Council Uncertain on Liquor License Policy

A decision on last call for alcohol service at Hermosa Beach restaurants was pushed back for a week by the City Council on Tuesday. 

The council discussed whether to allow restaurants to serve alcohol past 10 p.m. and whether the city should leave all such liquor-related questions to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), but was unable to make a decision regarding its liquor license policy Tuesday night.

Restaurant owners who attended the meeting pleaded with the council to leave regulation mainly to the state agency.

"Most cities don't get involved in this stuff," said Ron Newman, co-owner of Baja Sharkeez.

"You think Wolfgang Puck will come near this city?" he asked. "Not if he can't stay open until 12."

After discussing a policy for making recommendations on liquor licenses issued by the department, the council voted to debate the matter again next week.

"It hurts business to have an unclear policy," said Councilman Patrick "Kit" Bobko, who agreed that more discussion was needed.

Mayor Michael DiVirgilio said that the council should use the extra week to craft a clear and concise plan surrounding citywide liquor license regulation.

"There are some markers that we could put in place that say when this circumstance happens within this time frame, here's what to do," he said.

Before agreeing to take the matter up again next week, the council was able to separate its concerns into three main topics of focus: a vote on policy regarding department practices; conditional-use permits, or the time frame in which restaurant owners can serve alcohol; and the establishment of guidelines for both old and new businesses in Hermosa.

Once a policy has been drafted, the council will consider how it relates to a renewed license, a license transfer or a license change.

The discussion surrounding licensing had been raised earlier this month when a request was made to transfer a license from Il Boccaccio to Sharkeez. At the time, Hermosa Beach Police Chief Greg Savelli suggested that the department call for earlier operating hours for Sharkeez before transferring the license. But the ABC agreed to the shift without conditions. The council was unable to appeal.

"If you want to control this, you need to go beyond what ABC says," City Manager Stephen Burrell told the council Tuesday.

The ABC focuses on the laws, rules and regulations for serving alcohol. Other concerns, such as crowd control and noise levels, are controlled by the city.

Just after the Sharkeez license transfer decision was made, about 260 letters were sent to City Hall from residents. They feared the noisy crowds that might be drawn to the liquor-serving establishment.

"This is not something we're going to resolve overnight," Councilman Howard Fishman said.

Whether or not a decision is made at the next City Council meeting, DiVirgilio said that he hopes business owners will know and understand the city's expectations when it comes to alcohol.

The next City Council meeting is June 1 at 7 p.m.  in City Hall.