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Council introduces and approves ordinance updating liquor-by-the-drink rules; fees to be set by resolution
Summary
Council introduced Ordinance 2024-9 to replace Title 5 Chapter 32 and amend Title 9 Chapter 28 regarding alcoholic beverage licensing and violations, directed staff to move fee dollar amounts to a resolution for later adjustment, and approved the ordinance as read in summary for publication.
The council considered a comprehensive ordinance (2024-9) updating the city’s regulation of alcohol licenses and related violations. City counsel explained the draft replaces the existing municipal beer license chapter with an updated Title 5, adds liquor-by-the-drink provisions, includes a training requirement for servers, and incorporates state statutory references.
Counsel explained that under state law the city may charge up to 75% of the state liquor-by-the-drink fee and suggested shifting specific dollar amounts out of the ordinance into an annually adjustable resolution. Council members generally supported setting fees by resolution rather than embedding specific amounts in code; one councilmember said, “I agree with council president Dodge... we should just when they're set by resolution so that we don't have to go back.” The council discussed Sunday sales and whether to align with state code; several members preferred leaving hours consistent with state law.
Councilmember (unnamed) introduced Ordinance 2024-9 and moved to dispense with the three-reading rule and read the ordinance once in summary, with the change that fee amounts be “set by resolution.” The ordinance was read in summary by the city clerk; the council then voted to approve the ordinance as read in summary and ordered publication.
No fees were adopted at the meeting; staff will bring a separate resolution to set license fees for council action.
