By Kim McDarison
The Whitewater Common Council Tuesday approved the second and final reading of an ordinance amendment which increases the city’s quota of available class A liquor licenses from 4 to 12.
The action was approved unanimously as part of the city’s consent agenda.
According to the ordinance, the city will have the ability to issue a total of 12 class A licenses and 24 class B licenses.
A first reading of the amendment garnered unanimous approval from council in November.
During a November city council meeting, City Attorney Wally McDonell explained the difference between class A and B licenses, noting that class A licensure was granted to establishments, such as Casey’s and Walmart, that were looking to sell liquor and beer in closed containers for consumption off premise. Class B licensure is granted to establishments looking to sell liquor and beer for consumption on premise. He described class B licenses as those typically granted to bars and taverns.
McDonell noted in November that the change in the ordinance had been brought for consideration before council after business owners within the city had sent correspondence to the city clerk’s office, seeking the addition of available licenses, after the city had earlier increased its quota by two licenses to accommodate Kwik Trip.
Citing in November the requests brought by the additional business owners, McDonell said: “I know there’s been some indication that they felt it was fair and justified because the quota was increased for Kwik Trip — that there should be an increase for other businesses that would like to sell … That is why it was put on (the agenda), to give the council an opportunity to increase the number.”
An earlier story about the liquor license quota and the amendment’s first-reading approval in November is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/whitewater-ordinances-amending-liquor-license-quotas-food-truck-regulations-pass-first-readings/.
Food trucks
As indicted on Tuesday’s city council agenda, a second reading of an amendment to an ordinance governing food truck operations within the city was removed from the agenda. A notation identified the item as removed as of Dec. 2.
A first reading of the amendment received council’s unanimous approval during a council meeting held in November.
During the November meeting, Neighborhood Services Director Chris Bennett described the amendment as “tidying up some language as it pertains to food trucks,” adding that the intent of the amendment was to add language stating that food trucks cannot conduct business within 100 feet of a licensed food establishment unless the truck operator has written permission from the owners of the establishments within that vicinity.
During the discussion held in November, council members identified several language additions that they thought might be worthy of incorporation into the revised ordinance.
Additional proposed language covered such topics as restricting hours of operation and limiting operations to certain areas within the city, and increasing a truck vender license application fee to better cover costs associated with proposed initiatives such as background checks.
McDonell told council members that the ordinance also stipulates restrictions regarding door-to-door sales.
Said McDonell in November: “Our transient merchant ordinance does currently regulate door-to-door sales quite strictly. Since we are bringing it back, maybe there’s going to have to be a change in how that’s regulated.”
He said he wanted to supply a “heads-up” so there would be no surprises if that part of the ordinance also appeared before council with the amendment’s next reading.
City Manager John Weidl told members of council that proposed language for inclusion within the ordinance would return to council “at a later date,” further noting: “There’s no rush.”
Council’s discussion in November regarding amended regulations for food truck venders is included in the link shared previously within this story.
Whitewater Municipal Building, file photo/Kim McDarison.
This post has already been read 1110 times!
