Carefree Truth
                  Issue #721, February 4, 2019


Town Clerk Kandace French Contreras said the Town tries to focus on streamlining and expediting the application process for temporary liquor licenses.  These include special event, temporary extension of premises, fair, and craft distillery/fair liquor licenses.  This could be accomplished more efficiently by allowing the Town Clerk to make recommendations to the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control (ADLLC).



The ADLLC has also been trying to streamline the process for the past year.  No new business liquor license applications are now done using paper.  New applications come to the Town electronically.  It is up to Mrs. Contreras to print them, post them, and send reports back electronically.



The ADLLC is also changing the application process for temporary liquor licenses for one time events.  They no longer require applications to come before municipalities if the events are being held at a location with a permanent liquor license, because it is considered redundant.



More and more municipalities are eliminating the need for temporary license applications to come before a Council or Board.  Most temporary liquor license applications are now being reviewed by a police department, a clerk, or a person of expertise.  It is not necessary for a Council to review a simple or redundant license application, which saves the applicant a minimum of 10-15 days.  Applications can still come before Councils if there are questions or concerns.


The Town has had to turn down some licenses that didn't come in on time.  The ADLLC will no longer do over the counter approval of licenses.  They found it was slowing down the approvals for applications that came in through the mail because employees had to stop what they were doing to go to the counter.  Applications that are hand delivered now go into a first come, first served pile, and can take 8-10 days.
It will help the Town and the applicant in a process that doesn't need to be delayed for up to a month.


Mayor Les Peterson said that most of the issues have involved parking and fencing, and asked if those were the kinds of things that could be brought to the Council.  Mrs. Contreras replied that the Council would still see those because they are part of the special event applications.  Only the temporary liquor licenses would not come to the Council.


Councilman Stephen Hatcher asked if there were a maximum number of days for which those liquor licenses can be approved.  Mrs. Contreras explained that the licenses can be for up to 10 days, but do not have to be for every day.  Mr. Hatcher said, "So it doesn't have to be for 10 consecutive days".  Mrs. Contreras added that someone with an existing liquor license can provide it for up to 50 events a year.


Councilman Mike Krahe said it made sense.  His only concern was whether Mrs. Contreras was indemnified if a mistake were made.  Mrs. Contreras replied that if there is a violation, the owner of the license is held responsible, not the municipality.  This change would only apply to special event licenses.  New business or change of ownership liquor license applications would still come to the Council.  The Town wants to grow special events, and this would reduce the application time.


Councilman Gene Orrico asked what happens if the clerk is on vacation for 2 weeks.  Mrs. Contreras replied that the Mayor can also sign the application. 



Vice Mayor John Crane thought it was great to expedite the process but said it would reduce the visibility to the Council.  He asked if they could get a list of the applications once a month just to stay abreast.  Mrs. Contreras replied that Gary Neiss could write a staff report with licenses that had been issued each month for distribution to the Council and the marketing department.


Mrs. Contreras said several municipalities have already adopted this process.  Some haven't, but they don't have a lot of special events.  Most of the large cities have been doing this for over a year.  At the Clerks' convention that she recently attended, she learned that over 23 smaller entities are now doing it this way.


The Council unanimously approved the Resolution.

https://vimeo.com/310460549



Lyn Hitchon


Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com  If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me.  Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree.  Please support our merchants.