City council Agenda

 Here is the agenda for tonight's Liquor Control Commission and City council  meetings. From the LCC agenda, it looks as if Qin Guan Buffet is setting up a delivery only kitchen with alcohol delivery available . Most of the Council business is  approval of warrants, although there is one separate item discussing "An Ordinance Amending Title Four, Chapter Four of the Carbondale Revised Code as it Relates to Housing and Landlord and Tenant Rights and Obligations"

City Council and Liquor control commission

 Here is the agenda for next Tuesday's Liquor Control Commission and City council Meetings.  According to the agenda, The Hilton appears to want a secondary liquor license so it can sell package liquor on site. In addition, This & That wants a secondary restaurant license so it can run a bakery out of its kitchen. Also, I think SI Pawn is applying for a zoning variance so it can move to North Illinois next to the Thrift Shop, as that area, for whatever reason, is zoned for automotive and wholesale businesses. 

Liquor Licenses

 Looks as if Chalky's, just off New Era Road, which shut down last November, is seeking to reopen and applying for a renewed liquor license at next week's city council meeting. Same for Stix, which shut down last November and appearenty will open back up under new ownership should the license get approved.

Stix

 Stix is trying to reopen yet again. According to this, the current holder of the liquor license no longer has any connection with the business. The new applicant, Greg Knoob, has either owned or been associated with several bars in Carbondale over th eyears, including previous incarnations of Stix as well as Levels. Based on past experience, city staff recommended denial of the license application.

Stix' status remains up in the air as the Liquor Control Commission canceled its meeting last night, due to the applicant not being able to attend.

Pinch Penny Liquors

 Looks like there are some changes in ownership coming to Pinch Penny Liquors. From the upcoming Liquor Control Commission meeting agenda, scheduled for May 24th at 6 p.m.

2 Approval of a Change in Officers for PPL, Inc. d/b/a Pinch Penny Liquors, Located at 701 East Grand Avenue

LCC and City Council Agenda

 Agenda for Next Tuesday's LCC and City Council Meeting. Chalky's is the latest edition of the bar to go in at the ole Knight's Inn complex on the west side of the city.

Here is the link if you want to watch the meeting

1. Preliminaries to the Local Liquor Control Commission Meeting

1.1 Roll Call

2. General Business of the Local Liquor Control Commission

2.1 Minutes from the Local Liquor Control Commission Meeting of December 14, 2021

2.2 Application for an On-Premises Secondary Liquor License from Chalky's, LLC d/b/a Chalky's at 500 New Era Road

3. Citizens' Comments for the Local Liquor Control Commission

3.1 Citizen Comments for the Liquor Commission

4. Adjournment of the Local Liquor Control Commission

4.1 Time of Adjournment for Local Liquor Control Commission

5. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting

5.1 Roll Call

5.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions

5.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations

6. Public Hearings and Special Reports

7. Consent Agenda of the City Council

7.1 Minutes from the City Council Meeting of February 22, 2022

7.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 02/18/2022 for the FY 2022 Warrant 1427 in the Total Amount of $2,100,822.79

7.3 Approval of Wells Fargo Warrant for the Period Ending 01/31/2022 FY 2022 Warrant # WF 01/2022 in the amount of $120,045.78

7.4 Award the Purchase of Three (3) F-150 Hybrid Vehicles from Vogler Ford of Carbondale, Illinois in the Amount of $138,000; and

Award the Purchase of Two (2) F-150 Lightning Electric Vehicles to Feldman Ford of Detroit, Michigan in the Amount of $106,956

7.5 Resolution to Participate in a Cost-Sharing Agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation to Provide $9,660 in

Matching Funds for IDOT Project "Carbondale ADA Improvements with Pushbuttons at Giant City Road"

7.6 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Economic Development Tax Increment Financing Agreement with Helen

L. Wallace, Inc for a Redevelopment Project at 317 East Main Street

7.7 Award of Contract for the Central Laboratory and Water Plant Office Security Upgrades (CIP No. PB2004) to J & L Robinson

Development & Construction Co., Inc. of Carbondale, Illinois in the Amount of $185,900

7.8 Approval of Consent Agenda Items

8. General Business of the City Council

8.1 Discussion and Approval of the Termination of Leases to the Carbondale Park District for Evergreen Park and the Super Block

8.2 Amend the Application Process for American Rescue Plan Funding

8.3 Approve FY2022 Purchases and an Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment to Increase FY2022 Expenditures in the Amount

of $172,610 for the Purchase of Equipment

8.4 City Council Discussion of Architectural Design Standards to be Applied to Initiatives Such as Residential TIF

9. Executive Session

9.1 Executive Session to Discuss the Purchase of Real Property for Use of the Public Body, Including Meetings Held for the Purpose of

Discussing Whether a Particular Parcel should be Acquired

9.2 Return to Open Session

10. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting

10.1 Adjourn meeting

Liquor Control Commission

 Liquor Control Commission and city council meet tomorrow night. I spotted this of note in the LCC agenda:

2.1 Minutes from the Local Liquor Control Commission Meeting of December 22, 2020 

2.2 Approval of a Change in Officers for MOD Super Fast Pizza, LLC d/b/a MOD Pizza, Located at 1370 East Main Street

2.3 Approval, Denial, or Modification of Report and Recommendation in 2020-13 Makon Hap Inc. (dba Fujiyama's Steakhouse), 2020-14 Mendez Family Inc. (dba Sergio's Cantina), and 2020-15 Don Sol Inc. (dba Don Sol) 

The restaurants cited in item 2.3 are some of those reported cited as getting fined by Jackson County for violating dining restrictions during the recent restrictions on inside dining. Mary Lou's got the public notice but I heard that Fujiyama's Sergio's and Don Sol were among the unnamed restaurants that received a notice and fine as well.

Saluki Bar/Levels

 According to this, Saluki Bar/Levels got a summary suspension of its liquor license last June and the LCC will meet this Tuesday to determine what, if any, further action should be taken:

On June 2, 2020, a Carbondale police officer was stationed in the parking lot of Eastgate shopping center and heard the sound of shots being fired to the south of his location. Officers then proceeded to look for the exact location where the shots were fired, ultimately determining that the shots had come from the parking lot of Saluki Bar. On June 4, 2020, the Carbondale Liquor Control Commission Chairman issued an order closing Saluki Bar as a public safety measure given the fact that shots had been fired upon the controlled premises of the establishment, and to risk further harm to the public safety of the community. 

 

Pursuant to Carbondale Code, the licensee is entitled to a hearing within 7 days following a summary suspension. As such, on June 9, 2020, the Liquor Control Commission hearing officer heard testimony concerning the Chairman's order to determine if there was sufficient grounds for the Chairman to order the emergency closure pursuant to 2-2-3(B) of the Carbondale Revised Code. Attached is a copy of the report and recommendation from the Hearing Officer along with a copy of the transcript of the hearing.

Flame

 Looks as if the Flame restaurant on East Walnut has sold. At least, there is a item to transfer the liquor license for the business to another owner on next Tuesday's LCC agenda 

city Council Meeting

meeting of the Liquor Control Commission and  Carbondale City Council tonight at 6 p.m. Have another group of bushiness applying for Community Development Block Grant Funds.  I would expect these get passed without any difficulty:

n response to the economic emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Pritzker announced on March 25, 2020, that the State of Illinois had repurposed $20 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in support of small businesses in downstate and rural communities across Illinois.  
 
Under the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines that oversee the use of CDBG funds, participating units of local government are required to ensure that residents will be given reasonable and timely access to local meetings, consistent with accessibility and reasonable accommodation requirements in accordance with federal law, as well as information and records relating to the unit of local government's proposed and actual use of CDBG funds.
 
The purpose of this public hearing is to hear testimony in favor of, or in opposition to, the use of CDBG funds to support local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 emergency, and to encourage citizens to submit their views and proposals regarding the City of Carbondale's community development and housing needs.
 
A notice of a hearing that informs the public of these grant applications and provides an opportunity to review them must be published at least 7 days prior to a public hearing before the City Council. The applications were published on the City’s website on May 29, 2020, and the notice was published in the Southern Illinoisan on May 31, 2020.
 
A Resolution in support of grant applications to the State of Illinois on behalf of the City of Carbondale’s local businesses will be considered later in the agenda to allow ample opportunity for the public to make comments.
 
Staff recommends the City Council hold a Public Hearing to hear testimony in favor of or in opposition to the submission of these grant applications.

AAA Auto Sales-Downstate Business Stabilization Application.pdf (2,812 KB)Jens Joe-Downstate Business Stabilization Application.pdf (2,297 KB)Little River Research and Design-Downstate Business Stabilization Application.pdf (2,359 KB)Potentia Analytics-Downstate Business Stabilization Application.pdf (2,347 KB)SI Foot and Ankle Clinic-Downstate Business Stabilization Application.pdf (2,433 KB)Thalman Chiropractic-Downstate Business Stabilization Application.pdf (2,244 KB)The Cellar-Downstate Business Stabilization Application.pdf (2,411 KB)The Furniture King-Downstate Business Stabilization Application.pdf (2,421 KB)TP & MP LLC-Downstate Business Stabilization Application.pdf (2,467 KB)

Cellar Changes

On the agenda for next week's Liquor Control Commission meeting, a request by long time local bar The Cellar for a change in operations. The agenda does not specify what sort of changes The Cellar is seeking, though.

City Council Agenda

Here is the agenda for next Tuesday's city council meeting. In addition, the LCC will vote on renewing Fat Patties liqour license:

7. Consent Agenda of the City Council
 7.1 Approval of the Carbondale City Council Meeting Minutes of June 12, 2018
7.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 06/04/2018 for the combined FY 2018 and FY 2019 Warrant 1331 in the Total Amount of $1,132,037.57
 7.3 Award Purchase of Police Vehicles and Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment to the Police Department FY 2019 Budget
7.4 Award of Purchase of MFT Maintenance Materials for FY2019
7.5 Ordinance Approving a Budget Adjustment to Increase the City Clerk's Budget for Memorial Day Expenses
7.6 Award of Contract for Springer Street Water Main Replacement, CIP No. WS1301, to Dean Bush Construction of Carbondale, Illinois, in the Amount of $457,167.98
7.7 Award of Contract for Oak Street Sanitary Sewer Upgrade (Wall St. to Poplar St.), CIP SA1501, to ACI X of Chester, Illinois, in the amount of $1,188,001.46
 7.8 Appointments and Reappointments to Boards and Commissions
7.9 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Project Labor Agreement with the Egyptian Building Trades Council
7.10 Approval of Consent Agenda Items
8. General Business of the City Council
8.1 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit an Application for a BUILD Grant Requesting $14,640,000 in Funding to Construct the Southern Illinois Multi-Modal Station (SIMMS) 8.2 Ordinance Amending Title 5 of the Carbondale Revised Code to Allow Video Gaming in Truck Stops
 8.3 Ordinance Providing for the Regulation of and the Application for Small Wireless Facilities
8.4 Ordinance Adopting a Prevailing Rate of Wages of Laborers, Mechanics, and other Workers Employed in Public Works as Certified by the Illinois Department of Labor

Hollywood Lounge Permit Suspended

Mayor Henry, acting in his capacity as chair of the Liquor Control Commission, temporarily suspended the liquor license for the Hollywood Lounge, on the north side of the town square, from last Friday until noon today. According to the reports, the reason for the suspension was the booking of a "musical group from Chicago whose events have a history of violence". I did a quick search but cannot find any mention of which group was coming so assume the advertising for the group was through word of mouth (Hollywood Lounge's FB page has not been updated since 2016 and the website looks a placeholder).

Liquor License Process Modification

Among the agenda items for tomorrow night's City Council meetings is this one calling for modification to the ordinances regarding the Liquor Control Commission in order to streamline the process by which a liquor license gets approved by the city. Of all the problems faced by Carbondale, it seems speeding up the means by which more people can sell liquor doesn't rank very high up there.

Firehouse on Agenda

Remember the fire station on S. Oakland that the city sold for use as studio space? The purchasers are requesting a Special Use Permit  at tonight's  council meeting for a "drinking place with alcoholic beverages" i.e. a tasting room and also indicate they plan to apply for a beer garden permit at a future date. Due to neighbors' concerns about essentially a bar operating at that location, Due to those concerns, the Planning Commission stipulated that "”the sale and consumption of alcohol be limited to the interior of the old firehouse building as indicated in the applicants’ proposal." However, the resolution coming before the Council removes that stipulation due to Deas and Smith's expressed plans to apply for the beer garden permit at a future date.

Here's the agenda item with background:

John Deas and Alison Smith are requesting the rezoning of two parcels of property totaling roughly 0.92 acres (40,070 sf) located at 300 South Oakland Avenue from R-1-8, Low Density Residential, to NB, Neighborhood Business. This application has been put forth in order to facilitate the applicants’ desire to use the property and buildings as creative working, gallery, and social space for Carbondale’s artistic community. The applicants are further requesting a Special Use Permit for a tasting room, classified as a drinking place with alcoholic beverages, at this location.

A public hearing regarding both the rezoning and special use request was held on November 29, 2017, by the Carbondale Planning Commission. During this meeting, the Planning Commission moved to recommend the properties' rezoning along with the approval of the Special Use permit with the following conditions:

1. The hours of operation be limited from 7 AM to 10 PM as dictated by the standards outlined in the Neighborhood Business District.
2. That the sale and consumption of alcohol be limited to the interior of the old firehouse building as indicated in the applicants’ proposal.

In addition, the Commission recommended that the stormwater drainage from the parking area, which adjacent property owners indicated has been a problem, be remedied by the City of Carbondale prior to the properties' sale.

Since the public hearing, more information regarding the development of the site has been provided by Mr. Deas. In particular, the applicants plan to apply for a beer garden permit in conjunction with their liquor license application. To accommodate the applicant's request this condition has been removed from the attached Resolution.

Attached for City Council review are the following:

1. An Ordinance approving and a Resolution denying the rezoning request from R-1-8, Low Density Residential, to NB, Neighborhood Business.
2. A Resolution approving and a Resolution denying the Special Use Permit for a drinking place with alcoholic beverages.
3. A copy of the unapproved minutes of the Planning Commission for PC 18-09.
4. A copy of the staff report to the Planning Commission for PC 18-09.

Additional Information:

1. Constituent/Advisory Body Impact: The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on November 29, 2017, and voted (4-yes, 1-no) on a motion to recommend the approval of the rezoning request. The Planning Commission further voted (4-yes, 1-no) on a motion to recommend approval of the Special Use Permit for the subject property. A notice of public hearing was published in the Southern Illinoisan newspaper on November 12, 2017, and twenty-three (23) property owners within 250 feet of the subject property were notified of the hearing by certified mail. The applicants were present, two people voiced general concerns, and three people spoke in opposition to the request.
2. Financial Impact: None.
3. Staff Impact: Staff will be responsible for all applicable permits and licenses.

Free Alcohol Charge

No, you cannot promote giving away alcohol in the state of Illinois, which apparently a representative of Hollywood Lounge did back in May. From the agenda of the Liquor Control Commission for next Tuesday's meeting:

Charges were presented to the licensee, Hollywood Lounge, that on or about May 14, 2017, Thomas Michael Newell, agent of said licensee did knowingly promote “free alcohol” on social media in breach of Ill. Admin. Code tit. 11, § 100.280, a violation of Section 2-5-10 of the Carbondale Revised Code.

A hearing was held on August 3, 2017, regarding charges that the Hollywood Lounge staff did knowingly promote “free alcohol” on social media, which is a breach of Ill. Admin. Code tit. 11, § 100.280, and a violation of Section 2-5-10 of the Carbondale Revised Code. As a result of the hearing, the City Manager has made recommendations to the City Council.  The City Council can accept, dismiss, or modify the recommendations of the Hearing Officer.

Birger's Pub License Transfer

Caught a few minutes of the LCC discussion regarding the transfer of the B2 liquor license from Shaun's Place to Birger's Pub last Tuesday night. Although the LCC approved the transfer, setting it up for final approval by the City Council, council members expressed some concern over the lack of information regarding operations of the Pub. Specifically, questions were raised about who would handle money at the Pub, were the bartender and manager the same and how would receipts be tracked.

Under the license, at least 51% of the revenue generated by the Pub mist come from liquor sales. A couple of council people wondered how the monies from liquor sales and video gaming would be tracked. The Birger's Pub representative pointed out that the video game terminals automatically transmitted their receipts to the state on a regular basis, so the city could request that information and compare total receipts to video gaming one. The transfer passed, with only two LCC members voting against.

Shaun's Place Now Birger's Pub

According to this item from the upcoming Liquor Control Commission's agenda, what was going to be called Shaun's Place on the ground floor of the Newel Building will now have its name and ownership changed to Birger's Pub. Shaun's Place never did get off the ground and Birger's Pub is still undergoing rennovations:

Attached is an application from GLH Capital Enterprise, Inc., d/b/a Birger’s Pub, for the transfer of an existing Class B2 liquor license currently held by Shaun Kocel, an individual, d/b/a Shaun’s Place at 201 East Main Street #1-B. Included is a notarized letter from Mr. Kocel, owner of Shaun’s Place, authorizing the transfer. This item was previously on the September 20 agenda but was pulled as the applicant did not receive timely notice of the meeting.

Liquor Code provisions: There is a cap of 20 on Class B1 and B2 liquor licenses, but as this is a transfer of an existing B2 license, there will be no change in the number currently issued. Class B2 licenses shall authorize the retail sale of all alcoholic liquors, by the drink, for consumption on the premises only, subject to the terms, conditions, and restrictions of this and all other pertinent sections of this code. The holder of a B2 license shall not allow any person under the minimum entry age to enter into or remain upon the premises for which the license is held.

Transfers of Licenses:

A. A license shall be a purely personal privilege and shall not constitute property. Nothing in this title shall be construed to grant a right to transfer or accept the transfer of any license. Applicants for the transfer of an existing liquor license shall follow the procedures for issuance of a new liquor license as contained in the Liquor Code.

B. The local liquor control commission, upon receipt of written application and a transfer fee in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00), may authorize the transfer of any license issued under this chapter.

C. If the applicant seeks to transfer the license to a new location, the proposed location must comply with all rules, regulations, city ordinances and state statutes applicable to the operation and maintenance of a licensed premises.

D. The transfer of a license issued hereunder from one person to another may only be made in the case of a bona fide sale or transfer for valuable consideration of the business, and upon the determination by the local liquor control commission that the purchaser possesses the qualifications as required of an applicant for the original license.

E.  No transfer shall be effective and no new license shall be issued until the former license is submitted to the office of the city clerk and all monies due the city have been paid.

Liquor Advisory Board Review: This application was reviewed by the Liquor Advisory Board at the meeting of September 1, 2016. While a motion for the approval of the application was received, there was no second. There were no subsequent motions and this matter has been forwarded to the Commission for their consideration. 

Outstanding Items: The $100 transfer fee has been paid and the criminal history check did not reveal anything which would preclude the applicant from holding a liquor license. All other items remain outstanding.

S&B's Video Gaming

According to this agenda item from the upcoming LCC meeting, S & B's Burger Joint is applying for a video gaming license for its University Mall location.  Can't a restaurant just serve food anymore?

Attached is an application for video gaming terminal permit stickers from Eateries, Inc. d/b/a S&B's Burger Joint at 1237 East Main Street. The applicant has provided a copy of their Illinois Gaming Establishment License. S&B's Burger Joint holds an A2 liquor license which authorizes a restaurant to sell all alcoholic liquors by the drink.

Section 2-4-17 of the Carbondale Revised Code requires Local Liquor Control Commission approval for the addition of the gaming machines as the liquor license renewal application considered by the Commission did not include any reference to video gaming.

Birger's Pub

According to the agenda for Tuesday's LCC meeting, it looks as if a new bar, Birger's Place, plans to open in the 200 block of East Main. Reema's Indian Cuisine is also applying for a liquor license to go along with its new patio dining.