City Council Meeting Date: February 16, 2021
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Discussion of Budget Amendment Waiving Liquor License Fees for 2021.
Body
Action Requested:
Discussion.
Summary Report:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota Governor Walz issued several needed executive orders that have impacted businesses. In recognition of these impacts, staff has been researching potential options to help impacted businesses. Liquor license fees are meant to pay for license issuance, inspection, monitoring compliance (insurance, training, etc.), enforcement, and compliance checks of the licensee. With the effects of the pandemic allowing most businesses to only be open to full capacity about 10 weeks of 2020, staff feels waiving these renewal fees for 2021 would have a positive impact on these businesses and help them recoup some of the missed revenues from the pandemic.
The City of Northfield licensing year runs from April 1 - March 31. Northfield currently has licenses issued in the following license categories:
Type
Fee
Permitted to sell
On-sale Only:
On-sale Intoxicating
$2,600
All types of liquor
On-sale Wine & 3.2% malt liquor
$800
Wine, malt liquor (strong beer, hard seltzer, cider)
On-sale Club
$300*
All types of liquor to members
On & Off Sale:
Taprooms/Cocktail rooms
$300
Only the products they produce. Fee covers on & off sale
Off Sale Only:
Off-sale 3.2% malt liquor
$300
Permitted to sell 3.2 malt liquor off-sale only
* Fee based on number of members and is set by the State.
Staff recommends waiving renewal liquor license fees for 2021 for On-Sale Intoxicating, On-Sale Wine/3.2% Malt Liquor, Club, Taproom, Cocktail Room, Sunday and Off-Sale 3.2 Licenses, renewal background check fees and Rice County certification fees and amending the 2021 Budget to reflect this.
City Code Sec. 6-63 (c) states in part that no license shall be granted or renewed for operation on any premises ...
Click here for full text