HomeMy WebLinkAboutA016 - Letter from Bill Jepsen dated June 5, 1989 OP�t O'THE
,toa� p WN
"Public Traditions — Downtown Ames"
June 5, 1989
To The Members Of The Ames City Councils
RE: Ordinance #3046
I realize that at the June 13th council meeting there is an open
invitation for any liquor license holder to express concerns
about the nine proposals put forth by the Ames Police Department.
(List attached to this letter) . However, I am going to have
nose & throat surgery on the 7th and it is quite likely that
I will still be recuperating and will not be able to attend the
council meeting or express myself. So please accept this letter
in lieu of verbal comments.
It is my opinion that the nine points make the ordinance logistically
un-workable on the part of the licensee. I will address each
point individually.
POINT # 1: This would require that an extra person would
have to sit at the door at all times. This is simply not
economically possible on slow weekdays and early evenings.
Could the establishment have the option of going with the ordinance
plan only on certain nights or is this an all or nothing at all
situation?
POINT # 2s Why a wrist band for everyone? Why not for just
one group or the other?
POINT # 3: Related to point 2.
POINT # 41 This is the most abhorrent of all of the proposed
requirements. George Orwell was right, only five years too early!
Not only is the thought of recording names and birth dates upon
entering a bar smack of big brotherism it would also cause
severe line problems in entrys and stairwells resulting in fire
code violations.
POINT # 5: Related to point 4.
POINT # 6: No problem.
POINT # 7, Related to point 4.
POINT # 8s Printed glassware is very expensive and also makes
for an attractive souvenir. How about non-alcoholic drinks in
frosted glassware or specially shaped glassware.
203 - 205 Main, P.O. Box 484 Ames, Iowa 50010
POINT # 9: Much of our business is consists of groups, and
pitchers provide an economical and convenient way to serve a
group. Doing away with pitchers of mixed drinks could be
accomplished but pitchers of beer account for 50% to 60% of
our beer sales. Abolishing pitcher sales would result in a
great traffic problem at and around the bar. Besides, what
would it accomplish? If a minor is going to be provided a glass
of beer by a person who is of age, they could just as easily
get two glasses of beer at the bar instead of one and then
give the minor one of them - same thing;
I thought that this ordinance was enacted to provide the pre-
viously legal 19 and 20 year olds "someplace to go" "something
to do" . And to put them in a controled atmosphere instead of at
open house "kegger"parties. If so many restrictions are going
to be attached to this ordinance so as to make it un-workable,
then the spirit in which it was passed is negated. Give it a
fighting chance!
If we go along with the program (it would have to be in a
revised state) we do not think that it is going to affect our
revenue one way or the other. But I too feel an obligation to
provide entertainment to the dis-enfranchised 19 and 20 year
olds until we can get the legal drinking age changed back to
19, where it belongs!
Thank you for your consideration,
Bill Jepsen
Owner
ccs Ames Police Chief
Dennis Bal.lantine
Mayor Goodland