Oviedo's City Council on Monday declined to put a discussion of the city's alcohol-centered festivals on a future agenda, after Mayor Megan Sladek asked colleagues to take a fresh look at how the city runs its signature events, FOX 35 Orlando reported.
Sladek named Oktoberfest and Bark and Brew as examples. "I think it might be an appropriate time for us to have a discussion item on revisiting, or maybe a work session or something, to revisit what a signature event is and how we operate," she said during the meeting.
She told the council she would prefer that the city not organize events where drinking is a central focus. She pointed to Viva Oviedo!, a festival that pays its own way, as the model she prefers for public money, saying events that pay their own way serve residents of all ages and do not put city-run drink sales in competition with nearby bars and restaurants.
Deputy Mayor Natalie Teuchert objected. "If you are looking for a discussion on how we can get rid of our staff, if I read you right, get rid of some of our events because we had a group step up to the plate and add to the events we have, I'm just not on board with that," Teuchert said, according to the station.
