City Council Meeting Date: January 6, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Lynette Peterson, City Clerk
Jeff Schroepfer, Chief of Police
Subject:
TITLE
Consideration of New Liquor License for Northfield Ballroom Inc. DBA Northfield Ballroom at 450 Montessori Court.
BODY
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves a motion to approve the new liquor license including On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor and Sunday Liquor for Northfield Ballroom Inc. dba Northfield Ballroom, subject to the following conditions:
1. Liquor licenses will be issued upon receipt of:
• All required documents
• Payment of all delinquent taxes, assessments, utility bills or other financial claims of the city
• Payment of all liquor license fees
• Approval of the State Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division
• Final inspection of premises
Summary Report:
The presentation of this information is being provided at the public hearing prior to this agenda item. There will be no additional staff presentations, applicant input or public input under this item as it is being provided at the public hearing. The City Council will entertain a motion and then proceed with questions and discussion before considering action.
The City Council is being asked to consider the new liquor license request. City staff checks applications for compliance, which covers the provisions of Minnesota State law and City Code. These provisions include:
• Background investigations on licensees
• Review of premises layout
• Review of liquor law violations for the previous five years
• Review of insurance certificates
• Review of delinquent utilities, taxes, assessments or other financial claims
Periodically questions are raised regarding statutory restrictions on the number of on-sale intoxicating liquor licenses that may be issued in Northfield. If this license is approved, Northfield will have 18 on-sale intoxicating liquor license holders. Northfield is a city of the second class and therefore may issue not more than 18 on-sale intoxicating liquor licenses, subject to very broad exclusions. The applicable statute is 340A.413, Subd. 1 (3). However, 340A.413, Subd. 4, excludes the following from the restrictions stated in Subd. 1:
• clubs
• restaurants
• establishments that are licensed to sell wine under section 340A.404, Subd. 5
• theaters that are issued licenses under section 340A.404
• hotels, and
• bowling centers
The existing on-sale intoxicating liquor licenses in Northfield all fall into those categories that are noted. Therefore, they are excluded from the restriction.
Once licenses are approved by the City Council, they will be sent to the Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (DPS-AGE) for review and approval. Licenses will be issued after receipt of all required documents, any delinquent payments, successful completion of background checks and walk-through of the facility prior to license issuance.
Alternative Options:
None.
Financial Impacts:
City liquor licenses are $3,000 for on-sale intoxicating and $200 for Sunday liquor for a total of $3,200. The license fees will be prorated for the remaining months of the current license cycle through March 31, 2026. The full amount will be paid with the renewal of the license to begin on April 1, 2026.
Tentative Timelines:
If approved, certification and license application will be sent to the Department of Public Safety Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement Division for review and approval. Once the Alcohol & Gambling Division approves the license, final documents are submitted, and the final inspection of the premises has been completed, the liquor licenses will be issued.