Ypsilanti businesses will have the option to sell alcohol on Sunday mornings.

The Ypsilanti City Council chose not to take any action over new state legislation allowing all day Sunday sales, meaning the law automatically takes effect on Thursday. Bars or stores that want to sell alcohol starting at 7 a.m. on Sunday will have to pay a $160 fee and register with the state.

After statewide confusion last week about how municipalities implement or decline to take part in the new legislation, Ypsilanti City Manager Ed Koryzno provided three resolutions for the council’s consideration.

Those included resolutions allowing alcohol sales all day Sunday, banning any Sunday alcohol sales or prohibiting alcohol sales before noon.

The fourth option, which council chose after a procedural debate, was to do nothing. 

Local municipalities can pass a resolution “opting out” of alcohol sales all day or part of the day. The Michigan Liquor Control Commission would then honor those resolutions. If municipalities don’t don't pass a resolution and contact the LCC, the law automatically goes into effect.

Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson was the lone council member opposing Sunday morning sales. That was a change from the Dec. 7 meeting at which a majority of council indicated opposition to earlier sales in an informal poll and discussion.

Richardson said Ward One constituents she spoke with opposed the change.

“I was inundated with calls from people who were in opposition to the new law,” she said. “One of the prevailing thoughts is if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. They were in total opposition to expansion of the time.”

Council Member Ricky Jefferson, also a Ward One representative, said he received calls from people opposing and supporting the change. Although he previously said he opposed all day sales, he said he changed his mind after receiving more information and having confusion over the issue cleared up.

Council Member Pete Murdock previously said he saw no need for the change, but moved to a more neutral stance.

Ypsilanti businesses will be permitted to sell alcohol before noon on Sundays.

File photo

“I don’t think it matters that much now,” he said. “A lot of people get exercised about it, but I don’t think it’s going to save the commercial center of downtown, nor is it going to harm it.”

Council Member Brian Robb and Mayor Paul Schreiber supported the change from the start.

“I think it’s good legislation,” Robb said. “Now Sunday morning, as far as retail goes, is no different than Tuesday or Friday. We are making all days equal. Now I wish they would fix banning morning sales on Christmas Day.”

Council Member Dan Vogt said he wanted to receive input from people who weren’t part of the business community before deciding where he stands. He said the only comment he heard was a concern that the change would increase problems at certain party stores.

But he said he felt that was more of a licensing and law enforcement issue.

“My thinking is leaning more toward more supporting the local businesses and trusting the responsible behavior by the vast majority of people,” Vogt said.

Corner Brewery owners Matt and Rene Greff were the most vocal local advocates for allowing all-day liquor sales. They previously pointed out the change wouldn’t affect their business because they are rarely open before noon, but Matt Greff worked on the Michigan Brewer’s Guild government affairs committee that helped push for the legislation.

Rene Greff argued opting out of all day sales would put Ypsilanti at a competitive disadvantage in attracting and retaining businesses.

Matt Greff thanked council members who voted to allow all day sales for “taking a stand in putting Ypsilanti on the cutting edge in moving forward.”

Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.