The Perry City Council gave provisional approval Monday to the application for a retail alcohol license by La Luna Music Venue LLC, which aims to operate at 1008 26th St., even though the new bar would violate a city ordinance.
“The main concern is that we currently have a city ordinance that does not allow for a licensed establishment, like a bar, within 500 feet of a school or church,” Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn told the city council. “With that being said, this would be within that 500 feet” of the PCSD Success Center at 1030 26th St.
Jose Aquino, a 2003 graduate of Perry High School, and Juan Meraz, a local impresario, are the proprietors of La Luna Music Venue. They told the council that the new entertainment business would be available to rent for events, such as wedding receptions and quinceañeras.
“We would only be open Saturday nights at first,” Aquino said.
Vaughn also noted an exception in the ordinance, “a condition that if more than 50% of their sales come from something other than alcohol, then it is permissible.”
Aquino and Meraz said they were unsure whether La Luna would meet the 50% threshold for food sales.
Perry City Attorney DeWayne Dalen told the council that the proximity of the school facility to La Luna plainly violates the city ordinance.
“Technically, if you were asking my opinion, it would not qualify under the current ordinance,” Dalen said. “My recommendation would be that you look at amending this particular ordinance.”
The East Perry Plaza has seen its share of bars come and go over the years. Most recently, the Playground Lounge opened in March 2018 at the same location where La Luna will operate, but the lounge had closed by late 2018, when the PCSD Success Center opened.
Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson told the council that similar considerations arose with the opening of La Poste is 2013 and its proximity to downtown churches. He said the ordinance derives from “shenanigans” that occurred in Perry 30 years ago.
“I want to say this is kind of a ’90s thing,” Peterson said. “It was meant to address issues and activities of the downtown in the 1990s.” He urged the council to approve the liquor license application contingent on less than 50% of La Luna’s revenues coming from alcohol sales.
“My thought would be that there’s a window that we’re not sure if it would meet 50%,” he said. He also urged the council to amend the set-back ordinance.
Perry City Council member Barb Wolling moved to approve the application contingent on meeting the 50% mark and also on passing a planned fire inspection of the facility. Perry City Council member Jeremy Mahler seconded Wolling’s motion, which passed unanimously.
