Just as it returned the city’s good graces, The Mucky Duck is again facing restrictions.

The Mucky Duck is back under a microscope.

After 26 police calls from April 1 to Nov. 1, 11 of which led to arrests or citations, Monterey city staff brought a recommendation to the Planning Commission on Dec. 9: Give the Alvarado Street bar the same treatment it received in 2011, when it was declared a public nuisance.

The recommendation came as unwelcome news to brothers Anthony and Alex Buich, who bought the establishment in 2011 after it had hit a low point. On Jan. 1 that year, three people were wounded after a man who was bounced from the premises returned with a gun. In April 2011, the business was declared a nuisance. A month later, it sold to the Buichs.

In the years since, The Mucky Duck has been hit with several conditions to its use permit, restrictions that limit hours for alcohol sales and live music. The bar was also subject to a recurring six-month Planning Commision review, which was lifted last April.

“I think we were all shocked to see the last six months,” says Planning Commissioner Bill McCrone.

Staff recommended forcing the bar to close at 1am for six months, but the Planning Commission passed a softer restriction: For three months, alcohol sales must end at 1am. The bar can stay open until 2am.

“I thought the whole process was extremely flawed,” says Anthony Buich, who plans to appeal the decision. “They’re placing a tremendous amount of blame on me and my staff.”

Monterey Planning Chief Chip Rerig says an appeal to City Council will likely be heard in February.