Healdsburg OKs alcohol at beach event

The first Great Russian River Race will be wet in more ways than one, now that Healdsburg City Council members have overcome their qualms about allowing alcohol at the event.

The City Council Monday voted unanimously to let beer and wine be served at the May 7 after-race party, overcoming a decades-old prohibition on alcohol at Veterans Memorial Beach park.

Council members said they were swayed by the precautions and security measures proposed by the Russian Riverkeeper, the conservation group staging the race and party.

“Initially, I had my public safety hat on and didn’t see how alcohol and water would mix,” said Councilwoman Susan Jones, a former police chief.

But in casting her vote, she said: “I am very impressed with the lengths they’ve gone to putting in just about every public safety precaution possible.”

The police and fire departments urged the council to deny the permit because of alcohol-related drownings in the Russian River in and around Memorial Beach, usually one or more a year and typically in relatively calm water.

Don McEnhill, executive director of Russian Riverkeeper, said the group would restrict consumption of the alcohol to the grass and picnic areas of the riverfront park and not allow it on the beach.

In addition to a fenced perimeter, there will be about a dozen uniformed security guards and police officers, and three or four lifeguards on hand. At least 30 volunteers will be monitoring the after-race party and race course.

Councilman Gary Plass, a retired police sergeant, recalled working the former Russian River raft races in Healdsburg several decades ago, which he described as more of a “booze party” with 2,000 to 3,000 people that resulted in arrests. “It was scary,” he said.

In contrast, he praised organizers of the Great Russian River Race, which is expected to draw a far smaller crowd. “They’ve done a great job of putting together a plan that’s extremely workable,” he said.

The controversy over allowing beer and wine comes as Healdsburg tries to revive Memorial Beach as a summer tourist draw and family attraction.

Budget constraints had threatened closure of the county-run Veteran’s Memorial Beach and installation of the summer dam that creates a swimming lagoon. But with Healdsburg committing $55,000 for repairs to the dam, Sonoma County’s board of supervisors last week agreed to keep it and the adjacent county park operating for at least five years.

Part of the $180,000 annual cost of running and staffing Veterans Memorial Beach and the dam are expected to be subsidized by events such as the Great Russian River Race and a much larger July 23 county sponsored event that will feature floats and a water carnival atmosphere.

Organizers of the race in May said they hope to generate $45,000 in revenue and donate $15,000 to county parks. Without the alcohol sales, which will be from noon to 4 p.m, McEnhill estimated the donation might be $3,000-to-$5,000 less.“The spirit with which we’re hoping to provide alcohol is more of a finish-line beer to celebrate your accomplishment, or for a family member, or spectator,” McEnhill said.

The race is attracting top canoe and kayak athletes, including Carter Johnson, described as the fastest flat-water paddler in the world. There also will be “social paddlers” and corporate teams, according to organizers.

Advanced and expert paddlers will compete in a 15-mile race from the Alexander Valley Bridge to the Healdsburg Bridge at Memorial Beach.

Intermediate and corporate team paddlers are racing a five-mile “Rio Lindo” course starting north of Healdsburg.

The event is limited to 350 contestants.

Mayor Tom Chambers said the council decision shouldn’t be construed as allowing alcohol for other upcoming river events.

“If this was in the heat of summer, I’d probably feel differently,” noted Councilwoman Jones.