LATHROP – The 2011 Lathrop Celebration Event Committee thinks they have the perfect idea for how to raise the funds needed to put on the four-day event in September for the community.

Host a beer and wine garden at Mossdale Landing Community Park.

It’ll take an act of the City Council to make that possible, however, since alcohol is currently prohibited in all parks throughout the City of Lathrop.

That decision will be before the council when they meet on Monday, August 15 at Lathrop City Hall at 7 p.m. It’ll the second time in several months that they’ll consider changing laws on the books governing local parks – allowing the Lathrop Relay for Life’s request for overnight use of Valverde Park for the upcoming cancer fundraiser.

According to the report prepared by staff, several issues arise if the council were to allow the committee to sell beer and wine for one-day only on September 24. Because the park is owned by the City of Lathrop and the event is sponsored by the city, the addition of alcohol may increase the city’s liability if any bodily injury were to result from the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Staff recommends that the council address that issue when making their decision on Monday.

A handful of additional findings must be met in order for staff to grant the temporary use permit required for the alcoholic beverages to be served. All those living within a certain radius of the park have been notified and will get an opportunity to voice their opinion at the meeting.

 The celebration event is preliminarily scheduled to include a youth talent show at the Lathrop Community Center on Wednesday, Sept.21; a chili cook-off and a senior softball challenge on Thursday, September 22; a community movie in Valverde Park on Friday, September 23; and a community softball challenge at Mossdale Park, South County Idol at Mossdale Elementary School, and the big celebration at Mossdale Landing Community Park. A fireworks show would conclude the Saturday evening festivities.

A profit sharing agreement is currently being negotiated between the celebration committee and the Lathrop Lions Club who has been tapped to staff the beer and wine booth if it is approved.

The proposed time of sale for beer and wine is from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 24. An on-site security guard is also planned to prevent problems.