Janesville advisory committee approves multiple alcohol-license actions, grants operator appeal

The Janesville Alcohol License Advisory Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 7 approved several local alcohol-license actions, including forwarding a new full-liquor application to the City Council, granting temporary extensions for two weekend events, approving a one-time extension for a restaurant still completing occupancy corrections, and granting an operator-license appeal by a Festival Foods employee.

The actions affect five separate applications and will control whether businesses may serve alcohol at specified addresses or proceed through the city’s licensing process. Several items will return to the City Council for final consideration when required by ordinance.

Committee chair Vicky Miller opened the meeting and confirmed a quorum before the committee heard applications and public testimony. The committee approved its minutes at the start of the meeting.

Rudacayera El Pancho — original class B application

Maria Sanchez, who identified herself as the applicant and owner of Rudacayera El Pancho, told the committee the business at 1445 Center Avenue (suite 150) was a reconfigured location formerly known as the Wander Inn. Sanchez said the space seats about 20 people and that, if the liquor license is issued, she would be the initial licensed server while she trains a second employee.

Sanchez said an operator-training certificate included in the packet was an expired document and that she understood she must have a current operator’s license to serve when she is not present. The committee asked about store layout and whether liquor would be behind the counter; Sanchez replied it would not be self-serve and that liquor would be kept behind the counter and provided to customers on request.

A motion to approve the application passed on a committee vote; the committee recorded that the approval will be forwarded to the City Council for…