Naperville Liquor Commission Meeting – May 8, 2025
Naperville Liquor Commission Meeting – May 8, 2025
The Naperville Liquor Commission met on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 1:00 PM in the Council Chambers. Six commissioners were present (Steve Chirico, Kelly Douglas, Ray McGury, Anthony Signorella, Mitch Stauffer, and Mayor Scott Wehrli); two were absent (Jason Dy and John Koranda). The meeting covered approval of prior minutes, consideration of a liquor license cap increase, discussion of Delta-9 THC regulation, and receipt of routine reports.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (April 8, 2025 Special Meeting): The commission unanimously approved the minutes. Prior to the vote, Commissioner Stauffer noted that the minutes did not capture a discussion about a BASSET training text amendment – specifically whether employees could serve alcohol during the 14‑day gap between state BASSET training and required Naperville training. City Attorney DiSanto suggested relying on the video record for exact details, and the board agreed. The motion passed without dissent.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public addressed the commission.
Discussion Items
- Clubhouse540 – Class M‑Recreational License Cap Increase: Petitioner Tom Schaefer, a partner in Catacombs Ventures, presented the request to increase the Class M‑Recreational license cap by one to allow a five‑bay golf simulator establishment (Clubhouse540) at 1466 Chicago Avenue. The location previously housed Score18, a similar business that held a liquor license. The commission discussed the business model and confirmed the request was only for a cap increase, not a new license type. A motion to approve and refer to the City Council passed 5‑0 (with two absent).
- Delta-9 THC Regulation: Commissioner Chirico raised the issue of unregulated sales of hemp‑derived Delta-9 THC (psychoactive) at gas stations without age restrictions. City Attorney DiSanto recapped the existing city ordinance restricting sales of hemp‑derived products to persons 21 and older. He noted that City Council had requested a staff report on Delta-8/Delta-9 THC regulatory options, due next quarter. Commissioner Chirico asked whether home‑rule authority could limit sales to liquor‑licensed establishments; Attorney DiSanto believed yes but needed further research. Commissioner Signorella suggested including cannabis‑related DUI data in future reports. Commissioner Stauffer noted the commission previously weighed in on Kratom. Mayor Wehrli commented that most sellers of such products hold tobacco licenses, which fall under the commission’s purview. The commission agreed to await council direction before taking formal action.
- BASSET Training Update: Mayor Wehrli announced that City Council unanimously approved the commission’s recommendation to discontinue the in‑person Naperville BASSET training requirement, while still mandating a Naperville‑centric ordinance training course. The change has been well received by local liquor establishments.
- Tobacco Compliance Checks: Detective Creighton reported the last tobacco compliance check occurred in mid‑March, resulting in three violations. The next check is scheduled in about two weeks. Commissioner Chirico asked for a broader tobacco license report for the next meeting. Mayor Wehrli directed staff to prepare a report including historical data (last 5 years), citation history, and compliance check information.
Key Outcomes
- Clubhouse540 Cap Increase Referred to City Council: The commission voted 5‑0 (Chirico, Douglas, McGury, Signorella, Stauffer; Dy and Koranda absent) to approve increasing the Class M‑Recreational license cap by one and referred the matter to the full City Council.
- BASSET Statistics Received (April 2025): The commission received the report: 71 in‑person BASSET trainings and 17 online renewals.
- Liquor Concept Committee Report Received (April 2025): The commission received the report of three concepts approved by the committee: Pronto Italian Sandwiches (Class A license), First Watch (Class B license with outdoor seating), and Apex Nail Salon (Class M lifestyle amenities license).
- Directive for Tobacco License Report: Staff was directed to prepare a comprehensive tobacco license report, covering the past five years, for the next Liquor Commission meeting.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 1:35 PM by unanimous consent (motion by Chirico, second by Stauffer).
Meeting Transcript
Here. Chericho. Here. Douglas? Here. Signorella. Here. Stofer. McGurry. Here. Cranda. D. Our first order of business is public form. Is there anyone here to speak on an item that is not on the agenda? Please come forward now. Seeing none, we'll move on to old business. Item D1, meeting minutes. May I have a motion? I actually stopper. I'm sorry, I have a comment on the minutes from last meeting. Um when we ask for a text amendment to adhere or abide by the Illinois Facet requirements as opposed to our own local. We had some discussion around it currently under uh the the Naperville, the historical neighbor bill requirements. You could hire somebody, but they couldn't serve alcohol. So then there was some discussion. We are going to allow them to uh come in with uh Illinois basset training, but they have to get Naperville asset training within 14 days. But during that 14 days, they're allowed to serve alcohol. And I just I thought that might be an important point to make in the text amendment. I'm thinking back to what actually got ratified at City Council. Um we might need to look into that. So I I was not here for that that that last discussion on the um uh the the BASA training question. So your recollection, Commissioner Stafforder, was during the 14-day period where they would have to uh be able between BASA training and the requirement for the neighborhood training, they they would be allowed to serve alcohol or well help me out here. We had that in the discussion, but I don't remember exactly what the my I don't remember exactly what the amendment was, but uh or what the proposal was, but the minutes don't address that point, so we should probably Commissioner Sheriko approved. My recollection is I thought we had discussion where they they were not able to, they were not allowed to serve during the interim period. That I'll go with your memory, especially if that's consistent with everyone else's. The minutes don't address that point. And I just thought we should probably clarify. Correct. Okay. Counselor. You you're on the minutes are just a general summary. We also have the video of the actual discussion. So it is good that that video was maintained and available on the website, so anyone who was really curious could dig in and get the exact specific discussion. But if there wasn't necessarily a consensus or a vote on that issue, it may be best not to add that into the written minutes, but just rely on the video, which is the most accurate representation of everything that was said if the if the board's comfortable with that. Okay, so we'll entertain a motion for the approval of the minutes from April 8th. I would approve. Commissioner Stoffer. Second, Jericho. Motion and a second. All those in favor sign aye. Aye.
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