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City Council Minutes Page 3 <br />April 20, 2020 <br />----------------------------- <br />Ms. Allard presented the staff report. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz confirmed that the council could decide to reduce the liquor license fee <br />for these businesses by two months, but their fees would still have to be submitted in <br />order to become effective by July 1, 2020. <br /> <br />Ms. Allard stated that is correct, unless the council would like to do installment <br />payments on a quarterly basis. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard felt installments might allow for more flexibility. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wagner has had a chance to talk to some owners that have been <br />affected by lack of liquor sales. She was wondering, if, in addition to installments, the <br />installments could be on a graduated scale offering a lower starting payment and <br />increasing. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz agreed that installments were a good option but questioned what <br />happened if a place goes out of business. He wants to make sure a place pays before <br />they use a license rather than after. He suggested that the two-month credit could <br />come off the beginning of their payments giving them July and August for free. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wagner asked about people who want to pay for the entire year up <br />front and not in installments. Could the city issue a refund for the months they are <br />not able to sell liquor? <br /> <br />City Attorney Beck advised that statute gives four reasons that a refund is allowed <br />and “licensee ceases to exist” is one of them. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ovall clarified that liquor license fees stay with the city and do not <br />go to the state. These fees cover administrative costs as well as law enforcement <br />associated with alcohol usage. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard asked, if someone in the next couple weeks decides their <br />business can’t make it, can the city issue them a refund for their current liquor license <br />fees. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ovall agreed that businesses have been hit hard and it could be <br />many months before people patronize them. In the meantime, they have high <br />overhead, rent, and property taxes. He would like the city to look at more impact and <br />stimulus. Is the city making this a bureaucratic process and confusing people? <br /> <br />Councilmember Wagner agreed that this should be part of a bigger conversation. <br />The council is forced to be reactionary to this issue due to timing but it’s a small <br />step. <br /> <br />Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember <br />Christianson to consider an ordinance amendment changing the liquor <br /> <br />