Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Liquor And Entertainment Licenses topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council affirms hearing officer, revokes Centerfold's cabaret and liquor licenses
Summary
After a hearing and presentation of police evidence, the Committee of the Whole voted to accept the hearing officer's recommendation and revoke CDDM Corporation's cabaret and liquor licenses for the Centerfold (5910 S. Pennsylvania Ave.). Council also approved immediate effect for the revocations.
The Lansing Committee of the Whole voted to affirm the hearing officer’s findings and revoke both the cabaret and liquor licenses held by CDDM Corporation, which operates Centerfold at 5910 South Pennsylvania Avenue.
The hearing officer, Raleigh VanFossen, director of Economic Development and Planning and the officer who conducted the administrative hearing, summarized testimony and exhibits documenting a pattern of violent incidents at the establishment, including three homicides (2006, 2013 and February 2025), assaults requiring police response, reports of prostitution and overt drug activity, and video evidence of disorderly and illegal conduct on the premises. VanFossen recommended revocation of both licenses as necessary to protect public safety and to enforce the city’s licensing rules.
VanFossen told the committee: “Based on the findings presented in the hearing, there is substantial evidence demonstrating a pattern of violent incidents, legal violations, and ongoing security concerns at the premise.” He recommended revocation of both the cabaret and liquor licenses and noted the licensee did not appear at the hearing to rebut the evidence.
Assistant city attorneys presented the city’s case and police witnesses described multiple calls for service and review of surveillance video that showed illicit conduct. Representatives tied to the license told council in public comment earlier in the meeting that they had concerns about notice; the manager of CDDM, Rick Johnson, said he did not receive notice in advance. The city provided certified-mail proof of notice to the registered agent and to the premises, and proceeded with the hearing when no licensee representative attended.
After the committee voted to move the two resolutions, members then voted to amend each resolution to explicitly affirm the hearing officer’s recommendation and to make the revocations effective immediately. Council votes were by voice; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes.
The committee’s action removes both licenses from the premises immediately; any next steps for the former licensee (appeal or other administrative remedies) would follow the city’s licensing and administrative procedures.
Votes at the meeting were voice votes recorded on the meeting audio; the clerk recorded the motions and that they passed. The council did not record roll-call vote tallies in the committee session transcript.
