06.f Staff Report-Liquor License Renewals
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: December 21, 2021
To: City Council
From: Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Re: Liquor License Renewals
Background:
Chapter 110 of the City’s Code of Ordinances regulates liquor licensing within the City of
Scandia. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department conducts compliance checks and reviews
license applications on behalf of the City. All annual licenses expire on December 31, 2021.
Issue:
Should renewal of the liquor licenses be approved for four businesses in Scandia?
Proposal Details:
The following businesses have applied for renewal of annual liquor licenses:
• Big Marine Lake Liquor Store, Off-Sale
• The Scandia Creamery, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
• Meister’s Bar & Grill, On-Sale/ Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
• Rustic Roots Winery, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
• Thirsty Buffalo, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
The applications are in conformance with the requirements of Chapter 110 of the City’s Code of
Ordinances. License fees have been paid for all four businesses and liquor liability insurance
certificates submitted as required by the ordinance. The Sheriff’s Department has completed
their investigations for any issues that would prevent the City from renewing the licenses. Big
Marine Lake Liquor Store failed a compliance check in June 2021. A hearing on this violation
was held in November 2021 in which a civil penalty and one-day license suspension was
imposed on the business. No other failures, criminal activity or complaints were reported in the
Sheriff’s investigations for any of the businesses.
Options:
1) Approve the renewal of liquor licenses for the following businesses:
• Big Marine Lake Liquor Store, Off-Sale
• The Scandia Creamery, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating, pending approval from the
Sheriff’s Department
• Meister’s Bar & Grill, On-Sale/ Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
• Rustic Roots Winery, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
• Thirsty Buffalo, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
2) Delay action on the liquor license renewals.
3) Do not approve the liquor license renewals.
Recommendation:
Option 1.