Business owners proposed changes to Madison's Alcohol License Density Ordinance during a city subcommittee meeting Tuesday.
The Alcohol License Density Ordinance was established in 2007 and limits the number of alcohol license holders in the downtown area. The ordinance expires in October, but subcommittee members want to modify the ordinance sooner to combat the current economic downturn.
According to Central Business Improvement District Executive Director Mary Carbine, property owners only have 365 days to find a new tenant if they would like to retain their alcohol license.
""We need an option that takes away a window or time point,"" Carbine said.
Committee members were also concerned about the restrictions on different alcohol license classifications, such as exceptional circumstances for receiving a license.
According to the ordinance, establishments are considered to be under exceptional circumstances if they are ""not a tavern, restaurant, liquor store, convenience store, full-service grocery store, or hotel,"" and therefore cannot generate more than 25 percent of their annual gross revenue from the sale of alcohol.
Subcommittee member Rick Petri said businesses should be examined on a case-to-case basis.
""We need to emphasize getting away from the whole notion of looking at numbers,"" he said.
According to Carbine, alcohol percentage provisions don't account for venues that have entertainment built into the cost of drinks.
""People tend not to pay separately for entertainment, and this doesn't represent the cost they pay for a drink,"" she said.
Petri said the components of entertainment need to be defined in broad terms, otherwise downtown Madison will lose establishments that attract music and entertainment.
""[Language should be proposed] that would give the committee something to discern from a vertical drinking bar,"" he said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, emphasized taking immediate action in revising the ordinance.
""This is a big deal. It is affecting the economy and entertainment options in the community,"" he said.
Additionally, members proposed changes to the ""sober server"" amendment, namely altering the term ""intoxicated"" to ""under the influence."" The amendment currently restrains alcohol vendors from selling alcohol to people who are intoxicated.
