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St.Anthony On-Sale Liquor Referendum Communications Plan—Draft 1. Purpose The purpose of this plan is to identify and organize the referendum's public information and public involvement campaign in preparation for the special election on November 5. 2. Key Messages • Currently,the Stonehouse Restaurant and several fast food establishments are the only restaurants in St. Anthony. • Residents have expressed an interest in sit-down style restaurants in St. Anthony,but the City cannot attract them because it does not have the authority to issue on-sale liquor licenses to privately-owned restaurants. • Developers have indicated that the Northwest Quadrant Redevelopment could attract interest from popular sit-down restaurant chains if the restaurants were able to be licensed to serve alcohol as they are elsewhere throughout the metro area. • The City Council has set a referendum for the general election, November 5, to ask the voters to give the City the authority to issue on-sale liquor licenses. • If the referendum is passed, the City would have the authority to issue up to six on-sale licenses to restaurants or hotels. • The ability to issue on-sale liquor licenses is common among metro area cities. • If the referendum is passed, it will not alter the City's ability to continue to operate the Stonehouse Restaurant and the two municipal liquor stores. • The City would establish guidelines regarding where any restaurant serving liquor would be permitted and what type of restaurant would be eligible to receive licenses. • Enabling the City to continue to provide the types of businesses, services, and housing that residents want will help ensure the St. Anthony can continue to retain and attract residents into the future. 3