Council denies liquor license to Iowa City bar

The former owner of a troubled Iowa City bar will not get a liquor license for a new establishment at this time.

The City Council last night, following the recommendation of police Chief Sam Hargadine, voted 6-0 to deny the request by Heather and Oscar German for a liquor license for Sidelines Bar & Grill, 320 E. Burlington St.

The Germans could appeal the decision to the state's Alcoholic Beverages Division or reapply for a liquor license at another time. They said after the meeting they did not know their next step and otherwise declined to comment.

Heather German operated Los Cocos, 1921 Keokuk St., which was the subject of more than 200 calls to police in its first year of operation. She voluntarily closed the bar after a person was shot and wounded in its parking lot in August.

But Hargadine considered the new license request on its own and the problems at Los Cocos did not play a big role in his recommendation. Instead, it was two unresolved court judgments that he said violate the state's “good moral character” clause for liquor license holders.

One was a small-claims judgment against the Germans involving Capitol One Bank. The other was $55 in unpaid court costs by Heather German.

Police Sgt. Troy Kelsay and Heather German said the court costs have now been paid and a payment plan is in place with Capitol One. But Kelsay said the chief was concerned that payments could be made to Capitol One for a time but then stop.

German said that debt resulted from her decision to close Los Cocos.

“I felt it was the best for everybody,” she said. “Unfortunately, with that I accumulated a large amount of debt.”