It's About Freakin' Time

St. Paul finally steps up to the plate and offers a reasonable plan to allow bars to stay open until 4am for the RNC. Amazing how hard that was.

St. Paul bars can stay open til 4 a.m. ... for only $500

By Jason Hoppin
jhoppin@pioneerpress.com

Article Launched: 08/21/2008 12:01:00 AM CDT

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman has reached a deal with the City Council to roll back the fee for bar owners to stay open until 4 a.m. during the Republican National Convention, his office says.

Under the plan, which is likely to be introduced at Wednesday's council meeting, bars that pay the $2,500 would be eligible for a $2,000 refund.

Several bar owners have complained about the fee, especially after Minneapolis rolled back its fee for private parties to $100. Public venues that plan to stay open during the convention, which runs from Sept. 1-4 at the Xcel Energy Center, are still being charged $2,500.

Other cities, including Eagan and Bloomington, are allowing bar owners to stay open until 4 a.m. without an extra fee.