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00-1037o�����a� Council File # �p � !03? Green Sheet # 104020 RESO�usioN � Presented Referred To Committee Date 15 WHEREAS, the Legislative Hearing Officer recommends that license application (ID # 0018013) for Liquor On Sale (C), Liquor On Sale-Sunday, and Restaurant (B) Licenses by Cooks of Crocus Hill, 877 Grand Avenue, be approved with the following condirions: 1) The business shall remain consistent with its current format as a cooking school. 2) The serving of liquor shall only be to persons giving or receiving cooking nastruction as part of the normal classroom activity. Liquor may not be served to members of the public who are not staff of the cooking schooi nor students enroiled in a classroom instruction. THEREFORE, BE TT RESOLVED that the Council of the Ciry of Saint Paul hereby approves this license application with the recommended conditions. Yeas Nays Absent Blakey � Coleman � Hazris Benanau � Reiter � Bostrom � Lanhy ✓ �( p C7 Adopted by Council: Date �1 `� sv , i �o n- 1 Adoprion Certified by Council By: ""�� Approved by Mayor: Date \ l�.�1� �� Ey: _� Requested by Department of: � Form Approved by City Attorney � Mayor for Submission to Council Oo—(o3� PARTMINi/OFFICFJCOUNCIL W�E �MmATED � City Council Offices o�t. zs, z000 GREEN SHEET nto 104 0?� iMACf PERSON & PIiONE � � Gerry Strathman, 266-8560 oF..1+�rowsroe arrcwei IST BE ON COUNCILAGBJM 8Y (Q4TE) November 1, 2000 ~"�" wwBetiae � rnr.nwlEr cmrctfwc ROVSYIG � ❑AI�IIpI1LfFRY1CFi0R IiYNCIN.iFR1qttTC ❑ wroRroR�sasrw�n ❑ TOTAL # OF SIGNATURE PAGES (CLP ALL LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATURE) ,.. + Approving application with conditions for Liquor On Sale (C), Liquor On Sale-Sunday, and Restau=ant (B) Licenses by Cooks of Crocus Hill, 877 Gxand Avenue. vuv, i �vn r�pprove �n� a rce�ecc PIANNING COMMISSION CIB CAMMITTEE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Has this Ve���m ewx � unUer a contiad tor fhie depaAment? YES NO Has tnis peisoMim e�er hema cip' emWoyee7 YES NO Does this peisoNfnn posseas a aldN not ndmallypossesseC by any curteM cily empbyee? VES NO Is this peBOMmS a te�getetl ve'Maft YES NO CounciB R�se�rcl� C�nter acr 2 s 2000 lOUN7 OF TRANSACTION SOURCE _ COSUREVENUEBUDGETED(CIRCLEON� YEE NO ACTNIiYNUMBER [�!&] C�o- �0"3� ��. MINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE HEARING COOKS OF CROCUS HII,L - 877 Cnand Avenue Tuesday, October 24, 2000 Room 330 Courthouse Gerry Strathman, Legislative Hearing Officer STAFF PRESENT_ Kristine Schweinler, License, Inspections, Environmental Protection (LIEP); Lany Zangs, LIEP The meeting was called to order at 10:02 a.m. Gezry Strathman stated this hearing is being held to heaz objec6ons to the license application for Cooks of Crocus Hill, 877 Grand Avenue. Krisfine Schweinler reported the licenses that aze being applied far are Liquor On Sa1e (C) - 100 seats or less, Liquor On Sale-Sunday, and Restaurant (B). This license is recommended for approval by LIEP with the following conditions: 1) The business shall remain consistent with its current format as a cooking school, 2) The serving of liquor sha11 only be to persons giving or receiving cooking instruction as part of the normal ciassroom activity. Liquor may not be served to members of the public who are not staff of the cooking school nor students enrolled in a classroom instruction. The applicant has agreed to these conditions. There are no pending adverse actions againstthis business. 12ichard Plagens, 885 Lincoln Avenue, appeazed and stated he has a petition signed by some of his neighbors. Cooks of Crocus Hill does not provide its own off street parking for its patrons. It has shared pazking arrangements with lots. Parking will get worse due to the additional retail spaces that will be built in that area. Cooks of Crocus Hill will change its nature which presumably they find to be to their economic advantage. Yet, they have made no arrangements for additional parking far their customers. He understands there are certain restrictions on the license, but has not seen anything in writing. Mr. Plagens is concerned that the business will later decide to set up a bar to complement the food. Aiso, he is concerned that this license would be transferrable to another owner. There are already four liquor licenses on that comer that serve liquor, and six licenses within approximately 500 feet of his home. Tkris is a residential neighborhood. Mr. Plagens sees no benefit to the neighborhood to add another liquor license. (Mr. Plagens was supplied a copy of the conditions.) Gerry Strathman asked what would prevent the business from expanding into more liquor, setting up a bar, etc. Ms. Schweinler responded it would not be possible for the business to set up a baz due to the condiflons placed on the license. If the business wanted to change their license, the community would haue to be notified of that. Due to the pazking issues, these condi6ons would probably not be altered. Also, licenses aze not transferrable. Mr. Strathman asked about parking. If this would go to a full public facility, responded Larry Zangs, the zoning code would require a review of the pazking. This would have to go through OO-�\U�� COOKS OF CROCU5 HILL, 877 Crrand Avenue, 10-24-2000 Page 2 some kind of variance because parking is very tight. The school is there and the stafF and student population is fairly consistent. Those individuals have already impacted the off street pazking situation. The only thing different is the ability to serve liquor to those individuals. Mr. Zangs does not feel that the business will have addi6onal customers because of the liquor license. (Mr. Plagens gave Mr. Strathman the petition, which included six names that were opposed to the granting of a liquor license to Cooks of Crocus Hill. Their concems are parking and numerous liquor licenses in the area.) Mr. Plagens asked who enforces the conditions: Ms. Schweinler responded she is the senior license inspector and she enforces the conditions. Karl Benson, General Manager, appeazed and stated Cooks of Crocus Hill has been in business for 25 years. Mr. Benson took over management of the business about two years ago. The cooking school is on the second floor and the retail is on the first floor. They aze a business about understanding and experiencing food. They have spent a lot of time and effort expanding the school part of their business. Their primary focus for the liquor license is the wine tasting. They have no intention of huning the business into a bar. A wine tasting is to help people understand wine in a school setting: the differences, pairing with food, how to incorporate wine into the dining experience. Mr. Benson stated the City was very supportive in hying to fmd out if Cooks of Crocus Hill qualified for a license and if they fit the pazameters. The City decided that the business did not qualify. Cooks of Crocus Hill moved ahead and incorporated wine tasring. They never attempted to hide anything. They had done numerous wine oriented classes for about three years. A competitor opened in Woodbury that wanted to be mare of a restaurant and less of a cooking school. This competitor got liquor and wine licenses from the city, but the education component was not a part of their business. Immediately upon issuing the license, the competitor filed a compla3nt against Cooks of Crocus Hill. Six months later, the competitor went out of business. Mr. Benson does not want a problem like this to happen again. He went back to the City and State to apply for a license, even if Cooks of Crocus Hill has to qualify as a restaurant in order to achieve that. The two major objections Mr. Plagens has aze about changing the nature of Cooks, stated Mr. Benson. That is not their desire. Like any business, Cooks of Crocus Hili would like to remain competitive and not to be sdfled in what they do. The classes are limited in the number of people they can have upstairs. The pazking situation has not changed far eight years. The license is not transfenable. People do not come to Cooks to get liquored up. Mr. Strathman asked has he been serving wine for many years and it has just come into question if they have the right license for that. Mr. Benson responded it has not }ust come into question. Mr. Strathman asked has City stafF advised him in the past that he did not need a license. Ms. Schweinler responded the business has never really met the criteria. It has always been a school, C�o-�o3� COOKS OF CROCUS HILL, 877 Grand Avenue, 10-24-2000 Page 3 and the business does not fit any category in State law or Ciiy ordinances. By applying for a liquor license, it would cover any questions that would arise. There are no other similar coolflng schools in Saint Paul. Mr. Benson is not eapecting to have any measurable unpact on what is going on in the neighborhood that would be different than the past eight years, asked Mr. Strathman. Mr. Benson responded no. They probably have two ciasses with wine a month. Mr. Plagens stated he did speak with Mr. Benson. Mr. Plagens is not so much concemed with a cooking class with wine, but Cooks of Crocus Hill has been and intends to have purely wine tasting events. The average person is not goang to walk in off the street; however, a cooking class that contains only wines does not appear to be just a cooking class. Mr. Strathxnan appreciates Mr. Plagens concerns; however, they do not rise to the level of denying these licenses. This issue will come before the Ciry Council on November 1. If there is additional infozmation to submit for the City Council, it should be given to Mr. Strathman by October 26. Gerry Strathman recommends approval of the licenses with the foilowing two conditions: i) The business shall remain consistent with its current format as a cooking school, 2) The serving of liquor shall only be to persons giving or receiving cooking instruction as part of the normal classroom activity. Liquor may not be served to members of the public who are not staff of the cooking schooi nor students enrolled in a classroom instruction. The meeting was adjoumed at 10:28 a.m. rrn o�����a� Council File # �p � !03? Green Sheet # 104020 RESO�usioN � Presented Referred To Committee Date 15 WHEREAS, the Legislative Hearing Officer recommends that license application (ID # 0018013) for Liquor On Sale (C), Liquor On Sale-Sunday, and Restaurant (B) Licenses by Cooks of Crocus Hill, 877 Grand Avenue, be approved with the following condirions: 1) The business shall remain consistent with its current format as a cooking school. 2) The serving of liquor shall only be to persons giving or receiving cooking nastruction as part of the normal classroom activity. Liquor may not be served to members of the public who are not staff of the cooking schooi nor students enroiled in a classroom instruction. THEREFORE, BE TT RESOLVED that the Council of the Ciry of Saint Paul hereby approves this license application with the recommended conditions. Yeas Nays Absent Blakey � Coleman � Hazris Benanau � Reiter � Bostrom � Lanhy ✓ �( p C7 Adopted by Council: Date �1 `� sv , i �o n- 1 Adoprion Certified by Council By: ""�� Approved by Mayor: Date \ l�.�1� �� Ey: _� Requested by Department of: � Form Approved by City Attorney � Mayor for Submission to Council Oo—(o3� PARTMINi/OFFICFJCOUNCIL W�E �MmATED � City Council Offices o�t. zs, z000 GREEN SHEET nto 104 0?� iMACf PERSON & PIiONE � � Gerry Strathman, 266-8560 oF..1+�rowsroe arrcwei IST BE ON COUNCILAGBJM 8Y (Q4TE) November 1, 2000 ~"�" wwBetiae � rnr.nwlEr cmrctfwc ROVSYIG � ❑AI�IIpI1LfFRY1CFi0R IiYNCIN.iFR1qttTC ❑ wroRroR�sasrw�n ❑ TOTAL # OF SIGNATURE PAGES (CLP ALL LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATURE) ,.. + Approving application with conditions for Liquor On Sale (C), Liquor On Sale-Sunday, and Restau=ant (B) Licenses by Cooks of Crocus Hill, 877 Gxand Avenue. vuv, i �vn r�pprove �n� a rce�ecc PIANNING COMMISSION CIB CAMMITTEE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Has this Ve���m ewx � unUer a contiad tor fhie depaAment? YES NO Has tnis peisoMim e�er hema cip' emWoyee7 YES NO Does this peisoNfnn posseas a aldN not ndmallypossesseC by any curteM cily empbyee? VES NO Is this peBOMmS a te�getetl ve'Maft YES NO CounciB R�se�rcl� C�nter acr 2 s 2000 lOUN7 OF TRANSACTION SOURCE _ COSUREVENUEBUDGETED(CIRCLEON� YEE NO ACTNIiYNUMBER [�!&] C�o- �0"3� ��. MINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE HEARING COOKS OF CROCUS HII,L - 877 Cnand Avenue Tuesday, October 24, 2000 Room 330 Courthouse Gerry Strathman, Legislative Hearing Officer STAFF PRESENT_ Kristine Schweinler, License, Inspections, Environmental Protection (LIEP); Lany Zangs, LIEP The meeting was called to order at 10:02 a.m. Gezry Strathman stated this hearing is being held to heaz objec6ons to the license application for Cooks of Crocus Hill, 877 Grand Avenue. Krisfine Schweinler reported the licenses that aze being applied far are Liquor On Sa1e (C) - 100 seats or less, Liquor On Sale-Sunday, and Restaurant (B). This license is recommended for approval by LIEP with the following conditions: 1) The business shall remain consistent with its current format as a cooking school, 2) The serving of liquor sha11 only be to persons giving or receiving cooking instruction as part of the normal ciassroom activity. Liquor may not be served to members of the public who are not staff of the cooking school nor students enrolled in a classroom instruction. The applicant has agreed to these conditions. There are no pending adverse actions againstthis business. 12ichard Plagens, 885 Lincoln Avenue, appeazed and stated he has a petition signed by some of his neighbors. Cooks of Crocus Hill does not provide its own off street parking for its patrons. It has shared pazking arrangements with lots. Parking will get worse due to the additional retail spaces that will be built in that area. Cooks of Crocus Hill will change its nature which presumably they find to be to their economic advantage. Yet, they have made no arrangements for additional parking far their customers. He understands there are certain restrictions on the license, but has not seen anything in writing. Mr. Plagens is concerned that the business will later decide to set up a bar to complement the food. Aiso, he is concerned that this license would be transferrable to another owner. There are already four liquor licenses on that comer that serve liquor, and six licenses within approximately 500 feet of his home. Tkris is a residential neighborhood. Mr. Plagens sees no benefit to the neighborhood to add another liquor license. (Mr. Plagens was supplied a copy of the conditions.) Gerry Strathman asked what would prevent the business from expanding into more liquor, setting up a bar, etc. Ms. Schweinler responded it would not be possible for the business to set up a baz due to the condiflons placed on the license. If the business wanted to change their license, the community would haue to be notified of that. Due to the pazking issues, these condi6ons would probably not be altered. Also, licenses aze not transferrable. Mr. Strathman asked about parking. If this would go to a full public facility, responded Larry Zangs, the zoning code would require a review of the pazking. This would have to go through OO-�\U�� COOKS OF CROCU5 HILL, 877 Crrand Avenue, 10-24-2000 Page 2 some kind of variance because parking is very tight. The school is there and the stafF and student population is fairly consistent. Those individuals have already impacted the off street pazking situation. The only thing different is the ability to serve liquor to those individuals. Mr. Zangs does not feel that the business will have addi6onal customers because of the liquor license. (Mr. Plagens gave Mr. Strathman the petition, which included six names that were opposed to the granting of a liquor license to Cooks of Crocus Hill. Their concems are parking and numerous liquor licenses in the area.) Mr. Plagens asked who enforces the conditions: Ms. Schweinler responded she is the senior license inspector and she enforces the conditions. Karl Benson, General Manager, appeazed and stated Cooks of Crocus Hill has been in business for 25 years. Mr. Benson took over management of the business about two years ago. The cooking school is on the second floor and the retail is on the first floor. They aze a business about understanding and experiencing food. They have spent a lot of time and effort expanding the school part of their business. Their primary focus for the liquor license is the wine tasting. They have no intention of huning the business into a bar. A wine tasting is to help people understand wine in a school setting: the differences, pairing with food, how to incorporate wine into the dining experience. Mr. Benson stated the City was very supportive in hying to fmd out if Cooks of Crocus Hill qualified for a license and if they fit the pazameters. The City decided that the business did not qualify. Cooks of Crocus Hill moved ahead and incorporated wine tasring. They never attempted to hide anything. They had done numerous wine oriented classes for about three years. A competitor opened in Woodbury that wanted to be mare of a restaurant and less of a cooking school. This competitor got liquor and wine licenses from the city, but the education component was not a part of their business. Immediately upon issuing the license, the competitor filed a compla3nt against Cooks of Crocus Hill. Six months later, the competitor went out of business. Mr. Benson does not want a problem like this to happen again. He went back to the City and State to apply for a license, even if Cooks of Crocus Hill has to qualify as a restaurant in order to achieve that. The two major objections Mr. Plagens has aze about changing the nature of Cooks, stated Mr. Benson. That is not their desire. Like any business, Cooks of Crocus Hili would like to remain competitive and not to be sdfled in what they do. The classes are limited in the number of people they can have upstairs. The pazking situation has not changed far eight years. The license is not transfenable. People do not come to Cooks to get liquored up. Mr. Strathman asked has he been serving wine for many years and it has just come into question if they have the right license for that. Mr. Benson responded it has not }ust come into question. Mr. Strathman asked has City stafF advised him in the past that he did not need a license. Ms. Schweinler responded the business has never really met the criteria. It has always been a school, C�o-�o3� COOKS OF CROCUS HILL, 877 Grand Avenue, 10-24-2000 Page 3 and the business does not fit any category in State law or Ciiy ordinances. By applying for a liquor license, it would cover any questions that would arise. There are no other similar coolflng schools in Saint Paul. Mr. Benson is not eapecting to have any measurable unpact on what is going on in the neighborhood that would be different than the past eight years, asked Mr. Strathman. Mr. Benson responded no. They probably have two ciasses with wine a month. Mr. Plagens stated he did speak with Mr. Benson. Mr. Plagens is not so much concemed with a cooking class with wine, but Cooks of Crocus Hill has been and intends to have purely wine tasting events. The average person is not goang to walk in off the street; however, a cooking class that contains only wines does not appear to be just a cooking class. Mr. Strathxnan appreciates Mr. Plagens concerns; however, they do not rise to the level of denying these licenses. This issue will come before the Ciry Council on November 1. If there is additional infozmation to submit for the City Council, it should be given to Mr. Strathman by October 26. Gerry Strathman recommends approval of the licenses with the foilowing two conditions: i) The business shall remain consistent with its current format as a cooking school, 2) The serving of liquor shall only be to persons giving or receiving cooking instruction as part of the normal classroom activity. Liquor may not be served to members of the public who are not staff of the cooking schooi nor students enrolled in a classroom instruction. The meeting was adjoumed at 10:28 a.m. rrn o�����a� Council File # �p � !03? Green Sheet # 104020 RESO�usioN � Presented Referred To Committee Date 15 WHEREAS, the Legislative Hearing Officer recommends that license application (ID # 0018013) for Liquor On Sale (C), Liquor On Sale-Sunday, and Restaurant (B) Licenses by Cooks of Crocus Hill, 877 Grand Avenue, be approved with the following condirions: 1) The business shall remain consistent with its current format as a cooking school. 2) The serving of liquor shall only be to persons giving or receiving cooking nastruction as part of the normal classroom activity. Liquor may not be served to members of the public who are not staff of the cooking schooi nor students enroiled in a classroom instruction. THEREFORE, BE TT RESOLVED that the Council of the Ciry of Saint Paul hereby approves this license application with the recommended conditions. Yeas Nays Absent Blakey � Coleman � Hazris Benanau � Reiter � Bostrom � Lanhy ✓ �( p C7 Adopted by Council: Date �1 `� sv , i �o n- 1 Adoprion Certified by Council By: ""�� Approved by Mayor: Date \ l�.�1� �� Ey: _� Requested by Department of: � Form Approved by City Attorney � Mayor for Submission to Council Oo—(o3� PARTMINi/OFFICFJCOUNCIL W�E �MmATED � City Council Offices o�t. zs, z000 GREEN SHEET nto 104 0?� iMACf PERSON & PIiONE � � Gerry Strathman, 266-8560 oF..1+�rowsroe arrcwei IST BE ON COUNCILAGBJM 8Y (Q4TE) November 1, 2000 ~"�" wwBetiae � rnr.nwlEr cmrctfwc ROVSYIG � ❑AI�IIpI1LfFRY1CFi0R IiYNCIN.iFR1qttTC ❑ wroRroR�sasrw�n ❑ TOTAL # OF SIGNATURE PAGES (CLP ALL LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATURE) ,.. + Approving application with conditions for Liquor On Sale (C), Liquor On Sale-Sunday, and Restau=ant (B) Licenses by Cooks of Crocus Hill, 877 Gxand Avenue. vuv, i �vn r�pprove �n� a rce�ecc PIANNING COMMISSION CIB CAMMITTEE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Has this Ve���m ewx � unUer a contiad tor fhie depaAment? YES NO Has tnis peisoMim e�er hema cip' emWoyee7 YES NO Does this peisoNfnn posseas a aldN not ndmallypossesseC by any curteM cily empbyee? VES NO Is this peBOMmS a te�getetl ve'Maft YES NO CounciB R�se�rcl� C�nter acr 2 s 2000 lOUN7 OF TRANSACTION SOURCE _ COSUREVENUEBUDGETED(CIRCLEON� YEE NO ACTNIiYNUMBER [�!&] C�o- �0"3� ��. MINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE HEARING COOKS OF CROCUS HII,L - 877 Cnand Avenue Tuesday, October 24, 2000 Room 330 Courthouse Gerry Strathman, Legislative Hearing Officer STAFF PRESENT_ Kristine Schweinler, License, Inspections, Environmental Protection (LIEP); Lany Zangs, LIEP The meeting was called to order at 10:02 a.m. Gezry Strathman stated this hearing is being held to heaz objec6ons to the license application for Cooks of Crocus Hill, 877 Grand Avenue. Krisfine Schweinler reported the licenses that aze being applied far are Liquor On Sa1e (C) - 100 seats or less, Liquor On Sale-Sunday, and Restaurant (B). This license is recommended for approval by LIEP with the following conditions: 1) The business shall remain consistent with its current format as a cooking school, 2) The serving of liquor sha11 only be to persons giving or receiving cooking instruction as part of the normal ciassroom activity. Liquor may not be served to members of the public who are not staff of the cooking school nor students enrolled in a classroom instruction. The applicant has agreed to these conditions. There are no pending adverse actions againstthis business. 12ichard Plagens, 885 Lincoln Avenue, appeazed and stated he has a petition signed by some of his neighbors. Cooks of Crocus Hill does not provide its own off street parking for its patrons. It has shared pazking arrangements with lots. Parking will get worse due to the additional retail spaces that will be built in that area. Cooks of Crocus Hill will change its nature which presumably they find to be to their economic advantage. Yet, they have made no arrangements for additional parking far their customers. He understands there are certain restrictions on the license, but has not seen anything in writing. Mr. Plagens is concerned that the business will later decide to set up a bar to complement the food. Aiso, he is concerned that this license would be transferrable to another owner. There are already four liquor licenses on that comer that serve liquor, and six licenses within approximately 500 feet of his home. Tkris is a residential neighborhood. Mr. Plagens sees no benefit to the neighborhood to add another liquor license. (Mr. Plagens was supplied a copy of the conditions.) Gerry Strathman asked what would prevent the business from expanding into more liquor, setting up a bar, etc. Ms. Schweinler responded it would not be possible for the business to set up a baz due to the condiflons placed on the license. If the business wanted to change their license, the community would haue to be notified of that. Due to the pazking issues, these condi6ons would probably not be altered. Also, licenses aze not transferrable. Mr. Strathman asked about parking. If this would go to a full public facility, responded Larry Zangs, the zoning code would require a review of the pazking. This would have to go through OO-�\U�� COOKS OF CROCU5 HILL, 877 Crrand Avenue, 10-24-2000 Page 2 some kind of variance because parking is very tight. The school is there and the stafF and student population is fairly consistent. Those individuals have already impacted the off street pazking situation. The only thing different is the ability to serve liquor to those individuals. Mr. Zangs does not feel that the business will have addi6onal customers because of the liquor license. (Mr. Plagens gave Mr. Strathman the petition, which included six names that were opposed to the granting of a liquor license to Cooks of Crocus Hill. Their concems are parking and numerous liquor licenses in the area.) Mr. Plagens asked who enforces the conditions: Ms. Schweinler responded she is the senior license inspector and she enforces the conditions. Karl Benson, General Manager, appeazed and stated Cooks of Crocus Hill has been in business for 25 years. Mr. Benson took over management of the business about two years ago. The cooking school is on the second floor and the retail is on the first floor. They aze a business about understanding and experiencing food. They have spent a lot of time and effort expanding the school part of their business. Their primary focus for the liquor license is the wine tasting. They have no intention of huning the business into a bar. A wine tasting is to help people understand wine in a school setting: the differences, pairing with food, how to incorporate wine into the dining experience. Mr. Benson stated the City was very supportive in hying to fmd out if Cooks of Crocus Hill qualified for a license and if they fit the pazameters. The City decided that the business did not qualify. Cooks of Crocus Hill moved ahead and incorporated wine tasring. They never attempted to hide anything. They had done numerous wine oriented classes for about three years. A competitor opened in Woodbury that wanted to be mare of a restaurant and less of a cooking school. This competitor got liquor and wine licenses from the city, but the education component was not a part of their business. Immediately upon issuing the license, the competitor filed a compla3nt against Cooks of Crocus Hill. Six months later, the competitor went out of business. Mr. Benson does not want a problem like this to happen again. He went back to the City and State to apply for a license, even if Cooks of Crocus Hill has to qualify as a restaurant in order to achieve that. The two major objections Mr. Plagens has aze about changing the nature of Cooks, stated Mr. Benson. That is not their desire. Like any business, Cooks of Crocus Hili would like to remain competitive and not to be sdfled in what they do. The classes are limited in the number of people they can have upstairs. The pazking situation has not changed far eight years. The license is not transfenable. People do not come to Cooks to get liquored up. Mr. Strathman asked has he been serving wine for many years and it has just come into question if they have the right license for that. Mr. Benson responded it has not }ust come into question. Mr. Strathman asked has City stafF advised him in the past that he did not need a license. Ms. Schweinler responded the business has never really met the criteria. It has always been a school, C�o-�o3� COOKS OF CROCUS HILL, 877 Grand Avenue, 10-24-2000 Page 3 and the business does not fit any category in State law or Ciiy ordinances. By applying for a liquor license, it would cover any questions that would arise. There are no other similar coolflng schools in Saint Paul. Mr. Benson is not eapecting to have any measurable unpact on what is going on in the neighborhood that would be different than the past eight years, asked Mr. Strathman. Mr. Benson responded no. They probably have two ciasses with wine a month. Mr. Plagens stated he did speak with Mr. Benson. Mr. Plagens is not so much concemed with a cooking class with wine, but Cooks of Crocus Hill has been and intends to have purely wine tasting events. The average person is not goang to walk in off the street; however, a cooking class that contains only wines does not appear to be just a cooking class. Mr. Strathxnan appreciates Mr. Plagens concerns; however, they do not rise to the level of denying these licenses. This issue will come before the Ciry Council on November 1. If there is additional infozmation to submit for the City Council, it should be given to Mr. Strathman by October 26. Gerry Strathman recommends approval of the licenses with the foilowing two conditions: i) The business shall remain consistent with its current format as a cooking school, 2) The serving of liquor shall only be to persons giving or receiving cooking instruction as part of the normal classroom activity. Liquor may not be served to members of the public who are not staff of the cooking schooi nor students enrolled in a classroom instruction. The meeting was adjoumed at 10:28 a.m. rrn