St. Paul mayor vetoes bar restrictions
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St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman has vetoed an ordinance that would create special licenses and additional restrictions for bars that stay open until 2 a.m.
The new rules would have required bar owners to pay $200 for the special permits and have two staff on site at all times. Supporters said the measure would help control bars where there are frequent assaults and disturbances.
Coleman said the council took a heavy-handed approach. The mayor has ordered the police and licensing departments to coordinate their resources as they target problem bars over the next four months.
"I think there are a handful of establishments that are continually causing the bulk of the problems. What I didn't want to do is punish the operators who are doing what they should be doing and acting responsibly to get at some of the problems," Coleman said.
This was Coleman's third veto since he took office in 2006. The city council would need five of seven votes to override the mayor's action.
Today, the council will host a public hearing on an unrelated ordinance that would allow bars to stay open until 4 a.m. for five nights during the Republican National Convention this September.
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