08-873Council File # 08-873
GreenSheet# 3oj�815
RESOLUTION
Presented by
1 WHEREAS, the Legislative Hearing Officer recommends that the application for (LD. #OQli265) Wine
2 On Sale and Malt On Sale (Strong) licenses to the existing Restaurant (A) 0-12 Seats license by the
3 City of Saint Paul, doing business as Highland 9 Hole Golf Course, 1'797 Edgcumbe Road, be
4 approved with no conditions.
5
6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby approves this license
7 Application.
Bostrom
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Absent Requested by Department of:
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Adopted by Council: Date
Adoption Certified by Coun il Secretary
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Form Approved by City Attorney
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Form Approved by Mayor for Submission to Council
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Conpct Person & Phnne:
Nhia Vang
266-8566
Must Be on Council Agen
13-AUG-OS
Doc. Type: RESOLUTION
E•DocumentRequired: Y
DocumentConWct: JeanBirkholz
Contact PNone: 266-8673
06-AUG-0B
: 305787
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Approving the license application, per the Legislative Hearing Officer, for Wine On Sale and Malt On Sale (Strong) licenses for the
City of Saint Paul, doing business as Highland 9 Hole Golf Course, 1797 Edgcumbe Road.
idations: Approve (A) or Reject (R): Personal Service Contrects Must Answer the Following Questions:
Planning Commission 1. Has this person/firm ever worked under a contract for this department?
CIB Committee Yes No
Civil Service Commission 2. Has this person/firm ever been a city employee?
Yes No
3. Does this person/firm possess a skill not normally possessed by any
current city employee?
Yes No
F�cplain all yes answers on separete sheet and attach to green sheet
Initiating Probiem, Issues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
Advantages If Approved:
Disadvantages If Approved:
Disadvantages If Not Approved:
Trensaction:
Funding Source:
Financial Information:
(Explain)
CosURevenue Budgeted:
Activity Number:
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AUG �'�' 200;
August 6, 2008 1237 PM Page 1 �A1 �ARRICe.�'
LICENSE HEAI2ING MINUTES � � O � �
Hightand, 9 Hole G91f Gaurse,-1�97-�
-- ___—
_ _ _._. --- - - — ---�onday`Augvst�, I�:06 a.m.
330 City Hall, 15 Kellogg Boulevard West
Trudy Moloney, Acting Legislative Hearing Officer
The hearing was called to order at 10:09 a.m.
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Staff Present: Kristina Schweinler, Department of Safety and Inspections (DSn; and Jean
Birkholz, Council Research
Others Present: Vince Gillespie, Special Services Manager, Parks and Recreation Division, City
of Saint Paul.
Request for Licenses: Wine On Sale and Malt On Sale (Strong) added to the existing license for
Restaurant (A) - 0-12 Seats
Ms. Moloney stated that this is an informal legislative hearing for a license application. This is a Class
N notification which means that the neighborhood gets notified and has a chance to voice its concerns.
If anyone has a concern, it automatically triggers a hearing. Other Class N Licenses include: auto sales,
auto repair, cabaret, eta—things that have an immediate impact on the neighborhood. The City
received two (2) letters of concern regarding the issuance of this license. Ultimately, there are three (3)
possible outcomes from this hearing: 1) the hearing officer may recommend to the City Council that
they issue these licenses without any conditions; 2) sbe may tecommend to tl�e City Council that they
issue these licenses with agreed upon conditions; or 3) she may recommend to the City Council that they
not issue these licenses but refer them to an administrative law judge for a further hearing and findings.
Ms. Moloney will begin with a staff report. Staff will be asked to explain their review of the application
and will also explain their recommendation. Then, she will ask the applicant to talk about the business
plan. Next, if there are other people present, she will hear from those who aze here in support of the
issuance of the licenses and those with concerns about the issuance of the licenses; and, she will review
the letters / emails that were sent regarding these applications.
The hearing office will make her recommendation in the form of a resolution that will go to the City
Council for their approval. It will appear on the Consent Agenda at a City Council meeting.
Ms. Kristina Schweinler, Department of Safety and Inspecfions (DSI), reported that th3s is an upgrade
from a 3.2 beer license to a Wine and Strong Malt license. Tt has been reviewed and approved by all of
the required departments. The Deparhnent of Safety and Inspections (DSI) recommends approval with
no conditions.
Mr. Gillespie explained that part of his responsibility is to manage golf course operations. For the last
five (5) or six (6) years, the golf industry has been under a lot of stress with increased costs and
decreased play. It has affected both municipal and private programs. As part of the City's plan to make
the courses more competitive, attractive and financially solvent, it needs to bring in additional play at all
of the golf courses. Over the years, the City's courses have lost business to those courses that haue wine
and strong beer sales. In order to better posiYion the CiCy's gol£ courses in the market, a policy decision
was made to upgrade their licenses at ali four (4j golf courses to wine and strong beer. No objections
were received about the three (3) 18 Hole golf courses; Hi�land Nataonal (across the street from
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Highland 9; Como; and Phalen. Letters of support were received from District Planning Council 10
(Como) and District Planning Council 5 (Phalen). _ _ _ __,._ _ _ __ _._
Ms. Moloney asked Mr. Gillespie whether he has had a chance to read the letters from David Larson and
Martin Capp. Mr. Gillespie responded that he had. He added that Highland 9 is the most modest
course; it has the least amount of play and Parks was surprised to receive any objection letters. It
averages between 23,000-24,000 rounds per yeaz. In its heyday, it was averaging close to 30,000 rounds
per year. Parks thinks that with the addition of wine and strong beer, play can be increased by about
2,000 rounds, which suggests that the traffic and pazking issues that one writer lists, is actually less now
than it was a few yeazs ago. Highland 9 has a limited capacity; a possible m�imum number of 72
people. The club house is very small and modest; perhaps half the size of this hearing room. It can seat
12-14 people at a time. Most of the food and beverage service comes from cart service out on the
course. The profile of golfers at Highland 9 is primarily seniors and youth. To increase play, the City is
tazgeting evening leagues and small events (church groups, school reunions, etc.).
Ms. Moloney asked how over use of alcohol will be monitored. Mr. Gillespie responded that it will be
monitored no different from the way it has been. All the courses have had 3.2 sales for many years. All
staff aze trained in the state required service management training program and are certified. When
there is an event, there will be a course marshal, a ranger present. Because it's such a competitive
indushy and because they're the City, they're not going to allow inappropriate behaviar on the golf
course. Theq have a reputation of having good control.
Ms. Moloney reviewed the letters of concern. The Larson's are very concerned about increased
drinking and the culture of drinking coming to the course. They are also concerned about the safety of
pedestrians and people on bikes. Ms. Moloney read, "The impaired drivers will drive out of the club
house and turn south on Edgcumbe, immediately encounter a completely blind curve and will not be
able to avoid adults and children who are in the roadway." Mr. Gillespie responded that the golfers at
Highland 9 are parked on the street; there's no off-street parking, so, cars are not pulling out of a club
house driveway. They're already on the street. Most of the cars park on the south side of Montreal
(north side of the golf course) and perhaps 10-15 cars pazk along Edgcumbe. Ms. Moloney continued to
list their concerns: "Talmud Torah Elementary School is located only two (2) blocks to the north on the
same street." Mr. Gillespie commented that Talmud Torah is directly across the street from Highland
National Golf Course, and they were notified of the upgrade at Highland National, yet, they did not
register an objection regarding the upgrade. Ms. Moloney noted that they also bring up that frisbees
frequently suddenly appear in the roadway. Mr. Gillespie commented that the Frisbees affect Highland
National, not Highland 9.
The second letter from Martin Capp addressed the concern that serving stronger drinks could encourage
drunkenness, rowdiness, noise and possible crime affecting the current calm situation at the golf course
with no problems.
Mr. Gillespie stated that the course has served 3.2 beer from the day it opened in 1972 and there has
never been incidence of rowdiness.
The Legislative Hearing Officer recommends approval with no conditions.
The hearing was adjourned at 10:23 a.m.
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