Alcohol in the news; Urbana reduces number of liquor licenses

from the news-gazette

Urbana reduces number of liquor licenses

URBANA — The Urbana City Council voted 7-0 Monday night to reduce the number of Class C liquor licenses from 27 to 15.

Chief of Staff Mike Monson said the city has issued 15 Class C licenses — which allow a business to sell packaged beer, wine and hard liquor to be consumed off the property — so businesses with existing licenses won't be affected.

However, Monday's decision means that no additional licenses are currently available for two convenience stores that have applied for Class C liquor licenses: Q-Mart, proposed for 2005 Philo Road, and The Short-Stop, proposed for 1720 S. Philo Road.

why not raise the price on the parking garage from 25 cents an hour to something reasonable... like to the same price that is charged at the meters in the rest of town? why not raise the price on the meters downtown to the same price around the rest of town?

The council discussed a change to the budget suggested by Mayor Laurel Prussing that includes cutting $71,000 in tourism promotion and raising parking rates in the city's university district from 75 cents to $1 per hour.

Nope, it's fuck the students. I'd guess the only reason they aren't discussing raising the rates by Carle, is because most of those meters have been removed due to constructions of Carle's new hole.

Alcohol in the news; Urbana discusses liquor licenses

From WAND NBC

Urbana City Council Discusses Liquor Licenses

URBANA, IL- It may soon get tougher for businesses in Urbana to sell packaged liquor.

Urbana City Council members discussed limiting the number of class "c" liquor licenses at a meeting Monday night.

The number of licenses may be cut back from 27 down to 16.

Any additional businesses that would want to sell packaged alcohol would have to go through a public hearing and the regular council process.

Mayor Laurel Prussing changed the ordinance after a backlash against two businesses on Philo Road seeking licenses.

Alcohol in the news; Urbana Liquor Licenses

From WCIA 3

Urbana Liquor Licenses

URBANA - More places to buy alcohol could be on the way to Urbana. Two new convenience stores have applied for liquor licenses. They're under construction on Philo Road.

One business owner in the area is concerned. Jerommie Smith of Truly Fit is now looking for other locations. His lease is up in about two years and the pending liquor licenses could play a role in his decision.

Alcohol in the news; Liquor-license applications irk Urbana residents

from the news-gazette

Liquor-license applications irk Urbana residents

URBANA — Two new convenient stores proposed for the Philo Road business district are seeking liquor licenses, and nearby residents and business owners are less than thrilled.

...

Urbana's liquor ordinance does limit the amount of licenses that can be issued based on the city's population. But in January the council, on Mayor Laurel Prussing's recommendation, approved a change to the population limit for Class C liquor licenses. The move allowed for more Class C liquor licenses to be permitted in the city, increasing it from 11 to 27. A Class C license allows a business to sell packaged beer, wine and hard liquor to be consumed off the property.

...

The two convenient stores that have applied for Class C liquor licenses are Q-Mart, proposed for 2005 Philo Road, and The Short-Stop, proposed for 1720 S. Philo Road. Both applications are pending, said Prussing, who is also the city's liquor commissioner.

...

"If you're concerned about crime in that area, I don't think it's coming from the liquor stores, but the apartments. We're working with an apartment owner to get him to have a plan for dealing with some of his tenants," Prussing said.

It's not the liquor, it's the people who drink it.

Michelson and other members of the neighborhood safety task force will take up the topic of crime and liquor stores at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the second floor conference room at city hall, 400 S. Vine St. It is open to the public.

Alcohol in the news; Musicians play on despite liquor license suspension in Urbana

From the News-Gazette

Musicians play on despite liquor license suspension in Urbana

It seems a lot of people are interested in the Iron Post. There have been a lot of visitors to the blog searching for Iron Post Liquor License. Finally, this story in the News-Gazette provides the answer.

URBANA – It was a long, slow weekend at the Iron Post, a bar in downtown Urbana that lost its liquor license for five days after an undercover investigation earlier this year by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

The Iron Post had a five day suspension of it's license.

"We were scheduled for that night," said Morgan Powell, trombonist for the Boneyard Jazz Quintet. "Some bands opted out because there was no liquor served. We decided to go ahead and do it anyway to support Paul.

"It went well. It was a packed house. Unbelievable. I've never seen so many sober people before," Powell joked.

...

Wirth estimated he lost $3,000 during the five-day period last week while his liquor license was suspended.

The Iron Post lost its license for selling alcohol to underage customers during the "Unofficial St. Patrick's Day" weekend in Champaign-Urbana in March.

So, there's the answer, the Iron Post lost it's license for selling alcohol to underage customers during "Unofficial".

"They order the beers and when the beers go on the bar, they turn around and walk out," Wirth said of the undercover agents. "Next thing there are three very large police officers/liquor control commission guys standing behind the bar and writing me and my server a citation."

The two underage customers were a young man and woman, Wirth said.

So, the moral for bar owners is, on days like "unofficial" you should have a person on staff to stand at the door and check ID's. The pay for one person to stand at the door, is a whole lot less than the $3,000 that you'd lose for having your license suspended.

Alcohol in the Local News, Urbana council to consider range fo fee increases

From the News-Gazette

Urbana council to consider range of fee increases

URBANA – Fees for ambulance-service companies, liquor licenses, sewer taxes and rental inspections, among others, will likely increase next year.

Obviously, the one we care about is liquor licenses.

Among proposed fee adjustments in liquor license fees, Eldridge recommends:

– For a Class A license, which allows drink and package-liquor sales for consumption on or off premises, or a Class AA license, which permits hotel or motel sales of alcoholic drinks or packages on or off premises, the fee would go from $4,663 to $4,780.

– For Class B, which covers retail sales of only beer for consumption on or off premises, and Class BB, which covers sale of only beer and wine on or off premises, the fee would go from $2,507 to $2,570.

– For Class C, which allows for package-liquor sale for consumption off premises only, the fee would go from $4,548 to $4,662.

– For a GC license, which covers liquor sales at a golf course, the fee goes from $4,808 to $4,928.

– For Class R, which allows drink or package-liquor consumption on or off premises of restaurants, the fee goes from $3,462 to $3,549.

Class R affects the restaurants, like Crane Alley. I believe the Corkscrew is a Class A. Picadilly would be a class C.