ST CHARLES, Mo. — Some changes could be coming to how businesses in St. Charles get liquor licenses. That decision could come on Tuesday at the next city council meeting.
It's just seven months after the city overhauled the rules to crack down on bars.
Businesses could be looking at a lower threshold to get a liquor license in one way, but the city is also cracking down further in ones that are violating city rules and the law.
St. Charles police said calls to downtown are down as of January 1.
That's when a new law required businesses looking for a liquor license to have half their sales come from food.
It also implemented a points system to penalize businesses for not following rules from issues such as health violations, crimes on-site and serving underage customers. It could lead to the revoking of the liquor license.
"If you run your bar right I guess it won't make any difference. Hopefully, that keeps everyone in line," said Jim Schappe, who owns Tuners in downtown.
This ordinance drew controversy last year before it took effect, as some bar owners predicted it would negatively impact business and drive people away from Main Street in the Historic District of St. Charles.
Some bars have closed since the new law took effect.
Some business owners who asked to remain anonymous said that helped crackdown on issues downtown.
However, other bar owners who also asked not to be identified said their sales are significantly down from last year. Some said the requirement for food to make up half of the sales is excessive.
The proposed ordinance that could be put up for a vote on Tuesday would make some changes.
The food sales requirement would be 25% instead of 50% of a business's total.
The ordinance would also strengthen components of the points system for violations. Instead of businesses getting a clean slate after six months, it would be an entire year.
The point values would also change, all increasing. That includes serving minors and people leaving the establishment with an open container.
Both would net a 3.5 point penalty. That's the same as a homicide on location.
The ordinance would require businesses with liquor licenses that have at least three points in a single year to have a public hearing and city council approval for the next license.
Right now, the threshold for the hearing and council approval is four points.
There are other changes that would come with the ordinance, such as a new appeals board for liquor license disputes, an entirely new liquor license commission, and a plan for a vacant property to become a bar.
To read more about the ordinance proposal, click here and go to page 411.