Sterling council approves one liquor-license renewal, denies another over unpaid taxes

The Sterling City Council on Tuesday approved one liquor-license renewal with a tax-payment condition and denied another after the applicant failed to appear.

Mayor Pro-tem Janes opened two public hearings on license renewals. At the hearing for Forequarters LLC, 1100 West Main St., applicant Garrett Eastin told the council the business has fallen behind on taxes because he was uncertain how much was owed and had been told taxes had already been paid. Eastin said he was willing to pay the amount due within 45 days once the audit determines the balance.

Councilmember Raffaeli moved to approve Forequarters’ hotel and restaurant liquor-license renewal on the condition that the business pay all taxes due within 45 days of the audit’s completion; Councilmember Delgado seconded. The motion passed by a five-yes vote.

At the hearing for The Lounge at McCauley’s Moustache Café, 118–120 North 2nd Street, the applicant did not appear. Citing the applicant’s failure to pay taxes required under City Code, Councilmember Delgado moved to deny the Hotel and Restaurant liquor license; Councilmember Haynes seconded, and the motion passed by a five-yes vote.

The council accepted the city’s hearing exhibits in both proceedings. No members of the public testified on either license application.

Votes at a glance: the consent agenda and both license motions were recorded as five-yes votes; individual vote names were not recorded in the transcript and thus are not specified in this report.

The council moved on to other business after the votes.