Liquor Commission

City of Naperville 400 S. Eagle Street Naperville, IL 60540 Meeting Minutes - Final Thursday, July 8, 2021 3:00 PM Council Chambers Liquor Commission Liquor Commission Meeting Minutes - Final July 8, 2021 PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES: All viewpoints are welcome. Positive comments and constructive criticism are encouraged. Speakers must refrain from harassing or directing threats or personal attacks at Commissioners, staff, other speakers or members of the public. Comments made to intentionally disrupt the meeting may be managed as necessary to maintain appropriate decorum and allow for city business to be accomplished. In keeping with the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines, fully vaccinated individuals will not be required to wear a face covering in Council Chambers. Those who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 must wear a face covering if they cannot socially distance from other individuals. A. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Chirico called the meeting to order at 3:04 PM. B. ROLL CALL: Present 7- Mayor Steve Chirico, Karyn Charvat, Charles Maher, Anthony Signorella, Mitch Stauffer, Joe Vozar, and Scott Wehrli Absent 3- Dana Davenport, John Koranda, and Kimberly White Staff Present: Miranda Barfuss, Assistant to City Council; Jennifer Lutzke, Senior Assistant City Attorney; Dan Riggs, Police Detective Also Present: Christine Jeffries, President of Naperville Development Partnership C. PUBLIC FORUM: None D. OLD BUSINESS: Consider Mall of India’s request for a dispenser permit and Class B license Attachments: Mall of India License DRAFT Lutzke reviewed that Mall of India requested a Class B license with a dispenser permit at the last meeting. The Commission directed staff to draft a license restricting the areas of consumption, requiring daily wristbands and requiring the use of pre-paid cards for the dispenser permit. A draft license was created with restrictions that limit the areas of consumption and requiring a daily wristband for individuals 21+. Pre-paid cards is already a requirement of the liquor code for dispenser permits, so it is not stated on the draft liquor license. Mayor Chirico clarified that this action has final authority by the Liquor Commission and reported that City of Naperville Page 1 Printed on 8/13/2021 Liquor Commission Meeting Minutes - Final July 8, 2021 Commissioner Wehrli and Commissioner Vozar both visited Mall of India since the last meeting to view the premise. Lutzke also reported on a question from the last meeting regarding Mariano’s and whether patrons are allowed to walk around the store with alcohol. Upon review of the liquor code, that is technically not allowed. Commissioner Vozar made a motion to approve the draft license for Mall of India, seconded by Wehrli. The motion was approved and carried by the following vote: Aye: 6- Charvat, Maher, Signorella, Stauffer, Vozar, and Wehrli Excused: 1- Mayor Chirico Absent: 3- Davenport, Koranda, and White E. NEW BUSINESS: F. REPORTS: Approve the regular Liquor Commission meeting minutes of June 3, 2021 Attachments: DRAFT Liquor Commission Meeting Minutes 060321 Commissioner Signorella made a motion to approve the regular Liquor Commission meeting minutes of June 3, 2021, seconded by Vozar. The motion was approved and carried by the following vote: Aye: 6- Charvat, Maher, Signorella, Stauffer, Vozar, and Wehrli Excused: 1- Mayor Chirico Absent: 3- Davenport, Koranda, and White 1. Restaurant Association Report - Jeffries Jeffries reported that restaurants are seeing an uptick in business, however, lack of workers remains the biggest challenge. They hope that more workers will return in September when schools reopen and COVID relief payments end. Federal relief funds allocated $26 billion for restaurants. There were 300,000 applications and the funding was all granted in less than 3 weeks. The restaurant association is advocating for more funding to be allocated. Some of our local restaurants were recipients. Mayor Chirico inquired about the Bar Louie space on Chicago Ave. Jeffries reported that the space is gutted and there is a prospective tenant. Shakou remains empty. The downtown has several new retailers including Warby Parker and a nail spa. Jeffries reported that a kid’s store is going in City of Naperville Page 2 Printed on 8/13/2021 Liquor Commission Meeting Minutes - Final July 8, 2021 at the former Gap Kids location and a Nike store is going in the former Talbots location. Naperville Development Partnership is also working with Brixmore Development on how to reposition the Heritage Court and Westridge Court shopping centers. In addition, Kellogg’s is leasing most of the top floor in the Shuman Building. 2. BASSET- Employee Training Statistics - Riggs Riggs reported that BASSET classes continue to be held online. There are 30 - 50 individuals a week rotating through the system. 3. Tobacco Enforcement Review - Riggs Riggs reported that we are between compliance checks at this time. The last ones were completed at the beginning of May. Lutzke reported on two violations from past compliance checks: Murphy’s Express, located at 2804 Hassert Blvd CBD Vape Smoke, 4003 Plainfield-Naperville Rd. Both stipulated to the underage sale of an alternative nicotine product and agreed to pay a $500 fine. 4. Liquor Report - Riggs Riggs reported that there were 17 DUIs in May 2021 compared to 4 in 2020 and 20 in 2019. There were 13 DUIs in June 2021, compared to 5 in 2020 and 27 in 2019. 5. Liquor Concept Committee Update - Barfuss Barfuss reported that since our last Liquor Commission Meeting, the Liquor Concept Committee had two meetings. One on June 17th and one on June 29th. The following concepts were discussed: Eggs Inc., located at 210 S. Washington St. Existing business seeking a Class A - Restaurant license. Their request is approved, and their application is in process. Smashburger, opening at 2736 Showplace Drive, Unit 100 New business seeking a Class A - Restaurant license. Their request is approved, and their application is in process. City of Naperville Page 3 Printed on 8/13/2021 Liquor Commission Meeting Minutes - Final July 8, 2021 Studio 736, located at 736 N. Washington St. New business seeking a Class R - Legitimate Theater license. Their request is approved, and their application is in process. Festa Italiana, event scheduled for July 30 - August 1 at Naper Settlement They are finalizing their charity partner and we are awaiting additional information. Their request is in process. Irish Fest, event scheduled for August 6-7 at Frontier Park The charity is West Suburban Irish. They are serving beer and wine only. Their request is in process. Barfuss reported on a request for a meeting with the Mayor regarding the space at 1925 S. Washington St. It used to be a Qwik Convenient store. The property owners have had a vacancy in the space for 3+ years. The previous lessee was able to hold a package store liquor license, having been grandfathered in when the liquor code underwent revisions. The location does not meet the square footage requirements for a package store (60,000 square feet), however. Mayor Chirico reported that he will meet with the leasing agent, explain the liquor code, and let them know they can appeal to the Liquor Commission. G. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None H. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Maher made a motion to adjourn the Liquor Commission Meeting of July 8, 2021 at 3:22 PM, seconded by Vozar. The motion was approved and carried by the following vote: Aye: 6- Charvat, Maher, Signorella, Stauffer, Vozar, and Wehrli Excused: 1- Mayor Chirico Absent: 3- Davenport, Koranda, and White City of Naperville Page 4 Printed on 8/13/2021