Judiciary & Administration Committee Special Meeting: March 31, 2026
Judiciary & Administration Committee Special Meeting: March 31, 2026
The Judiciary & Administration Committee held a special evidentiary hearing on March 31, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The sole agenda item was the appeal of Rolling Trees LLC's application for a Cigarette, Tobacco, and Electronic Vaping Device License, which had been denied by the La Crosse Police Department. The committee functioned in a quasi-judicial capacity, hearing testimony from the applicant and police department representatives, deliberating in closed session, and ultimately voting unanimously to recommend denial to the Common Council.
Evidentiary Hearing
- Applicant Testimony: Alan Andonegui (owner of Rolling Trees LLC) testified that he is fighting pending criminal charges (forgery and theft) in court and plans to plead not guilty. He stated the charges stem from a check incident in 2025, which he claimed was a misunderstanding: a check made out to him personally was deposited for a wholesale purchase, but the buyer never picked up the products, and the money was later refunded. He argued that the delay in resolving the license is harming his business, especially with upcoming sales (e.g., April 20). He noted that he previously sold CBD products without a tobacco license, but after a law change in 2025, the Department of Revenue informed him of the requirement, leading to his application in February 2026.
- Police Department Testimony: Police Chief Kudron and Records Supervisor Greg Elsen presented evidence that the criminal complaint (still pending) involves a forged check from Tree Huggers LLC that was altered to be payable to Andonegui. They also cited a citation issued to Rolling Trees for selling without a seller's permit. The district attorney's office confirmed the case is active. The department explained that Rolling Trees was discovered during a random compliance check partnered with the Department of Revenue.
- Cross-Examination: Committee members asked questions about the check's origin, the business operations, and the timeline of the license application. The applicant stated that the check was for a wholesale discount purchase and that he had no intent to commit fraud.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Deny: Councilmember Stine moved to deny the appeal based on: (1) lack of good moral character due to statements in the criminal complaint and false information in the application; (2) pending criminal charges substantially related to the licensing activity. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Padesky.
- Vote: The motion carried unanimously by a vote of 4-0 (with 3 excused: Bedford, Weston, Mindel). The committee recommended denial to the Common Council, which will make the final decision on April 9, 2026.
- Next Steps: The applicant may reapply after one year. The committee will issue a written decision within 20 days.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'm going to call to order this special meeting of the Judiciary Administration Committee here on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026. It's 5 02. Councilmembers Mendel and Weston are excused. Councilmember Bedford might be joining us. Otherwise, the other four of us are here in council chambers. Our first item of business is 26-0246. Application of rolling trees limited LLC doing business as rolling trees for a cigarette tobacco and electronic vaping device license and appeal of denial by the police department. The committee and or counsel may convene in closed session pursuant to Wisconsin statute section 19.851A to deliberate its decision. Following any closed session, the committees and or counsel may reconvene in open session. So this is a matter of an appeal of the police department's determination to deny Mr. Gusman on NDEGWU Rolling Trees Limited LLC LLC, a cigarette tobacco and electronic vaping device retail license. The JA committee shall hear the appeal and make a recommendation to the council. The city council's decision is final. And so this hearing, this hearing before JA is an evidentiary hearing. This means it's not legislation. The JA committee will function like a judge in a quasi-judicial capacity. Accordingly, there are no public participation at this meeting, and we don't have any. However, the public is free to observe the proceedings, but only interested parties may speak and present evidence to the committee. During the evidentiary hearing, each party can be represented by legal counsel, can present evidence, testimony, and cross-examine witnesses from the other party, and witnesses must be sworn prior to testimony. At the end of the evidentiary hearing, the parties may argue their position before the JNA committee deliberates. The J and A committee will then deliberate in closed session, and then we will written an issue. We will issue a written decision within 20 days. Okay. All right. So the first thing we'll be doing is swearing in of witnesses based on Wisconsin statute 906-03. For those of you who will be providing testimony tonight. Yeah, sir. Mr. Guzman, you can stand up. Yeah. For those of you who will be providing testimony evidence tonight, please stand and raise your right hand. And our attorney will swear you in. Okay. So we'll be starting our evidentiary hearing, and our applicant will speak first, and then after that, the police department will speak. And so uh Mr. Guzman Anendegu, you may proceed with your presentation of evidence or what you would like to say. So you could come up here to this stand. And if you look at that uh microphone, there's a button that has like a human talking. If you could push that, the red light will come on. Yeah, and so then you can introduce yourself and then you can tell us what you'd like us to know. Um my name's Alan. Alan Andornagy, by where would I go by? Um I would just like to state that I am fighting these alleged crimes in court, and I plan to keep pleaing on not guilty. So I know that I applied for this license while having uh this on my record, but the longer that I go without this license, it's really hurting my business. And with one of our biggest sales day coming up, that's a lot of loss of not just revenue for the city as some tax dollars, but also for my own store. And ever since I haven't been able to get this license, it's really harming our business. Um the claims against me that are on my record. I am fighting in the courts, and I hope to get them resolved soon. Uh, this all started last year, and I have been going to the courts.
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