The DeRidder City Council will be introducing an ordinance Monday night that would amend the city’s process in reviewing and issuing special exemptions to nonprofit organizations seeking to sell alcohol at special events.

The amendment would alter the process in which a nonprofit seeks special permission to sell alcohol at limited events that last no longer than three days. Typically, according to the city’s ordinance, an organization or business must possess an annual license to sell alcoholic beverages.

In its present form, the city’s ordinance requires a nonprofit’s request to go before the council for approval, but the amendment being introduced Monday would change that process by granting the mayor the ability to issue the special event permit instead.

Mayor Misty Clanton told the American Press the change would “streamline” the process for nonprofit groups and allow them to avoid the timeline constraints of submitting their request to the council and awaiting their vote.

“This does not change anything as far as what is required for a permit to be granted. A group must still meet all the same requirements as they did before, it only means that the request may go straight to the mayor and allows the administration to grant the request rather than the council,” Clanton said.

According to the city’s current ordinance, a nonprofit organization seeking the temporary permission to sell alcohol at an event must provide their request in writing to the council at least 30 days prior to the event and no less than seven days before a regularly scheduled meeting of the council.

The ordinance amendment is being introduced Monday night as an emergency ordinance. As such, the council will first have the opportunity to vote on whether to introduce the ordinance and, if introduced, the council will then immediately hold a public hearing to vote on the item.

The council meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.