With Police Chief Steve Caraway pressing for action, Kenner officials have created a committee to toughen the laws punishing bars that violate their licensing rules. "The committee is going to look at existing and possible new regulations for alcohol beverage outlets," said Councilman Joe Stagni, who will chair the committee. Also on the panel are council members Gregory Carroll...
With Police Chief Steve Caraway pressing for action, Kenner officials have created a committee to toughen the laws punishing bars that violate their licensing rules.
"The committee is going to look at existing and possible new regulations for alcohol beverage outlets," said Councilman Joe Stagni, who will chair the committee. Also on the panel are council members Gregory Carroll and Kent Denapolis and representatives to be named later from the Police Department and mayor's office.
The move comes a month after the City Council defeated a move by Caraway to close bars between 2 to 6 a.m.
The chief said there has been a spike of police calls for service at bars recently, caused by St. John the Baptist Parish bars closing at 2 a.m. Those patrons, he said, then come to Kenner bars.
Caraway said he doesn't have much faith in the current process to punish establishments that serve alcohol and break the law. "What they have in place is not effective," he said.
When the council shot down Caraway's request to close bars for four hours, members said they would try to strengthen the seven-person Alcoholic Beverage Permit Review Committee. That panel makes recommendations about punishment to the council.
The board was first formed in 1998 and has alternated between periods of activity and limbo. Most recently, seven board members were appointed in May after a year of no meetings.
"We would like our alcoholic beverage board to be as strong as possible when cases are brought before them," Stagni said. He said any new regulations would be subject to a public hearing and council approval.
Asked whether the new initiative could help, Caraway said, "I think anything will help, but it remains to be seen how aggressive they are about this."
Stagni said he's optimistic: "If you set up the right process, you're going to get the right result."