HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/10/1998LIQUOR LICENSING AUTHORITY MINUTES
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
7500 W. 29th Avenue, Municipal Building
December 10, 1998
The Liquor Authority Meeting was called to order by Chairman Wilde at 9 00 a.m Liquor
Authority Members present: Dan Wilde, Harry Williams, Frank Sanzalone, Kent Davis,
George Langdon, Rocco Gioso, Judith DiCroce Also present: Deputy City Clerk, Christa
Jones, City Attorney, Gerald Dahl, Chief of Police, Jack Hurst.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF November 12, 1998
Motion by Mr Williams for the approval of the Minutes of November 12, 1998, seconded by
Mr Davis, carried 7-0
Item 1. Show Cause Hearing for Pigskins Sports Saloon, 10051 North 1-70 Service
Road, Wheat Ridge
Police Chief, Jack Hurst, and City Attorney, Gerald Dahl, presented the City's case On
October 2, 1998 at 8 42 p m , Wheat Ridge Police received a call regarding a fight/disturbance
in progress at Pigskins While responding to the first call, a second call was also received
regarding the same event. One caller was calling from Pigskins and had identified herself as
an employee of the bar; the other caller was a person who reported that they had been injured
in the fight at the bar, calling from a near-by service station The person calling from the
service station had allegedly been cut with a knife during the fight at the bar Once on scene,
officers contacted all victims, witnesses, and suspects It was determined that a brief fight had
occurred in the men's restroom Once of the participants exited the restroom and asked the
bartender to call the police The bartender refused, and reportedly advised the person who
asked that the police be called that she would ask the other participants in the fight to leave
She reportedly refunded the money to these people and ordered them to leave Before they
departed, along with the other combatants, another fight ensued within the public area of the
bar It was at this time that the bartender called The police investigation indicates that
several persons involved in the disturbance appeared to officers to be visibly intoxicated
Chemical tests of at least one principal involved indicate that a large amount of alcohol had
been consumed Municipal Code requires that the police be called "immediately" when a
disturbance takes place
Notice of Hearing and Police Report were entered as exhibits into the record
LIQUOR AUTHORITY MEETING December 10, 1998 Page -2
Mark A. Slavsky, was sworn in by the Chair; he has been a Police Officer for the City of Wheat
Ridge since 1980, he gave testimony as to what happened on October 2, as stated in the
police report in evidence
Wade Hammond, was sworn in by the Chair; he is a Police Lieutenant and has worked for the
City of Wheat Ridge since 1978 He arrived moments after Officer Slavsky He also gave
testimony as to what he found at Pigskins on the night of October 2
Gary Stehle, representing Pigskins, was sworn in by the Chair, and called the following
witnesses
Jennifer Christian, who works part time at Pigskins, was sworn in by the Chair She stated that
the parties involved showed no signs of being visibly intoxicated and she was not aware of any
fight in bathroom All six people involved in the disturbance were asked to leave the bar
Melynda Tucker, bartender at Pigskins, was sworn in by the Chair She also stated that she
was not aware of any fight in the bathroom and was only told later that there had been a fight.
She noticed no signs of visible intoxication on any of the parties involved She asked the six
people to leave the bar and when the altercation started in the lobby, she is the one who
contacted the police
Closing arguments were presented by Mr Dahl and Mr Stehle
Motion by Mr Davis that the Authority finds two violations occurred One was a violation of
Section 12-47-901 (1) (a) The other one a violation of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws,
Section 11-54, seconded by Mr Sanzalone, carried 7-0
Motion by Mr Davis to suspend the Liquor License for Pigskins for a period of three (3) days,
commencing Thursday, January 7, 1999 at 8 00 a m and ending Sunday, January 10, 1999 at
2 00 a m , seconded by Mr Williams, carried 7-0
Mr Davis asked that the Liquor Authority be supplied with the police reports sooner than
right at the hearing Mr Dahl stated that in the future the police reports would be mailed to
the Authority members approximately one week before the hearings
Item 2. Change of Location for Vern's Liquor, 4403 Wadsworth Blvd
Deputy City Clerk, Christa Jones, presented the staff report.
Motion by Mr Wilde to forego the survey for Vern's Liquor because the needs and desires of
the neighborhood will not be affected by the move across the parking lot. I further move that a
public hearing on the application will be held on December 28, 1998 at 9 00 a m and order the
property posted and the notice published in the Wheat Ridge Transcript; seconded by Mr
Williams, carried 7-0
LIQUOR AUTHORITY MINUTES December 10, 1998 Page -3-
Item 3. Modification of Premises for Vern's, 7604 West 44th Avenue
Deputy City Clerk, Christa Jones, presented the staff report.
Motion by Mr Gioso to approve the modification of premises for Vern's, 7604 West 44th
Avenue, for the following reasons 1 The applicant is in possession of the premises by virtue
of a signed lease dated December 1, 1998 2 All papers have been filed and fees paid 3
The needs and desires of the neighborhood will not be affected by the move across the
parking lot; seconded by Mr Williams, carried 7-0
Item 4. Notice of Alleged Liquor Violation at Village Liquors, 5305 West 38th Avenue
Motion by Mrs DiCroce not to hold a hearing on the alleged liquor violation, seconded by Mr
Sanzalone Motion by Mr Gioso for an amendment that the Police Chief send a warning letter
to Village Liquors, that also contained information This was accepted by motion-maker and
second Motion carried 7-0
Item 5. Cancel December 24 Regular Meeting
Motion by Mr Williams to cancel the December 24, 1998 Regular Liquor Authority Meeting,
seconded by Mr Wilde, carried 6-1 with Mr Sanzalone voting no
Motion by Mr Williams to adjourn, seconded by Mr Sanzalone, carried 7-0
Meeting adjourned at 11 00 a.m
Christa Jones, Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED BY LIQUOR AUTHORITY ON DECEMBER 28, 1998 BY A VOTE OF ? TO 0-
Dan Wilde, Chairperson