Before an expected vote by state lawmakers next week on whether to extend bar hours during the Republican National Convention, the St. Paul City Council moved Wednesday to signal its opposition to the plan.
The council voted 4-3 to oppose an idea to keep bars open until 4 a.m. during the convention, which runs from Sept. 1-4 at the Xcel Energy Center.
"I got 8,000 people who live downtown who don't want a bunch of Republican lobbyists puking on the streets," said Council Member Dave Thune, who represents downtown and eastern Grand Avenue.
The council cited police costs and the potential for added neighborhood problems if bars were allowed to stay open later during the convention. Bars are currently required to close at 1 a.m., with some allowed to stay open until 2 a.m. under a special license.
The resolution opposing the extended hours was proposed by Council Member Lee Helgen, who has dealt with several incidents of bar-related violence in his ward, which includes the North End. But most of the impact would be in Thune's ward.
"This is not Las Vegas. This is the city of St. Paul," Helgen said, saying there would be plenty of nightlife options for convention attendees.
Although the 4-3 vote was close, there appears to be broad opposition on the council to later bar hours. Council Member Dan Bostrom — whose son, Assistant Chief Matt Bostrom, is head of convention security for the St. Paul Police Department — said he is opposed to the legislation extending bar hours even though he did not support the city's resolution.
The state proposal would not charge bars for a special license allowing extended bar hours. That would leave St. Paul paying for police and other costs associated with the later hours, Bostrom said.
Council Member Pat Harris seems to be the only one who isn't against the idea.
"I'm open to exploring 4 a.m. closing," Harris said, adding that he did not want convention planners to look elsewhere if St. Paul ends up being the only municipality against it.
Bostrom and Harris were joined by Council President Kathy Lantry in opposing the resolution.
After the meeting, Mayor Chris Coleman released a statement saying he was concerned about security costs but said St. Paul needs to work together with other cities on the issue.
"I am deeply concerned about putting St. Paul's restaurant and bar owners at a competitive disadvantage with other entertainment venues in the area," Coleman said.
Some council members acknowledged concerns that the vote would send the wrong message about St. Paul, but they dismissed the idea.
"This is just not a good thing to do at all, and it has nothing to do with how sophisticated we are," Thune said.
Dave Orrick contributed to this report.