ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the food service industry has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to periods of necessary mandated shut-downs and operating at a limited capacity, resulting in a sustained loss of business over the period of a year and counting; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago (the City) requires all businesses seeking to sell liquor to pay for a liquor license up front for a two year term at the cost of $4,400 per license; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago Data Portal shows that total liquor license revenue was $93.1 million, with Tavern liquor licenses accounting for $20.1 million, Caterer liquor licenses accounting for $4.3 million, On premise liquor licenses accounting for $47.2 million, and Package liquor licenses accounting for $21.5 million; and
WHEREAS, the 2020 Budget Overview shows that the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), which is responsible for issuing licenses, permits, certificates, shows an anticipated revenue of $134.1 million for the 2019 Budget; and
WHEREAS, The Small Business Center ofthe BACP that is responsible for issuing licenses has a budget of $3.4 million with 29 full time employees and the Liquor Control Commission has a budget of $569,000 with six full time employees; and
WHEREAS, the revenue brought in by liquor licenses exceeds the budget ofthe Small Business Center and the Liquor Control Commission by $89.1 million; and,
WHEREAS, due to the pandemic shut-downs and limited capacity openings that have reduced of stopped business operations, businesses with liquor licenses have lost some or all ofthe value of their liquor license, for which they had to pay up front; and
WHEREAS, the City is due to receives federal stimulus dollars to aid in the economic recovery ofthe city of which restaurants, bars, and the food service industry as a whole are vital to; therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. Definitions
"Liquor License" is defined as a...
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