The City Council this week unanimously approved a special permit that allows Avalon Liquor store to put a vending machine outside the store. It will be on private property, so an encroachment permit isn’t required.
The council also authorized the city manager to authorize special permits for vending machines on private property in the future.
This item was originally on the Consent Calendar, but Mayor Anni Marshall pulled it for separate discussion.
In what turned out to be an unrelated issue, staff had already given administative approval to a request that Avalon Liquor be allowed to deliver alcohol, according to the staff report by Finance Director Matthew Baker.
That information was included in the staff report and initially added a bit of confusion to the discussion as to what the council was approving.
The only issue at the time waswhether to approve the special permit for the vending machine.
“On February 14, 2023, the City of Avalon received a request from Catalina Liquor to modify its existing business licenses to provide for the delivery of goods, including alcohol products, and the vending of candy, soda, antacids (e.g. Tums), and lighters through the use of a vending machine,” Baker wrote.
Marshall objected to the sale of lighters. She also expressed concern about the sale of Tums and antacids in the machine.
City Manager David Maistros said the vending machine had not been approved.
Marshall said she liked the alcohol delivery least of all. Baker told the council that they could discuss the issue, but staff had already administratively approved the alcohol delivery. (Subject to ABC requirements, which apparently include seeing valid ID from the recipient.)
Yolanda Montano said her hotel gets a lot of requests for delivery and described the service as one her hotel would use.
Councilmember Yesenia De La Rosa said she wanted a business plan for the delivery of alcohol.
Councilmember Michael Ponce said the delivery of alcohol had been approved. Ponce favored the vending machine proposal.
According to Councilmember Mary Schickling, the council could make a condition of the permit that the vending machine only have snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
Councilmember Lisa Lavelle had no issue with the sale of antacids. However, she wanted a requirement that the vending machine is presentable and maintained.
City Attorney Scott Campbell (participating remotely) said if the machine was on city property, an encroachment permit would be needed.
Finance Director Baker told the council that the machine would be on private property.
Baker suggested the council give the city manager authority to approve vending machines administratively.
Marshall was concerned that other businesses would put out vending machines.
Apparently there is no fee for a vending machine permit at this time. Baker said that when staff brings fee schedules to the council, staff could include a fee for permitting vending machines.
Lavelle moved to authorize the Avalon Liquor vending machine and to allow the city manager to approve special permits for vending machines.
