Community Board 11 leadership clears Universe Cafe liquor request, flags privacy concerns over application postings

Ross Community Board 11 leadership voted Thursday to send a letter of no objection to the State Liquor Authority for a full liquor license application from Universe Cafe Inc., and discussed how the board posts liquor‑licensing application materials online.

The leadership meeting at 7:04 p.m. included several liquor-license items that committee chairs and staff said would be on the upcoming full‑board agenda or require more information. Richard Reynoso, vice chair, opened the agenda items and Jeremy (staff member) moved the Universe Cafe motion; a second was recorded and no objections were raised, allowing leadership to transmit its recommendation to the liquor authority.

Board members also reported no objections for Jay’s Tavern (renewal) and Patricia’s outdoor‑dining application and said the Red Bear Lounge required further clarification about the applicant’s outdoor‑dining diagram. For OSU Grill (1344 East Gunhill Road), the economic development committee tabled a request and asked that the item be placed on the board agenda so members would be aware of the pending application.

Why the decision matters: the leadership committee’s letters are routinely considered by the State Liquor Authority and by applicants; board guidance can affect whether authorities proceed or request more documentation. Members also raised procedural questions about how application materials are shared with the public and with board members before votes.

Discussion and details Board members debated whether to publish hyperlinks to the application documents on the board website. Veronica Castillo, treasurer and cochair of economic development, said the State Liquor Authority advised against making certain contact information “readily available” and recommended providing applicants’ contact details upon request. Jeremy (staff member) and other committee members said the information is ultimately public under state Freedom of Information law (FOIL), but recommended limiting hyperlinking to reduce unnecessary exposure of personal contact information.

Wendy Hulabetsch, chair of land use and sanitation, said she had seen applications that lacked clear business contact information and urged the board to send “heads up” notices to members listing what applications are coming to committees without publishing personal fields.

Red Bear Lounge’s outdoor-dining diagram was discussed at length. Committee members said the diagram appeared to show seating extending farther into the sidewalk than committee measurements supported; the board requested clarifications and said it would withhold approval pending corrected dimensions from the applicant.

Votes and formal actions - Motion: “Send a letter of no objection to the State Liquor Authority to approve the full liquor license for Universe Cafe Inc.” Mover: Jeremy (staff member). Second: not specified. Outcome: approved; no objections recorded. (Leadership will transmit the letter.) - Informal decisions noted: no objections reported for Jay’s Tavern (renewal) and Patricia’s outdoor‑dining application; Red Bear Lounge deferred pending clarification; OSU Grill item tabled by committee for lack of information.

Ending Board staff said they will publish the agenda and supporting materials on the board website by Monday and that any letters from leadership would be circulated to the full board. Members asked staff to redact or withhold personal contact fields from publicly linked documents and to send notification emails summarizing which applications are coming to committees so members can prepare ahead of committee or full‑board review.