Chattanooga Beer Board Meeting: May 7, 2026 - Executive Order, Permit Deferrals, and Fine Reconsiderations

The Chattanooga Beer Board convened on May 7, 2026, to address temporary and new beer permit applications, hear a presentation from the Mayor's office on a new executive order and ordinance change regarding beer permit expiration dates, and reconsider fines for prior violations. The meeting included multiple deferrals, a motion to reconsider fines, and discussions on compliance with state law.

Consent Calendar

• Temporary beer permits listed (TE 130, TE 132, TE 133, Beer 1369, Beer 1394, Beer 1399, Beer 1400, Beer 1403, Beer 1405, Beer 1408, Beer 1409, Beer 1410) were approved by regulatory without objection.
• Temporary Beer Permit TE 127 (Chattanooga RenFaire) was approved by regulatory.
• Temporary Beer Permit TE 125 (wedding reception at 4960 Gan Stor Road) was deferred to the next meeting due to uncertainty about the appropriate application type; the board is working with the city attorney's office.
• Beer Permit 1401 (MAPCO #863) was passed to the next meeting because of unresolved ownership questions; the applicant, Mohammed Jamil, later appeared and was heard out of order, but action was deferred pending submission of ownership documentation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Executive Order and Ordinance Change: Chris Anderson from the Mayor's office presented Executive Order 2026-05, effective May 7, 2026, extending the beer permit renewal amnesty period for 15 days (with possible renewals) to bridge the gap while a permanent ordinance change is pending before City Council. The ordinance would remove arbitrary expiration dates from beer permits to comply with TCA 57-5-103, retaining only triggers for renewal: ownership change of 5% or more, name change, location change, or code violations. An annual privilege tax of $100 would still be required. Anderson clarified that the executive order is not retroactive and does not resolve issues beyond expiration (e.g., background checks, as in the case of Cabanas). Board members asked about enforcement, retroactivity, and the privilege tax collection process.
• Anonymous Packet: The board received an anonymous packet of information earlier that week. It was decided to review it and discuss at the next meeting (May 21, 2026) due to the volume of material.
• Regulatory Visits and Uniform Enforcement: Board members discussed the need for regulatory visits to ensure businesses with pending violations or expired permits are not selling beer. Legal counsel noted the board cannot direct regulatory enforcement, and the ability to sell beer during a pending violation depends on the nature of the violation and whether the permit itself is valid.

New Beer Permit Applications

• Brown Bag Permit BB-11 (WY Sports Bar, Willie Cox): Deferred to the next meeting pending zoning approval. The applicant was advised to follow up with Zach Wiley; it was later noted that an OpenGov issue was being resolved.
• Consumer Beer Permit 1397 (Flat Lines LLC d/b/a Champions Chicken): Deferred to the June 4, 2026 meeting because a pending violation hearing is scheduled for May 21, 2026. The board agreed to wait for the hearing outcome before considering the permit.
• Consumer Beer Permit (Harbour Inc., no representative present): Deferred to the May 21, 2026 meeting.
• Consumer Beer Permit (Cabana's Nightclub, ownership change): Deferred to the next meeting pending resolution of an FBI background check issue. The applicant presented a document from a lawyer; the board will review.
• Beer Permit 1401 (MAPCO #863, Mohammed Jamil): Heard out of order. Ownership percentage discrepancies were identified (applicant claimed 95% or 96%, son claimed 5% or 4%). The application was deferred until the applicant submits documentation of the partnership agreement and the son completes background check and citizenship paperwork. The applicant confirmed no beer is currently being sold.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Defer TE 125: Approved unanimously.
• Motion to Pass Beer 1401 (MAPCO) to Next Meeting: Approved unanimously.
• Motion to Move Brown Bag BB-11 to Next Meeting: Approved (one opposed).
• Motion to Defer Beer 1397 (Champions Chicken) to June 4, 2026: Approved (one abstention).
• Motion to Defer Harbour Inc. Permit to May 21, 2026: Approved unanimously.
• Motion to Defer Cabana's Permit to Next Meeting: Approved unanimously.
• Motion to Reconsider Fines (Items 2, 3, 4 from February 19, 2026 hearing): The board voted to amend the motion to reconsider at the June 18, 2026 meeting. The amended motion passed unanimously. The fines, totaling $1,000 each for three locations (all but Cabanas, which paid), remain unpaid pending reconsideration. The board did not order a stay, but legal counsel indicated a separate motion was unnecessary given the pending review.
• Deferral of Hearing Officer Report (Keisha Cheeks, April 16, 2026): Deferred to the next meeting because the report had not been submitted.
• Adjournment: Motion carried.