Agenda - Council - 05/27/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Speed limits The League recommends that local authorities have the aulhority to establish speed limits within high pedestrian conflict zones upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, which may be performed by local or county authori- ties. Inspection and health service Over the years, a number of cities have developed health, sanitarian and inspection programs which are well suited to their diverse sizes and consti- tuencies. In the event that the legislature deter- mines that a broader-based approach to these services is desirable, the League suggests that it should build upon those services that are avail- able, and in any event, cities should retain the option of providing these services in their own junsdictions. Liquor issues The League strongly supported the legislature when it modified liquor laws to make the number of on-sale liuqor licenses issued a matter for local determination and eliminated the phase-out re- quirement when there are municipal on-sale or off-sale liquor operations. The League recommends that the legislature build on these initiatives by taking the following actions: Cities should have the same authority to establish fees for off-sale liquor licenses and on-sale wine licenses that they now have for on-sale liquor and beer licenses and off-sale beer licenses. In 1977 the legislature amended those por- tions of Liquor Civil Damage Act relating to liability for damages and provided that any action must be commenced within one year after the injury. The League does not believe this law should be amended further until we have had several years experience with it. Private liquor operations should be re- quired to post a substantial bond or to se- cure liquor liability insurance in amounts reasonably adequate to cover any anti- cipated claims under the Liquor Civil Damage Act. The city should be per- mitted to require an amount of insurance coverage in excess of any amounts which may be required by state law. The League opposes the establishment of one class of beer in this state because substantial problems will arise in control of the sale of this beverage in filling sta- tions, grocery stores, drug stores, and else- where where 3.2 beer is presently sold. Also 3.2 on-sale establishments would be selling strong beer in competition with on-sale liquor establishments and municipal liquor stores, thus resu'lting in a drastic reduction in the number of on-sale beer licenses. The League opposes any law authorizing the sampling of wine or other spirits on the premises of an off-sale liquor store. The League opposes any bill which would automatically authorize an arena operator to contract with any holder of an on-sale liquor license for resale of liquor in an arena, without municipal approval of the transaction. The League supports the removal of any statutory limitation on the number of on- sale liquor licenses issued by a city; how- ever, any law authorizing an unlimited number of on-sale liquor licenses should require the municipality to establish by ordinance a local number of liquor licenses to be issued. Emergency telephone system The 1977 Legislature mandated a 911 emer- gency telephone system for the state, with com- pliance deadlines of 1982 for the Twin Cities metropolitan area and 1986 for the rest of the state. Under the financial plan enacted in 1978, only the annual recurring costs of local equip- ment and personnel would be paid by cities and other local jurisdictions. Since the legislature has mandated this program, the League believes it should not retreat from its commitment to finance most costs through state revenues. If sufficient federal funds are not available at any time in the future to finance capital equipment installation at public safety answering points, the state should fund these costs. Furthermore, in view of the fact that this is a mandated program, the local annual recurring costs should be a special levy, outside the levy limits, or the state should provide reimbursement. - 20 -