Commissioners begin review of ballot option to remove 30% food-sales threshold for drinking-establishment licenses

Commissioners discussed a citizen and business inquiry about removing the existing 30% food-sales requirement for a drinking-establishment license and whether to place that change on a future ballot.

Speaker 8 summarized the issue: neighboring counties have updated their requirements, and removing the 30% threshold would require a ballot measure. Speaker 8 offered to research the statutory steps and timeline necessary to put the measure before voters. Commissioners agreed it would be useful to hear from the businesses directly affected before choosing a course: Speaker 2 asked staff to compile a list of county businesses holding malt-beverage or drinking-establishment licenses and send a letter inviting them to comment.

Commissioners discussed timing: a special election would be expensive, so the preference was to place any change on a regularly scheduled ballot; Speaker 8 said he would outline the steps and deadlines. Commissioners asked staff to compare neighboring counties’ approaches, prepare a timeline for submission and deadlines for the next regular election, and to return with that information and public-notice recommendations. No vote was taken at this meeting; commissioners directed staff to proceed with outreach and to include the topic on future agendas for public comment and further direction.