Minot council adopts amended alcohol ordinance, tightens special-event appeals

The Minot City Council on June 1 approved a revised alcohol ordinance on second reading that the city says will take effect in 2027 and will be accompanied by an education period and a future rate schedule set during the budget process. The council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance as amended.

The council changed the definition of a "supper club" so that qualifying establishments must derive 60% of their gross sales from food and alcoholic beverages combined, not 60% of alcohol sales alone. Alderman Bless led the clarification during amendments, saying the council’s intent was to use total sales as the denominator rather than alcohol-only sales; the council moved and adopted the amendment without opposition.

The ordinance also refines the special-event permit process. Under the adopted language the police chief (or a designee) may deny an application if it is incomplete, violates ordinance standards, or if recommended public-safety measures are declined. Applicants may appeal a denial to the city manager for an expedited administrative review; the council amended the appeal deadline to four business days (originally proposed as 72 hours) before adopting the ordinance. City Attorney Steph and Deputy Chief Plesus explained the change reflects a desire for administrative speed while preserving a short appeal window.

City Attorney Steph and other staff noted that fees and a rate sheet for any new licenses will be set through the council’s budget process; until new rates are adopted existing fee schedules remain in effect. Staff said the ordinance’s effective date is in 2027, allowing time for public education and any additional council refinements.

The council discussed enforcement and judicial remedies: staff noted that district courts typically require an urgency showing before intervening in an administrative denial and that administrative exhaustion (appeal to the city manager) is written into the ordinance as the next step before litigation. Mayor Mark Janser and City Manager Tom Joyce said the change was intended to allow prompt administrative decisions without convening a council quorum for routine event determinations.

What happens next: the ordinance becomes effective per the timeline in the ordinance in 2027; the council will consider a fee rate sheet in the budget process and staff will conduct outreach and an education period for affected license holders.