[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6516969,"mediaKeyId","5429439-16d13815fa66e879cc2f80573ddde62f","parentId",5429439,"title","Licenses committee approves renewals, amends entertainment and operating conditions; holds and withdrawals noted","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1111000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5429439-16d13815fa66e879cc2f80573ddde62f&start=1111&end=1111","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5429439-16d13815fa66e879cc2f80573ddde62f/thumbnail_1111000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6516969/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Licenses-committee-approves-renewals-amends-entertainment-and-operating-conditions-holds-and-withdrawals-noted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6516969-05f449f0104f72e8f3113593c5a1bdd0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929593&Signature=PiekR8t-5gIkf1ew84SR~1EP6z~fP-LUodA~xKcV~rhUuTbyD7~m-WXUlD50qoOKxeN8JWuGHD~Wj6M5svF5EIw5goFVojhqHIJp4dppkYyc0IWcr2epZ5~AR5v0-SOH4ivLR9h8U-20ZhYiHaG1Cso-9y6WZ-ZDgfweGTNJoz4v2feQs5So06ACkkL-pWcrFlZRBShiEfYB5o6P39o1dh3Ryqd8jc5sbtLWEP0aPTYLUxsw~cy7vHQ3u70N0BunIVjL6p7UPitcsBOyhOFUAAhrYa5uvoCS3by0aNf8LyNsvTu9NYhWjoDo-trNrHQyOij8WGEwfAYQO3ffHA2j2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Milwaukee, WI","date","2025-07-18T09:04:00Z","article","The Milwaukee Licenses Committee reviewed multiple license applications, renewals and operating-plan amendments during a meeting on June 27. Committee members approved the majority of routine renewals and took specific actions where public-safety, health inspections or neighborhood concerns were raised.

Key approvals and amendments

- Paul Leonard Wiggum (Village Avenue): Renewal of a food/alcohol application was approved by the committee (moved by Alderman Andrea Pratt).

- Guelaguetza / Lucia Antonio Perez (2537 W. National Ave.): Applicant amended the Public Entertainment Premises (PEP) request to remove live bands, instrumental musicians, DJ, patrons dancing and entertainment-for-private-events from the application and instead requested five amusement machines. The applicant also agreed to amend the plan of operation to close at midnight; the committee approved the amended application as presented.

- Antojitos (Gabriel Ostos Dominguez) food truck: The Milwaukee Health Department had an objection on file after inspectors documented three violations this winter and early 2025 for operating without handwashing water (Dec. 10, Jan. 14 and Jan. 29). Director of Consumer Environmental Health Carly Higarty told the committee that enforcement actions and citations had been issued but paid. The operator told the committee he plans technical fixes (heat tape/heater, better insulation) to keep water from freezing and scheduled reinspection; the committee approved renewal with a written warning to correct recurring water access issues.

- Taqueria El Adreo (3530 W. National Ave., Ermolindo Martinez Perez): After neighbors and the alderwoman pressed for earlier closing hours, the applicant amended the plan of operation in committee to close at midnight (instead of later hours requested initially) and to remove jukebox and other noise-generating items from the PEP; committee approved the amended plan and renewal.

- A & I Petroleum LLC (2707 W. Burley): Committee approved renewal as amended with a warning letter. The police report for this gas station listed multiple calls across recent months (shooting, threats, expired food on display, suspected stolen vehicle in the lot), and officers found earlier issues with expired items. The applicant committed to routine staff checks for expired goods, more assertive removal of loiterers and to register cameras with MPD; the committee required the plan-of-operation amendments (camera access, routine perishables checks, no-trespassing signage) and approved the license with a warning.

- Taqueria El Toro and other routine renewals: Committee approved a number of routine renewals where inspections were cleared and no neighbors objected.

Noise, security and public-safety issues

Several agenda items prompted broader discussion about noise on patios, surveillance footage and security staffing. The renewal for SplendaCare Bar & Grill / Play by Play at 3910 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. generated the most sustained neighborhood testimony: a nearby resident and community organizations described repeated late-night patio noise and trash. The applicant acknowledged the complaints, said speakers on the patio had been removed and committed to installing acoustical measures and a taller fence. The committee amended the PEP to require that proposed entertainment options (DJ, jukebox, karaoke, bands, patrons dancing, concerts) be indoor-only and approved renewal with a warning letter while municipal noise citations remain pending; staff said several municipal citations are scheduled for pretrial and that the licensing committee will not pre-judge the municipal court process but may consider the pending citations in its review.

Other items of note

- Sky Bar (1339 S. 7th St.): The applicant asked the committee to withdraw a pending renewal application; the committee recorded the voluntary withdrawal. Licensing staff advised that a withdrawal generally ends the committee hearing and that, depending on municipal procedures, the license may expire per the statutory schedule.

- Punta Cana and other items: Several items were held for follow-up (for example, to allow applicants to resolve occupancy/inspection holds or to arrange meetings with police and neighborhood stakeholders).

Votes at a glance (selected items)

- Guelaguetza (Lucia Antonio Perez) ' Approved as amended (remove outdoor entertainment items; add 5 amusement machines; close at midnight).
- Antojitos food truck (Gabriel Ostos Dominguez) ' Approved with warning letter (health objection re: handwashing water; operator pledged fixes).
- Taqueria El Adreo (Ermolindo Martinez Perez) ' Approved as amended (close at midnight; remove jukebox).
- A & I Petroleum LLC (2707 W. Burley) ' Approved as amended with warning letter (plan of operation revisions including camera access and perishables checks).
- Sky Bar (1339 S. 7th St.) ' Applicant withdrew renewal application; committee recorded withdrawal.
- Several other food dealer and tavern renewals ' Approved (no objection; routine inspections cleared or holds satisfied).

What the committee asked of applicants

- Improve or register surveillance footage access with MPD when police request video evidence.
- Add and document routine checks for perishable foods at convenience/gas stores and remove expired items promptly.
- Work with neighborhood associations on trash, loitering, and security plans; consider additional roving or sidewalk-facing security to escort patrons to cars and discourage post-closing loitering.

Ending: The committee approved most renewals while using plan-of-operation amendments and warning letters to address recurring operational problems. Several items were held for follow-up and at least one withdrawal was recorded, which the committee and city staff said will affect licensing status under municipal rules.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Milwaukee, WI - LICENSES COMMITTEE on 2025-07-18 9:00 AM - Special - Jul 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its June 27 meeting the Licenses Committee approved a series of license renewals and amendments, including several conditional approvals and amendments to plans of operation (noise, hours, surveillance). The committee also held a handful of items for follow-up and accepted at least one voluntary withdrawal.","taxTitle","Milwaukee , Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",2851,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6516973,"Committee allows candle-making businesses to serve wine, expanding existing exemptions",62,935000,997000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5429439-16d13815fa66e879cc2f80573ddde62f&start=935&end=997","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5429439-16d13815fa66e879cc2f80573ddde62f/thumbnail_935000.jpg","/articles/6516973/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Committee-allows-candle-making-businesses-to-serve-wine-expanding-existing-exemptions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6516973-9b0776d22de1807cda0b8ccca95d4167/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929593&Signature=AdnxwMTLJspxTvcZHRqG74-Smdfk0FAh-nU1j87FTm~F8PL~Lk2eoKQ5oiFIdtvl3An0JVgrSkF4MqhzW0iLA1WdVWwiBWh2J~v8TBLEF~f64MmBoTZYikaXNFwn68UqvZjGxJLUKoiGnR1XQ0pgFkW4dUoIkZuUG-4QwCs7A0fSdWxdie~uZHIUQguvueDgqSMJA6aHp1jkQM0ksEGIRpPbRsnIzfR4yiOFJjLn6yYVIpjSIibemSWSEpSgKNR59K6P24IgkytTpdZ3NAkSkQ~pphGbg55L8ls5y8fUSb0Fa6WxYoplJLy697nfUc2K6T~kWDkzCI1w0VXNzpiORw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milwaukee Licenses Committee on June 27 approved an ordinance (File No. 250542) to broaden the city's list of businesses that may hold a Class B wine license by adding candle-making businesses to the existing set of exemptions.

Alderman Westmoreland, appearing virtually, told the committee the change is \"a simple straightforward change\" to remove candle making businesses from the list of prohibited business types for a Class B wine license. \"That's the extent of the change being proposed here,\" Westmoreland said.

Licensing manager Jim Cooney said the city's starting position is that a Class B wine license cannot be issued to a premise that engages primarily in another type of business, but a list of exemptions exists: restaurants, hotels, bowling alleys, paint-and-sip studios, axe-throwing facilities, nail salons and hair salons are among the examples. The amendment brings candle-makers into that exempted group, making it lawful for a candle studio to serve wine by the glass or complementary wine to patrons, similar to a paint-and-sip arrangement.

Committee members asked whether pottery studios were exempt (\"They are not,\" Cooney said), and whether wine served would be complimentary or for sale — Cooney confirmed \"sale or complimentary.\"

The committee adopted the ordinance by voice vote after Alderman Mark Chambers moved adoption and no members objected.

Why it matters: The change clarifies which small-format retail/experience businesses may offer wine to customers and may help small entrepreneurs (for example, makerspaces or craft studios) expand service options without seeking further code changes.

Votes at a glance: The motion to adopt File No. 250542 was moved by Alderman Mark Chambers and approved by the committee by voice vote with no recorded objections.

Ending: The ordinance will proceed through the council process. Licensing staff said existing license rules and other regulatory requirements (health, fire, building) continue to apply to any business seeking a wine license.

","The Licenses Committee voted to amend municipal rules to allow candle-making businesses to apply for and serve wine on licensed premises (File No. 250542), aligning them with other small-activity exemptions such as painting studios and nail salons.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":78,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6516977,"Licenses committee shortens nonconsensual towing licenses to one year to speed enforcement",898,37000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5429439-16d13815fa66e879cc2f80573ddde62f&start=37&end=935","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5429439-16d13815fa66e879cc2f80573ddde62f/thumbnail_37000.jpg","/articles/6516977/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Licenses-committee-shortens-nonconsensual-towing-licenses-to-one-year-to-speed-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6516977-164b72c47c43cf40bc2d5df01d6e906a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929593&Signature=m8LtEj~S81TGHwG0fITsCWXK3lAz6G72ZmCauRb12VhIwKFyJvIE7AhIUHCyI~igFTXf-o3YXMNQ5fN25kezXYdTl5UTFZmNyaS4YQyLixRNxVgr5U5nKccqUbajEWCbRxCl1oUTzaye-uZIIGdvnNl0x9oOp7DWzZrt1v2Ve55WFlDZ~7kZ0XEhARkUp1VYH66Ppn6vPoHlbJBlVIety~EnNsKkP2MblPSvnpXzReOTj8YVZBMZcKJB8We-2NV3KH5figwYiBx-OENQfpdo-Y~Ida8QDYZsuVIq05-iGd1IbGmQLZmiG7a3paaWrkwDKRheHWrA~BcQagCxsZ8jZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Licenses Committee of the Milwaukee Common Council on June 27 approved an ordinance (File No. 250536) reducing the license period for businesses that perform nonconsensual tows from two years to one year.

The change aims to give city staff and aldermen a faster opportunity to review tow companies after complaints or unpaid fees accumulate. Jim Bole, director in the Office of Innovation, told the committee that the city has adopted state statutory requirements governing nonconsensual tows and collects a pass-through check fee when companies verify vehicles before towing. \"That fee is set right now at the statutory ... maximum, which is $35 per vehicle,\" Bole said.

The shorter license period is intended to reduce the time between renewal reviews so the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Licensing Division can act sooner on complaints and unpaid pass-through fees. Bole said the city's year-end report showed several towing firms owing substantial amounts to the city, including single firms in the \"about $100,000\" range and others around \"$60,500,\" and that the aggregate receivable totaled \"upwards to about $400,000\" as of that report.

Why it matters: By shortening the renewal window, aldermen said they expect to hold firms more accountable for unpaid fees collected on the city's behalf and to give residents a faster venue for complaints about alleged overcharging or other practices. Jim Cooney, licensing division manager, told the committee that objections to recycling/salvage/towing umbrella licenses come disproportionately from firms that perform nonconsensual tows.

Legal question left open: Committee discussion noted a remaining legal question about whether the city may condition licensure on full payment of outstanding receivables. Alderman Mark Chambers asked whether the committee could refuse renewal until a company has paid the amounts it owes; city attorney counsel Travis Gresham said the question is legally nuanced and may require further legal review. \"Conditioning licensure is a little bit fraught,\" Gresham said, recommending further analysis.

The committee adopted the ordinance by voice vote after Alderman Mark Chambers moved for adoption and there were no objections. The ordinance directs DPW to flag licensees who owe the city and moves the towing license term to one year; it does not itself change the statutory pass-through fee amount.

Votes at a glance: The motion for adoption was moved by Alderman Mark Chambers; the committee approved the ordinance by unanimous voice vote with no roll-call recorded.

What's next: The ordinance will follow the normal municipal process for enactment. Council members and staff said they expect DPW and Licensing to provide lists of firms with outstanding receivables at future renewals and to work with the City Attorney's Office on whether conditional renewal (e.g., requiring payment before issuing a new license) is legally enforceable.

Speaker excerpts (selected): \"That fee is set right now at the statutory ... maximum, which is $35 per vehicle,\" Jim Bole said. \"There are firms that owe the city ... upwards to about $400,000,\" he added.

Ending: Committee members said they support the change as a practical tool to speed accountability, while leaving the legal question about conditioning renewal to further counsel.

","Milwaukee's Licenses Committee voted to shorten licensure for nonconsensual (\"private\" or \"boot/tow-for-violation\") towing businesses from two years to one year, and asked Department of Public Works to flag firms that owe the city so the committee can consider withholding renewal until outstanding pass-through fees are remitted.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Licenses committee approves renewals, amends entertainment and operating conditions; holds and withdrawals noted

Committee allows candle-making businesses to serve wine, expanding existing exemptions

Licenses committee shortens nonconsensual towing licenses to one year to speed enforcement