City Council Disciplines Lift Lounge

Looking over a long list of police calls over two years, the Walnut Creek City Council came down Tuesday on a downtown tavern, scaling back the latest it could serve alcohol an hour to 11:30 p.m.

Earlier in the public hearing, Lift Lounge representatives indicated the loss of one hour of alcohol service would drive them out of business.

Walnut Creek Police Capt. Tim Schultz said Lift had about 80 calls for police services — including citations for assault, fighting, public urination — in the last two years. Among comparable bars, the establishment with the next highest number of calls in the same period was under 20, said Schultz.

Schultz said police had sought cooperation with management of the Locust Street club in trying to address recurring problems over the two years, but got little response until December, when the city Planning Commission mandated changes in Lift's conditional use permit.

, and the City Council unanimously denied that appeal Tuesday night.

Earlier in the debate, Lift lawyer David Bowie said the only police citations of Lift actually sustained were ones citing overcrowding from two years ago. "That's not to say we can't improve the actual standards," said Bowie. "We can and we will."

Eight residents spoke in favor of Lift. Many were customers who appreciated the niche filled by Lift as a source of good, inexpensive food available downtown late at night. "I would be disappointed to see any limitation on the restaurant that would no longer serve in the capacity and the niche it does," said Dr. John Gainey, a physician at John Muir Medical Center. He cited Lift for its atmosphere and the service and professionalism of staff.

One resident, Justin Wedel, excoriated the council for "pointing fingers and deflecting blame" while turning "a blind eye to the oversaturation of bars and quasi-bars" downtown.

 Co-owner Jasmine Butler said her father had taken out a second mortgage to loan her money for a stake in Lift. She said taking away the profitable last hour of Lift's alcohol business would likely cause her to lose her house and her father to lose his house.

Mayor Bob Simmons said, "The information in the record and everything we have heard tonight demonstrates a number of violations of the conditional use permit that both justifies and warrants our taking action."

Beyond the new provisions for alcohol-serving time, the changes in Lift's conditional use permit include conditions for maintaining food service and a ratio of food to alcohol sales, no reduced price beverage promotions, proper dress and training for security personnel, and patrols of areas outside the lounge.