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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, July 28, 2008 Page 22 Councilmember Roe clarified that tonight's requested action was not in consider- ing anadditional application; but whether to consider having a hearing on the City's existing ordinance, and limitations for 10 off-sale liquor licenses, all of which have been issued. Public Comments Steve Burwell, 2482 Albert Street; owner for 23 years of family-owned Fair- view Wine & Spirits Mr. Burwell reviewed his historical perspective from the October 1983 City Council meeting when the then-seated Council decided to issue up to 10 off-sale liquor licenses. Mr. Burwell expressed his surprise at that action, but based on that action and the competition based on clean operations, his firm and other in- dependent retailers had made commitments to banks, employees, landlords and suppliers. Mr. Burwell noted that, with nine independents and one corporate store, now 23 years later, consideration was being given to changing the rules and issuing more licenses. Mr. Burwell opined that market forces should work as they're intended to do; and that if Roundy's would like a liquor license for that location, they buy out an ex- isting operation and transfer that license. Mr. Burwell noted that there was a dis- tinct difference in off-sale liquor license restrictions, who were not allowed to sell anything but those alcoholic beverages, and that of food businesses and the many options available to them. Mr. Burwell spoke to industry regulations, with restric- tions on size, hours, locations, compliance, checks, and clientele restrictions; and expressed his concern that if the ordinance was amended to allow Roundy's to have a liquor license, it could encourage other retailers to do so (i.e., Target, SuperValu, and SuperAmerica), some of whom have expressed an interest in the past in obtaining anoff--sale license. Mr. Burwell questioned where that left the independent retailer in the City of Roseville. Mr. Burwell indicated that he was not worried about competition, as long as the limit was 10 licensees; and opined that he was not opposed to Roundy's having a liquor license, as long as they purchased that license from a current licensee. Mr. Burwell opined that a ramification of issuing another license would be that there would be closures of existing independent operators. In response to Councilmember Roe and from Mr. Burwell's historical perspective, Mr. Burwell indicated that it had taken 23 years to fill the 10 licenses, with the fi- nal one being issued just this year for a firm on Snelling Avenue. Tam McGehee Ms. McGehee referred to her previously-mentioned a-mail correspondence, and spoke in opposition to having liquor sold in grocery stores for personal and social reasons. Ms. McGee noted that there were two independent liquor stores within walking distance of Roundy's (MGM and Cellars), even though not in the City of Roseville, but located across Larpenteur Avenue in St. Paul, and opined that the