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Preston council adopts fee schedule, lowers liquor-by-the-drink charge to $300
Summary
After a public hearing and written objections about legal authority, the Preston City Council amended and adopted Resolution 171 to set a new liquor-by-the-drink fee at $300 (reduced from the proposed $562.50) and also added a $25 temporary catering permit. The vote was unanimous.
Councilors on Thursday adopted Resolution 171, updating the city’s license and fee schedule to add a new liquor-by-the-drink fee and a $25 temporary catering permit. The resolution was amended on the council floor to reduce the liquor-by-the-drink fee from the draft $562.50 to $300 and then approved by unanimous voice vote.
The change followed a public hearing and written comment from resident Robert Koren, who wrote that he supports downtown improvements but argued the city “does not have authority to enact” liquor-by-the-drink licensing under “1947 Title 23-919” and suggested the matter be decided by ballot in 2025. City legal counsel and multiple council members disagreed with that reading. One councilor told the record: “I do feel on that Mr. Koren is wrong. We do have the authority to issue this.”
Council discussion focused on how the $562.50 figure was derived from the state's statutory license amount and whether the city must charge the maximum. Speakers noted the resolution format was chosen to allow fee adjustments in the future without changing ordinance language. A motion by Councilor Thomas to approve Resolution 171 with the $300 amendment was seconded and carried; the meeting minutes record the action as passing unanimously.
What happens next: the resolution as amended is in effect per the city’s fee schedule process; council members said they can revisit the fee if businesses or staff recommend changes later.
