Assembly staff briefed on El Chicano liquor-license renewal and pending transfer; fire‑marshal concerns and location change noted

Kodiak Island Borough staff told the assembly on Sept. 11 that a combined renewal application for liquor license No. 3299 for El Chicano Inc. is under review and that a separate, pending application seeks to transfer the license and move it to a Resinoff location.

Staff said the renewal lists a Marin Way address that triggered fire‑marshal concerns about sprinklers and that the applicant also filed a transfer request to move ownership and the license to a different location (Resinoff). The manager’s report noted the license has received multiple waivers for lack of continuous operation in prior years (staff said there have been four waivers tied to periods of inactivity). Staff offered options to the assembly: (1) voice a non‑protest to the renewal, knowing a pending transfer and location change may follow; (2) protest the renewal with a condition tied to correcting fire‑marshal issues at Marin Way; or (3) protest the renewal outright.

Assembly members discussed the practicality of protest given the pending transfer and the license’s administrative history. Several members said they were not inclined to protest if the transfer and relocation are intended to place the license in a usable, code‑compliant facility; Scott and others recounted prior difficult experiences with state licensing processes.

Next steps: Staff warned the assembly that the matter will return in upcoming meetings as the transfer application proceeds. No formal protest or action was recorded that night; staff advised members they would see the transfer on a future agenda and that the borough’s comment or protest would be submitted to the state Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office or the ABC board as appropriate.