Beer Board

CITY OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE MINUTES OF THE BEER BOARD MEETING HELD APRIL 8, 2015 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT CITY EMPLOYEES PRESENT Mr. Craig Kistner – Chairman Major Tim Eads Mr. Mike Ketron – Vice Chairman Capt. Charles Thomas Mr. Walt Vernon Capt. Glenn James Mr. Spike Tickel Mr. Jack Hyder Ms. Robin Stedman Call to Order – At approximately 5:00 pm on April 8, 2015, Mr. Kistner, Chairman of the Beer Board for the City of Bristol, Tennessee, called the meeting to order in the Conference Room of the Ewell L. Easley Municipal Bldg., located at 104 Eighth St., Bristol, Tennessee. Review of Minutes – Board Members reviewed the minutes of the March 18, 2015 meeting, the minutes were approved as read. NEW BUSINESS Fairfield Inn and Suites Marketplace, 3285 West State St., Bristol, TN – Mr. Shane Christian, Director of Hotel Operations, appeared before the Board to request an Off Premises Permit. Capt. James advised the Marketplace is located in the hotel for guest use and will operate as a convenience store, selling snacks and drinks, beer sold will be taken to guest rooms or consumed in designated lounge areas only. Mr. Kistner asked how large the Marketplace area is, Mr. Christian advised it is about eight feet by six feet, and is in full view of the front desk. Mr. Tickel asked if the beer is sold in singles, Mr. Christian said they are. Capt. James advised approval of the Application will be contingent upon completion of inspection which Mr. Christian expects to be about two more weeks. Mr. Kistner asked if training was completed, Capt. James advised seven employees attended his class on March 26, 2015. Mr. Tickel asked if they would be open for the spring race, Mr. Christian said they would not. Mr. Kistner called for questions/comments from the public, there being none he called for a Motion. Mr. Vernon made a Motion to approve the Application, contingent upon completion of inspection by Capt. James, seconded by Mr. Ketron. The Motion was approved by unanimous vote. The Pinnacle, 609 – 673 Pinnacle Parkway, Bristol, TN – Ms. Christine Estes, Representative, appeared before the Board to request a Temporary On Premises Permit. Capt. James advised current dates scheduled are April 18 and June 29, 2015, but there may be more in the future as the Permit allows up to 30 days in a year. Ms. Estes asked if they must be consecutive, Capt. James said they do not. He advised the Application is in order, Ms. Estes attended training March 26, 2015, and a site plan was submitted for the area they will be set up in, she told them the exact area in The Pinnacle it will be located. Mr. Tickel asked what the event will be, Ms. Estes advised it is the first annual Bristol Brew and BBQ, with a concert and fireworks display hosted by The Pinnacle. There will be four local craft brewers and four local BBQ specialists selling their products. Ms. Estes advised the vendors will be selling their products, but they will 1 be set up in one area and The Pinnacle will be taking responsibility for controlling the designated area. Capt. James advised the area will be cordoned off, and consumption of beer will be allowed only within that area. Mr. Tickel asked about the June 29 event, Ms. Estes advised it will be a fund raiser for Niswonger Hospital with a concert, food and drink. Mr. Kistner asked Ms. Estes if she has any prior experience in this type of event, she does not, so he advised her of her responsibilities and the consequences of selling to underage customers or allowing customers to leave the designated area with a beer. Capt. James told her if a vendor sells to a person underage the vendor will be cited to appear in court, The Pinnacle’s representative, Ms. Estes, will be summoned before the Beer Board. She advised she understands. Mr. Tickel asked if ID must be shown to get into the area, she said they will be checked and given a wristband to show they’ve been checked. Mr. Kistner stressed the importance of employees checking the correct date on the ID, not just looking at an ID for identification. Ms. Estes advised there will be a last minute briefing 30 minutes before opening so she can make sure everyone knows what their responsibilities are. Mr. Kistner called for questions/comments from the public, there being none Mr. Tickel advised he does not believe the type of customers drawn to the Pinnacle will cause problems. There being no further questions/comments Mr. Kistner called for a Motion. Mr. Ketron made a Motion to approve, seconded by Mr. Tickel. The Motion was approved by unanimous vote. Mr. William C. Fenton (Vendor for Red Barn Campground) 191 White Top Rd., Bristol, TN – Mr. William Fenton appeared before the Board to request a Temporary On/Off Premises Permit. Capt. James advised he attended training in August 2014, and this is his second attempt to gain a Permit. Mr. Kistner asked if the location is the same, Mr. Fenton said it is. Mr. Kistner asked what has changed, Mr. Fenton advised he has made a great effort to keep minors out, and believes he has been successful. There is still the situation where people set up outside his area and bring their own coolers of beer and listen to the music. His area is fenced, the tent is enclosed, and no one under 21 is allowed inside, he also has a large staff to monitor what is going on inside. He advised beer is being consumed, as a businessman he is trying to capitalize on that by selling beer but allowing only those 21 and older into his area. He believes his business helps eliminate some problems because people are not pulling up with cases of beer, and some people leave because they do not want to pay his $5 cover charge to get in. He believes if they realize they cannot bring in cases or buckets of beer they will leave. Mr. Kistner asked what he means by “my area”, Mr. Fenton advised he has a 20 x 50 ft enclosed tent with a 24 x 50 ft six foot fenced in area immediately adjacent the tent. Mr. Kistner asked where customers are served, Mr. Fenton advised there is only one entrance, about six feet wide, ID’s are checked there and everyone is given a wristband, inside the tent is a mechanical bull and a DJ. There are additional employees inside to make sure everyone is wearing a wristband. Mr. Tickel asked if they have ever sold beer at an event in Bristol, Mr. Fenton said no, but he has sold at Daytona. Mr. Ketron advised he believed the last time Mr. Fenton applied it was under his wife’s name, Mr. Fenton said he wasn’t sure, Capt. James advised it was. Mr. Kistner asked why the change, Mr. Fenton advised in August 2013 he was running a tip bar in the campground and was busted by an ABC Investigator. He stated he paid his fine and it has since been expunged from his record. Mr. Kistner asked if Board Members had any more questions of Mr. Fenton, there being none he called Capt. Thomas, Bristol TN Police Dept. to address the Board. Capt. Thomas advised the police answer many calls in Red Barn Campground during the races and distributed a spread sheet detailing that information beginning in 2011. He advised Mr. 2 Fenton’s setup was checked during the August 2014 race, and the enclosed tent and fenced area did seem to alleviate some of the problems identified. One complaint they have received several calls about is underage girls riding the mechanical bull in various stages of undress, but by the time the police arrive it’s stopped. There are video’s of people riding the bull, but you cannot tell from the video if they are underage. But the police still continue to receive calls concerning juveniles and alcohol in the campground. Mr. Kistner asked if undercover officers have been sent in, Capt. Thomas advised they have, but have not caught anyone underage riding the bull. In the past, the way the tent was set up, there was no way to tell where people at the tent ended and people just wandering through the campground started. A large open area behind the tent appeared to be the primary gathering place after the races, with the fence up it appears to help cut down on some the problems in that area. However, it just seems to have moved down into the campground more, and arrests were still made in the campground, just not in the fenced area. Mr. Tickel advised this appears to be an overall bad location, he noticed five reports from the August 2014 races. Capt. Thomas advised several calls involved juveniles, one stole beer and received a skull fracture when the victims caught him, juveniles fighting, one with alcohol poisoning, and another being hidden by an adult. Two campers were ejected from the campground because of the problems involving juveniles and alcohol. Mr. Tickel advised he does not understand wanting to establish a business selling alcohol in an area with a history of problems with alcohol. Board Members did not have any more questions for Capt. Thomas, Mr. Kistner asked Mr. Fenton if he had any, Mr. Fenton advised anyone who rides the mechanical bull must give him their drivers license, he believes the call police responded to was made out of spite by someone he would not let on the bull. Capt. Thomas advised officers checked and Mr. Fenton did have the riders IDs in hand. Mr. Kistner advised one problem he has is the large instances of alcohol problems in the whole campground, and believes allowing Mr. Fenton to sell alcohol will only add fuel to the fire. Mr. Fenton advised the fuel is already there, he believes by selling individual drinks he helps lessen the number of people who show up with backpacks and coolers with cases of beer, that is already happening. He is looking for an opportunity to generate revenue and pay taxes to the city. Mr. Kistner advised he personally feels if control could be gained over the campground, with shown improvement during one race, he would feel better about letting Mr. Fenton set up business. Mr. Fenton asked if there are calls to other campgrounds, Mr. Kistner advised there are, but nothing like problems at this campground. Mr. Kistner called for further questions/comments/discussion, there being none he called for a Motion. There being no Motion he called for an opinion from Mr. Hyder, he advised a Motion to approve or deny the Permit must be made. Mr. Tickel made a Motion to deny the Permit, seconded by Mr. Ketron. The Motion was approved by unanimous vote. PENDING BUSINESS Capt. James advised there is no pending business as of this time, he will notify Mr. Kistner if anything comes up. Mr. Kistner advised the Board will be notified if a May meeting is needed. There being no further business to conduct the meeting was adjourned. 3