Licenses committee directs ID scanning and recommends 20‑day suspension for large nightclub renewal
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Summary
After reviewing months of police calls and the applicant's record, the licensing committee amended Red, White & Blue's plan to require ID scanning for every patron and voted to renew the license while recommending a 20‑day suspension to the Common Council.
The committee reviewed Red, White & Blue (RWB), a high‑capacity venue on North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and its multi‑year history of police calls and crowd incidents. Licensing and MPD records presented a series of disturbances, including fights, underage admissions and New Year’s‑Eve crowd control problems. RWB’s operator acknowledged problems and said parking‑lot thefts, fights and underage entry were often tied to large post‑event crowds. The operator agreed to add measures including mandatory scanning of every patron’s ID at entry.
Alderman Mark Chambers moved to amend RWB’s plan of operation to require an ID scanner for every patron. After debate the committee also voted to renew the license but to recommend to the Common Council a 20‑day suspension; the committee will file a findings report to the council and the operator may submit written exceptions ahead of the council vote. Licensing staff said scanners and additional security can be added immediately; the committee emphasized the venue’s size (official capacity cited in testimony) and the public‑safety record as the reason for the suspension recommendation.
What happens next: The committee’s recommendation is advisory. The Common Council will receive a findings report and may accept, modify or reject the committee’s recommendation (the operator was told the council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 25).