Piedmont. Portland's Emerald.

>Short version- The OLCC Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to grant the Civic Food Mart a liquor license WITH the 4 current restrictions:

1) No sale of malt beverages larger than 24 ounces
2) No fortified wines/malt beverages more than 6% alcohol
3) No glass containers
4) No liquor sales after 9:30pm

Long version- Prior to the neighbors and officials comment period, the OLCC staff presented their report to the Board with the recommendation that the license be granted with NO restrictions. The Board openly debated whether the neighborhood has improved because of the restrictions. The OLCC staff’s response was that when there is a change of ownership, the OLCC is has the burden to prove that there is a legal basis for applying restrictions. The board chair commented that he believed that the board had a right to not base their decisions solely on the legal findings of the OLCC staff’s report.

Then something interesting happened

The Board invited Mr. Baek (new owner of the Civic Food Mart) and his daughter to comment. His daughter speaking for her father commented to the Board that they were fine with the restrictions on their license. Concerned that there was a possible miscommunication, the board rephrased the question 3 times in an effort to ensure that we all heard them correctly. After Mr. Baek’s comments, the Board opened the floor to the public for 2 minute comment periods.

Quick List of folks that addressed the board supporting our efforts in keeping the restrictions (If I forgot anyone one or there is a misspelled word/wrong title, comment and I’ll update)…

1- Rae Selvey (Piedmont Resident)
2- Mark Warrington (Portland Parks)
3- Jim Ferrarin (PPB NE Precinct Commander)
4- Bret Smith (PPB Assistant Chief)
5- Lisa Clayton (PPB License Enforcement)
6- Thresea Marchetti (Office of Neighborhood Involvement)
7- Justin Meier (PNA Secretary & Communications Chair)
8- Brian Borrello (PNA Land Use Chair) (reading a letter from State Rep. Shields)
9- ??? (Piedmont Resident)
10- Paul Anthony (Humboldt Neighborhood Association Chair)
11- Allan Folz (PNA Parks Co-Chair)
12- Amie Massier (Pen. Park Community Cntr. Dir)
In addition to the above speakers, letters from Commissioner Jeff Cogen and
PNA Chair Linda Aruda were entered into the record. In the interest of time, 4
residents that had shown up to speak, withdrew their request to speak to the Board.

The Board then proceeded to vote on granting the license WITH the 4 restrictions. Commissioner Robert Rice paused the voting and asked that the record reflect that Mr. Baek had voluntarily agreed to have the restrictions kept in place. Once confirmed, Commissioner Rice also cast his “aye” vote making it 4-0.

If folks would please comment on this post and leave observations on what they feel worked…and what didn’t work. We as a neighborhood, and a neighborhood association need to build a ‘knowledge base’ that can be passed forward so that next time something like this comes up we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

I would like to thank Mr. Baek. I will personally invite him and his family to future PNA general meetings and make every effort to ensure knows that his business is in a community that appreciates and supports those that help us build a better neighborhood.

Finally, THANK YOU to everyone for their support and countless hours of hard work on this issue.