MONROE - An increase in Monroe's liquor license quotas is still not without its opponents nor its restrictions.
The City of Monroe Finance and Taxation Committee on Monday voted 2-1 to send to the Monroe City Council an ordinance amending the city code on alcoholic beverage license quotas and application procedures, and to set a public hearing.
Committee member Charles Koch voted against the motion.
"I still can't see increasing the opportunity to buy alcohol," Koch said during the meeting. "It really bothers me. We keep coming back and increasing the number of places to procure alcohol."
The amendment would give Monroe the ability to issue 12 Class A (packaged) intoxicating liquor licenses and 12 Class A fermented malt liquor licenses. But the total number of premises issued a Class A license, in any combination, is not to exceed 12.
New applicants for licenses will have to submit a Monroe Alcohol Beverage License Supplement form. That form will be readied by the city clerk in May and approved by the License Committee, and will include information about the business. Its purpose is to allow council members to weigh their decision on acceptance of a liquor license application.
The extra "reserve" Class B intoxicating liquor license can be issued only with a state-statute-mandated $10,000 fee.
Members of the committee and aldermen attending the meeting expressed that the charge was too much.
The amendments, therefore, include an economic development grant available to the recipient of the reserve license, not to exceed $10,000 within 12 months following the issuance of the license. To receive the grant, the applicant must provide evidence or documentation of improvements to the premise equal to or greater than the amount requested in the grant application.
A "use it or lose it" provision is being added to the ordinance. Businesses with liquor licenses cannot be closed for more than 120 days, and must be open for more than 25 percent of the time in cases of partial license years.
Violations of this subsection will result in a non-renewal or revocation. Variances to the conditions spelled out in the ordinance include, substantial damages to the premises, death or disability of licensee, substantial remodeling and unique circumstances that advances a significant public interest in the judgment of the council members granting the variances.
"I'm looking at the economics," Committee Chairman Dan Henke said.
Henke noted "family places," like Applebee's , which would come to Monroe, but serve alcoholic beverages.
"We're limiting ourselves in economic (development) by limiting places," he added.
Henke asked committee members to make a motion to send the amending ordinance to council.
"We owe it to Council to stick with what we did in June," he said.
Aldermen will set a public hearing date during their meeting tonight.
The code change will allow the city to retain its state mandated limit of Class B licenses, which is set at 24, with one extra reserve Class B license. The city has 23 of the regular licenses issued now. The quota for the Class B intoxicating liquor - allowing for sale by the drink - is set by the state.
The revisions come at the request of the committee from a meeting June 23, 2008, on a 3-1 vote.
In December 2000, the council set a combined total number of premises to sell alcohol beverages at 30.
The council passed an ordinance in February 2007 restricting to 30 the combined total number of Class A and Class B fermented malt liquor licenses issued in the city.
Monroe has filled its Class A intoxicating liquor licenses - 7 - and Class B intoxicating liquor licenses - 23.
The new city code amendments will separate the two classes.
The city in 2007 created two other restricted licenses for fermented malt beverages and for wine served in restaurants. It limits those categories to a total of 12.
Walmart sent a letter to Council March 27, 2008, requesting the city expand its quota on Class A Fermented Malt Beverage and Liquor licenses. Store management hopes to carry the products in a new store scheduled to open late this summer.
Monroe Wal-Mart Manager Ron Fager said his intention is to sell wine and beer.
Fager said the store is being outfitted with shelving and the company needs to know if it will be able to sell the packaged liquor. It already has bought and installed refrigeration units in expectation of receiving a license.
The City of Monroe Finance and Taxation Committee on Monday voted 2-1 to send to the Monroe City Council an ordinance amending the city code on alcoholic beverage license quotas and application procedures, and to set a public hearing.
Committee member Charles Koch voted against the motion.
"I still can't see increasing the opportunity to buy alcohol," Koch said during the meeting. "It really bothers me. We keep coming back and increasing the number of places to procure alcohol."
The amendment would give Monroe the ability to issue 12 Class A (packaged) intoxicating liquor licenses and 12 Class A fermented malt liquor licenses. But the total number of premises issued a Class A license, in any combination, is not to exceed 12.
New applicants for licenses will have to submit a Monroe Alcohol Beverage License Supplement form. That form will be readied by the city clerk in May and approved by the License Committee, and will include information about the business. Its purpose is to allow council members to weigh their decision on acceptance of a liquor license application.
The extra "reserve" Class B intoxicating liquor license can be issued only with a state-statute-mandated $10,000 fee.
Members of the committee and aldermen attending the meeting expressed that the charge was too much.
The amendments, therefore, include an economic development grant available to the recipient of the reserve license, not to exceed $10,000 within 12 months following the issuance of the license. To receive the grant, the applicant must provide evidence or documentation of improvements to the premise equal to or greater than the amount requested in the grant application.
A "use it or lose it" provision is being added to the ordinance. Businesses with liquor licenses cannot be closed for more than 120 days, and must be open for more than 25 percent of the time in cases of partial license years.
Violations of this subsection will result in a non-renewal or revocation. Variances to the conditions spelled out in the ordinance include, substantial damages to the premises, death or disability of licensee, substantial remodeling and unique circumstances that advances a significant public interest in the judgment of the council members granting the variances.
"I'm looking at the economics," Committee Chairman Dan Henke said.
Henke noted "family places," like Applebee's , which would come to Monroe, but serve alcoholic beverages.
"We're limiting ourselves in economic (development) by limiting places," he added.
Henke asked committee members to make a motion to send the amending ordinance to council.
"We owe it to Council to stick with what we did in June," he said.
Aldermen will set a public hearing date during their meeting tonight.
The code change will allow the city to retain its state mandated limit of Class B licenses, which is set at 24, with one extra reserve Class B license. The city has 23 of the regular licenses issued now. The quota for the Class B intoxicating liquor - allowing for sale by the drink - is set by the state.
The revisions come at the request of the committee from a meeting June 23, 2008, on a 3-1 vote.
In December 2000, the council set a combined total number of premises to sell alcohol beverages at 30.
The council passed an ordinance in February 2007 restricting to 30 the combined total number of Class A and Class B fermented malt liquor licenses issued in the city.
Monroe has filled its Class A intoxicating liquor licenses - 7 - and Class B intoxicating liquor licenses - 23.
The new city code amendments will separate the two classes.
The city in 2007 created two other restricted licenses for fermented malt beverages and for wine served in restaurants. It limits those categories to a total of 12.
Walmart sent a letter to Council March 27, 2008, requesting the city expand its quota on Class A Fermented Malt Beverage and Liquor licenses. Store management hopes to carry the products in a new store scheduled to open late this summer.
Monroe Wal-Mart Manager Ron Fager said his intention is to sell wine and beer.
Fager said the store is being outfitted with shelving and the company needs to know if it will be able to sell the packaged liquor. It already has bought and installed refrigeration units in expectation of receiving a license.