The Safety and Licensing Committee met 03/23/2022. Outside of the information item regarding the upcoming election on 04/05/2022, the other action and information items were all alcohol related. They started out by approving a gas station’s “Class A” Liquor License application and the temporary Class “B” Beer License application for an event Harbor House is holding on April 23.
They then moved onto information items. City Clerk Kami Lynch informed the committee that the city had reached its quota for class B liquor and reserve class B liquor alcohol licenses something which had not happened in her memory since she started working for the city.
The only way the city can increase the number of licenses would be due to an increase in population or by annexing land that already has an alcohol license. At this point, they have reached their quota of 98 regular class B licenses and 32 reserve licenses.
Going forward, the city will handle licenses on a first come first serve basis. Anybody who wants a license can apply and one their application is approved they will be eligible to get the next available license should someone who currently holds a license choose not to renew.
Alderperson Michael Smith (District 10) asked if, for the benefit of anyone watching, she could quickly go over the types of liquor licenses that were out there and what license were still available and had not reached their quota.
Clerk Lynch answered that the quota that had been met was for Class B liquor. That was for intoxicating liquor. Anyone who had that license would also need to have the Class B beer license as well. However, right now anybody could still get a Class B beer and a Class C wine license to sell beer and wine for onsite consumption.
She noted that Class A licenses were for people to sell alcohol to be taken away for off premise consumption, and there was not a quote on those licenses.
[You can read a little more about the different types of alcohol licenses available here: https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/faqs/ise-atlicns.aspx#licns3]
Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland (District 5) asked if local businesses were aware that the quota had been met and that, if they wanted to get a license, they would want to try to be first in line. She also wanted to know if Appleton had met this quota before.
Clerk Lynch answered that they had not met the quota since she had been with the City of Appleton. She didn’t know an appropriate way for the city of let potential applicants know what the city had met its quota other that to make a note on the city’s website where the application was posted, letting people know that there was a waiting period because the city was at maximum capacity.
Alderperson Van Zeeland thought they might want to reach out to businesses that currently have licenses and let them know not to wait on renewing their licenses. She would hate to have an established business lose their license and be unable to get it back.
Clerk Lynch said that the renewal information had already been sent out and they usually send out reminders encouraging them to meet all of the conditions so they can get their licenses renewed.
None of the committee members had any further comments or questions, so they moved on to the Police Department Information on Alcohol Law Violations.
Chief Todd Thomas reported that there had been two convictions:
- Core’s Lounge, Underage persons on premises – 80-point violation
- Maritime Bar, Open after hours – 50-point violation
Both of those bars have shown up on city agendas in the past. Some neighbors (potentially misguidedly) opposed the renewal of Core’s liquor license, claiming that the business caused disruptive noise; however, the police department was unable to substantiate any of those noise complaints.
Maritime Bar recently had a rezoning request and future land use amendment approved by the city which will enable them to expand their parking lot and create a patio addition.
The committee did not comment on either of these liquor law violations.
This was the last Safety and Licensing Committee meeting before the April 5 election, and the changes to the committee as old alderpersons leave the Common Council and new alderpersons join. Alderperson Van Zeeland told her fellow committee members that it had been an honor to chair the committee and serve with all of them. “We had some really tough things come in front of this committee, and I always felt that the discussion in here was appropriate and respectful, and I just wanna thank you all for that and thank you for the opportunity to lead this committee.”
With that it was time to adjourn the meeting. Alderperson Smith jokingly voted against adjourning remarking that this was their last meeting and they may not have another; however, the minutes for the meeting record him as having voted “aye”.
As Alderperson Van Zeeland gaveled out the meeting, the gavel broke. Thankfully, the hammer head seemed to pop right back on the handle. Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim (District 13) joked, “Don’t tell the mayor,” [but I would suggest they let someone know so they can make sure some wood glue gets applied to the hammer so it doesn’t happen again.]
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=937053&GUID=13A9E412-85E0-455B-8475-71D578C3EB0C
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