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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,November 25, 2013 <br /> Page 26 <br /> Mayor Roe called for discussion based on the motion to approve the liquor license <br /> transfer. <br /> Councilmember Willmus recognized the substantial documentation received from <br /> both parties: the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association in opposition to the <br /> transfer, as well as from the applicant. Councilmember Willmus noted that the <br /> City Attorney testified on several occasions that he had reviewed the information <br /> and was comfortable in the City Council proceeding forward. Based on his re- <br /> view of materials and the guidance of that legal advice, Councilmember Willmus <br /> spoke in support of the transfer. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte concurred that there had been a great deal of infor- <br /> mation provided by both sides on this issue; and concurred that she also looked to <br /> the City Attorney for guidance. Councilmember Laliberte advised that the City <br /> Attorney had, following his review of those materials, on several occasions and <br /> consistently found no reason for the City Council to deny this transfer request. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte recognized that there had been a great deal of commu- <br /> nity input, with the majority opposed to the requested transfer. However, Coun- <br /> cilmember Laliberte opined that the City Council was not in the position of pick- <br /> ing small versus big or winners versus losers;but in a position to encourage small, <br /> independent businesses to provide personalized service to customers in the mar- <br /> ketplace, that should allow them to maintain their loyal customer base. Based on <br /> the City Attorney's review of information and his guidance, and within the pur- <br /> view of what the City Council was being asked to do, Councilmember Laliberte <br /> spoke in support of the liquor license transfer. <br /> Councilmember McGehee spoke in opposition to this liquor license transfer based <br /> on her opinion that the City Council had not done its due diligence in allowing <br /> facts to go forward, completion of the investigation by the City of Bloomington, <br /> MN, or the investigation by the State of MN Attorney General, or final review of <br /> public information requests of the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association. <br /> Councilmember McGehee opined that the City of Bloomington was surely far <br /> more experienced with liquor licensing; and she saw no benefit in moving for- <br /> ward so quickly. Councilmember McGehee opined that from her perception, this <br /> was an unsuitable applicant and project for the City of Roseville to undertake due <br /> to the nature of the allegations and actual activities documented in various ways, <br /> including the applicant's own materials as well as their failure to include some of <br /> these cased in their application, making their application false and therefore in vi- <br /> olation of State law and City Code. Councilmember McGehee expressed her dis- <br /> appointment at the outset of tonight's meeting, based on and referencing City <br /> Code, Section 302.07, Section 302.03, and the League of Minnesota Cities hand- <br /> book's relevant information specific to liquor licenses. Councilmember McGehee <br /> further opined that the City Council was not required to issue its full contingent of <br /> off-sale liquor licenses, or transfer any of those licenses if not in the best interests <br />