Council updates resident wholesaler fee schedule to offer beer/wine/spirits options

The committee unanimously approved a revision to the city's resident wholesaler license fee structure on Dec. 9 that breaks a single $3,000 resident-wholesaler permit into category-specific options (beer, wine, distilled spirits) while maintaining the same overall fee revenue for the city.

Deputy City Attorney Joseph Cusack told the committee the fee schedule in the current resolution dates to 2008 and that only two resident wholesalers currently operate in the city. Cusack said staff had reviewed other jurisdictions that allow applicants to select a narrower category of distribution, enabling a person interested in a small or "hobby" wine distribution activity to avoid paying the full permit cost for all categories. "They have a distributor lined up to sort of help with their hobby wine business, but the cost ... for the resident wholesaler, the $3,000 for that permit would inhibit him from actually doing this as a hobby because it's too much money," Cusack said.

Councilmember Sarah Beeson asked whether the change would affect commercial liquor license holders; Cusack said it would not change existing commercial pouring or license fees—it only provides options for resident wholesalers who distribute to those businesses. The motion to adopt the updated fee schedule was made by Councilmember Christine Hall and seconded by Councilmember William Morthland (transcript shows variations of the name); the committee approved the change unanimously.

Next steps: staff will finalize the amended resolution language and the fee schedule details for the city ordinance packet.