More Discussion on Alcohol Changes

The Duluth City Council wants more time to review and discuss amendments to the city’s alcohol beverage ordinance especially proposals to allow taverns to open downtown and allow outdoor drinking on weekends downtown.

Nearly a dozen citizens appeared at the council’s work session Monday (July 23) to express concerns about some of the changes and to urge the council to carefully deliberate before acting. A handful of residents attended in support.

The council agreed to continue its discussion to upcoming work sessions on Aug. 6 and Aug. 27. City Councilwoman Marsha Bomar, owner of Chocolate Perks, recused herself from last night’s discussion even though she has decided not to renew the license to sell beer and wine in her downtown café/coffee shop.

The proposed changes are the result of a comprehensive review of the ordinance by city staff. The city’s Alcohol Review Board forwarded the potential changes with revisions to the city council after a July 10 meeting at which input was provided by attendees that included Duluth city officials, Downtown Development Authority members and others. City Attorney Stephen Pereira incorporated the revisions in the proposed amendments that the ARB sent to the council for action.

The main change being considered is allowing outdoor consumption of alcoholic beverages purchased from restaurants in the downtown “red zone” that would become a hospitality zone on weekends. This is already allowed in the two-block red zone near the Duluth Town Green for about a dozen city-sponsored, alcohol-sanctioned events a year.

Other changes include:

• Creating a new category of taverns that would be allowed to operate only downtown. Taverns would not be required to serve food. A 3-1 ratio of restaurants to taverns has been suggested, but this may be changed since it would currently only allow one tavern to exist. There are four restaurants downtown.
• Allowing growler shops downtown to sell or give away beer samples.
• Permitting wine, beer and malt beverage tastings in grocery stores at a designated counter. Stores would be allowed to give away or sell samples.
• Allowing overflow restaurant patrons to take their cocktails, beer and wine outside in designated areas while they wait for tables. This would apply citywide.
• Eliminating the cap on package stores in the city to encourage economic development. There are currently five package stores selling distilled spirits in the city based on population.
• Prohibiting karaoke bars in the city from having private booths and locked rooms. Karaoke and live entertainment would have to take place in open areas, a requirement that would also apply to other establishments with licenses allowing on-premises liquor consumption.

"We appreciate all the work that has gone into this," said Mayor Nancy Harris. "We don't want to act too hastily. I think we need more time to review and discuss it." The council agreed.

Speaking during a comment period at the beginning of the work session, Charles Summerour opposed allowing taverns to open and expanding outdoor drinking to weekends downtown. “I don’t think alcohol has to be introduced into every part of our lives,” he said. Acknowledging there are differing opinions, Summerour urged the council to listen to both sides and take more time to consider the changes. “Don’t just listen to those promoting economic development,” he said.

What do you think about allowing outdoor drinking downtown on the weekends?

Shelly Howard questioned expanding red zone days to weekends and expressed concern that it would lead to 365 days a year. She pointed out that the city had denied a request by downtown merchants about two years ago to allow them to serve a glass of wine to strolling patrons at Friday night Art Walks due to safety and liability issues. “What has changed in two years to make us safer?” Howard asked. “I’ve not talked to anyone supporting this,” she added.

Her husband David Cossette wondered how the proposed changes would affect Duluth’s family-friendly values and whether crime would increase or liability insurance rates would go up. “I want facts,” he said. “All I’m hearing is opinions.”

“At this time,” Cossette said, “I can’t support this as proposed.”

See also:

• More Alcohol Changes on Tap

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