SPRINGVILLE — Less than a month after briefly revoking most of the licenses to sell packaged beer, the City Council is preparing to tighten Springville's ordinance regarding beer sales.
The council tinkered with the ordinance several months ago, making drive-up window sales illegal and limiting the number of licenses. Now, the council is poised to institute a system of fines and suspensions for retailers whose clerks sell beer illegally to minors.
Springville also is considering raising the age requirement for clerks who sell beer. Changes discussed at a meeting this week could be voted on later this month.
In January, the council revoked 10 of 13 beer licenses for retailers who sold to minors during a December compliance check. The licenses were restored a week later after retailers explained how they would prevent future violations.
City Attorney Troy Fitzgerald has drafted proposed changes to the beer sales ordinance that would fine retailers $300 on the first instance of sales to minors. A second violation within 12 months would result in a $500 fine and license suspension for seven days.
A third violation would incur a $500 fine and result in loss of the beer license. The holder would not be allowed to re-apply for one year. Given the city's cap on licenses and the fact there is already one retailer on a waiting list, revocation could mean indefinite loss of the beer license.
A manager at Allen's Super Save Market told the council this week that a plan to raise the age required for clerks who sell beer could result in lost jobs for Springville teens. Some council members floated the idea of requiring anyone who sells beer to be at least 21.
"I just think it's really odd they can sell something they can't consume," said Councilwoman Keri Gordon, referring to clerks as young as 15 who sell beer. "That's where some of the pressure (to sell illegally) comes in."
But Allen's and other retailers have said raising the required age to 21 would force them to hire clerks from outside Springville or shun the town's high school students who look for jobs in town.
The council considered a permanent revocation for any license holder whose clerks sold to minors three times in one year. But that plan was seen as too harsh.
"Forever's an awful long time to punish a business," said Councilman Jim Reed.
Instead, the council seems to be leaning toward hitting retailers where it hurts most: the pocketbook. Increased fines and license suspensions will help retailers ensure their clerks don't sell to minors, city leaders believe.
While most beer retailers failed compliance checks in December, recent checks have been more encouraging.
On Jan. 29, police conducted a sting using a teen decoy who attempted to purchase beer, and none of the retailers in town sold illegally, said Police Chief Scott Finlayson.
Springville allows one retail beer license per 1,500 residents, currently capping the number of license holders at 13.
Brent Christensen of the Spring Hills Plaza has applied for a license, becoming the first to be put on Springville's waiting list.
Spring Hills could get a license if the population increases sufficiently or if another license is revoked.