BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Bemidji City Council will consider moving the mandatory bar closing time from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m., city officials said Monday.
The reasons given were that it would save overtime at the police department, which does a shift change at 2 a.m., and also at the public works department, which could start plowing earlier if cars weren’t parked on the streets.
City Attorney Al Felix said his office would begin drafting an ordinance, possibly as soon as the regular City Council meeting next week but more likely for next month.
For the council to pass an ordinance, it typically must be considered by the council at three separate meetings, the second of which includes a public hearing on the law.
A similar proposal in 2010 failed on a 3-3 split vote.
