COEUR d'ALENE - The city of Coeur d'Alene is close to relaxing its policy on who can enter beer and wine gardens during events.

Last week, Municipal Services Director Renata McLeod told the city's general services committee that employees have received numerous requests to allow children into the designated areas during concerts or other family friendly events. She added that Idaho state code does not prohibit the city from allowing all age groups to enter the areas, and that the Coeur d'Alene Police Department worked closely with the parks department on crafting the policy change.

"The parks department feels like it's a reasonable request," McLeod said. "There's a way to still designate that area so we don't have beer and wine sort of filtering out to the masses in the park, which makes it a little more difficult for police to do enforcement."

Under the new policy, city officials will determine whether or not it is appropriate to have a "21 and over area" when it receives a catering permit request. Regardless of the determination, event organizers are required to have physical barriers - such as fencing or posts with chains between them - to designate the beer and wine garden areas.

"Approving this policy will allow city departments to consistently regulate beer and wine areas and give event sponsors clarity in the process," McLeod said.

Interim Parks Director Bill Greenwood used August's "Smoke on the Water at McEuen Park" as an example of the need for a policy change. He said the event had a cordoned-off beer and wine garden, but questions arose when parents couldn't bring their children in to enjoy the food offered in the area.

"We're trying to be more inclusive," Greenwood said. "We want to make it more family-friendly, and for the kids to be next to their parents rather than sitting outside of a chained area."

The general services committee voted unanimously in approval of the new policy. On April 7, the Coeur d'Alene City Council will vote on officially adopting the policy change.