Peoria Standard

City of Peoria Liquor Commission met Oct. 5

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 Kouri presiding, with proper notice having been posted.

ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE

To fulfill the requirements and recommendations and to comply with the spirit of the Open Meetings Act by conducting the 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 Stephen Kouri; Commissioners: Camille Coates, Mike Miller, Mike O’Brien - 4; Absent: Stephen Morris - 1.

Others present: City Attorney Michael Toren; Fire Engineer Charlie Perrin; Deputy Clerk Trina Bonds; and Business Owner Andy Faris.

I. CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Kouri called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner Coates moved to approve the Minutes of the September 8, 2020, Liquor Commission Meeting, as outlined; seconded by Commissioner Miller.

Approved by roll call vote:

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

Nays: None;

Abstention: None.

III. LIQUOR SITE APPLICATIONS

20-05 J.K. Williams Distilling, LLC

d/b/a J.K. Williams Distilling

8635 N. Industrial

Requesting: Class C-1 (Packaged Goods)

Subclass 6 (Product Tastings)

Andy Faris, Owner, J.K. Williams Distilling, presented a Site Application for a Class C-1 (Packaged Goods) Liquor License with a Subclass 6 (Product Tastings) at 8635 N. Industrial Road.

LIQUOR COMMISSION – October 5, 2020

In discussion with Chairman Kouri, Mr. Faris shared a brief background and he explained that initially they wanted to have all their distilling operations from one building. He said they were under contract and set to close the 330 SW Water location on October 23, 2020. He said the building had been gutted and they found that it wasn’t logistically feasible to produce a decent amount of alcohol there. He explained that they had also unsuccessfully looked at other different buildings around town. He went on to say that the proposed location was formerly occupied by the former Biehl’s Dry Cleaners and he said the site was very suitable for their operations in relation to the production of distilled spirits. He said they were pleasantly surprised when they found that it already had a large amount of electrical, fire suppression, steam and many other things they needed.

In more testimony, Mr. Faris said during their second phase, he said they would primarily use the Water St. location for the retail experience. He said it was not their intention to have any public facing at the Industrial Road location and he went on to say that they would utilize that site for distilling, with an exception of a small retail store of packaged goods they had produced. He said sometime in 2021, they would like to have tours and connect the two buildings. He said for that reason, they were requesting to add the Subclass 6 in order to have it available in the future.

In response to a question from Commissioner Miller, Mr. Faris explained that a City of Peoria liquor license would not be required if they were just distilling alcohol only at the proposed location.

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

Commissioner O’Brien moved to recommend approval of the Site Application for a Class C-1 (Packaged Goods) Liquor License, with a Subclass 6 (Product Tastings) at 8635 N. Industrial Road; seconded by Commissioner Miller.

Approved by roll call vote.

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

Nays: None;

Abstention: None.

After a brief discussion, Chairman Kouri stated this recommendation would be heard at the City Council Meeting to be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.

IV. NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business to discuss.

V. CITIZEN’S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE LIQUOR COMMISSION

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

VI. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING

The next scheduled regular meeting of the Liquor Commission is Monday, November 2, 2020.

VI. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Coates moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Commissioner Miller. Approved by viva voce vote.

The Liquor Commission Meeting adjourned at 3:52 p.m.

http://www.peoriagov.org/content/uploads/2012/11/Minutes-10-5-20_1603478114_add.pdf