Monroe License Committee Meeting – June 8, 2026
Monroe License Committee Meeting – June 8, 2026
The License Committee of the City of Monroe met on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 4:45 PM in Council Chambers. Members present: Christopher Vestin and Darlene Voelkli. Member absent: Richard Thoman. The meeting covered an educational overview of alcohol license types, recent legislative updates, and a recommendation to the Common Council for renewal of annual liquor and fermented malt beverage licenses.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes from the May 26, 2026 meeting were accepted as presented without correction.
Public Comments & Testimony
- None were made.
Discussion Items
- Education on Alcohol License Types and Recent Legislation: City Clerk Wahl presented an overview of the main license categories. Class A licenses (off-premise) apply to grocery stores and gas stations. Class B licenses (on-premise) apply to taverns, restaurants, hotels, and resorts. The Clerk referenced a DOR fact sheet provided in the agenda packet for further detail.
- Annual License Renewals: Clerk Wahl confirmed that all applicants on the renewal list are existing license holders; no new applicants were included. Two businesses—Bartles Tap and Spilled Grapes Wine Bar—submitted renewal applications even though they are not currently operating. Both businesses sought to ensure their licenses remained active for the upcoming year. The City has a code provision that allows revocation of a license for prolonged non-operation, but exceptions exist for unforeseen circumstances (e.g., natural disaster, fire). The Police Department reviewed all applications and raised no issues. The committee discussed that these businesses would be protected under the code’s exceptions.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Recommend Approval of Annual Licenses: A motion was made by Alder Voelkli, seconded by Alder Vestin, to approve the resolution granting annual liquor and fermented malt beverage licenses and recommend it to the Common Council. The motion passed 2‑0 (Vestin and Voelkli voting aye; Thoman absent). Licenses would take effect July 1, 2026.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 4:48 PM following a motion by Voelkli, seconded by Vestin, passed 2‑0.
Meeting Transcript
It is 4 45 and I'd like to call this meeting of the license committee. If the clerk could please call the roll. Alder Vestine. Here. Alder Tolman. And Alder Volkley. Here. Are there any corrections of the minutes? Hearing none, they will stand as written. Business. We have a education of the type of alcohol licenses and recent legislations. We did talk about this not too long ago. Is there anything that you want to highlight? I just basically want to highlight that the main differences are class A licenses are a away, so it'd be like your grocery store, gas station. And then your class B is your your tavern, restaurant, hotels, resorts, which is kind of like B as in bar, so it's on premise serving. If you guys have any other questions about it, you guys can feel free to ask them at this time. But if you look at the the DOR fact sheet that was provided, it kind of outlines it all there. And then part two of this is that we are to recommend approval of licenses for the next year, and everybody that's on the list are it's all renewals. There's nobody new. Correct. Yep. I would just highlight that Bartles Tap and the spilled grapes or spilled, yeah, spill grapes wine bar. We're both they both both came prevented applications for renewals. At this time, we're not sure when either one will open, but they wanted to at least ensure that their uh license was renewed for the following year so they can continue with their business. So and we don't have any issue with that that being on hold, right? No. And I'll just go over and say I submitted all of these applications over to the police department. They did not have any of the issues with them. Um so that's where we're just recommending them for approval and to go on to council for the annual renews. These would all start July 1st. And can just further comment. We do have like within our city code some provisions of say somebody is holding a license, but then they're not operating for so long that we have the provision to kind of revoke that license, but we also have within the code exceptions for these unforeseen circumstances, um, whether it's natural disaster or fire or something like what we've experienced, and so they would be protected with that as well. So we'd just be looking for a motion to take it on to council. I make a motion, we take this on to council. And I'll second if the clerk will call the roll. Aye. And Alder Volkley. Aye. Next business presented by members. Any business? No. No. Then we just have one last motion. I make a motion that we adjourn. And I second it. All in favor? Aye. Aye. We're adjourned.
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