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Session 1315, Minutes Page 5 September 20, 1982 next door to one another. Mrs. Metcalfe pointed out that the most important aspect of this case was that the Council was discussing the granting of a beer and wine license to an established restaurant, noting that this required more than 50% of income to come from food sales. She felt it was appropriate to grant a license in this instance. The Mayor recalled that approval had been moved and seconded in the earlier discus- sion. All voted in favor of the motion. Mr. Levy, referring to the prior discussion of Council policy, said he was uncom- fortable with the Council's apparent need to guide itself by previous Council judg- ments when there was no clearcut reason to reject a license on any basis other than precedent. He did not think Council should take action on this issue based on the consistency of previous Council judgment. Mrs. Metcalfe said Mr. Levy deserved an explanation. She stated that in the past the Council has shown a reluctance to grant a liquor license to any type of small business, concluding that a prolifera- tion of small liquor stores may be a harbinger of decline, especially if the stores were selling more liquor than food. Another part of the policy had to do with the reputation a business or store has--whether or not it was an asset to the community and if it would help them as a market to be able to sell packaged beer. A third aspect had to do with the store's location--whether or not it was a neighborhood store where parents send their children on errands. Mr. Levy pointed out that a store which sells packaged beer would not be likely to become a hangout for those who buy the beer. He said there was a difference of magnitude when talking about hard liquor as opposed to beer. Mrs. Glickert stated that in the past there had always been a public hearing on beer licenses when they pertained to a neighborhood grocery store. She felt that tradi- tion should be continued and a public hearing held before a license was issued. PUBLIC HEARING - GAY AVENUE IMPROVEMENT The City Manager said a public hearing was scheduled for 8:00 p.m. to consider com- ments on the proposal to make a permanent improvement, consisting of asphalt pave- ment, installation of storm sewers, curbs, gutters and catchbasins, for two blocks of Gay Avenue, one of the City's remaining unimproved streets. Mr. Ollendorff said the City had encountered large costs last spring in trying to restore the street to passable condition, but that could not be done again and a permanent solution must be found. Property owners would be assessed $5.50 per lineal foot, since all abut- ting property was side or rear yard. The City's share of the cost would be taken from the contingency fund at the time the project is ready for initiation (next spring at the earliest). He said petitions in favor of improving the street were received several weeks ago which had been signed by a majority of adjacent property owners, although he now understood that some who signed had changed their minds. He recommended that the Council approve this project. Mr. Heschel Raskas, 722 Brittany Lane, asked to address the Council. He said his back property line was on Gay. He said he believed Mr. Susman had initiated the circulation of petitions because of.the way the City had temporarily repaired the street, which caused problems for Mr. Susman and one or two others. Mr. Raskas said there was no need to accelerate the improvement of the street. He thought all