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Kevin Prudencio | Northern Star
Bar owners, managers, and DeKalb residents listen to the fire safety commissioner discuss occupancy limits in their establishments in the DeKalb Municipal building Tuesday night.
Bar occupancy limits would decrease under new plan
DeKalb bars may see fewer patrons if the city votes to lower building occupancy numbers.
The DeKalb Liquor Commission met Tuesday night to discuss the occupancy issue facing Class A license holders.
During the March 18 meeting, the liquor commission voted to reconsider the changes to Chapter 38.26 of the municipal code, defined as Occupancy Requirements.
The changes would focus on adopting the International Fire Code (IFC) pertaining to occupancy.
“The city has already adopted the IFC for every building in DeKalb except for Class A liquor establishments,” said City Attorney Norma Guess.
The occupancy issue was brought to the attention of Lt. Karl Froehlich, DeKalb Fire Department fire prevention officer.
“When I walked into Otto’s and saw an occupancy of 650 people, that drew my attention to the occupancy issue,” Froehlich said.
If the city council approves the revisions to chapter 38.26, the Class A license holders will see a decrease in their occupancy capacities.
“There will be a decrease in several of these occupancies,” Froehlich said. “[But] I will sit down and meet with each of these owners and work with the occupancy numbers.”
Determining the numbers of occupancy is a multi-faceted process, Froehlich said. The numbers rely on the number of exits, the sprinkler system if there is one, the type of building and the square footage of the establishment.
When Froehlich meets with the Class A license holders, they will discuss what would be best for that business and then make requirements from there.
There was much concern regarding the cost to make these changes, and how it will affect the businesses.
Otto’s, 118 E. Lincoln Highway, could face the biggest decrease in occupancy.
Otto’s manager, Rob Clark, voiced his concern about the cost to increase Otto’s occupancy numbers if the IFC is passed by the city council.
“This is going to cost us quite a bit of money to get our numbers up to 500,” Clark said. Currently, Otto’s has an allowable occupancy of 650.
Commission member Michael Embrey voiced his concern about the businesses losing revenue.
“This is an economic thing, as well,” Embrey said. “You’re decreasing the net value of the business.”
If the city council approves these changes, they would not take effect until the Class A licenses expire for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, beginning Sept. 1.
“No changes will be made to the current licenses,” Guess said.
» Next City Article: Suspect charged with connection to several car burglaries
Actually Otto's lawful occupancy approaches 1000, as ridiculous as that is, 650 upstairs and another 300+ downstairs! The fact that both sites share a single liquor license is silly, another example of myopic oversight. DeKalb's bar packing incites frequent violence.
Occupancy enforcement in DeKalb is preferentially enforced. A lackluster liquor commission fails to propose substantive change on pace with marketplace innovation. Cover charges remain untaxed and unaudited, and students are getting ripped off in violation of city ordinance.