Agenda Packets - 2010/03/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Administrator Report March 22, 2010 Page 4 10. 2010 Conference Schedule There are three conferences scheduled this year which were identified in the City Administrator’s budget—The MCFOA Clerk’s Conference (needed to obtain Clerk certification), the League of MN Cities annual conference and the Minnesota City / County Managers Association conference. Before I register for any of the conferences, I wanted to review these with the Council to ensure support remained to attend the three. The amount for this line item in the 2010 budget is $2,900, which was decreased by $1,150 from 2009. While I do not have costs yet for the MCFOA conference, the MCMA leadership conference in May will cost $662 (registration, lodging and meals) and the LMC conference will cost $600. The LMC and MCFOA conferences were budgeted at $750 each; the MCMA conference was budgeted at $700. While I believe professional development is important, perhaps especially so during these times of struggling city budgets, I would understand if the loss of LGA this year necessitate even further reductions in this budgeted line item. That being said, I seek your direction regarding the three referenced professional development opportunities. 11. TCAAP Meeting We have confirmed that all Council members are invited to attend the TCAAP information meeting being held in Arden Hills on April 14th. If anyone is interested in attending, please let me know and I will coordinate the RSVP. If three or more of you express an interest, we will post notice of a quorum. 12. Liquor at the MVCC “Event Center” Staff and the City Attorney have been working on code amendments concerning the City’s liquor code. In May of 2009, the Minnesota legislature revised sections of Minnesota Statute pertaining to liquor (MN Stat. §340A). One such revision clarified that a liquor permit or license is not needed to serve liquor in a public facility when no commercial transaction is taking place other than possible rental of the facility. According to the 2009 LMC Law Summaries, one example of this is when someone rents a municipally owned community center or park shelter for a family reunion, and intends to serve alcohol, but is not selling the alcohol. The only commercial transaction is the renting of the facility, and therefore, a liquor permit or license isn’t needed. The event center coordinator has received requests from clients who wish to provide champagne at receptions or other alcoholic beverages. While state law mow permits this, the City can be more restrictive. Presently, any client who wishes to provide alcohol at the event center is required to bring in a licensed liquor caterer—even if the alcohol is provided freely. I have asked the City Attorney what the City’s liabilities are if we permit contract-holders to bring in alcohol without a licensed liquor caterer, and his response is limited to none. It was suggested that if we intend to allow this to occur, the person booking the space will need to sign an additional waiver of liability and perhaps pay an additional deposit. Desaree checked with other cities to see if they have changed their policies, thus far none has, although it should be stated that those contacted restrict alcohol to certain vendors—the City of Mounds View does not and has not since the Mermaid managed the facility. Staff seeks the Council’s direction on this issue.