The Tuscaloosa City Council set a date for a referendum about Sunday alcohol sales in Tuscaloosa at Tuesday’s meeting.

The council decided set the election date for Feb. 22, 2011. The date is subject to review and approval by the U.S. Department of Justice and is subject to change based upon that review.

Councilman Lee Garrison said he is glad that citizens will be able to vote on this issue.

“It has been a long time that we have been working on this, and it is great that is has finally passed,” he said.

The main argument advocates have made for alcohol sales on Sundays is the economic benefit. There have been several large football games that have taken place on Sunday where citizens have not been able to purchase alcohol.

“The economic impact includes things such as conferences that may not be held here because you are not able to purchase alcohol on Sundays,” City Clerk Tracy Croom said.

She said Alabama residents can purchase alcohol on Sundays in larger cities like Birmingham, but Tuscaloosa is one of the larger cities where people are not able to do so.

“We find it harder to compete with other cities for events because of this issue,” she said.

Students will be able to vote on this if they meet the 90-10 rule, Croom said.

“The students have to be a registered citizen of Tuscaloosa for 90 days, and they have to be a registered voter for 10 days prior the election,” she said.

On Monday, Northport’s city council voted 3-2 to ask the Alabama Legislature for an vote on alcohol sales in their city.

Councilwoman Cynthia Almond said the council has been pushing for a referendum for a decade.

“There has been public response both for and against seven-day alcohol sales, so it will be interesting to see how the vote will turn out,” she said.

The council also adopted an ordinance prohibiting the entry of city facilities while in possession of a firearm.

The policy was put into effect on Tuesday as a police officer checked all individuals entering city hall.

City Attorney Timothy Nunnally drafted the ordinance and said the city recently began assessing security at city hall.

The ordinance defines a municipal facility as those enclosed areas of any building complex or facility owned, leased, operated or controlled by the city.

“When assessing city hall, we found that the security would be enhanced if we prohibited entering while in possession of a firearm,” he said.

He said the new rule will make these areas safer for employees and visitors.