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Case #3: Request to Amend 2001 Schedule of Rates, Fees, and Charges (Specifically Wine License) City Clerk Thieling stated that some months ago, City staff received an inquiry from Greg Teigen, representing Mansetti's, as to the process and cost of a wine license. Staff explained the process and informed Mr. Teigen that the fee for the license is $2,000 per year, plus investigation, plus the beer license since they also intend to sell beer. Mr. Teigen suggested the rate was quite high in comparison to other cities. This week, Monday, Mr. Teigen called to have the application faxed to him for the wine and beer license, and inquired as to why Ramsey's fee was so high. She offered to research the reason for the high fee and found Minnesota Statute 340A.408, Subd. 2c which reads "The fee for a wine license cannot exceed half of the license fee charged for an on-sale intoxicating license or $2,000, whichever amount is less. She checked with Finance Officer Lund as to why the fee was set at $2,000 and she found that it has been at that amount for many years. Ms. Thieling then contacted neighboring cities to find out what they charge for a wine license and received varying amounts ranging from $200 per year (Champlin) to $1,000 per year (Blaine - unless the restaurant seats 100+ people, then they charge $2,000 per year). Ramsey's closest neighboring cities charge as follows: Andover - $500 per year, Anoka - $400 per year, and Elk River $650 per year. Staff requested that the Committee consider amending the fee for a wine license from $2,000 per year to $1,000 per year. Ramsey would still be higher than its closest neighbors, but $1,000 would be a little more "in the ballpark" with the cities surveyed. This was the first request Ramsey has received for a wine license, so to date, no establishment has been made to pay the $2,000. Motion by Councilmember Zimmerman, seconded by Councilmember Kurak, to recommend that the City Council adopt the resolution amending 2001 Schedule of Rates, Fees and Charges, specifically the fee for the Wine License be set to $1,000. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Zimmerman, Kurak, Anderson, and Hendriksen. Voting No: None. Case #4: Chicago Opportunity Site Tour City Administrator Norman stated that the City contracted with Len Levine on January 26, 2001, to assist the City as Project Manager for the Metropolitan Council's Smart Growth Opportunity Site Grant Process. As part of that process, Mr. Levine determined that many similar examples of "mixed-use development" and "transit area development" were currently being created in Chicago and suggested that interested parties and stakeholders take a trip to Chicago for a guided tour of the sites. Staff has arranged for a tour to be held on Thursday, August 23, 2001. Arrangements have been made to fly a group of approximately 40 people to Chicago, where a bus will take the group to four different transit area development sites in the northern part of Chicago. Staff requested that $8,500 be transferred from the contingency fund to finance the Opportunity Site tour. A letter has been sent by the Mayor to different entities and businesses requesting financial support to help defray the cost of the Opportunity Site tour. Finance Committee/August 14, 2001 Page 4 of 7