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- Liquor Control Board bureaucrats will decide
- No ay or nay about DH license
- SUNNYSIDE (Monday, 3-1-99)---The city agreed not to vote last night on whether to okay or deny renewing Rosendo Magana's liquor license for his Dark Horse Inn.
- Instead, the Council tossed the decision entirely in the lap of the Washington State Liquor Control Board, which makes the final decision in any event. Whatever the state Board decides, it will do so without the blessing or condemnation of the City Council.
- Some council members were concerned last month because the Dark Horse earned a spot on the state's top 20 list as a source of drinkers driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Figures just received also showed the number of DUIs stopped by Sunnyside Police, Yakima County Sheriff, and Washington State Patrol continued to rise over the last half of 1998.
- The decision not to vote on the matter relieves the city of any liabilities regarding the number of DUIs nabbed after they boogie at the DH.
- Councilman Chad Werkhoven said he was very pleased with what the Magana's have done to curb noise and disturbances at the Inn.
- At the same time, he held up a graph showing the total number of DUIs coming from the DH is higher than other Sunnyside establishments such as the Blue Moon, Safari, and Tillicum.
- "I as a councilman can't endorse this (renewal)...I suggest we not vote to approve or deny the liquor license," Werkhoven said.
- Councilman Don Vlieger agreed. "Let's let it go ahead...lay it in the Liquor Control Board's lap," he said.
- Councilman Mike Farmer asked City Attorney Mark Kunkler if it's acceptable to "let it lie". Kunkler said "Yes. It puts (the decision) back in the hands of the Liquor Control Board."
- At the same time, the Council was quick to praise the Magana family and what they have done in the past year to make the Dark Horse a better place. City staff agreed, and so did some members of the audience.
- Local attorney Dan Peterson said he was familiar with many such establishments between Yakima and the Tri-Cities. And he loves the music at the Dark Horse.
- "The place is the cleanest, most secure I've seen. People are cordial. Not to recommend renewal (of the license) would be a great mistake. The Magana family should be congratulated. I go there frequently, and I don't see any overservice of customers," Peterson said.
- Veronica Magana, 19, said she and her family have worked very hard to fix up the Dark Horse Inn.
- "I helped paint and clean. Members of our family are working hard to be somebody...It's just hard work...I'm attending the (University of Washington), and I'm on the dean's list... I owe it to my family," she said, and broke into tears.
- Later in the meeting, Ellen Bird, who is a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, questioned the city's use of the state's statistics.
- "Is the high number of (DUI) arrests taken in context with the amount of persons served there?" she asked.
- She indicated DUIs should be viewed as a percent of all DH patrons. When DH DUI rates are figured over the total number of patrons served, the DH rate might be no higher than any other local water hole.
- Noting that the Dark Horse is a very popular place, Bird said "I've heard many nice comments about it. Other (local) taverns don't serve as many people. And drunk drivers aren't always truthful about where they got their last drink", Bird said.
- In other business, the Council:
- Recognized Kiwanis Club awardees Don Hatch for his 30 years as a Scout Master, and Pastor John Jacobs, First Christian Church, for his 23 years operating the local Food Bank.
- Was welcomed by County Commissioner Jesse Palacios to visit with him any time to chat about city problems. "Coffee pot's always on," Palacios said.
- Heard a report from Ken Ray, Yakima County Dept. of Corrections, about "Operation Clean Sweep". He noted the state gave $30,000 to each of 39 WA counties ($1,170,000) to physically clean up its turf using jail inmates. He suggested clean counties attract tourists.
- Agreed to continue, for at least another six months, a moratorium on building duplexes in neighborhoods zoned R-1.
- Agreed to discuss "Concrete Grants" at its March 8 meeting. If property owners want to pay their own private contractor to build forms for and finish up curbs, gutters and sidewalks in front of their homes, the city would provide the concrete at no cost.