Peoria Standard

City of Peoria Liquor Commission met November 6.

Here is the minutes provided by the Commission:

A meeting of the City of Peoria Liquor Commission was held in Room 404, City Hall, 419 Fulton Street, Peoria, Illinois, on November 6, 2017, Chairman Miller presiding, with proper notice having been posted.

Roll Call:

Present: Chairman Miller; Commissioners: Drew Cassidy, Camille Coates, Steve Kouri II - 4;

Absent: Commissioner Mike O’Brien - 1.

Others present: Assistant City Attorney Melodi Green; Fire Captain Stan Taylor; Deputy Clerk Trina Bonds; concerned citizens and media.

I. Call To Order

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

II. Approval Of Minutes

Commissioner Cassidy moved to approve the Minutes of the October 2, 2017, Liquor Commission Meeting, as outlined; seconded by Commissioner Coates.

Approved by roll call vote:

Yeas: Cassidy, Coates, Kouri, Miller - 4;

Nays: None;

Abstention: None.

III. Liquor Site Applications

Chairman Miller 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.”

Welcome & Introduction:

Chairman Miller welcomed and introduced new Liquor Commissioner Steve Kouri, II to the Liquor Commission.

17-19 Azteca Mexican Restaurant Inc.

d/b/a Azteca Mexican Restaurant

319 Main St.

Requesting: Class B (restaurant, 50% food)

Subclass 2 (live entertainment)

Honorio Carrillo Vazquez, Owner, presented a Site Application for a Class B (restaurant, 50% food) Liquor License, with a Subclass 2 (live entertainment) at 319 Main St.

In discussion with Chairman Miller, Mr. Vazquez gave a brief overview of the request. He said they had planned to open their new family restaurant at the subject location by the end of November. He said their hours of operation were from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday thru Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

For clarification, Chairman Miller asked if there would be an actual bar inside of the establishment. Mr. Vazquez clarified that they would not have a bar inside the restaurant.

During more discussion, there was a question in regards to if there was a stage area for the proposed live entertainment. Mr. Vazquez explained that there wasn’t a set location, but he said monthly they wanted to have a Mariachi Band to walk around and sing for approximately two hours to their customers. He clarified that there wouldn’t be any speakers involved. Captain Taylor pointed out that the establishment had a raised window seating area that could be considered a stage.

In response to more questions, Assistant Attorney Green reiterated that there shouldn’t be an issue with the request for the Subclass 2 (live entertainment), considering the frequency of the Mariachi Band and the facts stated by the applicant and Captain Taylor.

In more discussion, Captain Taylor expressed the Fire Department’s concern in regard to the apartments located upstairs from the restaurant. He informed the applicant that in order to address life safety concerns, there was a requirement that he install a fire alarm that had to be interconnected to the restaurant and the apartments upstairs. He described a wireless fire alarm that would be Code compliant and he said he would meet with the applicant to further address those concerns.

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

Commissioner Cassidy moved to recommend approval of the Site Application for a Class B (restaurant, 50% food) Liquor License, with a Subclass 2 (live entertainment) at 319 Main, contingent upon the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy; seconded by Commissioner Coates.

Approved by roll call vote.

Yeas: Cassidy, Coates, Kouri, Miller - 4;

Nays: None.

Chairman Miller stated this recommendation would be heard at the City Council Meeting to be held on

Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. and a representative of this establishment should be present at that meeting.

IV. New Business

There was no new business to discuss.

V. Next Scheduled Meeting

The next scheduled regular meeting of the Liquor Commission is Monday, December 4, 2017.

VI. Adjournment

Commissioner Kouri moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Commissioner Coates.

Approved by viva voce vote.

The Liquor Commission Meeting adjourned at 3:37 p.m.

http://www.peoriagov.org/content/uploads/2012/11/Minutes-11-6-17_1511365010_add.pdf