A Naperville City Council candidate who put his campaign on hiatus so he could press to have a local legal glitch addressed will have his effort move forward to the council members this week.
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Jimmy Bergeron, who holds the liquor licenses for Jimmy’s Grill and the Wise Boxer Pour House, has asked city officials to reverse a code provision that forbids the renewal of liquor licenses held by those who hold local offices. One of 20 candidates, Bergeron suspended his run for a City Council seat in late January, saying he wanted to work on having the liquor code updated to be consistent with a change in state law made in 2005 that wasn’t then reflected in Naperville. As a home rule community, the city must address the issue on its own, but enacted changes cannot make regulations less restrictive than those on the state level.
Tuesday evening’s council meeting will include a first reading of the proposed ordinance change, which would limit prohibitions that have been on the city books since the 1960s, city prosecutor Mike DiSanto said in a memo. The text amendment would clean up some of the language in the existing code provisions and clarify some of the stipulations, in addition to clearing the way for Bergeron and other licensees to serve in elected or appointed positions. Endorsed by the Liquor and Tobacco Control Commission with a 5-1 vote on Feb. 12, the change would require those with licenses to refrain from voting on matters that involve alcohol sales.
“(The) proposed text amendment provides that Naperville City Council members and City of Naperville board and commission members may be issued a liquor license and have an interest in the sale of alcohol provided they adhere to conflict of interest provisions prohibiting them from participating in an official capacity concerning any matter impacting the sale of alcohol,” DiSanto said.
The council members, four of whom are running for new terms, have the option of waiving the first reading and bringing the measure to a vote. However, Bergeron has said the matter warrants input from the community. If a vote on the code change doesn’t take place at Tuesday’s council meeting, it could come up for approval at the group’s March 18 meeting.
The consolidated elections, which will put all eight City Council seats and the mayor’s position before the voters, will take place April 7.
The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers of the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.
Up for consideration
Issue: Allowing the Naperville Park District to sell beer and wine at its Riverwalk Eatery. Council members will hear a first reading of the proposed measure, which has the backing of the Liquor and Tobacco Control Commission.
Background: The agency wants to add 12-ounce cans of beer and 5- to 6-ounce servings of wine to the menu at its establishment, south of the Riverwalk at the foot of Rotary Hill. The Park District also plans to seek an entertainment permit to allow acoustic musicians to perform on its outdoor patio.
What it means: If approved, the license will join those already granted to the Park District at its two golf courses. Plans call for the Eatery to be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Issue: Tightening the law on e-cigarettes.
Background: The Liquor and Tobacco Control Commission late last year asked the staff to look into modifying the local code to address electronic cigarettes.
What it means: The proposal adds e-cigarettes to the definition of tobacco products in the city code, and bans sale of the tobacco alternative to anyone younger than 18.
Issue: Approving the settlement sum in a lawsuit stemming from a commuter’s injury in the Fifth Avenue Metra station pedestrian tunnel.
Background: Giovanni Melgar slipped and fell in the underpass while on his way to catch a Chicago-bound train in August 2010. According to a city memo, Melgar fractured a bone in his right leg and missed 16 weeks of work.
What it means: The settlement proposal calls for the city to make a one-time payment of $60,000 to Melgar.
Twitter @scarlman
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