City of Peoria Liquor Commission met May 4

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Jun 26, 2020

City of Peoria Liquor Commission met May 4.

Here is the minutes provided by the commission:

A meeting of the City of Peoria Liquor Commission was held by electronic means through Microsoft Teams, Chairman Miller presiding, with proper notice having been posted.

ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE

In accordance with Governor JB Pritzker’s Executive Orders 2020-10, issued on March 20, 2020, prohibiting all public and private gatherings of 10 people or more in a single room or single space at the same time, and 2020-18, issued on April 1, 2020, extending Executive Order 2020-10 through April 30, 2020, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation of gatherings of no more than 10 people in a single room or space and social distancing of at least six feet between persons; Mayor Ardis, declared a local State of Emergency and closed City Hall to the public to contain the spread of COVID-19.

To fulfill the requirements and recommendations and to comply with the spirit of the Open Meetings Act by conducting the May 4, 2020 Regular Liquor Commission Meeting virtually through Microsoft Teams. Those Liquor Commissioners attending the meeting virtually shall be declared present. Citizens and media were invited to call in. Submissions for Public Comment were asked to be sent to the City Clerk’s Office.

ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Michael Miller; Commissioners: Steve Kouri, Stephen Morris, Mike O’Brien -

4; Absent: Camille Coates - 1.

Others present: City Attorney Michael Toren; Liquor Investigator Kevin Slavens; Fire Engineer Charlie Perrin; Deputy Clerk Trina Bonds; media and concerned citizens.

I. CALL TO ORDER

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

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner O’Brien moved to approve the Minutes of the February 3, 2020, Liquor Commission Meeting, as outlined; seconded by Commissioner Morris.

Approved by roll call vote:

Yeas: Kouri, Miller, Morris, O’Brien - 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.”

20-04 Po-Boy’s on Frostwood, LLC

d/b/a Premier Event & Entertainment Center

3214 N. Dries Lane

Requesting: Class I (Stadium/Assembly Halls)

Subclass 1A (2:00 a.m. closing hours)

Walter Zich, Member & General Manager, presented a Site Application for a Class I (Stadium/Assembly Halls) Liquor License with a Subclass 1A (2:00 a.m. closing hours) at 3214 N. Dries Lane.

In discussion with Chairman Miller, Mr. Zich reported they had purchased the building 21 years ago and he said they operated a commercial bingo hall at that location for 18 years. He said three years ago, after video gaming evolved, the bingo hall was no longer a functional business. He stated after listing the property for sale for three years with no luck, he said they decided to repurpose the building. He said the proposed event center would pair well with the restaurant Connected nearby. He said the vision would be for a multi-use venue available throughout the week with a full-service bar and limited food, with a primary function of holding concerts, weddings and other upscaled events.

In response to a question from Chairman Miller regarding the requested liquor license class, Liquor Investigator Slavens confirmed that there weren’t any issues with the request. He went on to say that the Class I (stadium/assembly halls) was appropriate for the type of venue that the applicant was proposing.

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

Commissioner Morris moved to recommend approval of the Site Application for a Class I (Stadium/Assembly Halls) Liquor License, with a Subclass 1A (2:00 a.m. closing hours) at 3214 N. Dries Lane; seconded by Commissioner Kouri.

Approved by roll call vote.

Yeas: Kouri, Miller, Morris, O’Brien - 4;

Nays: None;

Abstention: None.

Chairman Miller stated this recommendation would be heard at the City Council Meeting to be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.

19-20 Mezcal & Miel Company (Request for 60-Day Extension)

d/b/a Mezcal & Miel 3504 N. Prospect Road

Requesting: Class C-1 (Packaged Goods)

Subclass 6 (Product Tastings)

Christell Frausto, Owner, presented a request for a 60-day extension of the Site Application for a Class C- 1 (packaged goods) Liquor License, with a Subclass 6 (product tastings) at 3504 N. Prospect Road.

Chairman Miller gave a brief overview of the Site Approval that was approved in November of 2019. During discussion, Ms. Frausto reported that because they were running behind on construction, additional time was needed. She stated they were now back on track with construction and building permits.

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

Commissioner Morris moved to approve the request for a 60-day extension of the Site Approval for a Class C-1 (Packaged Goods) Liquor License, with a Subclass 6 (Product Tastings) at 3504 N. Prospect Rd.; seconded by Commissioner Kouri.

Approved by roll call vote.

Yeas: Kouri, Morris, O’Brien - 3;

Nays: Miller - 1;

Abstention: None.

IV. CITIZEN’S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE LIQUOR COMMISSION

There were no citizens who wished to address the Liquor Commission.

V. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING

The next scheduled regular meeting of the Liquor Commission is Monday, June 1, 2020.

VI. ADJOURNMENT

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

Approved by viva voce vote.

The Liquor Commission Meeting adjourned at 3:42 p.m.