Alcohol Control Commission

ALCOHOL CONTROL COMMISSION Monday, November 18, 2024 The Alcohol Control Commission met at 5:00 p.m. on this date in the City Commission Chambers of City Hall, 601 Broad Street. Billy Cooper presided with Steve VanMeter, Taylor McMichael, Doug Phipps, Courtney Shepard, and Commissioner Wayne Robinson present. Also present were Assistant City Attorney Sam Lucas and Rome Police Major Rusty Blair. Minutes – October 21, 2024 The minutes of the October 21, 2024, meeting, as submitted in writing by the Secretary, were approved by unanimous consent. Square Spirit, 672 Braves Blvd and Extra Mile, 672 Braves Blvd The applications of Square Spirit, 672 Braves Blvd., and Extra Mile, 672 Braves Blvd. were presented. Square Spirit is requesting that a new beer, wine, and liquor package license be issued to Mr. Divyesh Kiritbhai Patel and Extra Mile is requesting that a new beer and wine package license be issued to Mr. Jigarkumar Patel. Mr. Patels were present and spoke regarding these two applications. It was explained that this area has been graded and will soon be ready for construction. This site is located on Braves Blvd. between Lumina Coffee and Rocket Wash car wash. Mr. Patel explained that the plans are to construct a liquor store, a separate building will house a convenience store with gas, and there are plans for a fast food restaurant on this same site. He is requesting a beer and wine package license for the convenience store, and a beer, wine, and liquor package license for the liquor store. Mr. Patel explained that the property is 1.84 acres, and the total square footage of these facilities will be approximately 11,000 square feet, with 4,500 square feet for the liquor store, 4,500 square feet for the convenience store, and 2,000 square feet for the restaurant, and expects to break ground soon. He expects to have approximately 27 employees combined working in the liquor store and convenience store. When questioned regarding his training, he stated that employees will be completing online training and there will be an ID scan system at these facilities. While the City of Rome regulates hours of liquor stores, he projects the convenience store to be open from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, initially, and those hours may be adjusted to market conditions in the future. Mr Patel also stated that he plans to have coin operated amusement machines in the convenience store. He stated that there have been no past violations with any of his seven other facilities. After further discussion by the ACC, Mr. Phipps moved to approve both license requests as submitted subject to all final inspections and approvals by the appropriate public officials. Mr. VanMeter seconded, and the motion was approved by the following vote: 1  YES: VanMeter, McMichael and Phipps ABSTAIN: Shepard (Ms. Shepard reported that the law firm at which she works represents this applicant) EZ Shop, 2121 Shorter Ave The application of Ms. Niraliben Patel, manager at EZ Shop, 2121 Shorter Ave., was presented. Ms. Patel requested that a new beer and wine package license be issued to her at that location. Secretary Smith stated this was the former location of Cheer’s Liquor Store. Cheer’s Liquor store has moved across Shorter Ave, to the north side of the roadway. Ms. Patel was accommodated by Mr. Willie Patel, who explained that the former location of Cheer’s will be converted into a convenience store with gasoline. Mr. Patel also stated that he plans to have coin operated amusement machines, at which time he was reminded of the City of Rome 2024 COAM ordinance, which will place some regulations and restrictions on COAMs. Mr. Patel also stated that employees will be trained using an online training system and there will a scan system in place for IDs, if needed. The operating hours for this store are planned for 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and adjustments may be made as the market requires. Ms. Shepard moved to approve the license request as submitted. Ms. McMichael seconded the motion, and the vote was unanimously in favor. Wholesale Bev, 18 Old Airport Rd. The application of Mr. Marc Weed, operator of Wholesale Bev, 18 Old Airport Rd., was presented. Mr. Weed requested that a new wine wholesale license be issued to him at that location. The ACC is aware that it is uncommon for new wholesale distribution licenses to be issued and there were questions for Mr. Weed regarding the operation of this business. Mr. Weed stated they are a small wine wholesaler and are carrying on the tradition of the former Steller Wines. Steller Wines was owned and operated by Mr. Steve Stutts prior to his death. After some basic questions regarding the operating process for a wholesale wine distributor, Mr. VanMeter moved to approve the license request as submitted, Mr. Phipps seconded, and it was approved by the following vote: YES: VanMeter, McMichael and Phipps ABSTAIN: Shepard (Ms. Shepard indicated that the law firm at which she works represents this applicant) Alcohol Ordinance Amendments – Elimination of Future Variances and Elimination of Food Truck Sales Towards an Establishment’s Food/Drink Ratio Chairman Cooper outlined that the City Commission has recently discussed the two ordinance amendments that originated in the City Commission, ACC, and DDA Study Committee and were later recommended for adoption by the Alcohol Control Commission at the October 21, 2024, ACC meeting. The City Commission discussed both ordinances at their most recent meeting and, after deliberation, moved to send both 2 ordinances back to the Alcohol Control Commission for further study. One of the points of discussion regarding the variance ordinance was the allowance for the three existing food/drink ratio variances to be transferred to new owners or licensees in the future. Originally, without much debate, the ACC had recommended to adopt the variance ordinance as recommended by the Study Committee. This recommendation would eliminate future variances but allow the three existing variances to continue. The recommendation was to not allow the future transfer of the three existing variances. The ordinance regarding food trucks, as recommended by the Study Committee and approved by the ACC, was to no longer allow on-site food truck sales to count towards an establishment’s food/drink ratio after January 1, 2025. At the most recent City Commission meeting, Ms. Caress Cason, owner and operator of The Foundry, 255 N. 5th Ave., stated she intended to establish her own food truck and only use her food truck on site. The City Commission members seemed receptive to the concept of allowing a food truck that is owned by the establishment to be used towards the food/drink ratio. After much discussion and careful consideration by the ACC members, Ms. McMichael moved to table these matters at today’s meeting and moved for the ACC to meet in a work session to discuss both ordinances before making a new recommendation to the Rome City Commission. Ms. Shepard seconded the motion, and the vote was unanimously in favor. The ACC members understand that a regular meeting is not planned for the month of December 2024, and they would like to meet in this work session prior to the next regular ACC meeting (January 2025). Designated Sunday Pouring Day 2025 Secretary Smith reminded the ACC that the State of Georgia allows local governments to designate one Sunday per calendar year in which Sunday pouring may take place at establishments normally not qualified to pour on Sunday. In the City of Rome there are a small number of beer or beer/wine pouring establishments that do not meet a food/drink ratio and, as a result, are not allowed to pour on Sunday due to the State of Georgia’s requirement. In 2024, the City of Rome designated Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2024, as the designated Sunday. After a review of the 2025 calendar, there are no holidays that will fall on Sunday in 2025 and Ms. McMichael moved to designate Sunday, February 9, 2025 (Super Bowl Sunday), as the designated Sunday for pouring. Ms. Shepard seconded the motion, and the vote was unanimously in favor. This recommendation will be sent to the City Commission for their consideration. Police Report Rome Police Major Rusty Blair reported there were no incidents at alcohol establishments to report at this time. 3 Adjourn With there being no further business, Chairman Cooper adjourned the meeting at 6:27 p.m. Joseph F. Smith City Clerk 4