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<br /> <br />Aldi Report <br />April 9, 2007 <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />Applying the standards above in our situation, the Aldi license would be granted in seven <br />out of the ten cities surveyed. Two of the ten cities (Chanhassen & Mound) require no <br />separation while two additional cities (Ham Lake & New Brighton) provide for broad <br />discretion based on what seems reasonable to the City Council. <br /> <br />What Does Aldi Sell? <br />Staff contacted Aldi representatives and asked for additional information which may assist <br />the City Council in making their decision. There are eighteen Aldi stores in Minnesota, 13 <br />or 14 of which have the authority to sell 3.2% alcohol off-sale. We inquired as to the <br />average percent of Aldi gross revenues attributable to alcohol sales in Minnesota. Aldi <br />responded that alcohol sales comprise, on average, about one third of one percent of total <br />store sales. They also respond that in the stores licensed to sell off-sale, the only alcoholic <br />beverages they carry and offer for sale are wine coolers. This would be the case here in <br />Mounds View as well. <br /> <br />Legal Opinion <br />The City Attorney indicates that the absence of clear measurement instructions places a <br />certain level of discretion with the City Council, and given that an off-sale liquor license has <br />already been issued at this property (Big Top Liquor), one can conclude that past practice <br />would seem to indicate that the measurement was NOT conducted property line to property <br />line or building to building, thus supporting (for example) a front door to front door <br />measurement. <br /> <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />Based upon the community survey information, past practice and the opinion from the City <br />Attorney, staff recommends approval of Resolution 7047, a resolution approving an Off- <br />Sale 3.2 Percent Malt Liquor License for Aldi Foods. Staff would further recommend that <br />the Council make a determination as to whether an amendment to Chapters 502 and 503 <br />would be in order to clarify the licensing provisions regarding setbacks and measurement <br />procedures. <br /> <br /> <br />Respectfully Submitted, <br />Desaree Crane <br />