A new off-sale license is included in a revised alcohol licensing ordinance approved by the Minot City Council on first reading Monday, Jan. 5.

The revised ordinance includes a number of updates, but it keeps the population-based cap on the numbers of retail licenses, which Minot bar owners successfully advocated for during the ordinance review. The revised ordinance would not take effect until Jan. 1, 2027.

“That would give license owners and the city staff a full year to prepare, advertise, do a PR campaign to kind of advise everyone what these changes are going to look like,” City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim said. The delay also allows time to draft the necessary resolution setting license fees under the new ordinance.

Jessica Klein, attorney representing Marketplace Foods, raised concerns regarding a new, separate off-sale license.

“My client is not opposed to thoughtful modernization of the ordinance. However, as proposed, the ordinance creates a significant inequity for the existing license holders, particularly stores that sell alcohol strictly for off sale and do not operate bars or have on-site consumption,” Klein said.

MarketPlace Foods invested over $500,000 in four separate licenses, she said. The new ordinance would allow new off-sale businesses to sell liquor with no license issuance fee and a proposed initial and annual fee of $3,250, granting the same privilege without the substantial upfront investment existing businesses were required to make, she said.

Klein requested either maintaining the single on- and off-sale license or if off-sale is separated into its own category, an issuance fee should be charged that reflects the privilege granted.

Debra Hoffarth, representing the Magic City Retail Beverage Association, also addressed the council to stress the need for rules enforcement within the different license categories.