Committee on License and Consumer Protection meeting, May 8, 2024
- When: Wed, May 8, 2024, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on License and Consumer Protection
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/943729708
- Transcript: full text (2,911 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on License and Consumer Protection, chaired at this meeting by Vice Chair Peter Chico, heard two public commenters and approved its April 2024 rule 45 reports. It recommended passage of all eight ordinances on the agenda: a ban on additional late-hour liquor licenses in the 1st Ward, package goods moratoriums on portions of 79th Street, Stony Island Avenue and Commercial Avenue, a lift of a package goods moratorium on another portion of Stony Island Avenue, updated peddling-prohibition boundaries in the 23rd Ward, and lifts of liquor moratoriums on portions of Chicago Avenue and Irving Park Road. During the peddling item, Alderperson Brendan Reilly raised concerns about enforcement against unlicensed vendors downtown.
Topics: late-hour liquor licenses, package goods moratoriums, liquor moratorium lifts, peddling restrictions, unlicensed vendors, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 23:03 Public comment
- 27:09 Approval of rule 45 reports for April 2024: passed
- 27:40 Disallow additional late-hour liquor licenses in the 1st Ward (O2024-0008642): passed
- 29:56 Disallow additional package goods licenses on a portion of 79th Street (O2024-0008963): passed
- 30:53 Disallow additional package goods licenses on a portion of South Stony Island Avenue (O2024-0008962): passed
- 31:41 Lift package goods moratorium on a portion of Stony Island Avenue (O2024-0008959): passed
- 32:35 Disallow additional package goods licenses on a portion of Commercial Avenue: passed
- 33:18 Update peddling prohibition boundaries in the 23rd Ward (O2024-0008773): passed
- 35:59 Lift liquor moratorium on a portion of Chicago Avenue (O2024-0008861): passed
- 39:32 Lift liquor moratorium on a portion of Irving Park Road (O2024-0009004): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Peter Chico (chair): Said Commercial Avenue is the main business district in his ward, that his predecessor lifted the moratorium, and asked the committee to reinstate it. (32:51)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Said residents have consistently asked that no more late-hour licenses be permitted in the 1st Ward, that there are already sufficient late-hour establishments, and asked for support. (28:02); Said the 1st Ward has fewer than 10 late-hour establishments. (29:04)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked how many late-hour establishments are in the 1st Ward, noted he has a ward-wide moratorium, and moved to pass. (28:58)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Supported the 1st Ward ordinance, saying a late-hour establishment near his home is disruptive at 5 a.m., and seconded the motion. (29:24)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said BACP is not properly enforcing no-peddling zones, citing unlicensed food vendors on upper Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park. (34:11); Said licensed Park District concessionaires compete with unlicensed vendors and that departments' enforcement could come up during fall budget hearings. (35:07)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Asked for support lifting the Irving Park Road moratorium for an established pool hall business. (39:54)
Exchanges between members
- 28:58 Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson asked how many late-hour establishments are in the 1st Ward.
- 29:04 Alderperson Daniel La Spata answered that there are fewer than 10.
- 29:24 Alderperson Scott Waguespack seconded Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson motion to pass the 1st Ward ordinance.
- 35:44 The chair thanked Alderperson Brendan Reilly for his comments.