Peoria Standard

City of Peoria Mayor's Advisory Committee for the Disabled met April 3.

Here is the minutes as provided by the Committee:

A meeting of the City of Peoria Liquor Commission was held in Room 404, City Hall, 419 Fulton Street, Peoria, Illinois, on April 3, 2017, Chairman Cassidy presiding, with proper notice having been posted.

ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Cassidy arrived @ approximately 3:40 p.m.; Commissioners:  Camille Coates, Scott Kelsey, Mike Miller, Mike O’Brien - 5; Absent:  None.

Others present:  Deputy Liquor Commissioner Eric Turner; Deputy Corporation Counsel Sonni Williams; Liquor Investigator Kevin Slavens; Fire Inspector Stan Taylor; Senior Urban Planner Shannon Techie; Deputy Clerk Trina Bonds; concerned citizens and media.

I. CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Pro Tem Miller called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.  

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner Kelsey moved to approve the Minutes of the March 6, 2017, Liquor Commission Meeting, as outlined; seconded by Commissioner Coates.  

Approved by roll call vote:  Yeas:  Coates, Kelsey, Miller, O’Brien - 4;  Nays:  None;  Abstention: None.

III. LIQUOR SITE APPLICATIONS

Chairman Cassidy read the amendment to Section 3-57, which will be read at the beginning of every Liquor Commission Meeting.   “The Liquor Commission is a recommending body with respect to site approval. Our function is to determine if the location of an establishment is appropriate for the class of liquor license being requested and then make a recommendation to the City Council as to whether the application should be approved or denied. The City Council makes the final decision.

Under Section 3-57 of the Code of the City of Peoria any misrepresentation or false statement made to either this Commission or the City Council relating to the proposed business to be operated on the site can result in a denial of your liquor license; suspension and/or revocation of a license if already issued, and a fine of up to $1,000.”

Request to Move Agenda Item Due to the applicant for Liquor Commission Case No. 17-06 not being present, Commissioner Coates  moved to place the item at the end of the agenda; seconded by Commissioner O’Brien.

Approved by roll call vote:  Yeas:  Coates, Kelsey, Miller, O’Brien - 4;  Nays:  None;  Abstention: None.

17-07 Sarti Sandman Sacramento, LP   d/b/a Packard Plaza  211 NE Adams  Requesting: Class K (rental hall)    Subclass 2 (live entertainment)

Jennifer Cherry, Sales Manager, Packard Plaza - Mark Twain Hotel, presented a Site Application for a Class K (rental hall) Liquor License, with a Subclass 2 (live entertainment) at 211 NE Adams.

In discussion with Chairman Pro Tem Miller, Ms. Cherry said they had planned to operate the business pretty much the same as the former licensee for this site.  She said they planned to hold weddings, receptions, corporate events, and other banquet hall type events.  She said they would like to tie in fundraisers for the community and also possibly Murder Mystery Dinners.  She said as far as live entertainment, they would possibly have a small band.  She said they were working with Jay Goldberg in regards to doing a Roaring 20’s party as a fundraiser.

In response to a question from Commissioner O’Brien, Ms. Cherry explained that there was a new owner of the building and the previous licensee had opted to leave their lease early in June of 2016.  She said there hadn’t been any major structural changes to the building.

Chairman Cassidy arrived at approximately 3:40 p.m.

Hearing no more questions, Chairman Pro Tem Miller called for the motion.

Commissioner O’Brien moved to recommend approval of the Site Application for a Class K (tavern) Liquor License, with a Subclass 2 (live entertainment); seconded by Commissioner Coates.

Approved by roll call vote.   Yeas: Coates, Kelsey, Miller, O’Brien - 4;   Nays: None.

Chairman Pro Tem Miller stated this recommendation would be heard at the City Council Meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. and a representative of this establishment should be present at that meeting.

17-08 Delgado’s Restaurant, Inc.   d/b/a Mariachi  1818 W. War Memorial  Requesting: Subclass 2 (live entertainment)    Subclass 3A (sidewalk café)        Jose Delgado and Aracelo Delgado-Martinez, presented a Site Application to add a Subclass 2 (live entertainment) and a Subclass 3A (sidewalk café) to an existing Class B (restaurant, 50% food) Liquor License at 1818 W. War Memorial.

In discussion with Chairman Cassidy, Mr. Delgado said he had a stage area inside of the restaurant and he said he would like to have a Mariachi band for monthly entertainment.  He said he also wanted to add a sidewalk café outside in front of his restaurant.  He said they would have 4 to 5 tables in the patio area.  

Fire Investigator Stan Taylor said the stage area would impact the seating capacity for the establishment.  He said he would go back to the restaurant to take a look at it.  

Hearing no more questions, Chairman Cassidy called for the motion.

Commissioner Miller moved to recommend approval of the Site Application to add a Subclass 2 (live entertainment) and a Subclass 3A (sidewalk café) to an existing Class B (restaurant, 50% food) Liquor License at 1818 W. War Memorial, contingent upon compliance with the Community Development Department’s requirements; seconded by Commissioner O’Brien.

Approved by roll call vote.   Yeas: Cassidy, Coates, Kelsey, Miller, O’Brien - 5;   Nays: None.

17-09 Bites & Pints, LLC   d/b/a Tavern on Prospect  5901 N. Prospect, Suite 10  Requesting: Subclass 3 (beer garden) - Expansion        Travis Goff, Owner, and Brittney Duffield, General Manager, Junction City, presented a Site Application for an expansion of an existing Subclass 3 (beer garden), with an existing Class A (tavern) Liquor License, with a Subclass 2 (live entertainment) at 5901 N. Prospect, Suite 10.

In discussion with Chairman Cassidy, Ms. Duffield said their plans were to make a continuation of the same look and design of the current patio for Tavern on Prospect.  She said they would also be adding fun outdoor games to the new patio area.  

Mr. Goff said their hours of operation would remain the same.

In discussion in regards to the location of the proposed new beer garden area, Deputy Corporation Counsel Williams said the code spoke of the word adjacent.  She said the current approved beer garden was not technically adjacent to the establishment.  She said there hadn’t been any issues, but she wanted to make sure that patrons were aware that they had to keep all alcohol within the parameters of the proposed beer garden area.

Chairman Cassidy commented about the proposed location and he asked the applicant for additional information in regards to the staff presence outside.  

In response to Chairman Cassidy’s comments, Mr. Goff said typically patrons would obtain their drink from inside and carry it outside on their own.  He said they did not have full service outside, but he said they planned to put up signs informing customers that alcohol must remain inside the beer garden area.  He also said there was a clear line of site for their bartenders to see the proposed area.

During more discussion, Chairman Cassidy pointed out that it was the applicant’s responsibility to be sure to police the proposed area for compliance.  He said his concerns were that they would be setting a precedence.  He went on to say that because of the line of site issue, he felt the proposed extension would be as far as he would be comfortable with.

The Commission agreed that they would review any requests for similar situations on a case by case basis.

Liquor Investigator Slavens mentioned the proposed signage on the beer garden and he said there hadn’t been any complaints.  He said he included a letter in regards to the previously approved beer garden from former Liquor Investigator Scott Jordan in the Commissioner’s packets to make sure they were all on the same page.  

Hearing no more questions, Chairman Cassidy called for the motion.

Commissioner O’Brien moved to recommend approval of the Site Application for an expansion of an existing Subclass 3 (beer garden), with an existing Class A (tavern) Liquor License with a Subclass 2 (live entertainment) at 5901 N. Prospect, Suite 10; seconded by Commissioner Kelsey.

Approved by roll call vote.   Yeas: Cassidy, Coates, Kelsey, Miller, O’Brien - 5;   Nays: None.

16-19 Tannins and Hops, LLC   d/b/a Tannins & Hops  619 SW Water  Requesting: 90-Day Extension of Site Approval        The applicant was not present to provide public testimony in regards to his request for an extension.

In discussion with Chairman Cassidy in regards to the deferral of the request for an extension, Deputy Clerk Bonds explained that the construction of the new establishment had not been completed and she said the site would expire on April 25, 2017.

Deputy Corporation Counsel Sonni Williams clarified options for the Commission.

Hearing no more questions, Chairman Cassidy called for the motion.

Commissioner Milller moved to recommend approval of the request for a 90-day extension of the Site Approval for a Class B-1 (restaurant, 25% food) Liquor License, with a Subclass 1A (2:00 am closing hours), a Subclass 2 (live entertainment), and a Subclass 3 (beer garden) at 619A SW Water; seconded by Commissioner Coates.

Approved by roll call vote.   Yeas: Cassidy, Coates, Kelsey, Miller, O’Brien - 5;   Nays: None.

17-06 Hooka Café, Inc.   d/b/a Royal Hookah Lounge  2027 W. Farmington Road, Unit A  Requesting: Class A (tavern)        Fadi Atrash, Owner, and Yousef Saleh, Manager, Royal Hookah Lounge, presented a Site Application for a Class A (tavern) Liquor License at 2027 W. Farmington Road, Unit A.

In discussion with Chairman Cassidy, Mr. Saleh said in order to obtain additional business, he said they wanted to add the sale of alcohol to an existing hookah lounge.  He said their current hours of operation were from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on weekdays and from 5:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. on weekends.

During more discussion, Mr. Saleh said they planned to have coolers for the beer and wine.  He said initially, there wouldn’t be a bar in the establishment.

Commissioner Miller expressed his concerns in regards to the Police Department’s comments and the issues that had taken place at other establishments operated by the owner.

In response to Commissioner Miller’s concerns, Mr. Saleh said he would be managing the establishment and he said he would be making sure patrons were over the legal age.  He said currently 18 years of age was the age limit.

Liquor Investigator Slavens said the Police Department’s comments spoke for itself.  He mentioned numerous issues and complaints in relation to establishments that were run by the owner.  He asked that the Commission take into consideration the applicant’s track record while making the decision to add the sale of alcohol to the proposed site.

Chairman Cassidy commented for the record that he always felt that there was a fine line between the Commission’s role on site approval vs. whether if any particular individual should get the license once the site was approved.  He said in this case, the applicant did not have a business plan or a bar set up.  He went on to say that they weren’t proposing any reconstruction of the establishment and they only wanted to put in a cooler to serve beer and wine to their customers.  He said for those reasons, he would not be supporting the application.

After more comments, Mr. Saleh said their main reason for wanting to add the sale of alcohol was because they wanted to add slot machines.

Hearing no more questions, Chairman Cassidy called for the motion.

Commissioner Kelsey moved to recommend denial of the Site Application for a Class A (tavern) Liquor License at 2027 W. Farmington Road, Unit A, based on the Police Department’s comments; seconded by Commissioner O’Brien.

Motion to deny Approved by roll call vote.   Yeas: Cassidy, Coates, Kelsey, Miller, O’Brien - 5;   Nays: None.

Chairman Cassidy stated this recommendation would be heard at the City Council Meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. and a representative of this establishment should be present at that meeting.

IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was no unfinished business to discuss.

V. NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business to discuss.

VI. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING

The next scheduled regular meeting of the Liquor Commission is Monday, May 1, 2017.  

VII.  ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner O’Brien moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Commissioner Kelsey.  

Approved by viva voce vote.

The Liquor Commission Meeting adjourned at 4:09 p.m.