The Bloomington City Council adopted an ordinance on Oct. 27 amending Chapter 13 (Alcoholic Beverage Control) to require that servers complete approved training and to allow earlier license suspensions after repeated compliance-check failures. The ordinance passed 4–3; the council set the ordinance to take effect 14 days after adoption and directed staff to notify affected businesses in advance.

The ordinance requires that 100% of servers employed by licensed establishments complete an approved server-training program within 90 days of hire and maintain certification as a condition of license renewal. It also establishes a new sequence of suspensions in addition to fines: a 1‑day suspension for a second violation, a 5‑day suspension for a third violation, and up to 30 days for a fourth violation, measured on a rolling five‑year basis. Suspensions would be brought to the City Council for consideration.

City staff presented the ordinance as a response to a rising trend in compliance‑check failures this year and recommended the changes to reinforce public safety. Miss Hanson, representing the city clerk’s office, explained the renewal process and said staff will provide tracking forms to licensees for submission with renewal packets and will offer multiple approved training options (online and in‑person) so servers can meet the requirement.

Council debate focused on balancing public‑safety goals against the burden on restaurants, which often have high turnover. Council member Moore said she was "a little nervous" about requiring 100% completion for all renewals because "the barrier that that puts in" for turnover businesses could make openings harder. Council member D'Alessandro, who said he completed server training himself recently, argued for the public‑safety case: "it wasn't hard to do, and I found it very informative." Council member Nelson said he supported the policy but opposed adoption without direct outreach to affected businesses: "if we have an ordinance that's gonna impact a group of businesses, I think we should reach out to them." Several members urged staff to implement a more robust outreach and rollout plan for restaurant owners.

Council member Carter moved adoption of the ordinance; Council member D'Alessandro seconded. After amendment and floor discussion, the final vote on adoption was 4 in favor and 3 opposed (Nelson, Lohman and Mui voting no). Council then approved a separate resolution for summary publication and set the ordinance effective date for 14 days after adoption; that summary‑publication motion passed unanimously (7–0). Staff told the council the 2025 compliance checks already were complete and therefore the new rules would not affect those checks.

The city attorney and finance staff reviewed the ordinance language; staff said the ordinance would be enforced according to the code and that suspensions would be processed at council when they occur. The council asked staff to mail notices to licensed businesses and to include implementation timing and approved training options in city communications before the effective date.

Moving forward, the clerk’s office will supply the renewal tracking form to licensees and compile training documentation with renewal packets. Councilmembers who opposed adoption urged follow‑up outreach and recommended that staff monitor administrative impact and business concerns.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance amending Chapter 13 (Alcoholic Beverage Control): Motion by Council member Carter; second by Council member D'Alessandro. Outcome: adopted 4–3. Effective: 14 days after adoption (Nov. 10, 2025). Opposed: Council members Nelson, Lohman and Mui. Staff directed to notify businesses prior to the effective date.
- Resolution for summary publication of the ordinance: Motion by Council member Kreider; second by Council member D'Alessandro. Outcome: adopted 7–0.

Ending: Council directed staff to provide a communications rollout to licensees and to return if administrative or compliance questions arise.