Plans for St. Charles Liquor Commission Are Taking Shape

It’s beginning to look as if the St. Charles eventually will have new times attached to liquor licenses, according to the discussion Tuesday between the mayor and aldermen.

Mayor Raymond Rogina presented a broad view of what he would like to see in a liquor commission, and aldermen threw in theirs as well, during a discussion about establishing a new St. Charles Liquor Commission.

Tuesday night’s discussion indicated aldermen are favoring a commission that works in an advisory capacity, reviewing liquor license applications and making recommendations on disciplinary matters when a bar or other liquor license holder has been cited with violating the liquor code.

The panel would operate in much the same way as the St. Charles Plan Commission handles development issues — holding hearings to review applications or violations, then making recommendations on specific licenses or penalties to the liquor commissioner and the City Council.

The latter point gave rise to some discussion of having the City Council review, at least once a year, all establishments with 2 a.m. liquor licenses, a proposal pushed by Mayor Rogina and reflecting the City Council’s long-standing concern about fighting, public urination and other issues that many associate with bar patrons.

The commission likely would have five members — the mayor, who by state law serves as the city liquor commissioner — and two aldermen and two residents.

But Rogina suggested the City Council eventually should consider changing it’s liquor ordinance to allow the city to require bars that have had issues to close earlier than the citywide 2 a.m. closing time already in place.

The City Council already appears almost certain to make changes to that ordinance, particularly to draw further distinctions between bars and restaurants. Past discussions indicate the council wants to more narrowly define the difference between bars and restaurants.

Rogina suggested that if the City Council decides a bar has lost its privilege to remain open until 2 a.m., then an ordinance change would be needed to decide the alternate closing time. The times Rogina threw out for discussion were 1 a.m., midnight or even 11 p.m.

He pointed out he was not asking aldermen for a suggestion on that time at this point, but that they begin considering it now.

Rogina expressed confidence that the city staff will be able to draw up an ordinance that addresses the wide-ranging concerns that were aired during the discussion, including such aspects as an appeals process for penalized bar owners.


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