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Record of Proceedings

Milwaukee Licenses Committee Meeting - July 21, 2026

Common Council — Tuesday, July 21, 2026
BodyMilwaukee, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council
DateTuesday, July 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 9:59:55

Original source
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0:27

Good morning, everybody.

0:29

Thank you.

0:30

Um, I will call the order of the licenses committee regular meeting on Tuesday, July 21st, 2026 at 9 03 a.m.

0:39

I'm Alder Person Joe Casta Samaripa.

0:41

I'm chairperson of the committee, and I'm joined in the following order to my right by our vice chair, Alderwoman Andrea Pratt.

0:48

Alderman DeAndre Jackson will be joining us very shortly.

0:51

To my left, uh Alderman Peter Bergelis is here with us, as well as Alderman Alex Brower.

0:57

Um, of course, want to welcome our staff assistant, Yadira Melendez as well.

1:02

Good morning, as well as Miss Fabiola Lopez, our licensed division assistant manager.

1:06

Good morning from the city attorney's office, uh Attorney Travis Gresham, and from the Milwaukee Police Department, Sergeant Corneto is here with us.

1:15

Good morning.

1:16

Um the first item on the agenda is file number 260462, a motion relating to the recommendations of the licenses committee relating to licenses, and the first application at 9 a.m.

1:28

is Bini N Cocar, Class D operator's license renewal application.

1:35

Is Beni N Cocar present either in person or virtually N Cocar?

1:47

All right.

1:49

Second move move.

1:52

Deny.

1:54

Okay.

1:54

You want to grab your microphone, Alderman Bergellis?

1:57

You want to hear that lovely.

2:02

All right.

2:02

Um Alderman Peter Bergellis has moved for denial based on second time non-appearance.

2:07

Any discussion to that motion?

2:09

Any objection?

2:10

Hearing none, so ordered.

2:13

All right, we will move on to our next 9 a.m.

2:18

agenda item.

2:19

Jose Luis Ibarra Flores, agent for Gamaleon Bar Services, LLC, Class B Tyrant and Public Entertainment Premises Licenses Application requesting jukebox for Cameleon Bar at 2900 South 13th Street.

2:35

Good morning.

2:37

Yes.

2:48

Okay, so this individual is going to help the applicant with uh interpretation.

2:53

Thank you.

2:53

Gracias.

2:55

Um if you'll both is if everybody will raise their right hand that needs to get sworn in.

3:10

Yes.

3:10

Yes.

3:11

Thank you.

3:12

Okay.

3:15

Okay.

3:17

I'm okay.

3:18

If not, I did send for a translator if you want to.

3:21

Okay.

3:22

Thank you.

3:22

Go ahead.

3:23

All right.

3:24

Um, so you are Mr.

3:27

Ibarra Flores, correct?

3:29

Okay.

3:29

Are you?

3:31

You might want to help him with this.

3:32

Can you translate this for him?

3:34

Are you in receipt of notice of today's meeting with the possibility your application may be denied?

3:41

Um license.

3:47

Okay.

3:48

Is that good?

3:49

Yes.

3:50

Yes.

3:50

Okay.

3:51

All right, gracias.

3:52

All right.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Business Licensing█████████████████████████████████████████████60%
Public Safety████████11%
Procedural██████8%
Community Engagement████5%
Noise Ordinance████5%
Parking Enforcement██3%
Public Education Funding██2%
Land Use Planning██2%
Technology and Innovation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Milwaukee Licenses Committee Meeting - July 21, 2026

The Licenses Committee met on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, from 9:03 AM to 7:02 PM under Chair Jocasta Zamarripa. The bulk of the meeting (File 260462) addressed dozens of license applications, renewals, and amendments. The committee also considered legislation and informational reports.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda Only Items: The committee approved a block of applications without discussion, including permits for Kareem Towing, Indulge Wine Rooms, and the Mexican Fiesta festival.
  • Warning Letter Items: Standard renewals were approved with warning letters for businesses including the Tomato Patch, McDonald's, Westside Liquor, and Taco Bell.

Discussion Items

Highly Contested New License: AVA'S ON VAN BUREN

  • Application: Paesha Sara Pesqueira applied for a Class B Tavern, PEP, and Food Dealer license at the former Victor's location (1230 N Van Buren St).
  • Opposition: Ald. Robert Bauman led opposition, stating the area is now high-density residential. MSOE, New Land Enterprises, St. Joan Antida High School, and residents testified against it, citing the prior business's noise, safety, and parking problems.
  • Applicant's Position: Atty. Emile Ovbiagele argued the business would be a sports bar. Amendments adopted removed "patrons dancing" and set weekend closing to 2 AM (alcohol cutoff 1:30 AM).
  • Vote: The motion to approve failed 2-2-1 (Pratt/Burgelis for; Brower/Jackson against; Zamarripa abstained). Sent to full council without recommendation.

Other Notable Determinations

  • Savoy's: Renewal approved. Plan amended for 3-7 security guards (some potentially armed) following a battery. Security plan added to record.
  • ALDI #19: Renewal approved. Plan amended to require a security guard from 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM.
  • Discount Cigarette & Beer: Renewed with warning letter. Plan amended for mandatory ID scanning on all alcohol/tobacco sales. Business closed until July 31 council action.
  • Corner Food Mart: Renewed with warning letter. Mandatory ID scanning added for tobacco sales.
  • Do Portugal Circus: Temporary circus permit denied (4-1) due to neighborhood/aldermanic opposition.
  • Wendy's #6: Renewal held for further discussion on operational issues.
  • Food Trucks (e.g., Parrilla Mixe, Tacos Almita): Multiple renewals processed; some approved with warnings and commitments to move locations to mitigate noise/parking complaints.

Legislation and Reports

  • File 260237 (Temp Permits): Recommended for passage. Allows denial of late filings (5 days or less).
  • Files 260373/260374 (Quotas): Placed on file. City has 1,091 alloted licenses, 891 in effect, 756 available.

Key Outcomes

  • Ava's on Van Buren: Committee split, sent to council without recommendation.
  • Savoy's: Renewed with strengthened security conditions.
  • ALDI #19: Renewed with security guard mandate.
  • Do Portugal Circus: Denied.
  • File 260237: Recommended for passage.
  • Files 260373/260374: Placed on file.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everybody. Thank you. Um, I will call the order of the licenses committee regular meeting on Tuesday, July 21st, 2026 at 9 03 a.m. I'm Alder Person Joe Casta Samaripa. I'm chairperson of the committee, and I'm joined in the following order to my right by our vice chair, Alderwoman Andrea Pratt. Alderman DeAndre Jackson will be joining us very shortly. To my left, uh Alderman Peter Bergelis is here with us, as well as Alderman Alex Brower. Um, of course, want to welcome our staff assistant, Yadira Melendez as well. Good morning, as well as Miss Fabiola Lopez, our licensed division assistant manager. Good morning from the city attorney's office, uh Attorney Travis Gresham, and from the Milwaukee Police Department, Sergeant Corneto is here with us. Good morning. Um the first item on the agenda is file number 260462, a motion relating to the recommendations of the licenses committee relating to licenses, and the first application at 9 a.m. is Bini N Cocar, Class D operator's license renewal application. Is Beni N Cocar present either in person or virtually N Cocar? All right. Second move move. Deny. Okay. You want to grab your microphone, Alderman Bergellis? You want to hear that lovely. All right. Um Alderman Peter Bergellis has moved for denial based on second time non-appearance. Any discussion to that motion? Any objection? Hearing none, so ordered. All right, we will move on to our next 9 a.m. agenda item. Jose Luis Ibarra Flores, agent for Gamaleon Bar Services, LLC, Class B Tyrant and Public Entertainment Premises Licenses Application requesting jukebox for Cameleon Bar at 2900 South 13th Street. Good morning. Yes. Okay, so this individual is going to help the applicant with uh interpretation. Thank you. Gracias. Um if you'll both is if everybody will raise their right hand that needs to get sworn in. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Okay. I'm okay. If not, I did send for a translator if you want to. Okay. Thank you. Go ahead. All right. Um, so you are Mr. Ibarra Flores, correct? Okay. Are you? You might want to help him with this.

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