Janesville advisory panel backs ordinance change, grants beer license allowing alcohol sales at Woodman Sports and Convention Center

The Janesville Alcohol License Advisory Committee on July 1 recommended changes to Chapter 6 of the city’s general ordinances to add the Woodman Sports and Convention Center to the list of municipally owned facilities where alcohol may be sold or consumed, and granted a Class B fermented malt beverage license for the facility’s concessionaire.

The committee’s recommendation to amend the ordinance will go to the City Council on July 14 for first reading and scheduling of a public hearing, and is slated for a July 28 public hearing and possible adoption. The panel also approved the concessionaire’s city-level beer-only license so the operator can begin ordering and preparing for opening; the state-level intoxicating liquor license application remains pending.

Attorney Klimek told the committee that “what you have in front of you are changes drafted to chapter 6 of the code of general ordinances that needed to be adjusted, in order to add a concessionaire.” Jennifer Petruzzillo, co-chair of the Woodman project, explained the change is necessary because “the city ordinances do prohibit the sale [and] consumption on municipally owned facilities…unless they are specifically identified.”

Committee members discussed the scope of the ordinance changes and whether other city properties, such as parks and pavilions, should be included; staff explained parks are covered under a separate parks ordinance that grants authority to the Parks and Recreation director for picnic licenses. Committee members also asked about the relationship between the city ordinance and the state license. Tim Lindau, representing the concessionaire, said the state application for intoxicating liquor is pending and the parties expect a 30–45 day turnaround. Deputy Chief Ratzlaff and staff reported no police objection to the licensed agent for the concessionaire.

Motion and votes: The committee voted unanimously to recommend the ordinance amendment and, separately, voted unanimously to grant the original Class B fermented malt beverage license for Sports Facility Companies Food and Beverage Wisconsin LLC (doing business as the Woodman Sports and Convention Center) at 2510 Milton Avenue. Anthony Thierry, the named agent, accepted the appointment.

The advisory committee’s recommendation is not final; the City Council will consider the ordinance change and licenses on July 14. The state-level intoxicating-liquor license for the concessionaire is a separate, pending process at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.