10:29I'd like to call this meeting to order the Chattanooga Beer Board.
10:36All meeting attendees must sign in over here at the sign-in sheet for the sunshine law.
10:42At this time we'd like you to mute all your electronic devices, so be sure and turn your phones and other electronic equipment off.
10:50Any individuals wishing to address the board must do so from the podium.
10:54And please state your name before making comments and please speak up.
11:00First item on our agenda is the approval of the minutes for the May 21st, 2026 meeting.
11:10Make a motion to approve May 21st, 2026.
11:16All in favor signify by saying aye.
11:21At this time, if you're gonna come before the meeting, you'll need to be sworn in by our court reporter, please.
11:31Anyone that's gonna be speaking today is for anything in this time to each of you songs where our farm the testimony you're meeting today.
11:37Would be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing by the truth to help us.
11:54Uh number one, beer 1401.
11:58Umazara Enterprise Incorporated doing business as MAPCO number 863 was approved.
12:26And beer 1415 uh para hospitality group LLC doing business as Camilla was also approved.
12:37Next item on our agenda is new temporary beer permit applications.
12:42Uh have any of those been approved.
12:46Uh one of those has been approved.
12:48Uh number three, which is the Smart Music Project, uh to break event 137.
12:55Uh I believe number two, that one was canceled.
12:59So and then uh number one is on hold by zoning, which is the uh big nine roots festival.
13:08Is there a representative here for that application?
13:12If you'll come before us and Zach, can you fill us in?
13:17Oh, you just approved it.
13:18Okay, well, thank you for being here this morning.
13:21Uh it's pretty good.
13:22While you're here, tell us a little bit about what's going on.
13:24We have the Bessie Smith Big Nine Music Face.
13:27Oh, sorry, Paula Wilkes.
13:28I'm the president of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.
13:31Um we have our Bessie Smith Big Nine Music Fest.
13:33Um in the past years we've done a two-day this year.
13:36We've switched to just a one-day festival because we have Juneteenth the day before, and we'll be doing a big celebration there.
13:42So it'll be from three to ten with live entertainment, food trucks, um, local merchandise vendors, all of our entertainment this year is local, so it's free community event.
13:55Well, I don't think anything else needs to be done because it's been approved by regulatory, so we're good and ready to go.
14:06Okay, and the uh for the record smart music project Garden Gala TE 135 has been canceled.
14:15I guess that's withdrawn.
14:17And uh and then the uh smart music project, Twilight Firefly Market TE 137 has been approved.
14:27Okay, beer applications passed from the last meeting.
14:31Uh first item is Flatlands LLC doing business as champions.
14:37Now that's the one that we need.
14:38Catherine, if you'll pitch in here and tell us what we need to do.
14:42Okay, so technically the um hearing officers recommendations are still pending, so the board needs to make a decision regarding the hearing recommendations before making a decision on this uh application.
15:00So it's my recommendation to uh move that to be on the behind that one.
15:07So what we'll do then is we will wait on that till we uh do the hearing recommendation officers, and then we will come back to flatlands.
15:20So the second one is Cabanas Nightclub and Event Center doing business as cabanas, uh beer one four one one.
15:28Officer Cowan we're on hold by legal right now.
15:37So um if you can recall last time he submitted his um background check, and everything looks okay with that background check.
15:44I still I just still need the board to sign off on all of his applications.
15:50The board can consider you know the history of the the um applicant and all of that, so the board still needs to make that decision before I sign off.
15:58So that is number two three, four, and five.
16:05Yes, and it uh just as a point of clarification as it would relate to Chi Chi's and the two Mexivals, there's still three outstanding violations on those that he has not paid the uh fines for.
16:25So I think that's gonna be up to the board as to how you want to proceed with that.
16:29Oh, yeah, um I think that is on the agenda for the 18th for one to discuss okay on because the board uh made a motion to reconsider and that was approved, and so right now that's set for the 18th to consider.
16:48So that is on uh number three, 423 Toxo Mech Taco Mexican uh cuisine LLC beer 1414, no uh it that would not apply to to 423 taco, it would only be Chi Chi's and the two Mexivas.
17:07Okay, so that would be number four Chi Cheese Charred Chicken LLC beer 1416 and Mexiville Mexican Restaurant beer 1417.
17:19So those are gonna be uh considered at the next meeting.
17:24It yeah, it should be.
17:26Do we need a motion to move those to that meeting?
17:30So before we proceed, let's go ahead and is there a motion to defer those two number four and number five to our next meeting.
17:39Yes, I'll make a motion to move uh beer 1416 and beer 1417 to the June 18th meeting.
17:48I have a second, thank you.
17:51All right, any discussion to that.
17:55I have one question.
17:59Is there anything in the code that says I think we've discussed this before if a business doesn't pay the fine?
18:08What are the repercussions for that?
18:11Well, um it doesn't address that specifically, however, I'm of the opinion that the fine is an order of the beer board, and a failure to abide by an order of the beer board is another violation.
18:32Okay, you got Veronica right here.
18:38My buttons not working.
18:41Um I would like to say that he was prepared to pay the bills, so he didn't just not pay it.
18:47The board made a decision to hold off on it because we were dealing with another case.
18:53Okay, so he didn't just ignore the bill.
18:56Okay, okay, and Betsy.
18:59That's exactly what I was gonna say.
19:02Betsy, do me a favor, push your button again, like you're trying to okay.
19:06All right, thank you.
19:08All right, okay, all right.
19:18Zach so technically speaking, given that there's no pending violation before the board until we can until we address that motion if we table it.
19:33So in my view, I would feel comfortable voting on these today, given that there's no pending violation.
19:54Okay, there's nothing new, correct?
20:00There's nothing new, correct?
20:01As far as I know, no.
20:04These are previous violations of the board, you know, found them guilty of and issued a punishment.
20:17So would so let me see if I can.
20:25Are these violations on 1416 and 1417?
20:32Why hasn't it come up before on these two?
20:38Violations for 1416, 1417.
20:48I'm not quite sure what you're asking.
20:52Well, you just said that we've got violations on 1416 and 1417.
20:58So Jean, I think it started before you joined the board.
21:03So that's previous violations.
21:07Yeah, it goes back before you before you joined the board.
21:11But but if we still had plenty of time to settle these, I mean it keeps coming up, and somebody could be out of business by now.
21:20I mean, as much as he's been in here, I mean this thing's been carried on and on and on.
21:27Well, um, one of the holdups was the uh background check issue that's now been resolved.
21:36So that it's not just they had these pending or they had these violations in the past.
21:45So the board how they want to deal with these.
21:50All right, so let's see them.
21:55Yeah, Zach's sorry, my button's not working.
21:57It is it is working.
22:02I think Gecnically speaking, there's no new violation because they haven't been cited for violating the order of the beer board.
22:11So there's no pending violation, which is why I would feel comfortable voting on these today.
22:23So first I was gonna ask Catherine, was there with this new background check?
22:28Was there any explanation given as to why it was so messed up previously?
22:35There was one by Mr.
22:38Serrano, but I haven't had any other um corroborating with the evidence to support that explanation, but the newest one is all accurate.
22:52The newest one has all the same information, it's been corrected.
23:04So we'll start with number two, cabanas nightclub events.
23:11We still have those motions.
23:14I'm sorry, excuse me.
23:16It sounds like we've had discussion on that.
23:18Uh we've had discussion, so let's call the roll in the and wait.
23:21Can we restate the motion?
23:25The motion was to pass them till to the meeting on the 16th.
23:30Oh that's eight eighteenth.
23:34So do we need to amend because it got a second?
23:38We can vote the motion down if you want to.
23:40Yeah, we can vote it down.
23:41Okay, so now you can either A amend the motion, which I think makes it a little bit more complicated.
23:49Okay, or B just let it go through the vote, and if it fails, then we go back.
23:56Any further discussion?
24:13Uh Brooke is not here.
24:16And the chair votes no.
24:18So that motion's defeated, so now we're back to where we were.
24:22Uh so let's take number two.
24:32Now, Bertha, if you would, do you mind reading the caption on number two, please?
24:46Representing Cabanas Night Club and Event Center, LNC, doing business as cabanas.
24:52Gabrielle Sosa and Jesus Esquivel Serrana are making application to engage in the sale of consumer beer at 1800 Rossville Avenue Unit 11.
25:03The pending application reflects an ownership change.
25:07Gabrielle Sosa has had a beer permit for this location in the past and is adding a partner.
25:13The location is owned by Deanna Duncan and is zoned UCX.
25:30Approved by everybody.
25:33Yes, legal is it, it's it's it's met all the approvals, right?
25:39I haven't I haven't had my phone in it yet because I wanted y'all to make the decision before I sign up.
25:45All right, very good.
25:46All right, discussion to the motion.
25:48So his oh I'm sorry.
25:51So his background check is good with you at this point.
25:55All the information matches on it.
25:58So there are no pending red flags on the application.
26:02On the um background check.
26:08Is there a motion to approve the application?
26:11Or change of ownership excuse me.
26:13I'll make a motion to approve beer uh 1411.
26:17All right, is there a second?
26:21Veronica was at you the second.
26:24Discussion to this motion.
26:30I'll call a question then.
26:53And the chair votes yes.
26:58Now Bertha, will you read number three, please, ma'am?
27:14Representing 423 Taco, Mexican Cuisine, LLC, doing business as 423 Taco.
27:22Gabrielle Sosa and Jesu Esquivel Serrano.
27:26I'll make an application to engage in the sale of consumer beer at 401 Market Street.
27:31The pending application reflects an ownership change.
27:34Gabriel Sosa has had a beer permit for this location in the past and is adding a partner.
27:40The location is owned by William Wise and is zoned DSH.
27:50And is there a motion?
27:55I'll make a motion to approve approve beer permit 1414.
28:00All right, thank you, Zach.
28:04Veronica, thank you.
28:06All right, discussion to the motion.
28:14All right, none seen.
28:15I'll go ahead and call a question.
28:36And the chair votes yes.
28:39Now, on number four and number five.
28:44We have outstanding fines on those.
28:48As of right now, yes.
28:52Is that the only thing that is keeping this from being approved at this time because of the uh because all the other background check applies to these two also.
29:07So I wouldn't say necessarily the fives are keeping it from being approved, like everyone who's pointed out.
29:17There are no current pending violations because the five the well, the civil penalties that are currently pending are for past violations that the board has given, I guess, an unofficial stay on to discuss at the at the next meeting.
29:36Just so that we're clear that that's what's pending against Chi Chi's and uh Mexico.
29:45Uh for the sake of inquiry.
29:48These past violations is just because he was operating without a license.
29:53I just want to make sure.
30:00I'll make a motion to approve beer permit 1416.
30:07Discussion to the motion.
30:10Do we have to have discussion on the fines first?
30:17That's currently what's set on the 18.
30:19And that was the original thought behind setting these off.
30:28Um but since the motion to pass has been defeated.
30:37So we'll still discuss the fines at the next meeting.
30:42So we have a motion and a second.
30:48All right, I'll call a roll.
31:05And the chair votes yes.
31:13And number five is Mexico Mexival Mexican Restaurant LLC.
31:18Change of ownership, beer permit 1417, 809 Market Street.
31:27I'll make a motion to approve.
31:30And a motion and a second.
31:55And the chair votes yes.
31:59And then we will discuss at our next meeting the non-payment of the fines, unless they're paid in between now and the next meeting.
32:07Well, so we were discussing.
32:10You're reconsidering the validity of those five.
32:14Reconsidering the bidding.
32:16I'll give him a pass.
32:20Because of the surprise Tennessee law that we didn't know about.
32:29All right, new beer applications.
32:40Representing La Katrina, Mexican Food LLC, Jose Antonio Vasquez Hernandez.
32:49Is he making application to engage in the sell of consumer beer at 5507 Highway 153 unit 105?
32:56The location is owned by Jason High.
33:07Please step up to the podium, please.
33:12Bertha, what was the song?
33:24My name is Carlos Pilago.
33:32Okay, tell us about what you're doing.
33:35Um, I'm a new place for the food truck by many customer asking for the beer.
33:42This is a reason I play for getting a permit.
33:51Has we what is everything being reviewed on this?
33:57I thought that's okay.
34:04So I'm just hearing that just to be clear.
34:07That this is a food truck.
34:08It's a mobile food unit.
34:09It's not a brick and mortar business.
34:12There's he owns a food truck, but they also have a space that they've acquired right next to the food truck where people would be served and drink the beer.
34:22They would not be taking it to go.
34:24So my question is where's the beer going to be served from?
34:28The brick and mortar area.
34:29The brick and mortar, not the mobile food unit.
34:33Because city code strictly prevents any alcohol being sold or distributed from mo or sold from mobile food units.
34:39Yeah, that's why he's waited until he took over the physical space to apply for this.
34:44He's been in business since 2030 or 2023.
34:48I just just want to be sure that we're clear on that.
34:54Any questions from any of the board members?
35:00Will the merchandise be rung up with the same transaction occurring the food van or in the brick and mortar bid?
35:07So the food would be in the food truck and any beer purchase would be inside of the physical location.
35:18Any further questions?
35:21We'll call the role.
35:24Make a motion to approve uh beer one four one.
35:32Now discussion to that motion.
35:53And the chair votes.
36:02Now that brings us to the discussion portion of our meeting on the previous beer violation approved and recommendations of the hearing officer, Kisa Cheeks.
36:13And this was heard on April 16th.
36:28Y'all affirmed the violation last week.
36:36Is the reason why it's on the discussion portion is at the fine?
36:46Oh, the fine has been paid.
36:48So really that's there's no nothing we need to do today other than just to let everybody know that fine has been paid on the dollar general.
37:04Now we get to our previous violation.
37:09Uh and um report and recommendation of uh Jonica Everhard, our hearing officer on May 21st, 2026 for Champions Chicken.
37:25And the hearing officer, I think we've seen this, uh, recommended a dismissal of the violation due to the uh snafu on the license renewals.
37:38So are there any questions to this?
37:42And we need to have a motion to affirm this ruling or not affirm it.
37:51I make a motion to affirm.
37:53All right, is there a second second?
37:57All right, thank you, Jean.
37:58Discussion to the motion.
38:27And the chair votes yes.
38:28So that is one, two, three, four, five, six.
38:34Now we go back to thank you very much.
38:54Flipped the wrong way.
39:04So under beer applications, we have Flatlands LLC, beer permit one three nine seven doing business as Champions Chicken.
39:14Um 526 East ML King Boulevard.
39:22So Officer Cowan goes.
39:28Officer Cowan, have they?
39:31Everything's in line.
39:32We were awaiting that last uh vote there.
39:35So based on your vote, I'll I will approve it through regulatory.
39:38All right, very good.
39:39Is there uh the applicants are here?
39:41Do you have anything you'd wish to address us about?
39:50Discussion or is there a motion to approve the application?
39:55It's always gonna be done the regulatory.
40:00All right, is there a discussion to the motion or to the approval of regulatory?
40:04All right, if not, then that's great.
40:28There are no previous violations to come before us at this time.
40:36Uh is there any public comment?
40:39Is there anyone from the public that wishes to comment right now?
40:50Uh I want to say uh last week I was scrolling on social media and I saw that uh councilwoman uh Jenny Heal had post district two seat for the beer board.
41:04And I want to say, because my tenure of three years is coming to an end, so I am seek I must be not seeking re-election.
41:12Uh and I want to say that I am grateful and thankful for the opportunity that the mayor, Chris Enderson, and uh Councilwoman Jenny Heel has placed in me the confidence to serve District 2 and to meet so many great people.
41:28Uh it's been a great experience, been a great time of learning and networking, and I appreciate all that I you all have done and will continue to do.
41:39Uh thank you for this opportunity.
41:42As chairman of the board, I want to say thank you.
41:45Because you've done a great job as a member.
41:46You've done an excellent job.
41:51I got a comment too.
41:53So I've moved district, so I've been allowed to stay on representing the my former district.
42:00Um however, I have a question.
42:04My schedule is getting fuller and fuller and fuller.
42:07That's a good thing.
42:08That's a good thing.
42:10Um if I terminate my representation, how does that affect quorum with the beer board?
42:21So quorum is five members.
42:25So at this point with everyone, hopefully, you know, they'll have you know seats available.
42:34Seats will be filled relatively quickly.
42:36But right now there are seven, so we need at least five to attend to have a quorum.
42:46I know this board has been down to before.
42:50There have been since I've been doing this maybe two or three times where we haven't been able to make a quorum.
42:59So it's it's it's very rare, even when we've been down.
43:03So and voting on a motion is the majority of the members present.
43:10January is that correct?
43:15No, there's not been any.
43:17I'm sorry, is that there's not been any communication from Chris or councilwoman?
43:21I just saw it like it's a public service and nothing.
43:24That's a so I don't know.
43:26No communication's been taking place.
43:27I'm glad you saw that.
43:28I need to see that too.
43:30So well, you know that's vocal with that, yeah.
43:34Any further discussion?
43:36All right, if not, again, JW, thank you.
43:38Very much really appreciate it.
43:41If not, is there a motion to adjourn?
43:44I make a motion to end this meeting.
43:51All in favor say aye.
43:54All right, thank you.