Adopt Ordinance #15-11 Amending the Ramsey City Code Chapter 6, Section 6-34 Hours and Days of Sale, Subd. (c) Intoxicating Liquor; Sunday Sales; On Sale.

Purpose:  To adopt Ordinance #15-11 amending the hours of Sunday sales for on-sale liquor establishments.

Background:  The State of Minnesota has adopted new liquor laws concerning micro distilleries, growler sales and a change in serving hours for Sundays.  Establishments that hold an on-sale intoxicating liquor license and a Sunday sales license may now serve intoxicating liquor with food on Sundays as early as 8:00 a.m.  Previously, no alcohol could be served by an establishment prior to 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.  Staff presented a draft ordinance to the City Council on Tuesday, May 12, to change the hours of sales to begin at 8:00 a.m., noting that changing the hours of sale is an option, it is not mandatory.  At that meeting, Council introduced the ordinance as presented.  Ordinance #15-11 is now being presented for final adoption.  Adoption of such ordinance will amend the City's Code to allow establishments with a Sunday Sales Liquor License to begin serving alcohol at 8:00 a.m., beginning with the Ordinance effective date of June 30.  Ordinance #15-11 is attached.

Staff will notify the affected liquor establishments of the change.

Observations: Prior to introduction of the ordinance, staff reached out to our Police Department to determine if there is any concern with the change in hours, no concerns were stated.  The majority of Chapter 6 - Liquor - is as referenced by State Law. 

Staff presented the following alternatives at the time of introduction:   

1)  Council may opt to leave Code as is - allowing Sunday liquor sales after 10:00 a.m.
2)  Council may introduce this ordinance to amend the hours of liquor sales on Sunday as allowed by State Law.
3) Council may direct that a different time, i.e. 9:00 a.m., be stated in the ordinance.

Council introduced the Ordinance as presented, amending Code to allow Sunday liquor sales to begin at 8:00 a.m.  Council may now adopt Ordinance #15-11, formally amending the Code as stated above.

N/A

Staff is recommending Council adopt Ordinance #15-11 to amend the City's Code to be the same as State Law.  The majority of the Chapter that deals with liquor sales references State Law.

Motion to waive the City Charter requirement of reading the ordinance aloud and  Adopt Ordinance #15-11 amending the City's Code Chapter 6, Section 6-34, Subd. (c) Intoxicating Liquor; Sunday Sales; On Sale to allow Sunday liquor sales to begin at 8:00 a.m.

Roll Call:
Councilmember LeTourneau
Councilmember Kuzma
Councilmember Riley
Councilmember Johns
Councilmember Williams
Councilmember Shryock
Mayor Strommen