Lawrence city leaders today took the first steps to have the license of the controversial downtown nightclub Last Call revoked by state regulators.

Mayor Sue Hack sent a letter today to the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control unit requesting a hearing be held to determine whether the license of Last Call, 729 N.H., should be renewed in November.

The requests comes one day after City Manager David Corliss and Hack met with Thomas Groneman, director of the ABC.

“Our communications with the department indicated to us that this would be helpful,” Corliss said. “We’re hopeful that it will be.”

Corliss said the city would object to the renewal of the club’s state liquor license on the grounds that the establishment was creating serious safety concerns. In May 2006, seven shots were fired inside the downtown club, sending hundreds fleeing into the street. Police leaders also have reported 21 weapons violations in downtown from June 2005 to June 2007. Many of those violations have occurred in parking lots near Last Call.

An attempt to reach Dennis Steffes, owner of the club, was not immediately successful this afternoon. Attempts to reach Mayor Sue Hack, also were unsuccessful.