Veterinary clinic loses its bid to serve wine

The Windsor Town Council denied the request by Wine Country Veterinary Hospital to serve wine to its clients, a decision that was met with mixed feelings and emotions from town residents.

The request was denied in a 3-2 vote at the town council meeting Aug. 16 after about 35 minutes of public comment and council discussion.

Jessica Klein, the practice’s owner, started serving wine to her clients about five months ago before she was asked to stop after someone filed a complaint. When she applied for an alcohol license, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control told her she must first receive approval from the town council.

Her idea soon spread around the small town and prompted community-wide discussion about the necessity or appropriateness of serving wine in a medical space.

The split among residents was clearly visible during public comment at the Aug. 16 meeting. Three residents approached the podium to voice their support for Klein and three others urged the council to vote no.

Vice Mayor Dominic Foppoli, who was absent for the council’s initial discussion Aug. 2, said he had received more comments from the community about Klein’s request than any other agenda item in his three years as a councilmember.

“If this is the most controversial thing that’s going on in town right now, we’re in good shape in Windsor,” Foppoli said.

Comments on Facebook and during the initial discussion on Aug. 2 were split 50/50, he said. After he looked through the reasons against, he decided to support Klein’s request. To deny it would be government overreach, he said.

Foppoli and Councilmember Sam Salmon voted to approve.

Windsor Mayor Debora Fudge and town Councilmembers Bruce Okrepkie and Mark Millan opposed the idea based on the inappropriateness of alcohol in a medical setting. The decision would also be precedent-setting, meaning if other veterinarians or businesses asked for the same privilege, the council would have been obligated to approve.

Klein said the idea was meant to be a fun and welcoming gesture.

“As a vet, I’m always wearing two hats,” she said. “It was really just a hospitality gesture where I felt I could encompass my medical side and making people feel welcome.”