Policy Order O-8

WHEREAS: In the past, the City of Cambridge's License Commission has proposed significant fee increases for no-value liquor licenses and convened a taskforce to review the proposal and make a final recommendation; and

WHEREAS: Many surviving businesses with no-value liquor licenses have stated that restaurant margins are so thin during their initial years that any increase would jeopardize the viability of the new restaurants Cambridge residents can enjoy and negatively impact the ability of Cambridge to attract great and innovative new restaurants; and

WHEREAS: Given the direct impact of such fees on the availability of locally-owned restaurants, this is ultimately a policy decision that the Council should decide; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide the City Council a report on any discussions regarding fee increases held by the Cambridge License Commission; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to make the Cambridge License Commission aware of the Council's opposition to any fee increases proposed for no-value liquor licenses due to the undue financial burden they would place on business owners in the City.