06-14-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM 1M STAFF ORIGINATOR: Julie Bartell, City Clerk MEETING DATE: June 14, 2021 TOPIC: Liquor License Fee Waiver VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 BACKGROUND The City issues licenses for on-sale intoxicating beverages. The annual license period runs from July 1st through June 30th. Restaurants and bars in the City that hold these licenses have been greatly impacted by Governor Walz’s mandated closures and regulations related to the COVID 19 virus emergency. City staff has been looking at measures to provide relief to impacted establishments for the coming liquor license period. Many cities have approved or are considering liquor license fee waivers. The State of Minnesota has waived their 2 a.m. option and catering permit fees for liquor licenses for 2021. In an effort to provide support to Lino Lakes’ businesses, the council previously authorized the refund of four months of license fees as liquor license holders were unable to be open to the public. At this point, license holders have received a two month refund. The additional two month credit is approved to be applied on the 2021-2022 renewals. At the June 7th work session, the City Council discussed and indicated support for a waiver of an additional 10 months for the 2021-2022 annual license period. The refund would apply only to On-Sale Liquor, On-Sale Wine, On-Sale Beer, On-Sale Club, On-Sale Taproom and Sunday Sales licenses. Under recent American Rescue Plan Act guidance, the City may use its allocated funds to provide assistance to small businesses to mitigate financial hardship. RECOMMENDATION Consider of waiver of 10 months of liquor license fees for the 2021-2022 annual license period. The waiver would apply only to On-Sale Liquor, On-Sale Wine, On-Sale Beer, On-Sale Club, On-Sale Taproom and Sunday Sales licenses. ATTACHMENTS List of On-Sale Intoxicating Beverage Licenses/Fee Refunds