OVIEDO, Fla. – The City of Oviedo is one step closer to allowing people to walk around with a cup - or two - of alcohol at city events at the city’s center.
There are only a few places in Florida that allow open containers - Mt. Dora was one of the first in 2018.
On June 6, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on Oviedo’s proposed ordinance, allowing open containers at Oviedo on the Park. But now the city is grappling with making it happen — figuring out exactly when, where, how, even what to call it.
The governor’s signature gives businesses in Oviedo’s special district special licenses to sell alcohol that people can take outside.
Oviedo on the Park is the lakeside family-friendly city square where it hosts Oktoberfest, movie nights, and other events.
City councilmembers nicknamed it Oviedo’s “Arts and Entertainment District.”
But even the mayor admitted it’s not exactly art that makes the district special.
During the June 16 city council meeting, Mayor Megan Sladek asked city staff about changing the name of the district.
“Should we consider changing the name?” Sladek proposed. “Because it’s an incredible misnomer to call it an arts and entertainment district. People keep saying, ‘What are we going to do with culture, are we adding a museum and different things?’ And really, it’s an open container drinking district. And I get how a person might not want a cup that says drinking district... but that would perhaps, I don’t know, maybe people would want it more, and maybe that would be a little more descriptive of what it is.”
Sladek asked City Manager Patrick Kelly if Oviedo is required to use the Arts and Entertainment District name after lawmakers approved open containers in the special district.
“The local bill that was passed was signed by the governor on June 6, so that is now law, and that named the district, for all intents and purposes, for licensing purposes, let’s say, it named that district the Oviedo Arts and Entertainment District,” Kelly said. “It’s where all our festivals are.”
Sladek followed up.
“But if there is flexibility in changing the name, is that something you guys might be interested in having a discussion about?”
The response from councilmembers: “No.”
The purpose of the drinking district, according to the city, is to “provide new opportunities for equitable community participation... by encouraging private establishments to participate in local events, and festivals...”
City councilmembers must now settle on rules for the special district.
So far, they’ve proposed:
- Open containers only during city events
- Only in the Special District
- Only two drinks at a time
- Only in a 16-ounce cup with a yet-to-be-designed logo
Now through Aug. 4, Oviedo is searching for a logo design and has issued a call-to-artists offering to pay $1,000 for the design selected by the city.
You can enter your design here: https://www.cityofoviedo.net/FormCenter/Development-Services-13/A-Call-To-Artists-Oviedo-Arts-and-Entert-126
Councilmembers must hold two public hearings before ultimately voting on the proposed rules, before the city allows open containers in Oviedo’s Arts and Entertainment District.