HomeMy WebLinkAboutBackground ReportBACKGROUND REPORT
As you will recall, Council had taken up the issue of potentially amending the
City's informal policy of prohibiting the sale of beer or malt beverages in less than
six-pack quantities. The City Attorney's Office had suggested that the best
course of action would be for the Council to adopt a formal written policy in order
to provide clear notice to the public of the policy and to give guidance to the
Planning Commission. Before deciding the matter, the Council requested that the
Planning Commission provide their input; the Commission discussed the matter
at their February 7, 2011 meeting.
Three options were presented to the Planning Commission regarding the issue.
They were:
1. Take action to relax or eliminate the current informal policy prohibiting the
sale of beer in small quantities.
2. Take action to strengthen, to the extent possible, the current informal
policy.
3. Allow the current informal policy to remain in effect.
At the meeting, Commissioners stated that they did not support the sale of beer
in less than six-pack quantities, particularly for businesses in close proximity to
schools. They also stated that the City needs to strengthen and formalize the
existing informal policy, providing a written standard for businesses selling
alcohol for off -site consumption.
A representative for the Institute for Public Strategies (IPS) spoke in support of
the City strengthening their position on prohibiting the sales of beer in less than
six packs. They also stated that IPS had conducted a review of the 47 off -sale
establishments in the City, and found that several businesses were in violation of
their Conditional Use Permits by selling smaller than six-pack quantities,
specifically prohibited by their Conditions of Approval.
The Commission voted to recommend to the City Council that action be taken to
strengthen the current informal policy, by having a written policy that the sale of
beer in less than six-pack quantities be prohibited (Option number 2).
1