Richfield City Council Denies Jun Bo Liquor License, Orders Restaurant to Cease Alcohol Sales Immediately

At the end of a lengthy night for Richfield City Council members and city staff, the council approved a resolution denying the renewal of liquor license Tuesday night. The council then approved a motion to order the restaurant to stop serving liquor immediately.

The city council declined to make a decision on , until the restaurant came through its pending litigation and all council members were present to vote.

Legal issues for the restaurant involved an investigation by the state regarding Jun Bo’s alleged failure to pay sales taxes. The state found that the restaurant’s failure to pay was not the result of poor book keeping, but rather that of an untrustworthy and dubious business, according to a report attached to the city council’s agenda.

In addition to more than 160 from October 2009 to September 2010, the restaurant was also being accused of serving alcohol to minors. The city and its attorney investigated three incidents, which occurred on April 5, May 9 and May 24, 2010. Two were thrown out and the restaurant admitted to the May 9 incident. The council ruled that the restaurant would be fined $1,000 and that its license would be suspended for five days just minutes before voting against license renewal.

Further, reported another incident on March 28, 2011 in which a minor allegedly served them alcohol and not asked for ID.

“There is no chance that an individual got into Jun Bo without identification,” Boris Parker, the restaurant’s attorney, said of the March 28 incident.

Parker hoped that the council would compromise with Jun Bo and move forward. He cited that with the sale of the restaurant’s property to Menard’s, the business would only operate until Sept. 30, 2010. Parker also said he would continue with an appeal to an administrative law judge (ALJ) if the restaurant’s requests were denied.

Mayor Debbie Goettel was adamantly against allowing the establishment more time to serve liquor.

“Never have I seen as bad of an actor,” Goettel said. “There is no way that I want Jun Bo through this summer … I will deny it immediately. You can take us to whatever hearing you want.”

Parker continued to argue that while the city has concerns with the high number of incidents and alleged sale of alcohol to minors, the restaurant only had one violation in five years, which was delivered earlier in the evening.

responded by saying, “[All of the Police contacts are] treated in your mind as non-events. We have spent more time and more money on this and still in your mind it’s a [non-issue].”

Councilman Tom Fitzhenry added, “You seem like you’re the bad kid we keep spanking [for doing something wrong].”

All things considered, the council denied the renewal of the liquor license unanimously and then passed a motion to stop the sale of liquor immediately.

In other business:

• A resident, who lives on 66th Street and Emerson Avenue, presented a proposal to the council regarding those who use Emerson as a park and ride area;
• Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Miss Richfield Ambassadors and junior ambassadors;
• The Richfield Advisory Board of Health made its annual presentation and presented 2010 food safety awards to various Richfield establishments;
• Goettel proclaimed that Richfield officially supports April 22 as Earth Day and May as Arbor Month;
• The council and audience members heard a presentation of the city’s ;
• Karen Jenkins of the Richfield League of Women Voters (LWV) made a presentation about the league’s upcoming Homeless Youth in Suburbia forum, in which it’s partnering with other communities to put on;
• The council approved all consent calendar items;
• A public hearing was held for the issuance of new on-sale intoxicating liquor licenses for the on 77th Street and Lyndale Avenue. The license was approved;
• A public hearing was held and a second reading for a transitory ordinance authorizing the planning, design and rehabilitation of Logan Avenue Water Tower was approved;
• The council approved a resolution for the sale of $1,490,000 worth of General Obligation Water Revenue Bonds;
• The council approved a resolution for a right-of-entry and standstill agreement with Ron Clark Construction and Design Company, holding the northern half of 7700 Pillsbury Avenue;
• A resolution approving a contract with the International Association of Firefighters Local 1215 though the end of 2011 was approved;
• The city council discussed the desired approach for notifying the public about the Community Services Commission’s recommendation for a skate park at .

The next city council meeting is at 7 p.m. April 26 at Richfield City Hall. A special work session will be held before at 5:30 p.m.