The Fridley City Council approved a temporary liquor permit for the Fridley Lions Club for its annual Winter Warm Up event on a 3-0 vote at the Feb. 9 meeting.
Mayor David Ostwald recused himself from the vote because his wife, Steph Ostwald, currently serves as president of the Fridley Lions Club. Council Member Ryan Evanson was absent.
City Clerk Melissa Moore told the council the Winter Warm Up is an annual event hosted by the Lions at Banquets of Minnesota on Feb. 27 and will include sampling of alcoholic beverages.
Moore said the application met all requirements, including intake review, verification of documentation and completion of a criminal background check.
Jo Young, first vice president of the Lions Club, said the focus of this year’s event is to raise funds to replace the fishing pier at Moore Lake Park. She said significant work has already been done to improve the lake, including water cleanup and fish stocking, and that the lake has become both a recreational and food resource for the community.
“We want to make certain that we can replace the pier so that it’s a safe place for people to go fishing,” Young said.
Tickets are available at fridleylions.org through a link to the event’s ticketing page.
Young said the event will feature eight food vendors, multiple alcohol vendors offering beer, wine and seltzers, as well as a soda and candy shop and Clapping Monkey House of Coffee.
In keeping with the fishing theme, the event will include a “Heads and Tails” game, and attendees will be able to “fish” in themed ponds for prizes such as white wine, red wine, beer or seltzer.