ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and the Corporation Counsel with a Request HOLD A POLICY DISCUSSION at the City Council Meeting on August 26, 2014, Regarding LIQUOR REGULATIONS Relating to Proposed Establishments that Operate Primarily for the Purpose of VIDEO-GAMING.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On July 8, 2014, the City Council amended Chapter 3 of the City Code to allow the City Council, as well as the Liquor Commission, to consider the fact that a proposed establishment's primary purpose is to have video gaming machines as a detrimental factor. Further, it allowed the City Council to impose a condition that the location can have video gaming machines only after it has been operating for at least one year without video gaming machines.
The Liquor Commission at its last meeting on August 4, 2014, voiced concerns that although the amendment allows the Commissioners to consider the factor that the business's primary purpose is to have video gaming machines, they would like more guidance on what establishments should be denied. The Commissioners seemed amenable to restricting the number of these establishments that do not significantly benefit the City in generating revenues from the service of alcoholic liquor, food, and non-alcoholic beverages.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Not applicable.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: None has been solicited or gathered.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Will allow the City Council to discuss all of its options in an open meeting and ultimately direct staff to draft an ordinance or other policy guideline that implements the option that it deems appropriate in addressing the proliferation of establishments whose primary business is to operate a video-gambling café.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The Liquor Commission will continue to review the proposed site applications submitted by establishments whose primary business is gambling on a case-by-case basis without guidelines.
ALTERNATIVES: Not applicable.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: Not applicable.
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Not applicable.
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Not applicable.
DEPARTMENT: Legal