendance. The fee starts at $750 for an event with attendance of up to 1,499 people and goes up by $750 for each additional 1,500 in attendance. The top fee is $3,750 for a crowd of 6,000 or more.
Craig Butzine, the university’s vice president for marketing and university relations, voiced the university’s objections, saying the hearing was unnecessary and illegal.
“There is no need for the proposed ordinance because the Borough Code in its current state already permits liquor licensees like the university’s vendor to sell liquor in areas zoned institutional,” Butzine said. “Also, the proposed ordinance we are discussing tonight violates state law, because it openly tries to tax the university. The borough is aware that this tax would be illegal.”
The university had presented a proposal to the borough in which the university would compensate the borough for any additional expenses incurred directly related to events at the Convocation Center if a documented invoice were sent to the university.
The only other objections to the ordinance came from resident Jim Maddiex.
“I understand why they want to sell alcohol. It’s to raise money. As a former student, I don’t particularly think it’s right. It sets a bad precedent on campus,” Maddiex said.
Maddiex also questioned how the borough would verify the attendance figures at events in order to assess the proper fee. Maddiex also suggested that the ordinance include a ban on the university allowing functions at which attendees could bring their own alcoholic beverages.
Immediately following the hearing council held a special meeting, voting on the single issue of the ordinance, which passed unanimously and without discussion.