On Tuesday night, the Wayzata City Council green-lit a code change permitting two pull tab locations within the city.
This resolution stems from the request by Wayzata American Legion Post 118 to broaden the scope of their gambling license to include selling Pull Tabs at their establishment.
The existing City Code currently sanctions only one license and one location, exclusively held by the Wayzata Lions Club for operation at the Wayzata Bar & Grill.
The Legion’s formal request, accompanied by a detailed narrative, underwent thorough discussion by city staff and the Council during a workshop held on January 9, 2024.
Responding to the Legion’s proposal, the Council instructed staff to advance a code amendment.
Additionally, they called for a comprehensive report after one year, aiming to evaluate the impact on the budget and operations for both license holders – Wayzata Lions and American Legion.
Legion Post Commander Jerry Ostrov and the Board of Directors expressed a willingness to contribute a percentage of the proceeds back to the City.
The Post envisions that the newly approved pull tab operation will generate an estimated $25,000 to $30,000 in donations to the City of Wayzata.
The Wayzata Lions, having held the exclusive pull tab license in the city since 1988, operated at the Wayzata Bar and Grill.
Over the years, the Lions have donated a substantial sum of over $1,300,000 in pull tab revenue to the City of Wayzata’s Fire Department, following a 50% revenue split.
Both the Wayzata Lions and the Wayzata Legion have a longstanding history of supporting various causes and non-profit organizations, including veterans and the Wayzata Boardwalk Senior Living facility.
After deliberation, the motion for approval received unanimous support with a 4-0 vote.
A second reading of the code change is anticipated at an upcoming council meeting.
