OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Naperville Liquor Commission Meeting – February 5, 2026

City Council — Thursday, February 5, 2026
BodyNaperville, Illinois
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, February 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 54:09

Transcript — Verbatim
1:24

Good afternoon and welcome to the February 5th, 2026, Naperville Liquor Commission meeting.

1:28

Roll call.

1:29

Cherico.

1:30

Here.

1:31

D.

1:32

Cunzer.

1:33

Here.

1:34

McGurry.

1:35

Here.

1:36

De Joya.

1:36

Here.

1:37

Worley.

1:38

Here.

1:40

Our first order of business is public form.

1:44

If there's anyone here to speak on an item that is not on the agenda, please come forward now.

1:50

Seeing no speakers, the next item on the agenda is old business.

1:55

We'll start with D one, which is the meeting minutes.

1:57

May have a motion to approve the meeting minutes from the January meeting.

2:03

So move, Chericho.

2:06

I second.

2:07

Okay, we have a motion and a second.

2:09

All those in favor sign aye.

2:11

Aye.

2:11

Aye.

2:12

Opposed.

2:13

Motion carries.

2:14

D two.

2:15

Consider Taste Bud's kitchen request to increase the cap on Class M recreational license by one.

2:22

Is there a rep from Taste Buds here?

2:25

Come on down.

2:34

Hi again, everyone.

2:35

Uh Jackie Burton here for Taste Bud's Kitchen.

2:40

Okay.

2:42

So we are having you back.

2:44

I think this is a clarification.

2:46

Is this correct, Counselor?

2:48

On the proximity to a educational facility or something.

2:54

Right.

2:55

So I just wanted to double check the state law and the uh proximity to the daycare.

2:59

And I looked, and I I think it's fine.

3:01

So it's up for consideration now on whether to make the recommendation.

3:13

Commissioner Sherko.

3:14

Mr.

3:14

Mayor, um, based on the presentation from the last meeting.

3:28

Is there a second?

3:30

Second.

3:32

Mr.

3:32

Mayor Sherk.

3:34

Yeah, sure.

3:35

I'd like to make a motion to uh uh approve the request uh for recommendation to the city council uh for the increase in the class um recreational license by one.

3:48

Okay, we have a motion and a second.

3:50

Any discussion?

3:51

Commissioner DeJoy Okay.

3:54

Uh roll call.

3:57

D.

3:58

Yes.

3:59

Cunzer.

4:00

Yep.

4:01

McGurry?

4:02

Yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety████████████████████████████████████36%
Cannabis Regulation██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural██████████████14%
Technology and Innovation██████████████14%
Arts And Culture██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Naperville Liquor Commission Meeting – February 5, 2026

The Naperville Liquor Commission met on February 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included approvals of license cap increases for two businesses, a conditional approval for outdoor patio alcohol consumption at Heinen's, a report on mobile identification, and a discussion on tobacco fines. The commission voted to refer three text amendments to City Council and directed staff to draft a revised tobacco penalty structure.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (January 8, 2026): Motion by Commissioner Chirico, seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez DiGioia, carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the Public Forum portion.

Discussion Items

  • Taste Buds Kitchen – Increase Class M-Recreational License Cap by One: Petitioner Jackie Burton presented. Senior Assistant City Attorney Bonner confirmed state law regarding daycare proximity was satisfied. The commission approved and referred a text amendment to City Council to increase the cap. Motion carried 5-0 (Commissioners Chirico, Rodriguez DiGioia, Dy, Kunzer, McGury in favor; Douglas and Signorella absent). This item will be placed on the City Council consent agenda for February 17, 2026.

  • Heinen's – Amend Class G2-Boutique Market for Outdoor Patio Consumption: Petitioner Sharri Pieczynski requested permission to serve alcohol on an adjacent enclosed patio. Commissioners discussed the existing brick planters and required fencing. The commission approved and referred a text amendment to City Council, contingent on installation of security cameras and fencing if required by the Transportation, Engineering and Development (TED) Department. Motion carried 5-0. Due to staff follow-up questions, the ordinance will be presented at the first City Council meeting in March 2026.

  • Clarify Kitchen – Increase Class M-Recreational License Cap by One: Mayor Wehrli recused himself due to partial ownership of the premises; Commissioner Chirico presided. Petitioners Cynthia Hyett and Ruben Valadez described their catering and event space. The commission approved and referred a text amendment to City Council to increase the cap. Motion carried 5-0 (same vote). This item will also be placed on the City Council consent agenda.

  • Mobile Identification Report: Detective Creighton presented information on Illinois' mobile ID system, effective January 1, 2025. Key points: mobile IDs are optional for businesses; physical IDs remain required; the system currently works only on Apple devices; a scanner app confirms authenticity. Commissioner Chirico asked about outreach; Detective Creighton noted the topic will be covered at upcoming Special Event workshops, the Annual Liquor Seminar in April, and in state BASSET training. Audience member Ruben Valadez shared his positive experience using mobile ID at O'Hare Airport. No vote was taken.

  • Tobacco Fines Comparison Report: Detective Creighton and Senior Assistant City Attorney Bonner presented a comparison of fines and suspension structures from other municipalities (Joliet, Aurora, and others). Discussion focused on unclear timeline language in the current fine chart, and the need for stronger penalties to deter repeat offenders who treat fines as a cost of doing business. The commission directed staff to bring back a draft penalty text amendment with clarified timeframes and potential suspension components for the next Liquor Commission meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • Vote outcomes: Three text amendments approved and referred to City Council: Taste Buds Kitchen cap increase (5-0), Heinen's outdoor patio amendment (5-0), Clarify Kitchen cap increase (5-0). All were unanimous among present members.
  • Directives: Staff instructed to draft a revised tobacco fine ordinance with clear violation periods and suspension options for repeat offenders; ordinance to be presented at next meeting.
  • Next steps: Heinen's amendment will be refined and presented in March 2026. Two items (Taste Buds Kitchen and Clarify Kitchen) will go to February 17 City Council consent agenda.
  • Reports received: DUI statistics for November 2025 (17 arrests) and December 2025 (9 arrests) were presented, with a yearly total of 214 in 2025 compared to 173 in 2024 (23% increase). One establishment with three DUI incidents in a month will receive a visit from Detective Creighton. Tobacco compliance rechecks: two stores that failed in December 2025 passed re-inspections in January 2026. Local Liquor Law Essentials class: 39 attendees in January 2026 (minutes state 39; transcript states 43 – discrepancy noted). Liquor Concept Committee report for January 2026 was received, including concepts for Tempton Indian Fusion, Studios Performing Arts, and Clarify Kitchen.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon and welcome to the February 5th, 2026, Naperville Liquor Commission meeting. Roll call. Cherico. Here. D. Cunzer. Here. McGurry. Here. De Joya. Here. Worley. Here. Our first order of business is public form. If there's anyone here to speak on an item that is not on the agenda, please come forward now. Seeing no speakers, the next item on the agenda is old business. We'll start with D one, which is the meeting minutes. May have a motion to approve the meeting minutes from the January meeting. So move, Chericho. I second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor sign aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. D two. Consider Taste Bud's kitchen request to increase the cap on Class M recreational license by one. Is there a rep from Taste Buds here? Come on down. Hi again, everyone. Uh Jackie Burton here for Taste Bud's Kitchen. Okay. So we are having you back. I think this is a clarification. Is this correct, Counselor? On the proximity to a educational facility or something. Right. So I just wanted to double check the state law and the uh proximity to the daycare. And I looked, and I I think it's fine. So it's up for consideration now on whether to make the recommendation. Commissioner Sherko. Mr. Mayor, um, based on the presentation from the last meeting. Is there a second? Second. Mr. Mayor Sherk. Yeah, sure. I'd like to make a motion to uh uh approve the request uh for recommendation to the city council uh for the increase in the class um recreational license by one.

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