SAN FERNANDO : Council Holds Firm on Liquor Store Ban

San Fernando City Council members have held firm on a recent vote to ban most new liquor stores, rejecting a plea by a merchant for permission to sell beer and wine at a convenience store.

The council, citing a provision in the ordinance that prohibits the issuance of permits to serve alcohol until the city reaches a population of 33,000, turned down the appeal of Elena Lira at a hearing Monday.

Due to a moratorium on new alcohol permits imposed in July, 1992, Lira’s appeal was not heard until this week. The moratorium ended this year on May 19, the day the new ordinance went into effect.

“I do feel I’m not doing anything wrong,” said Lira, who estimated that her sales could increase by 35% if she was allowed to sell alcohol.

Councilman Doude Wysbeek sympathized with Lira’s economic predicament but supported giving the ordinance a chance to work. The law is designed to curtail the high concentration of liquor outlets in the city of nearly 24,000.

In other action, the council agreed to provide a one-time allocation of $6,000 in fiscal year 1993-94 to expand a senior citizen nutrition program to a second city park to make it easier for seniors who cannot afford transportation. The Valley Interfaith Council, which runs a federally funded program at San Fernando Recreation Park on the east side of town, will start serving 20 meals a day at Las Palmas Park within 60 days.