Laserfiche WebLink
WS — Item #5 <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item 5 <br />Date: August 4, 2008 <br />To: City Council <br />From: Julie Bartell <br />Re: Liquor Ordinance <br />Background <br />On June 23, 2008 the council approved a moratorium on the issuance of off -sale liquor <br />licenses in the city. The moratorium became effective on July 31, 2008 and will remain <br />in effect for 180 days. The council has indicated a desire to review the city's current <br />liquor regulations as they relate to off -sale licenses. <br />The council received a petition signed by city residents and submitted by two current off - <br />sale liquor store owners requesting that the city change its off -sale license regulations to <br />limit additional off -sale licenses. The petition suggested two limitations: <br />- No licenses to be issued to a property located within one mile of an existing <br />off -sale establishment; <br />Total number of off -sale licenses in the city not to exceed one license per <br />7,000 population. <br />According to the League of Minnesota Cities, the following are also common local <br />restrictions: <br />- Limiting the number of licensing without a link to population size; <br />- Zoning restrictions. <br />Although off -sale licenses are issued by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, state <br />statute allows cities considerable authority in establishing local regulations. <br />1 <br />