Anniston cracks down on problem bars with new safety rules

By John Damon for Just The News Iowa

The Anniston City Council approved new regulations Tuesday night targeting bars and alcohol-serving businesses that generate repeated police calls, aiming to improve public safety without punishing responsible establishments. The ordinance creates a formal process to declare businesses a “chronic public nuisance” and could lead to license suspension or revocation for repeat offenders.

What do the new rules require?

The ordinance applies to licensed businesses that get at least 51 percent of their gross revenue from selling alcohol for on-premises drinking. It covers only the corporate city limits of Anniston, not the surrounding police jurisdiction that includes Saks and Wellborn.

Under the new rules, owners and managers must maintain order on their premises, prevent overcrowding and disorderly conduct, remove intoxicated people, and take reasonable steps to stop criminal activity. Businesses must immediately notify the Anniston Police Department of assaults, fights, weapons violations, shots fired, robberies, and other violent crimes. A written incident report must be filed within 24 hours.

Security and camera requirements

Businesses open after 10 p.m., with an occupancy over 100, or that provide entertainment must have at least one security person for every 100 occupants. Security must stay on duty until all patrons leave the business and its parking areas.

Businesses open after 10 p.m. also need security camera systems covering entrances, exits, parking lots, bar service areas, and main customer areas. Recordings must be kept for at least 30 days. Parking lots and other exterior areas must be well lit during operating hours so people and vehicles can be identified.

Noise and youth restrictions

Amplified sound or music cannot create a disturbance plainly audible more than 100 feet from the property line after 10 p.m. or violate the city’s noise ordinance. People under 21 generally cannot be on the premises after 9 p.m., except where state law allows otherwise.

Businesses open after midnight or that provide entertainment must submit an annual written safety plan to the police chief by Feb. 1. The plan must address occupancy levels, security staffing, crowd management, identification procedures, incident reporting, emergency procedures, and contact information for management.

What counts as a chronic nuisance?

The ordinance defines several activities as public nuisances, including repeated fights, repeated police responses, excessive noise, unlawful discharge of firearms, overcrowding, illegal alcohol sales, illegal drug activity, and repeated violations of city ordinances or Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board regulations.

A business could be declared a chronic public nuisance if, within 12 months, it generates three or more violent incidents, five or more disorderly conduct incidents, repeated verified noise complaints, or repeated violations of city ordinances or ABC Board rules. The city council could also designate a business a chronic nuisance if it fails to meet requirements imposed to address a public nuisance.

Enforcement and penalties

The city manager, police chief, fire marshal, or building official can ask the council to review a business for a public or chronic nuisance designation. Depending on the circumstances, the council could issue a public warning, require a corrective action plan, mandate additional security measures, reduce operating hours, or impose other operational restrictions.

For businesses deemed chronic nuisances, the council could suspend or revoke the business license to operate within the city. Businesses subject to enforcement action may request a public hearing before the council within 10 business days. Violations could result in fines of up to $500 per offense, with each day a violation continues counting as a separate offense.

Councilwoman: Safety and business can coexist

Councilwoman Julie Moss said Wednesday the ordinance aims to improve safety without targeting responsible businesses.

“The recently passed ordinance regarding bars was put in place to help maintain the safety and security of patrons and the surrounding community,” Moss said. “Its purpose is not to ban bars or make it more difficult for responsible businesses to operate. Instead, it establishes stronger policies and accountability measures aimed at reducing negative activity and creating a safer environment for everyone.”

“Supporting local businesses and prioritizing public safety can go hand in hand,” she added. “This ordinance is intended to encourage both by promoting responsible operations while helping protect the people who visit and enjoy these establishments.”

Other council business

The council also approved a consent agenda that included a new retail beer and table wine license for Sushi House Anniston Inc., rejected bids for the Anniston Museums and Gardens IA trail project, and awarded contracts totaling $64,499 for demolishing 10 substandard structures throughout the city.

Budget amendments included $75,000 for a state road improvement project, $937,200 for re-roofing City Hall and the public library, and funds for a new debris vacuum and a replacement mower for maintenance operations. The council also appointed Ward 3 resident Jimmy Jackson to the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Board.

Cleanup and youth activities highlighted

During council comments, Moss highlighted a recent cleanup along Coleman Road by the police department’s inmate work detail, which removed about 780 gallons of litter over 10 hours. She encouraged residents to take pride in the community by properly disposing of trash.

Councilman Joe Harrington thanked the parks department for hosting a fishing rodeo for children in the city’s Summer Day Camp. Campers visited Lake Yahou at Fort McClellan for outdoor learning and fishing, with some children catching fish for the first time.

The ordinance will take effect 30 days after its passage, adoption, and publication as required by law.