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Two big Seminole bars, one decision

An ordinance would ban underage visitors from some clubs in Seminole.

By ANNE LINDBERG, Times Staff Writer
Published August 12, 2007

SEMINOLE - The city is prepared to take the next step toward becoming the first Pinellas city to ban customers younger than 21 from entering certain bars.

The ordinance, which the Seminole council will consider Tuesday, is directed at freestanding bars with a capacity of 100 or more occupants. The only two existing businesses that would be affected are Boomerz on Seminole Boulevard, and Page II on Park Boulevard.

"The whole thing is ludicrous," said Eddie Mlotkowski, owner of Boomerz. "This would hurt me tremendously. ... You know what they're acting like in the city of Seminole now? Just like my parents and grandparents when Elvis Presley and the Beatles came around."

Randolph Russell, owner of Page II, said he did not want to comment for this story, but allowed a photographer into his business.

The proposed ordinance is patterned after one in Tampa and has taken cues from similar efforts in Sarasota and Manatee County. The Seminole City Council has already given it tentative approval, and the first of two public hearings is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers in City Hall, 9199 113th St. N.

The proposal basically bans patrons between the ages of 18 and 21 from entering freestanding bars, but allows employees, firefighters, paramedics, police officers, band members and members of the military who fall within that age range to enter those bars.

The ordinance would also require bars to hire off-duty deputies or police under certain circumstances.

"I don't think there's anyone else in Pinellas County that has taken this step yet" to ban underage patrons, said Mark Ely, head of the city's development department.

The purpose of the ordinance is twofold, Ely said. One is to help keep down fights that occasionally break out. The other is to help ensure minors do not have access to alcohol.

That may sound good, Mlotkowski said, but the rule does not take into consideration establishments like Boomerz.

Mlotkowski said Boomerz is not so much a "bar" as an entertainment venue. Many of the bands are local kids who are younger than 21. Their audience tends to be the 18-21 age bracket.

Not only that, "the city has made a choice to be a college town, which they now are," Mlotkowski said. "I don't know of many college towns that have a law like that."

Mlotkowski was specifically referring to the Seminole campus of St. Petersburg College, but said the whole county could be considered a college town because of all the post-secondary education centers.

The Seminole campus has about 2,500 students, none of whom live on campus. The average age is about 27 to 29 years.

Boomerz takes steps to keep underage patrons away from alcohol. Those older than 21 wear bands that can't be swapped, and those younger than 21 have big black marks stamped on their hands. Kids found drinking are tossed out and, if it happens more than once, the offender is barred from Boomerz for 30 days. Underage patrons are charged more to enter, because Boomerz will not make as much money from them since they are not supposed to consume alcohol.

"I try to do it the right way," said Mlotkowski, who has run bars in Seminole since 1983

If you go

Hearing is Tuesday

The first of two public hearings is at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers, City Hall, 9199 113th St. N.

[Last modified August 11, 2007, 21:40:56]