Story posted Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Will City Allow Wine Shop To Offer Live Entertainment?
Park Ridge City Council may waive the rules requiring a second reading at tonight's (Wednesday, Feb. 3) meeting to accommodate a city business. The council plans a first reading of a temporary live entertainment policy. Last year, the city created an annual license allowing a business with a liquor license to offer live entertainment. However, the $500 fee for an annual license could discourage a business from hosting a one-time event or trying entertainment. WineStyles, 105 S. Northwest Highway, asked the city for permission to have a guitar player at an event on Feb. 12.
"Think about a small place that just wants to do something once or twice a year," explained Mayor Dave Schmidt at a Liquor License Commission meeting on Jan. 18. "It's going to cost them $500. That's probably enough to knock out several days worth of profits for a business like that."
He suggested a one-day license priced at $50 to allow a business to try live entertainment. "Personally, I'm in favor of it," Schmidt said. "This just makes it easier for them to give it a shot."
The Committee of the Whole approved the license at the meeting on Jan. 25 and acknowledged the need to waive the rules to provide for WineStyle's event. If the council does not waive the rules, the second reading will not occur until Feb. 15, three days after the planned event.
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