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<br />WS – #4 <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item No. 4 <br /> <br /> <br />Date: May 4, 2020 <br /> <br />To: City Council <br /> <br />From: Lisa Hogstad-Osterhues, Deputy City Clerk <br /> <br />Re: Liquor License Fee Refunds <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />The City issues annual licenses for intoxicating beverage sales. Restaurants and bars in <br />the City that hold these licenses have been impacted by Governor Walz’s mandated <br />closures related to the COVID 19 virus. Since these establishments have been mostly <br />unable to sell on-sale beverages for a period of time, staff has been looking at measures <br />that could provide a refund or fee consideration to impacted liquor license holders. <br /> <br />The city council passed a two month credit to impacted liquor license holders earlier in <br />2020 due to an executive order requiring closure of bars and restaurants in-door dining. <br /> <br />Staff is asking that the City Council consider the following: <br />- Pro rata refund of license fees for months impacted by the Governor’s emergency <br />orders; <br />- Since it is uncertain exactly how long these establishments will be mostly unable <br />to sell beverages, any refund would be considered as a credit to future fees. <br />- The refund would apply only to On-Sale Liquor, On-Sale Wine, On-Sale Beer, <br />On-Sale Club, On-Sale Taproom and Sunday Sales licenses. Investigation fees <br />are not included. <br />- The changes proposed relate only to the current emergency situation. <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> <br />List of Business Licenses <br /> <br />Requested Council Direction <br /> <br />Staff requests direction from the council on proceeding with proposed measures to <br />address licensing in the current emergency situation. If authorized, staff would request <br />action at a future council meeting. <br /> <br /> <br />