STEVEN M.

MORLEY
CITY OF ELMHURST MAYOR
PATTY SPENCER
209 NORTH YORK STREET CITY CLERK
ELAINE LIBOVICZ
ELMHURST, ILLINOIS 60126-2759 CITY TREASURER
(630) 530-3000 JAMES A. GRABOWSKI
CITY MANAGER
www.elmhurst.org

July 10, 2017

To: Mayor Morley and Members of the City Council

Re: Sunday Hours of Operation for Liquor Sales

The Public Affairs and Safety Committee met on June 26 and again July 10, 2017 to
discuss amending City ordinance 36.29, which regulates the hours during which liquor
sales are prohibited and specifies closing hours for local establishments.

Section 36.29 entitled Hours during which sales may be made, allows the sale and
consumption of alcoholic liquor during specific hours. Currently all liquor licensed
establishments are prohibited from selling alcoholic liquor between the hours of 12:45
a.m. and 6:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, between the hours of 1:45 a.m. through
6:00 a.m. Saturdays and between the hours of 12:45 a.m. through 11:00 a.m. on
Sundays, except that on Sundays, those liquor licensed establishments selling alcoholic
liquor in its original packages, and not for consumption on the premises where sold are
prohibited from selling alcoholic liquors between the hours of 12:45 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Several local establishments approached the City to request an earlier start time on
Sundays allow them to compete with restaurants in surrounding communities for
Sunday breakfast/brunch diners, shower and other private party events, and holiday
gatherings such as Easter and Mother's Day. The request for classic brunch cocktails
such as mimosas, Bellinis, and Blood Marys is becoming more prevalent from their
customers; amending the start time to 6:00 a.m. will allow these establishments to
meet the changing needs and wants of their consumers and correspond with the hours
allowed during the week and Saturdays.

Business Development Coordinator Jason, stated staff, on behalf of the business

community, is requesting an amendment to Sunday liquor hours for both retail and on-
premise consumption sales to fall in line with start times the rest of the week i.e.: 6:00
am. The Municipal Code currently allows for Sunday package sales beginning at 10:00
a.m. and Sunday on-premise consumption sales at 11:00 a.m. The later Sunday start
times are a holdover from previous Illinois Teetotaler Laws. The State no longer restricts
Sunday sales, and though staff does not anticipate liquor license holders to drastically
change their current hours of operation, it does give restaurants options with brunch
menus etc, allows for special sporting event viewing earlier on a Sunday, private parties
such as showers to serve mimosas etc., and the grocery stores to capitalize on those
who stop in after worship to do their shopping for the week.

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Amending the Sunday liquor time restrictions will not only help Elmhurst liquor
distributing establishments meet the needs of their customers, but will also prevent tax
dollars from leaving the City and going to neighboring communities. The Elmhurst Police
Department had no objections to the requested change stating amending the start time
on Sunday to a single time, in-line with the rest of the week, will also alleviate confusion
and strengthen compliance.

This request was reviewed and the Public Affairs and Safety Committee agreed with this
request and feels that a change in Sunday liquor hours to the start time of 6:00 a.m.,
which correlates with start times Monday-Saturday, is an appropriate request.

It is, therefore, the recommendation of the Public Affairs and Safety Committee that the
City Attorney be authorized to prepare the appropriate ordinance to amend 36.29
outlining the liquor sales hours paragraph (a) for Sundays to align starting hours for both
on premise and off-premise consumption to 6:00 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Public Affairs and Safety Committee

______________________________
Scott M. Levin, Chairman

______________________________ ______________________________
Dannee Polomsky , Vice-Chairman Bob Dunn

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