Politics & Government

Last Call Could Come a Little Later

The Village Council is considering an ordinance that would allow bars and restaurants to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. Saturday.

The new alcohol ordinance discussed by the Village Council Tuesday night was like a good drink—it went down pretty smooth and, in principle, sat well with everyone.

The council heard the first reading of a Liquor Commission ordinance requested by the Chamber of Commerce that would extend the time bars and restaurants could serve alcohol until 2 a.m. Saturday. Currently, the last call on Friday is 1 a.m.—consistent with Sunday through Thursday.

Bars and restaurants are currently allowed to serve until 2 a.m. only on Saturday nights.

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All five commissioners in attendance (Marilyn Schnell was absent) and Mayor Sandack supported the pushback and the ordinance inspired no public comment, though it will be sent back to the Liquor Commission with council recommendations including a six-month “sunset clause” during which the commission will report progress and issues to the Village Council.

Village Attorney Enza Petrarca said the village has surveyed surrounding communities and the ordinance is “in line with the competitive communities and their hours.”

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Commissioner William Waldack said he’s not concerned with the policies of surrounding communities, but still voiced support for the ordinance.

“Since we’re already having 2 a.m. sales on Saturday, this is a relatively minor change,” Commissioner William Waldack said.

Sandack and Commissioners Bob Barnett, Bruce Beckman, Sean Durkin, Geoff Neustadt and Waldack all said they do not object to the extra one hour per week. However, commissioners did have suggestions for the ordinance.

Barnett suggested a “late-night license” for establishments that want to serve alcohol after midnight. The for-purchase license system, according to Barnett, would narrow the number of bars and restaurants the village would need to consider for late-night issues because less than half of bars and restaurants currently stay open and serve until 1 a.m.

“Now we can have a very small, discrete group of people—very well known—who are actually operating with that license,” Barnett said.

The special license recommendation was referred to, somewhat jokingly, as the “Barnett Plan” by Sandack. He and Neustadt worried establishments that currently serve until 1 a.m. would be forced to purchase a new license.

“We have fine establishments that abide by all aspects of the liquor code and are great corporate citizens who may arguably lose an hour of dispensing time on Saturdays because of this new classification. That causes me more than a little bit of pause,” Sandack said. “I don’t know that they should be charged for extended hours when they’re doing the right thing, the right way, right now.”

Neustadt recommended the commission look into whether the ordinance will create demand for new police officers, something Neustadt worried the village can’t afford currently.

Village Manager Dave Fieldman later confirmed that village staffing, including police staffing, would not change with the push-back.

After the meeting, Fieldman said the ordinance will go before the council for a March 1 vote as scheduled, but he said to expect slightly modified language. The revised ordinance will likely contain a six-month sunset clause, according to Fieldman, to allow the Liquor Commission to consider issues discussed by the council Tuesday.

The Friday-night ordinance is paired with another that will increase the square-footage area for on-site drinking establishments with a Class P-O-2 license from 550 square feet to 750 square feet. The ordinance stems from a request for village permission made by Lemon Tree Grocer—the village’s only business with a P-O-2 license according to village attorney Enza Petrarca—to increase the size of its café, which serves beer and wine.

According to a letter from Lemon Tree owner Shaun Black to Mayor Ron Sandack, “a one dimensional grocery store is not fiscally viable in [Downers Grove]. In order to be a solvent and viable entity, said store must have multiple revenue streams.”

Black’s letter said the café is “exceeding expectations,” leading to the store’s desire to expand its area.    

In other council action:

  • An ordinance was approved granting a special-use permit for the Tivoli Hotel, 936 Warren Ave., which will allow the hotel to increase from 42 to 54 rooms.
  • A resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement between Downers Grove and DuPage County that would allow the village to participate in a “countywide interoperable emergency radio dispatch system” got its first reading.  
  • A resolution authorizing a sales tax rebate agreement with Packey Webb Ford, who would in return make facility improvements to its Ogden and Finley property, dictated by the village, got its first reading.


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