06-10-2026 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Staff Report To: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council From: Heidi Heller, City Clerk/HR Manager Date: June 10, 2026 Re: New Off-Sale Liquor License – Direct Import Wine Company Action To Be Considered: Motion to approve, table, or deny the following: • A new Off-Sale Liquor License for Thomas Keim, DBA Direct Import Wine Company, at 9 Little Canada Road, for the license period August 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, subject to satisfactory background checks and fire inspection. Background: Thomas Keim has applied for a new off-sale liquor license in anticipation of opening a new wine store at 9 Little Canada Road E. in the Thunder Bay Mall. He has experience in the liquor industry as the former owner of a brewing company in St. Paul. He has sold the brewery and is planning to open an import wine store. He plans to sell only wine in the store and anticipates opening around August 1, 2026. The City Code allows for three off-sale liquor licenses. There are currently two liquor stores operating, and this would be the third off-sale license for the city. 703.110. RESTRICTIONS ON NUMBER OF LICENSES. (1) The number of "off-sale" licenses within the City shall not exceed three (3) until such time as the population of the city reaches twenty thousand (20,000) residents. At such time one (1) additional "off-sale" license shall become available. Mr. Keim has submitted all required documents and the license fee. The license approval will be contingent on a satisfactory background check and completion of a fire inspection. The state also conducts an inspection prior to approving the liquor license. Staff Recommendations: Staff recommends approval of a new off-sale liquor license for Thomas Keim, DBA Direct Import Wine Company, for the license period August 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, subject to all liquor license requirements.