Liquor Control Board - August 16, 2017 Minutes
August 16, 2017
1:30 P.M.
Present: Commissioner Piepkorn, Deputy Police Chief Joe Anderson, City Auditor Steve Sprague, Grant Larson, Environmental Health,
Absent: Commissioner Gehrig
Others Present: Rick Carik, Rick’s; Christine Deibel, Reese Riley Bistro, Other members of the media, concerned citizens and other members of the industry.
Meeting was called to order at 1:30 P.M.
1. Commissioner Piepkorn called the meeting to order and asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of July 19, 2017. There were no additions or corrections to the minutes of July 19, 2017. Moved by Larson, seconded by Anderson to approve the minutes of the July 19, 2017 meeting of the Liquor Control Board; all voted in favor, motion passed unanimously.
2. A. The first application to be considered today is for the issuance of a Class GH alcoholic beverage license to Reese & Riley’s LLC d/b/a Reese Riley Bistro to be located at 2653 45th Street South.
Sprague indicated the applicant had issues with both the credit history and criminal history. The applicant’s credit history is concerning in that he has a low credit score, otherwise the credit history is not concerning. The criminal history however is quite concerning, in the last 9 months there is a Domestic Violence charge and a Simple Assault charge. There is another charge for criminal trespass from 2012.
Deputy Chief Anderson reviewed the investigation findings and reported the criminal convictions; he stated that the Chief is recommending denial due to how recent the criminal history is. Christine Deible asked the Board what the criteria were for considering an application. Sprague responded the criteria for issuing a liquor license are guidelines and do not specify certain levels of criminal history or credit history.
Moved by Anderson, seconded by Larson to deny the application for the issuance of a Class GH alcoholic beverage license to Reese & Riley’s LLC d/b/a Reese Riley Bistro, all voted in favor, motion passed unanimously.
B. The second application to be considered today is for the issuance of a Class GH alcoholic beverage license to Dakota Pie LLC d/b/a Blaze Pizza to be located at 1443 42nd Street South.
Sprague commented that the applicants had no credit history or criminal history concerns, in fact 3 of the applicants had perfect credit scores.
Moved by Larson, seconded by Anderson to approve the issuance of a Class GH alcoholic beverage license to Dakota Pie LLC d/b/a Blaze Pizza to be located at 1443 42nd Street South. All voted in favor, motion carried.
3. Sprague received a request from a college student to amend the Fargo Municipal Code to allow minors on a licensed liquor premise for the purpose of training, education or research as allowed in the North Dakota Century Code sections 5-01-08 and 5-02-06. It is the student’s intention to work at an internship at a local brewery for the purpose of completing his business and marketing degree.
Moved by Sprague, seconded by Anderson to direct the City Attorney to prepare amendments to the Fargo Municipal Code section 25-1509 to allow minors on a licensed premise for the purpose of training, education or research as allowed in North Dakota Century Code sections 5-1-08 and 5-2-06 and to present the amendment to the City Commission. All voted in favor, motion carried.
There being no further business to come before the Liquor Control Board, the meeting was adjourned at 1:47 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. in the City Commission Room.