The most discussions of the evening centered on incidents involving dangerous weapons at two local venues, Blue Lounge and Xavier’s Place. Lieutenant Serlo presented a detailed report on an assault that occurred at Blue Lounge on June 24, 2024, involving a glass bottle. Officer Smart described arriving at the scene to find the victim, Gutierrez, with a cut lip. The suspect, a female in white shirt and black leggings, was captured on video throwing the bottle. This footage was circulated on social media in an attempt to identify her. Despite this being the first significant incident at Blue Lounge, concerns about the establishment’s safety measures were raised, with assurances provided that the venue was committed to maintaining safety protocols.

Similarly, another incident at Xavier’s Place involved a fight on June 10, 2024, where a male victim sustained a stab wound. Officer Tro reported responding to a well-being check and finding the intoxicated victim, who claimed he did not know how he was injured. The lack of calls from Xavier’s regarding the fight raised concerns among the commissioners about the establishment’s safety and security measures. Attorney Brian Caran, representing Xavier’s, defended the establishment, citing the owner’s long-standing reputation and the presence of full security staff. Caran emphasized the need for clear evidence before holding the owner accountable, stating, “You have to have evidence… cases have to be proved.” Despite this defense, concerns about repeated disturbances at Xavier’s led to discussions about securing police details during closing hours to ensure patron safety.

The council also addressed issues at AFA nightclub, including concerns about the establishment’s after-hours operations. Officers reported arriving at AFA nightclub at 4:11 a.m. on July 7, 2024, to find the doors locked and requiring fire department assistance to enter. The failure to provide an employee list further added to concerns about the club’s operational integrity. A motion was proposed for a suspension, with one commissioner suggesting that a ten-day suspension might be warranted if the owner appeared before the board again in six months. Ultimately, a verbal warning was issued, and an amendment was made to propose a one-day suspension to emphasize the need for compliance with closing regulations.

The council also discussed USA Sports’ application for a one-day wine and malt beverage license for an upcoming tournament in South Park. The president of USA Sports assured that the tournament would be held on both Saturday and Sunday, with drinking confined to a designated area away from sports activities to ensure safety and compliance with regulations. The board expressed no objections, and a motion was made to approve the license.

A business license application for Joy and Badas, already operating at the corner of Broadway and Daisy, was also swiftly approved without further debate. However, a common license application from Hamburger and Those Catering was tabled due to lack of preparedness and would be revisited in a subsequent meeting.

Malaya’s Nightclub sought an increase in occupancy from 375 to 500 patrons, prompting a cautious response from one commissioner who noted a previous experience where a club’s occupancy seemed inflated based on its layout. A motion was made to table the discussion for further inspection of the premises to ensure accurate capacity calculations and adherence to safety regulations.

The meeting also touched on the pending inspection needed for a new ice cream business, humorously referred to as “Mom Mom Ice Cream.” The council expressed support and enthusiasm for the young entrepreneur’s initiative, approving the business license contingent upon passing the necessary inspection.

A report was presented regarding a bar’s violation of alcohol service regulations. An officer recounted an incident at approximately 2 a.m. when the establishment was found still serving alcohol, despite the legal closing time being 1 a.m. The officer emphasized the importance of adhering to the regulations, stating, “this is a problem with businesses in the city not following the rules set forward.” The bar owner acknowledged the oversight and expressed a desire to comply with regulations moving forward, emphasizing the need for patrons to vacate the premises by the designated time.

The final item of discussion concerned the use of a patio area at the establishment, with the contractor reportedly behind on the work. The council expressed concerns about the patio being utilized without proper approval.