Safety service and license committee to order.

Um, please take the vocal.

Councilman Graziano.

Councilman Andujar.

Present.

Councilman Retz.

Present.

Calls and Draft Cante.

Councilman Vazeri.

Present.

Council Vice President O'Reilly.

Present.

Council President Wall.

Here.

This is a special safety services, so we won't do the minutes from the last meeting.

Is there anyone here tonight from the public that would like to comment on agenda items only?

I see no public comment online.

Okay.

So we're going to go right before new matters before the committee tonight.

Local businesses in Cranston want to entertain and serve the fans.

And that's why we've called tonight's meeting.

Business owners here deserve the right.

This was something the General Assembly passed.

And we're mayor mirroring them.

Providence has passed it, other cities and towns.

We only had four businesses apply for extended hours.

So tonight for the extended per diem expansion of hours.

The dates are very specific.

June 16th, which is actually today, June 22nd, June 26th, and July 2nd.

House Bill 8009 and Senate Bill 2627A grants them the opportunity if they filled out the application with their local city or town for their licenses to be extended.

This is we cannot charge for it's just an expansion of hours.

So I would like to propose tonight that Balazio located at 1669 Cranston Street, Lona Bar Lounge, located at 195, Morasco's Bar and Grail, located at 148 Park Avenue.

Yes, Council President.

I think before we take any vote.

Take them as a block.

Well, hold on.

I think we should hear the mayor did submit a letter.

Oh yeah.

I don't know if you want me to read this whole thing.

We should probably take a vote to accept it and to the record.

Motion to accept the letter from the mayor.

So we'll move to the record.

Councilman Graziano.

Councilman Anduhar.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz?

Yes.

Council Traffic Kanti.

Consulwoman Vazeri.

Yes.

Council President Haroyan?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Rather than reading the whole letter into the record, I'll just kind of summarize that the mayor, he just wanted to respectfully place on the record his opposition to these requests for extended liquor service and operating hours associated with the World Cup.

He wanted to be clear that that shouldn't be interpreted as opposition to our local businesses.

But that he does believe that this is just too much of a risk as far as with drinking and driving.

So we just wanted to put that on the record.

He does understand that the city council has the full authority and discretion to reach a different conclusion.

And should the committee determine that some accommodation is appropriate, he would strongly encourage that any extension be substantially more limited than the maximum hours authorized under state law and be contitioned upon reasonable public safety requirements.

He has asked the police to be here tonight, and you can accept their testimony on his behalf.

Thank you.

Yes.

I see the mayor, but anybody would like to weigh in as the police department.

As far as tonight goes, it's you know pretty much 11th hour.

So I don't know whether or not we'll be able to fill of uh uh all of them, if if any.

So I don't know whether or not we'll be able to fill of uh uh all of them, if if any uh but with that being said, um we'll uh um we'll give it out to the uh the beat offices to go ahead and do uh uh what we call liquor checks.

And that it would be no different for this compared to if there was a uh um uh another Friday or Saturday night.

We'll have offices uh with their due uh diligence.

They uh they usually go into uh establishments and uh and make sure everyone's uh complying with the uh with with the the local uh laws and ordinances.

So if if we're not able to fill uh whether it be tonight or the uh the other three nights in uh in question, the um the offices will go ahead and um uh the beat offices will go and just um uh make uh liquor uh liquor checks, and if any uh violations are noticed, they'll uh they'll uh go ahead and uh um take take note.

So but uh that's pretty much all uh all we have at this point.

I appreciate you major correctly today.

I'm gonna ask if I can take these in a bundle, but I would like to propose.

I'm not sure if I do the bundle call first and the vote for the bundle and then propose that we allow the establishments to stay open till 4 a.m.

a detail 10 p.m.

till closing, because the establishments might decide to close early if they have no patrons, and um alcohol stop serving at 2 a.m.

That's within your jurisdiction.

If you want to require details for this special occasion, I think you can do that.

And I think the general assembly to authorized you the uh latitude to either give all the all the relief or some of the relief as far as the extended hours.

Councilman Enderhauer, Madam Chair, I would recommend that we set the tone and set the rules first, and then we take it all as one bundle at the end to vote on.

So that way we could make a discussion and figure out what's safe for our our Cranston residents.

Okay, could I please have a vote on taking um one through four as a bundle?

So move second.

Councilman Tropicansky, Councilwoman Vaziri, yes, Council Vice President Heroyan, yes, council president Wall.

Yes.

Okay.

Should I do discussion now or wait till we're on these either way?

Okay.

Okay.

Would Councilman Adaho?

Did you have something to say?

No.

Okay.

Council President.

So I think if we're making the decision, I think that one of the things we have to uh decide.

Do we want to go the full four o'clock in the morning?

Is that what we're looking to go to go to four?

Actually, I've looked up all four games and they seem to end between one and two a.m.

So um I don't I don't know, Soccer.

I don't play soccer.

I don't know if it could.

We could close them at two.

I don't know.

Are you making a suggestion for that?

Just a question.

Um, I know it sounded like we wouldn't have a detail tonight, and there may be other nights we couldn't fill it with the added alcohol.

You know, if it's two o'clock, if the game's over at two, but I don't know.

I don't know when football we could have overtime, but I I'm not sure it's the same thing on that.

So I I'm kind of in the dark on that matter.

I kind of share the same sentiment as the uh council president.

I did read the mayor's letter and some of his points there.

I think you know these aren't locations that are in a residential area.

Um, so I think it's a good good test having these four.

I know they're responsible businesses.

There's a couple minor incidents there too, but I kind of share the same sentiment if maybe we ended at two, uh and hopefully get some some details to cover and have a little bit of buffer there as we we test this out.

Just be my thoughts.

Some soccer games go longer.

So even though they say they're 90 minutes or whatever with overtime penalties and all that stuff, it could go longer.

So just because they say it's gonna end at two doesn't mean it's actually gonna end at two o'clock.

3 a.m.

would be compromised.

Yes, madam chair.

Like like our councilwoman Bazeri said, um, the games do tend to go longer.

Other cities have proposed the 4 a.m.

and they're doing it because of the penalties and the kicks.

I would recommend a 2 a.m.

no liquor.

And if you get caught serving liquor after that, you're gonna get crucified, of course, from from the the Cranston Police Station for Cristam Police, but um keeping it open till four.

I'm pretty sure that these four restaurants are responsible enough that if they only have 10 people, they're gonna close at one.

So um I'm comfortable with the 4 a.m.

but 2 a.m.

stop closing, but I do would like to recommend a mandatory detail.

And I don't know if we can um start this 6:22 because today um we do not have um proper notice for the police to receive a detail if we were to approve that.

I think they're gonna put it out if this passes and see if we can get it, and if not, the B officer would do a patrol.

Do you have something to say, Kern?

Um, can anybody look at the schedule for the for the uh it's only for four dates?

Those are the only four games that start at 11 p.m.

Okay, so where have other games being played that are being played on those days?

Mexico.

Where?

Mexico, Mexico.

So they're being televised in Mexico, and they're a five-hour difference from us.

Um, and that's why Providence is doing the 4 a.m.

And that's why they only selected these four.

Uh the game starts in Mexico, I believe, at seven, which is 12 or here, something like that.

I could look up the schedule for you, but we're just mirroring everything Providence is doing.

Okay, I just I just don't see a game going four hours.

Yes, Director Renzuli, just for a point of information.

I know that a business owner uh has logged online, and I believe he might have the answer to some of these questions related to the to the game times.

He does have a license to show the game, and he seems to know the answer, so it might save us some time if he's acknowledged through Zoom.

Thank you.

Has someone online?

Would you like to speak?

Jordan's Vinny, please raise your hand.

Wow, they get you two hours.

Vinny, you're free to speak.

Please state your name and your address.

If you're online, could you please give your name and address for the record?

Vincenzo Maza 1669 Cranston Street.

Can you hear me?

We can.

Um, is there something you'd like to state to us tonight?

Yeah, so I I think there was some questions about the game times.

So I I looked at the schedule.

Most of the games that do start at midnight are in the qualifying rounds.

So they will they're gonna end by 2 a.m.

There's no reason that you should be that that's the absolute latest that that this will go on.

Um, those games will end by 2 a.m.

in the knockout stages where it's been discussed about overtime, the possibility of all of it overtime, there's only one game that falls in that.

It's an 11 uh it's an 11 p.m.

start time, which even if it went the additional, you know, overtime and penalty kicks, it still would put it around no later than 2 a.m.

So from my standpoint, Barlacio, I would have uh there would be no reason for me to stay open past 2 a.m.

I think that's you know, pretty safe for any games from what I looked at on the schedule, nothing's gonna go past 2 a.m.

I don't see a need for it for me to be open anyway past 2 a.m.

So thank you very much.

Councilman President Well, did you have a question for him?

Yeah, I just want to be clear because I think I'm I'm leaning along the lines of councilman and so if I'm hearing what you're saying correctly, it would be safe that no one would be inconvenienced while they're enjoying the game.

If we shut down alcohol service at two and close down um the the whole whole establishment at three o'clock, that would be a pretty safe gamble and probably would never come into question.

Would that be correct, Vinny?

Uh absolutely.

I think they'd give you more than enough time that you know you the game finishes right at two, and you get people out of there by you know, you have that extra hour to get people out.

Okay, thank you.

That's that's all I need.

Thank you very much.

And thank you for attending virtually.

Councilman Anderhauer has a question.

Vincent, are you still online?

Yes.

So if a game is ending, let's say 3 15, and there's still six minutes of penalty left.

Are you gonna have angry customers that can't watch the end of the game?

So again, I'm only going by what what I saw online.

If there's a i mean, it depends.

I mean, could could there be uh you know, a delay with you know the broadcasting or them taking a little bit of time, but there's only two 15 minute overtimes, and then it goes to penalties.

I mean, that's that and there's only one game in the knockout round.

The other games will automatically end after the 90 minutes and whatever the injury time is.

So, yeah, that may be the only factor is injury time, but injury time has never been more than you know, five to ten minutes.

Thank you.

So it's safe to say that we can shut the bar down at 2 a.m.

If the game ends at 3 15 or it ends at 2 30, you're fine with a 2 a.m.

alcohol shutdown where if you do get caught, you will be you know held responsible after 2 a.m.

if you serve liquor.

You're you're fine with that, correct?

Absolutely.

I think there's no reason to stay open past 2 a.m.

anyway.

So anyone else.

What I'm understanding here is one business owner has spoken and joined us tonight.

And um, he states that he believes closing at 2 a.m.

would be significant fine for the um stop serving alcohol at two, also.

Um, council president.

I would still lean with a little flex time.

I'm I'm all over the idea we should stop alcohol service at two.

I would give them an hour, like you know.

Listen, I've watched a lot of games in my life, maybe not that many soccer games, but sometimes you want to see the end, you want to see some of the interviews.

So that hour, if they if the if the establishment, I would leave it at their discretion, but leave the availability that they could stay you know open until as long as they're not serving alcohol beyond two o'clock to perhaps three o'clock.

That's I would be on that on that fence myself.

That's how I feel.

Councilwoman Vizari, I don't think a business is gonna stay open.

I don't think a business is gonna stay open if they're not making money.

So even if we give them till 4 a.m.

to close, if the game's over at 2 30, they're gonna shut down.

Madam Chair, you also have to remember if we're charging them detail and they close their details go until 4 a.m.

So that's another thing we have to think about.

I I'm safe with the 4 a.m.

closing.

If they want to shut down at 2 o'clock because they have 10 patrons, they still have to pay their detail till four.

Um, it's more of a public safety issue.

I'm pretty sure that these four places, you know, have adamant tips um certification where they could understand if someone's intoxicated and they will use you know Ubers and taxis.

But as long as we have that police presence there, I feel safe, especially for my ward and ward three.

That um the law will be abided by.

And I have talked to um the owner of Zona Lounge about adding that extra layer of security to make sure that their patrons get out, make sure that everybody's safe getting to their car.

And if somebody detects that somebody might be a little bit tipsy or under the influence where they they can't drive, the keys are being taken away, and the police officer will call a cop to told the car or um you know they could find another means of to get home.

Okay, um, I would be fine with staying open till 4 p.am.

I believe, mirroring the general assembly, but alcohol, I don't believe should be served after 2 a.m.

at the very latest.

And I would like to put on the record a police detail from 10 p.m.

until they close.

So if they close early, they close early.

The police officer is scheduled, I believe, till 4 a.m.

Is that the correct wording, major?

Yes, okay.

So if I'm hearing this, if this this is the motion you're gonna want, that we want to have the establishments remain open until four o'clock.

However, their alcohol service must stop at two o'clock during these game times, and there will be a mandatory police day detail, which will begin at 10 p.m.

and end at 4 a.m.

So that's a motion I'm making.

Mr.

President, may I add if you could add that the game has to be aired in the bar?

It has to be on TV screens.

Ah yeah.

Um, in addition.

In addition, the game should game must be aired in the bar on the TV screens provided by that for extended hours.

Okay.

You're making the motion.

Do right.

Do I have a second second?

So second.

Clerk, could it please have a roll call vote?

Director Renzeli, do you have a question?

You know, she did uh director in Zulu did bring in is does that cover outside as well?

I'm not comfortable with outside for this, I don't believe.

We're not addressing not with neighbors and so if you want to rephrase it indoor only.

I'll add the last caveat just for all of us, indoor only.

So I'll restate it.

That the establishments can be open until 4 a.m.

on the specific uh specified game nights.

Alcohol service will stop at 2 a.m.

There'll be a mandatory police detail between 10 p.m.

and 4 a.m.

The games must be carried by the establishments, and those games will be indoor and not outdoor.

So that's the motion.

Second.

Okay.

Any discussion?

We've done so much.

Thank you for this, madam chair.

I mean, it's we're just catching up with the rest of the cities and town.

So I thank you for doing this.

Yes, we have to take care of small business owners.

All right, Clerk.

Could I please have a roll call vote?

Councilwoman Graziano.

Councilman Anduar.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz.

Yes.

Councilman Trafficanti.

Councilman Vazieri.

Yes.

Council President President O'Reilly?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

I do just want to know, Madam Chair, just so that you know, the licenses need to be released by the licensing clerk.

So I don't know if you want to just for the police to pass on that these four businesses will be licensed tonight, but they will not be able to download download those licenses until tomorrow morning.

So if they're doing spot checks, they need to know that they are licensed, but they have no license to show.

Could you put that on the core?

The physical license cannot be printed out till the a.m.

He's good.

He's good.

Okay, this meeting will be adjourned now.

All those in favor?

Would you like to motion to adjourn?

Yes, motion to adjourn.

All those in favor?

Say okay.