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MnDOT cleared 4th Street closure for Nick Minsky Memorial Run; liquor-license logistics and city costs remain unresolved
Summary
Staff said MnDOT approved the requested 4th Street closure on July 16. The temporary liquor license as proposed depends on adjacency to Up North Pizza or an alternate licensing arrangement; staff listed estimated city costs and warned the attorney raised public‑purpose considerations for waiving city services.
City staff told the council MnDOT has approved a proposed closure of the 4th Street block for the Nick Minsky Memorial Run and associated street concert, but licensing and cost questions remain.
"MnDOT has approved that closure for that location," Reed Huttman said, noting the department approved the application on July 16 and that MnDOT requires at least 30 days' notice. Huttman warned that the temporary liquor license the organizers requested is tied to adjacency to the currently licensed premises at Up North Pizza; if the concert were moved away from that location the organizers would need a nonprofit partner or a catering arrangement to serve beer and wine.
Huttman and Chief Hedlund discussed safety and logistics: Hedlund said the Shriners parade that morning will leave barricades and detour signs in the area and that staging for the concert should be minor to implement. Huttman also presented staff cost estimates for city services: $343.90 for public-works materials to set barricades, $250 to rent the Parks & Recreation bandwagon and about $300 to staff one officer, per prior practice for similar events.
Huttman noted the city attorney raised the Minnesota public-purpose doctrine as a possible limit on when the city may donate services; the attorney recommended caution about waiving fees or providing in‑kind services if the event is not demonstrably a public-purpose activity.
Council members generally supported keeping the event in the current planned location but asked staff to continue coordinating licensing options and to return with any changes to costs or the event footprint. No formal council vote took place during the work session.
