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West Allis council approves licensing, court deposit schedule changes; one economic item passes 7-3
Summary
At its July 8 meeting the West Allis Common Council approved a new licensing framework and fee for CBD/THC beverage retailers, updated municipal court deposit amounts, and authorized a notice of nonrenewal for a single alcohol seller's permit; one economic development item passed on a 7-3 vote.
The West Allis Common Council on July 8 approved several administrative and regulatory items, including a new licensing category for CBD/THC beverages, an update to the municipal court deposit schedule, and a notice of intent to not renew an alcohol seller’s permit for one licensee that had not resolved a sellers-permit discrepancy.
Ordinance and fee for CBD/THC beverage retailers
The council moved to adopt an ordinance establishing general provisions for licensing CBD and THC-infused beverages and a companion resolution amending the fee schedule to create license fees for those retailers. Alderman Halverson explained the approach includes an extended warning period through the next licensing year to give retailers time to comply. The council took the ordinance and the fee resolution together and approved them by voice vote; the public-safety committee recommendation and the council vote were recorded as unanimous.
Municipal court deposit schedule
The council approved a resolution updating the municipal court deposit schedule to adjust deposits related to possession/delivery of THC, identity theft, and operating a vehicle without the owner's consent. The motion passed by voice vote during the committee session and was recorded as adopted without opposition at the council meeting.
Alcohol licensing: Bronze Pub resolved; Saint Augustine's receives notice
As part of a licensing audit tied to Wisconsin sellers-permit records, staff reported two renewals uploaded to the state system flagged sellers-permit numbers as inactive. Bronze Pub and Eatery, LLC (Bronze) resolved its permit discrepancy before action was required and was removed from the nonrenewal list. Saint Augustine's (a holder of a class B beer license used for occasional events such as fish fries, according to the meeting record) changed its entity name when renewing, causing the state's sellers-permit cross-check to mark the prior permit inactive; staff recommended sending Saint Augustine's a notice of intent not to renew and offering an opportunity for a hearing. The council approved sending that notice.
Other committee and consent actions
The council approved the consent agenda and committee reports, including adoptions and settlements recommended by the administration committee. A separate economic-development item (item 40 as read into the record) passed on a recorded roll call with 7 in favor and 3 opposed.
What the approvals mean
The CBD/THC retailer ordinance and fee schedule create a local licensing pathway for businesses selling CBD- or THC-infused beverages and establish an implementation window intended to bring retailers into compliance before stronger enforcement steps apply. The municipal-court deposit schedule resolution adjusts required deposits for certain offenses; the council did not detail budgetary impacts during the July 8 meeting. Saint Augustine's was offered an opportunity to resolve its sellers-permit discrepancy with the state; staff said the issue can be corrected by the licensee contacting the state, and the council provided the licensee an opportunity for a hearing as required by state law and local licensing procedures.
Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (items in K): Approved by roll call, 10-0. - Ordinance to create CBD/THC beverage retailer license and companion fee resolution (items 3 and 4): Approved by voice vote; committee and council recorded as aye (unanimous in recorded roll calls that followed committee recommendations). - Resolution updating municipal court deposit schedule (item 45 / R2025... as read in the record): Approved by voice vote; recorded as adopted without opposition. - Notice of intent not to renew Saint Augustine's sellers permit (item 44): Motion to send notice and offer opportunity for hearing approved; Bronze Pub removed from nonrenewal after resolving the issue. - Economic development item 40 (separately read): Approved by roll call, 7 in favor, 3 opposed.
No council votes at the July 8 meeting changed local criminal statutes; the actions were administrative (licensing, fees, court deposit amounts and committee adoptions). Several approvals were unanimous; the separate economic-development item recorded a divided vote.
