| 9/23/2025 | 0 |
COMMON COUNCIL
| APPROVED
Minutes note: Common Council File Number 250709 recommends a 90 (ninety) day suspension of the Class B Tavern license for Lourdes JERONIMO, based upon the preponderance of the evidence on the police report, resident, police and aldermanic testimony that demonstrates the operation results in a threat to health, safety or welfare of the public for failure to comply with the approved plan of operations and disturbance of the peace; for the premises located at 1663 S 11TH St. (“CLUB 69”) in the 12th aldermanic district.
(No written objections have been filed). | Pass | 15:0 |
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| 9/9/2025 | 0 |
LICENSES COMMITTEE
| RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL
Minutes note: Mr. Cooney explained that the revocation was brought by five residents with certified complaints.
Atty. Maistelman said that they received the revocation notice.
The licensee was present along with Rafael Arce as interpreter.
The police report was read.
Atty. Gresham recommended that the revocation party be sworn in too so they can also speak on the police report.
Revocation party was sworn in:
-Gerald Heard - 1670 S 11th St
-Heidi Lopez - 1670 S 11th St
-Christy McGee – 1670 S 11th St
-Gregory Watts – 1670 S 11th St
-AJ Casper – 1579 S 38th St
The licensee said that she translated the materials received with the notice.
Atty. Maistelman said that Mr. Casper is not a sworn complainer.
Mr. Casper agreed.
Heidi Lopez said that she would take the lead to present the complaint.
She expressed that back in May of this year, the manager of the bar shot in the air four times.
Ald. Zamarripa asked if they are talking about the apartment building across the street (Schuster Building).
Ms. Lopez said that it is.
Another shooting incident happened in June that ended in the windows of their apartment building being shot out. She said it is a miracle that no one died because people were in the apartments at the time of the shooting. She added that something was going in the bar and it ended up coming outside where people were shooting and then taking off. She also explained that they live in fear and walk outside in groups for safety.
Gerald Herd said that he has observed gunshots being fired and that a murder happened at the bar. He added that shots were fired at a third floor window and he feels it is intentional, that they all fear for their safety now and that this bar should be shut down. He added that he has seen hand-to hand drug transactions.
Sgt. Velasquez said that she does not have the extended report for the shots fired on June 23, 2025 and the homicide mentioned by Mr. Herd was not related to the tavern.
Ald. Perez asked Ms. Lopez what she saw first-hand when the person fired the shots.
Ms. Lopez said that there was a lot going on with loud music that the bar management shot up in the air to make people leave. She asked what kind of management does that to get the patrons’ attention to have them leave. She added that they have gotten to point where their children don’t visit them because of the disturbances.
Ald. Perez asked Ms. Lopez if what she saw was somebody from the bar firing shots into the air to clear the bar.
Ms. Lopez agreed.
Ald. Perez asked how she knows that the person was from the bar.
Ms. Lopez said because it happened in front of the bar.
Ald. Perez said that it is stated on the 6/23/25 item was a follow up from a call on the 20th and asked why the business did not call the police and why there is a consistent pattern of cameras not working.
Atty. Gresham said that he just wants to makes sure that the revocation party have presented their complaint before answering the previous question.
Ald. Zamarripa asked Ms. Lopez if they have finished presenting the complaint.
Ms. Lopez said that she believes so and that she will pass the microphone for testimonies now.
Atty. Gresham said that we can address the questions on the police report.
Atty. Maistelman asked Sgt. Velasquez where in the police report it talks about people firing shots in the air.
Sgt. Velasquez said that is not on the police report.
Atty. Maistelman asked where the windows intentionally being shot at is in the police report.
Sgt. Velasquez said it is not on the police report and not on the synopsis.
Atty. Maistelman if there is a record of whom these witnesses are and if they called the police.
Sgt. Velasquez said that she does not know and that district 2 is here to answer more specific questions.
Ald. Perez said that he wants an answer on why the cameras were not working.
The applicant said that the cameras were working and she gave the police a chip with the footage.
Ald. Perez read what the police report says about the employee stating that the exterior pointing camera was not operable because it did not have a SD card.
The applicant said at that moment not all the cameras were working but they do now.
Sgt. Velasquez said that the SD card was taken by MPD detectives in relation to the homicide that had occurred nearby and not returned to them yet.
Ald. Perez said that is not an excuse and it is the licensee’s responsibility to put another card in the camera.
Ald. Zamarripa asked how often the licensee is at the business.
The licensee said that she is there for 3-4 hours almost everyday.
Ald. Perez asked the licensee if she is aware of her license responsibilities because she got a ticket for not producing the proper receipts for purchasing alcohol and not having a license for tobacco products, for amusement machines and none of the bartenders were licensed. He added that when the licensee was out for maternity leave, she had to lock the doors because the person she put in charge was doing a lot of things that he was not supposed to do.
The applicant said that her bartenders and manager are licensed now, and she made a mistake with the amusement machines, that they are no longer there and that everything is in order now.
Ald. Perez said that he has not heard the reason why she was doing things that way because he wants to make sure that she understands the rules.
Atty. Maistelman said that these are allegations that have not been proven in a court of law and that the next hearing is on September 15th.
Ald. Zamarripa said that the applicant just admitted that everything is in order now.
Atty. Maistelman said he just wanted to point out that the licensee has not been found guilty yet.
Atty. Gresham said that the complainants and the committee could ask questions to the licensee now.
Atty. Maistelman said that this is not his client’s case and that the complainants need to make their case.
Ms. Lopez asked why the applicant has not fulfilled what she committed to back in February.
Atty. Maistelman objected to Ms. Lopez’ question because they are not presenting their case.
Ald. Zamarripa asked the revocation party to get their questions together and have Ms. Lopez to do it.
Ms. Lopez asked why the applicant did not adhere to the promises that were made during their license renewal hearing.
The applicant said that she is in compliance and that she made the mistake to leave someone in charge while she was giving birth.
Ald. Perez said that the licensee is not doing things right since her renewal hearing in February because the items on the police report happened after.
Atty. Gresham said that MPD district 2 is here to testify if needed and to resolve each stage before moving to the next.
Ms. Lopez said that they have no more questions.
Gregory Watts – said that the place is open every day and every night and patrons are inconsiderate to neighbors because they are loud and disrespectful. He added that he has seen it first-hand.
Atty. Maistelman asked if he calls the police for gunshots, drug dealers, etc.
Mr. Watts said that he does not call the police because he comes home tired from work.
Gerald Heard – said that he has witnessed hand-to-hand transactions, gunfire, fights, and that it is dangerous there and he fears for his safety. He added that he has cleaned up the glass, debris, beer bottles and garbage from the patrons.
Atty. Maistelman asked how often these situations happen.
Mr. Herd said it occurs many times, between three to six times/week.
Atty. Maistelman asked if he tries to contact the police every time that he observes these situations.
Mr. Herd said that he does not because they never show up.
Christy Mc Gee – said that she came home one night and that when she pulled in the parking lot, another car from the bar pulled into the lot behind her and she was scared. She also said the food truck was there until 3 or 4 in the morning and that it happened a week ago.
AJ Casper – said that he works with the management company for the apartment building and that he has called the police and the alderman for vehicles parked on the sidewalk and for hand-to-hand drug deals. He added that there is a food truck operating past bar hours.
Officer Diener from district 2 – said that he completed the follow up regarding the shooting in June, that he did the license report and inventoried the video provided by A J Casper (property management). He also collected casings from the incident. He added that he saw the video, that he did not witness the event in person but did see the shattered windows in person and interviewed 4-5 neighbors about the incident.
Ald. Perez said that he supported the renewal of this license back in February, that he spoke to the applicant and building owner and that he does not know how this license has become so problematic. He added that with the applicant’s own admission, she admitted she was not following the rules but said that she is doing the right things now and he believes what the neighbors said and what Officer Diener saw in the video. He added that he cannot support this license any more.
Atty. Maistelman said that a mitigation plan has been included in the file and he read it for the record as the measures that his client will do from now on. He added that this committee uses progressive discipline and requested that the license not be revoked.
Ms. Lopez said that they have presented their complaints.
Mr. Cooney said that the license was granted in 2023 and issued in February 2024, that there was a lapse of 8 days as they renewed late in February this year and that the committee could suspend the license as well.
Ald. Chambers said that it is difficult to have neighbors making a case for the neighborhood that they love in a quasi-judicial setting and that also the licensee is fighting for their property rights.
Ald. Chambers moved for a 90 day suspension of the Class B Tavern license based upon the preponderance of the evidence on the police report, resident, police, and aldermanic testimony that the demonstrates the operation results in a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the public for failure to comply with the approved plan of operations and disturbance of the peace. There were no objections. (Prevailed 5-0)
Ald. Burgelis said that he agrees with the motion and that the lack of management is evident and that they have some time to work on that and prove they are worthy of a renewal next year.
| Pass | 5:0 |
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