City Council Meeting Date: March 2, 2021
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Lynette R. Peterson, City Clerk
Brenda Angelstad, Finance Director
Title
Consider Resolution Approving a Budget Amendment to Waive 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.
Body
Action Requested:
Consider Resolution Approving Budget Amendment Waiving Liquor License Fees for 2021.
Summary Report:
The Council had a discussion at their February 16, 2021 Council Meeting regarding waiving liquor license fees for 2021. Based on the support expressed during the discussion, this item was included on this consent agenda for consideration of action by the City Council.
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.
A recent State Chamber of Commerce report noted that "...Minnesota had lost over 13% of its total employment and nearly 614,000 Minnesotans filed claims for unemployment insurance, marking the steepest economic downtown in over 70 years." The pandemic-induced recession had a significant impact on particular industries. According to this recent State Chamber of Commerce Report, "Leisure and hospitality alone lost half of its total jobs in the spring, with industries like full service restaurants declining by nearly 75%." (Minnesota Chamber of Commerce: Growing Minnesota Blueprint for Economic Recovery January 2021). With the effects of the pandemic allowing most businesses to only be open to full...
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