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Staff will work with the local TABC office to clarify the process for business owners to <br />submit their applications. The concern is that if a local business takes their application <br />straight to TABC headquarters in Austin, they could bypass the local office and get their <br />application processed sooner than those who go through the local office. <br />The Task Force suggested that TABC set batch processing dates and let business <br />owners know the dates ahead of time so they can plan on when to get their applications <br />turned in. Perhaps letters can be sent out to business owners with the batch dates. <br />Public Education <br />The Task Force agrees that SWAT provides a valuable service and should consider <br />posting more signage at bars. <br />The Task Force recommends that City staff work on an education materials, perhaps a <br />one-page white paper with instructions for bar owners who want to move to 2 a.m. bar <br />closing. The education pieces should say that TABC permits must be approved before <br />the business can begin serving until 2 a.m. <br />Recommendation: The Task Force recommends placing a link on the City's website <br />encouraging citizens to email their comments to the City Council between April 22nd and <br />May 11th final reading. <br />Review <br />The Task Force recognizes that there may be anticipated issues that arise if 2 a.m. bar <br />closing is implemented. <br />Recommendation: If the City Council wishes to move forward with implementation of 2 <br />a.m. bar closing, the Task Force recommends establishing a six-month review period in <br />late January 2010 to look at Conditional Use Permits (CUP), Emergency Medical <br />Services, and Central Texas Medical Center data. The City Council may also need to <br />look at the makeup of Downtown businesses from a policy perspective to re-assess <br />numbers of bars and restaurants Downtown.