ALRC meeting roundup: consent agenda, approvals, and items referred or tabled (Feb. 19, 2025)

At its Feb. 19, 2025, meeting the Alcohol License Review Committee approved the consent agenda, recommended approval on several new-license requests, and tabled or referred others for follow-up. Below are the committee’s recorded formal actions and key notes from discussion. Where roll-call votes were recorded, tallies are shown.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 3–10): Approved. Items on the consent agenda included two temporary Class B retailer licenses with concurrent street-use permits for Madison Festivals Inc. (Taste of Madison and Madison Marathon) and change-of-agent approvals for Tacos and Tequila LLC; Mega Marts LLC; Brinker Restaurant Corp.; Garver Events LLC (3241 Garver Green and 3330 Atwood Ave.). Motion passed with no objection.

- Item 2 (operator license for Shauna Masijewski): Tabled at applicant’s request until applicant appears.

- Item 7 (change of agent for Cracker Barrel): Approved; committee accepted correction of a typographical error on the application and moved the item from non-consent to approval with no objection.

- Item 13 (new license for Taco Madre): Approved with no objection after applicant testified they had posted required notices and engaged with neighborhood representatives.

- Item 17 (new license for Ichiban Sichuan / Wang): Initially tabled for technical/connectivity issues and later referred to the next regularly scheduled ALRC meeting after the applicant said she had not yet completed required notifications; motion to refer carried with no recorded objections.

- Items 11 & 19 (Ohio Tavern entertainment license and new license): Recommended for approval by roll call, 4 ayes, 1 no (Alder Knox opposed). See separate article for discussion details.

- Item 12 (Mansion Hill Inn 21-plus entertainment license / Terrence Barrett): Tabled to the end of the meeting when the registrant dropped off; subsequently referred to next meeting when taken off the table (no objection).

- Item 14 (Marquette Hotel & Café): Recommended approval with a condition drawn from a 2016 plan-commission conditional-use restriction that outdoor eating areas shall not be used for food or beverage service or outdoor activity after 9:30 p.m., seven days a week; applicant accepted condition.

- Item 15 (Green Room, 2001 Atwood Ave): Approved; applicant reported supportive neighborhood engagement and a favorable reply from the police captain.

- Item 16 (Hotel Indigo / Pallet Bar and Grill): Approved with prior condition that outdoor patio close at midnight Sunday–Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday–Saturday (applicant agreed).

- Item 18 (Dream Lanes — transfer/new license related to prospective buyer): Approved; applicant (current owner) said sale negotiations are proceeding and that staff will remain in place.

- Item 20 (Pump & Shop): Approved with condition limiting liquor sales to wine and cider only because the location sells motor fuel; committee discussion clarified the city’s existing practice and intent behind that restriction.

Tablings and referrals

Several items were tabled for technical or outreach reasons and later referred to the ALRC’s next meeting to allow applicants time to complete required notifications: Item 2 (operator license for Shauna Masijewski), item 12 (Mansion Hill Inn), and item 17 (Ichiban Sichuan / Wang).

Administrative notes and department reports

- Captain Kamoski reported a tavern-safety check at the downtown Nitty Gritty on Jan. 30 that found underage patrons and prompted follow-up with licensees on ID checks and procedures; attorneys for the licensee and the city met subsequently to clarify receipt evidence and operations.

- The clerk’s office announced renewal letters and forms will be mailed March 1 and said staff are working to move applications online in future cycles.

How to follow up: ALRC recommendations go to the City Clerk and, where required, to the Common Council and zoning/plan-commission processes before a license can be issued.