LA HABRA : Permit Plan Penalizes Troublesome Bars

In an effort to recover costs of excessive police actions, the City Council approved a resolution this week that could push the fee for entertainment permits to $1,000 annually for bars where police respond more than 12 times in 12 months.

Councilman John Holmberg, who initiated the resolution, called the entertainment permit a “nuisance” that attracts patrons to bars and encourages them to stay longer, drink more and potentially create problems.

Entertainment under the permit can include a jukebox, video games, pool tables or live musicians.

Under the resolution, businesses will continue to be charged a one-time annual permit fee of $250. Should police be called to a bar more than three times in three months or 12 times within a 12-month period, the bar will be subject to a 90-day review until the situation is brought under control. Each review will cost bar owners an additional $250, or up to $1,000 a year.

Bars such as the Leaky Tiki, which topped the list with 139 police calls during a 12-month period, will be immediately affected by the resolution. But owners Janet and Jose Escobosa said they will not do away with the jukebox and two pool tables at their bar.

“If we take that out, (customers will) have nothing to do but fight each other,” Janet Escobosa told the council Tuesday night.

Council members said they hope the resolution will curb calls to police for fighting, narcotics problems and other troubles at some of the bars.

“We hope it can encourage these establishments to clean up their act,” Councilman William Mahoney said. He underscored that owners should take a more responsible role, including hiring additional security if necessary.

But Mahoney’s final word on the issue was a sterner message than that delivered by his fellow council members. “If I had my way, there wouldn’t be a bar in La Habra,” he said.