Alcohol OK'd for Wine Country Baseball at Rec Park

Alcohol sales will be allowed at Healdsburg's for Saturday night games starting this weekend.

Healdsburg Owls will play the Santa Rosa Gnats starting at 5 p.m. tonight.

Healdsburg City Council agreed Monday night to approve the league's application for an alcohol sales permit for eight Saturday night games at Rec Park.

Council members directed city staff to work out an agreement on fees with league founder and CEO Howard Leonhardt, who attended Monday night's meeting with his staff.

"I enjoy the games -- and my son plays on the league," said Healdsburg Mayor Tom Chambers after hearing a presentation from Leonhardt. "There's not that much alcohol consumed, and it's a nice time for families.

"We hope the league survives," Chambers added. "It's a good thing for Sonoma County."

Leonhardt, a prominent Sonoma County businessman and philanthropist and owner of Leonhardt Vineyards on Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg, said the league would abide by the city's strict security protocols -- including hiring a police officer for each game where alcohol is served.

"We hope this is the beginning of a long-term relationship," Leonhardt said. "We think this will offer great family entertainment and also attract people to Healdsburg."

Councilmembers Steve Babb and Susan Jones also agreed to allow the alcohol service. Councilmembers Gary Plass and Jim Wood were absent.

Chambers said he would have preferred to have had an advance recommendation  on the alcohol permit application from Healdsburg Parks and Recreation Commission, but decided it would be better to move ahead because of the short time frame.

At issue, according to Assistant City Manager David Mickaelian, was that normally alcohol permits were granted at city facilities for one or two days. Wine Country Baseball's application is for alcohol service at eight Saturday night games on June 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23 and Aug. 13.

"Staff thought council should consider the unusual frequency of alcohol service and the proximity to , which is a place where families go," Mickaelian said.

He said the permit application rises to the level of a special event, and merited additional council review.

Chambers, Babb and Jones said they were comfortable with moving ahead on the current application given Leonardt's assurances on security and the likely low level of alcohol consumption.

In the future, however, they said they wanted to review any alcohol permit applications for special events in advance.

Fee proposals under discussion Monday night included a $1,350 alcohol permit fee to cover the eight games, plus $300 per night usage fee for Rec Park. Leonardt also offered an alternative proposal to split revenue 50-50 with the city, adding that such an arrangement had worked well last year at a different location.

Riley Sullivan, Wine Country Baseball general manaager, said later that the league was very excited about which is being

"With the we want to make that our jewel ballpark," Sullivan said. "That's our plan."

For a schedule of games, check the Wine Country Baseball website.