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Council tightens peddler rules and limits premise gambling permits; first and second readings approved
Summary
Eden Prairie on May 20 amended city code sections governing peddlers and lawful gambling premise permits, expanding objective grounds to deny peddler permits and capping premise gambling permits to preserve local access.
The Eden Prairie City Council on May 20 approved amendments affecting peddlers/solicitors and lawful gambling premise permits, and authorized a summary publication of the ordinance.
Staff told the council the peddlers section (city code §5.37) is being revised to strengthen the city's ability to deny permits not only for individuals with a "bad business reputation" but also when the applicant is associated with a business that has sustained enforcement findings. Staff and "Maggie" (a staff speaker who addressed the point) said the standard was made objective in prior code changes: ineligibility can be based on a sustained enforcement action or finding by the state attorney general or another regulatory body rather than anecdotal complaints.
On lawful gambling (city code §5.40 as amended in the packet), staff proposed eligibility criteria for premise permits that favor organizations based in Eden Prairie, that hold meetings in the city and that have at least one-third of members residing in the city. Staff also proposed limiting the total number of premise permits in the city to six and capping any single organization at four premise permits. Staff said the intent is to avoid one organization occupying all locations while allowing additional permits later by council action if demand grows.
Staff clarified that premise permits are for ongoing, set-location operations (for example, regular pull-tab operations at a fixed site) and differ from single-event permits such as occasional bingo nights. Council discussed flexibility if only one organization sought all available permits: staff advised they would expand the cap rather than revoke established operations if a new group later sought permits.
A motion to approve first and second reading of the ordinance amending §5.37 (peddlers) and §5.40 (gambling), and to adopt a summary ordinance for publication, was moved and seconded; council members voted in favor by voice and the measure passed. Staff said they were bringing both readings forward because the city expects permit applications and does not meet again until mid-June; publishing the summary ordinance would enable the changes to take effect upon publication as allowed by the city's process.
