(A) The Council may in its sole discretion, for any reasonable cause, refuse to grant any application.
(B) No license may be issued under this section to:
(1) A person under 21 years of age;
(2) A person who within five years of the license application has been convicted of a felony or a willful violation of a federal or state law or local ordinance governing the manufacture, sale, distribution, or possession for sale or distribution of intoxicating liquor or non-intoxicating malt liquors;
(3) A person who has had an intoxicating or non-intoxicating liquor license revoked within five years of the license application; or to any person who at the time of the violation owns any interest, whether as a holder of more than 5% of the capital stock of a corporation licensee, as a partner or otherwise, in the premises or in the business conducted thereon; or to a corporation, partnership, association, enterprise, business, or firm in which any such person is in any manner interested; or
(4) A person not of good moral character or repute.
(C) No license shall be granted to a person who has a direct or indirect interest in a manufacturer, brewer or wholesaler, except a brewer licensed under M.S. § 340A.301, subd. 6(d), as it may be amended from time to time, may be issued an on-sale intoxicating liquor or non-intoxicating malt liquor license for a restaurant operated in the place of manufacture. The terms “manufacturer,” “brewer” and “wholesaler” have the meanings given them in M.S. § 340A.101, subds. 4, 17, and 28, as they may be amended from time to time, which are incorporated herein by reference.
(D) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, no license shall be granted for any building within 300 feet of any public elementary or secondary school structure or within 100 feet of any church structure.
(E) Delinquent taxes and charges:
(1) No license under this subchapter shall be granted for operation on any premises upon which taxes, assessments, or installments thereof are owed by the applicant and are delinquent and unpaid, except those delinquent and unpaid taxes, assessments, or installments thereof:
(a) Which are the subject of an agreement between the taxpayer and the County Treasurer that provides for the payment of the delinquent and unpaid taxes, assessments, or installments, together with any penalty and interest thereon in 12 equal monthly payments commencing on or before the date the license is granted, and further provides that any unpaid amount, together with any additional penalty and interest will be paid on or before the date of the payment of the last installment; and
(b) The licensee shall have entered into an agreement with the city that in the event the taxpayer has not complied with the terms of the agreement with the County Treasurer, such noncompliance shall be sufficient grounds to suspend or revoke the license.
(2) For the purpose of this section, “applicant” includes persons and related persons owning, directly or indirectly, at least a 50% beneficial interest in the proposed licensee or in an entity owning such interest in the proposed licensee or in the entity making the application and at least an undivided one-half interest in the premises proposed to be licensed or at least a 50% beneficial interest in the entity owning such premises.
(F) No person shall be granted liquor or wine licenses at more than two locations. For the purpose of this section, any person owning an interest of 5% or more of the entity to which the license is issued or such ownership by a member of his immediate family shall be deemed to be a licensee.
(G) On-sale intoxicating liquor licenses shall be granted only to hotels, restaurants, bowling centers, clubs and congressionally chartered veterans organizations.
(H) The Council may issue the number of licenses authorized by statute or restrict such number from time to time as it may, in its discretion, deem proper.
(2002 Code, § 11.05)