HISTORY/BACKGROUND

This ordinance was actually was actually passed in August 2007 by a vote of 4-3 (Mayor Simpson broke the tie, in favor). Following the passage and implementation of the ordinance, though, a group of citizens circulated a petition and gathered approximately 850 signatures (less than 1% of the population). As per the City Charter (and the first time this rule has been put into effect in the history of the City Charter), this action forced the ordinance back to City Council which faced two choices at that time.

The first choice the Council faces was to consider repealing the previously adopted ordinance; said motion failed by a vote of 4-3 (tie broken again by Mayor Simpson). With that action, the only other possible action, as per the City Charter, was for the ordinance to be “suspended” until such a time as the matter could be put before the voters at the next regular election which will be in May 10, 2008.

Issue at Hand:
Currently, establishments with a Mixed-Beverage permit are permitted to sell/serve alcohol until midnight six days a week and 1 a.m. on Saturdays. Passage of the Late-Night Ordinance would give those establishments with a late-night permit, the ability and choice of serving until 2 a.m. seven days a week.

At this time, the only developed cities in Collin and Denton Counties that do NOT have late-night hours are Frisco and McKinney (those that do include Plano, Allen, The Colony, Lewisville, Carrollton, Addison, Dallas, Denton and others). Late-night hours will happen in Collin County under a couple of scenarios: