Document: Fridley Council Renews 13 Liquor Licenses

The Fridley City Council renewed the 13 liquor licenses in the city at its meeting Monday, but only after some grumbling about police calls at and the Shortstop's food-drink ratio.

The 40 police calls last year at Pickle Park, 7820 University Ave. NE, represented a 60 percent increase over 2009. Council Member Ann Bolkcom called that "disturbing."

The Shortstop Fridley, 1298 E. Moore Lake Dr., achieved the exact minimum ratio of food sales to liquor sales required by city code: 40 percent food, 60 percent alcohol.

"A flag is raised for me at the Shortstop in Fridley when they're right on the numbers like that," said Mayor Scott Lund. "It's a little suspicious when it's 40-60."

Council members praised a memo to them and City Manager Bill Burns from City Clerk Deb Skogen that gave details about the establishments in Fridley holding liquor licenses. The memo wasn't included in the public meeting materials but on Bolkcom's motion the council voted to enter it into the record.

Read that memo and see the summary included in the council meeting materials in .