The Ames City Council voted to deny renewal of the MoJazz liquor license Tuesday after the business received 27 liquor violations in the period from January to August.

Mayor Ted Tedesco recommended the council not renew a one year license for MoJazz, 2520 Lincoln Way.

“I would request you consider denying this renewal and pass a six-month seasonal license,” he said.

The City Council adhered to the mayor’s recommendation and unanimously approved a six-month seasonal license for MoJazz.

The business can apply for a full-year license after the seasonal license, Tedesco said.

Concerns were raised that employees of MoJazz had never attended the free training sessions offered by the Ames Police Department to teach bar managers and employees how to check identification and how to identify false I.D.s.

Dwight Rivera, manager of MoJazz, declined to comment on the situation.

Nathan Johnston, ex officio student member to the council, questioned the Ames Police about how uniform its identification checks were from bar to bar.

Ames Police Cmdr. Jim Robinson said no record was kept about routine checks on the bars, but “for compliance checks they are documented.”

Robinson said officers look for signs that indicate a person in a bar is underage, such as movement toward the bathroom.

“All the crowds look the same,” Johnston said.

Tedesco said it is not the job of police to check every person who enters a bar. “It is the responsibility of the license owner to check the patrons,” he said.

Al Ostebee, attorney for Rivera, spoke on his behalf.

“The owners and manager share the city’s concern of underage drinking,” Ostebee said. “This is not a situation they take lightly.”

Ostebee said more than half the violations occurred in July and August. He said during this period there were a lot of new students in the area and the employee turnover at this time was high. The business turned in 40 identification cards not before handed over to authorities. Ostebee said the manager and employees will attend the police training sessions.

MoJazz will also hire additional employees, install a camera at the front door and turn in false I.D.s more frequently, he said.

Wendell Mosby, manager of Big Shots, said it would “be an insult” to other businesses in compliance with the law if the city renews the full-year license.

At the meeting, the City Council also approved annexation of land for the new Ames Middle School and rezoned it to allow for that usage.

Placement of a four-way stop sign at Arizona Avenue and Ross Road to ensure the safety of children crossing the street to go to school was also approved.