The city of Madison’s Alcohol License Review Committee is currently working to redefine its procedural manuals and principles.

Last night, the council convened to discuss possible restructuring of the committee. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz did not reappoint District 14 Ald. Tim Bruer to the position of chairman of the committee. Bruer will leave the ALRC in October, and the committee has decided to take the opportunity to refine its system of review.

The committee considered the safety of venues serving alcohol as well as the public benefit and risk of those venues.

To do so, the committee drew on input from city alders, the police department, a human-resource representative and the surrounding neighborhood.

Standards for review of operating licenses, background checks for felony offenses and procedures for dealing with applicants are currently being constructed.

The committee hopes to create a procedural manual that will encompass guiding principles behind the ALRC, job descriptions and disciplinary actions the ALRC can take.

In addition, the group discussed applying universal definitions of regulations to nightclubs and restaurants. Such a general standard would ensure a common ground for alcohol licensing and smoking.

“We’re trying to make Madison a safe, more friendly and attractive place to live,” Bruer said.

Committee member William Cosh noted that giving a bartending license is not necessarily an easy decision.

“If I’m weighing someone for a bartending license or a license to serve alcohol, I want to know if they’re being honest on their forms,” Cosh said.

The integrity of the licensing applications as well as past business history of consistency and experience with license renewals all affects the decision made by the ALRC.

“Everything from a proven track record to time taken for a bartending safety course” affects a licensing approval, Cosh said.

The ALRC meeting also reviewed the addition of music and entertainment venues, which also pertain to licensing regulations, especially on campus hot spots such as State Street.

“Do music entertainment venues generate calls for (police) service? And how does that cost the community at large?” Chief of Police designee Sgt. Emil Quast asked at Thursday’s meeting.

Quast commented that the ALRC looks at neighborhood costs and environmental impacts while assigning licenses and also views the compatibility of alcohol-serving businesses with the community as vital.

“The committee has to come to grips with environmental impacts and question what to keep and what to change,” Quast added.

In order for alcohol to be served at any business location in the city of Madison, alcohol licensing must be reviewed and permitted by the Alcohol License and Review Committee. This committee acts on behalf of the City Council to distribute liquor licenses to taverns, clubs and bars.

In a given year, the ALRC can approve 50 alcohol licenses in the city of Madison.

The ALRC is comprised of 11 members — seven voting members and four non-voting members. The four non-voting members are designated by the City Clerk, Tavern League, Chief of Police and City Attorney.