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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-07-31 Transcription m P~I ITEM 2 ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 4, ENTITLED "ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES," CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "LIQUOR LICENSING AND BEER PERMITS" BY AMENDING SECTION 2 TO ALLOW LIVE PERFORMANCE THEATERS TO SERVE AND CONSUME ALCOHOL ABOVE THE GROUND FLOOR. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) O'Donnell: Move first consideration. Wilburn: Moved by O'Donnell. Champion: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Elliott: I was...I don't know if anybody else was... but I was kind of hoping that we could address the problem of alcoholic beverages being served anywhere but on the ground floor because ofthe public safety problems and while I'm not really interested in voting against this, it seems to be going the wrong way. Champion: Well, we have lots of bars that have second floors. Elliott: I know. Champion: They're serving alcohol. Elliott: I know. That's why I said I had hoped that we would address this at some point in the future. Champion: The Union serves alcohol on the second floor. Correia: What do you mean, Bob? Address it in what way? Elliott: Address it in that we could eliminate serving alcoholic beverage, or at least come up with a compromise, whereby you might be able to serve beer and wine say above ground floor, but not hard liquor. Dilkes: It's my understand that staff, H.I.S., and Fire are taking a look at that issue. I mean, that's been an issue for a number of years and maybe approaching it by making a determination as to what makes it unsafe and what we could do, via the Building Code, sprinkling, wider access, that kind of thing to address the safety issues. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 31, 2006. m P.2 Elliott: But it's my understanding, this wouldn't encumber or hinder that. It would be treated the same way as everyone else who was already authorized to do that. Dilkes: Yes, that wouldn't change this...it allows an additional exception for a live performance theater, for the.. . for an establishment such as the Englert. Bailey: And so are we going to look at the Englert for these kinds of considerations about safety. I know that they don't...I don't think their sprinkling system extends upstairs... but they have adequate exits and those kinds of things, right? (unable to hear person in audience speaking) O'Donnell: There's adequate exits, and there's also not overcrowding like there is downtown in the per se bars. Dilkes: The original intent behind this ordinance, as I understand it, came from a concern by Police about the ability to get upstairs when there are crowds of people who had been consuming alcohol, the ability to get upstairs, the ability to get people out of the upstairs, and that kind of thing. So, when we looked at the Englert situation and we looked at those concerns that led to this ordinance, staff believed that that concern, at least, was not present in connection with the Englert; however, that led to a discussion ofthe need to once again address the whole, you know, selling of alcohol on the second floor, in a bar-type establislunent. Champion: Right, and... Wilburn: How long ago was it that they received their first, anybody recall? How long ago was it before they received their first liquor license? Karr: Englert? Wilburn: Yeab. Karr: This is the first renewal. One year. Wilburn: Okay, and there's been no problems? Karr: No. Wilburn: I don't recall any problems, and in terms of this issue about the, you know, the second floor and crowding, I guess that gets back to I think, in my opinion, all ofthe issues related to alcohol is where is there a problem and how can it best be addressed, and since there has been no problem in this past year, I know personally I'm willing to go ahead... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 31, 2006. m P~3 Karr: Just to clarify, you know, you just passed about a month ago the new standards that all review, renewals, will be looked at, and certainly this will be looked at one year from now with those same standards as all other establishments. Wilburn: Right. Any other discussion? Vanderhoef: I want to clarify something. It's been my understanding that the bars that we presently have, that have alcohol serving on the second floor are grandfathered in, is that correct? Dilkes: They are, but that was a political decision. Those of you who have been on the Council for a long time. . . as I recall it. That was a political decision to grandfather those uses. Elliott: (laughing) That's a nice way of putting it. Dilkes: Not necessarily a legal requirement. (several laughing and talking) Vanderhoef: Because I have never been in favor of any kind of serving of alcohol on the second floor, and... Champion: Everywhere? Vanderhoef: Well, in the bars, particularly those that have the narrow stairways and... Champion: Oh, yeah, we have a few ofthose. Bailey: Do you have concerns about this? Vanderhoef: This particular one I do not, but if there's any interest by Council to talk about the others, I'd be willing to talking about it again. Bailey: I don't have any concern about this because the focus is live-performance theaters, and you know, with the arts, we could only be so lucky to have a crowd. I mean, really that would be a nice thing, and we'll evaluate this on its merits next year, I guess, when they go for renewal. Elliott: Jay Leno may stop by! Bailey: I don't think he's stopping by the Englert. Wilburn: Any other comments relevant to the passage of this ordinance tonight? (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 31, 2006. #2 Page 4 Elliott: Thank you. Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 31, 2006. #3 Page 5 ITEM 3 CONSIDER A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL MEETING. Bailey: So moved. Wilburn: Moved by Bailey. Vanderhoef: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef. All those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. We are adjourned. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 31, 2006.