Politics & Government

St. Charles Officials Eye Options for Liquor Code Changes

Aldermen direct staff to report back in 30 days on redefining restaurants vs. taverns, early and late licenses, other possible revision.

St. Charles officials appear to be narrowing in on the changes they want to consider to the city’s liquor code, including redefining bars vs. restaurants and even establishing different closing times for some establishments.

Any of the changes being discussed could shift significantly by the time a formal proposal comes before aldermen, but it appears likely that change is coming. The next update on the issue is expected next month, after the new City Council is seated.

Police Chief Jim Lamkin reported April 22 to the City Council Government Services Committee that since he last reported on the issue in March, he and City Administrator Brian Townsend, Mayor Donald DeWitte and City Attorney Tom Good have been meeting to review some of the ideas and questions that aldermen have raised about the issue.

Find out what's happening in St. Charleswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At issue is the council’s intent to reduce in the downtown area the number of incidents involving alcohol, from brawls to public urination. The council has focused on the over-service of alcohol as key to solving the problem. The city has been cracking down on such violations, such as allowing intoxicated individuals to enter an establishment, as well as serving alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated individual.

Meantime, the downtown bars have formed an association to galvanize their efforts to come into compliance with council concerns. Steps the association has taken include setting a standard “last call” time for patrons to order drinks in downtown bars, BASSET training for alcohol servers and other bar workers, and the institution of a “banned list” whose intent is to keep troublemakers from coming back.

Find out what's happening in St. Charleswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At least some on the council, however, clearly are not satisfied that enough progress has been made, and at least some bar owners are feeling discouraged and frustrated.

Redefining Bars vs. Restaurants

First on the list of issues Lamkin discussed before aldermen is redefining what constitutes a bar, and what constitutes a restaurant. There are several options for doing that, he said. One that some communities use is to examine, either periodically or annually, an establishment’s food receipts vs. its alcohol receipts.

Some communities require that restaurants must have at least 51 percent of their receipts come from food orders. Lamkin said another option is to limit the number of seats in a bar compared to the number allowed in restaurants. He also noted there was some discussion last year about requiring restaurants to to offer a limited menu after 11 p.m.

Aldermen offered other suggestions as well for distinguishing a bar from a restaurant — including a suggestion by 3rd Ward Alderman and Mayor-elect Ray Rogina that restaurant licenses require a midnight closure, which bar licenses would allow a 2 a.m. closing time.

Regardless the method, Rogina said he wants to see the process go slowly. During his campaign, he said the city sometimes has been in a rush to judgment on issues where better decisions might have resulted had more time been taken considering the issues. He said the city needs to move ahead cautiously, working with the licensees to resolve the issues.

Liquor Commission

Lamkin also responded to one suggestion that the city establish a liquor commission that would oversee liquor code enforcement and other issues, instead oversight by a single liquor commissioner. By law, the mayor is the liquor commissioner and works with the city attorney and police chief to address violations.

The police chief told aldermen the creation of a liquor control commission is an option but would require council action to determine the details of who would sit on the commission, whether there were citizen members and related issues.

He noted other communities have opted to regulate liquor license holders with a commission rather than a single commissioner.

Earlier Closing Time But With Late Permits

The idea of having a limited number of late-night permits available is possible, Lamkin said, although the idea of rescinding or revoking a permit would still require an adjudication, similar to a court process, that bar owners face now if they are accused of violating the liquor code.

The idea clearly has support on the council — several aldermen have spoken in favor of it it before, and some did on April 22 as well. Still, 3rd Ward Alderman Bill Turner asked Lamkin that as the committee continues to sort out the issues, he would like the see there be no cost attached to a later-night permit.

Training, Patron Fines

Two other issues the committee explored revolved around additional training for bar staffers.

The tavern association seeks BASSET (Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training) through the state for bar employees. But Lamkin noted there is another training program called TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) that might be a good alternative or even an addition to training requirements that could allow alternating from one to the other every year.

Finally, the idea of raising the fines on drinkers who get out of control came up, but Lamkin said raising the fines any further than they were raised late last year probably is unnecessary because the increase already has proven effective.

Lamkin said he reviewed a list of citations in 2012 for fighting, public drunkenness and public urination, and since the city raised those fines, the number of repeat offenders has declined. “Less than a handful of offenders came up more than once … Generally, though, the offenders got the message,” he said.

Let Patch save you time. Our free newsletter can be delivered to your inbox. Fast signup here.

Then like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @StCharlsILPatch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here