10-22-2003 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lary °f Little Can COMMUNITY RIDE 1953 - 2003 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -'1600 (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 wwrw ci.little- canada.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Fahey and Members of the City Council FROM: Kathy Glanzer, Deputy Clerk DATE: October 17, 2003 RE: 2 a.m. Bar Closing MAYOR Michael I. Fahey COLVV'CII Jim LaValle D1att Anderson Rick Montour Bill Blesener ADMINISTRATOR Joel R. Hanson As you are aware, the five on -sale liquor license holders in the City of Little Canada have requested that the City amend its ordinance to allow for a 2 a.m. bar closing time. As a little background, the State Legislature passed legislation allowing for a 2 a.m. closing time for on -sale liquor establishments effective July 1, 2003. Please see a copy of correspondence attached from Frank Ball, Department of Public Safety's Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, regarding this new law. You will note from the attached correspondence, that it is at the option of each individual city whether or not to extend the closing time for on -sale liquor establishments. However, if cities do allow a 2 a.m. closing, these businesses will be required to obtain a special State license and pay an additional licensing fee to the State. Also attached are the results of a survey of neighboring cities on this issue. Please note that some of the cities have implemented 2 a.m. license fees, while others have not. Those without an additional liquor license fee are taking a "wait and see" approach at this point. In discussing the issue with the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department last June, Undersheriff Altendorfer felt the extended bar hours would likely result in more calls for service. He noted that with the current 1:00 a.m. bar closing, activity associated with bars has dropped off by 2:00 a.m. He also commented that a neighboring community's enactment of this change would also have impacts to our patrol activity even if Little Canada did not authorize a later opening. Should the Council consider amending the Municipal Code to provide for a 2 a.m. closing time, it would be staff's recommendation that the City impose a 2 a.m. license fee. Our initial thoughts are that the rate should be at least half the fee being charged by the State: