The City of Edgerton Common Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 24-14, which amends Chapter 167 of the city code to align the municipal wine-license rules with recent changes in state law.

City staff told the council the state removed a prior requirement that a wine license be held only by establishments where 50% of revenue comes from food sales. Staff said the ordinance as drafted removes that restriction but leaves the council the option to retain local limits if it chooses. "This ordinance matches the state law now," a staff member summarized to the council.

The ordinance would allow a wider range of businesses — from restaurants to flower shops or salons — to apply for a class C wine license, subject to the usual state regulations on hours, underage access and other conditions, city staff said. Staff also noted a class C license costs $100 per year under current rules and that applications now pending will come before the council at the October meeting unless the council imposes local restrictions beforehand.

Council members debated whether the council should impose local limits now or leave the ordinance strictly aligned with state law. Staff recommended that any local restrictions be adopted before issuing new licenses, saying it is more difficult to apply a new restriction after a license has been granted. The council approved the ordinance's first reading on a roll-call vote; members recorded as voting yes included Shaw, Pesanti/Prasanti, Bridal, Andy Davis, Paul Davis and Burdick. The ordinance will return for a subsequent reading as required by local procedure.

Because the state change allows broader local discretion, staff advised the council that if it wants to keep the restaurant-revenue requirement it must explicitly preserve that language in the ordinance. The council did not add such a restriction during the first reading.

The action comes as at least one wine-only application is in a statutory 15-day waiting period; staff said the council's choices tonight will affect whether that application proceeds to a license hearing in October.