1997-01-27 Regular Meeting of City Council

Browse Search

. . Minutes Regular Meeting La Porte City Council January 27, 1997, Page 7 10. WORKSHOP - B: DISCUSS A REVISION TO ORDINANCE 1000- THE ORDINANCE GOVERNING WINE AND/OR BEER ON PREMISE LICENSES OPEN WORKSHOP Mayor Malone opened Workshop Bat 7:55 P.M. REVIEW BY STAFF Assistant City Manager John Joerns reviewed with Council the background and proposed changes to Ordinance 1000 which is the ordinance governing a Wine and/or Beer on Premise License. Mr. Joerns reported that in coordination with the recodification process the decision was made to clear up some of the older ordinances which were passed for establishments that are no longer doing business in La Porte. The new ordinance will update all current existing licensed locations and will provide more details regarding owner of the property, the street address, the description of the property, the trade name of the business, the name and description of the applicant. as they may differ from the property owner for each applicant considered. The next change will involve all renewals of licenses as well as new applicants. It will require 65 % of the gross income of the establishment be derived from the sale of food. Also. it will insure the enforcement of policy guidelines of Resolution 91-12 which prohibits sale of wine and/or beer for consumption on premise at gasoline service stations and grocery stores or a combinatioli thereof. This provision will see that all new licenses and renewals will meet the same provisions. Presently the City renews all licenses as they were initially drafted, therefore, some licenses meet the 65% test and some do not. Mr. Joerns reported that only two businesses that currently hold licenses will be effected by these changes. Those two businesses are Brooks Flag Stop, 823 West Main, with a renewal date of September 25, 1997, and Port Auto Truck Stop. 904 W. Barbour's Cut Blvd.. whose renewal date is July 6, 1997. The final change provides the City shall not issue or renew any permits unless all city and school taxes have been paid by the applicant and owner of the property covered by the application and unless the applicant and property owner are current on any other real or personal property taxes on their properties located within the City of La Porte. The Ordinance makes it the responsibility of the applicant to provide the City with statements showing that all ad valorem taxes are current. Council discussed the provisions of the proposed ordinance. City Manager Robert T. Herrera asked that Council give staff direction if they have changes for the proposed ordinance. Otherwise. we will bring it back on the next Council meeting agenda for a vote. Mayor Malone asked for a show of hands of all those Council members who would like to see this ordinance brought back. Seeing none, he asked for a show of hands of those who are opposed to the ordinance, and five Council members showed opposition. City Manager Robert T. Herrera stated he would like to ha", the City Attorney look at the action we are taking or have taken to see if we have some obligation to the other City establishments that have actually met the requirement of the Ordinance which is in place presently. He indicated that he did not wish to have the City exposed to the possibilities of a lawsuit.