Liquor license holders in Boulder can expect more coordinated enforcement of alcohol, building code and other regulations in the near future, and so-called "problem" businesses will bear the brunt of that enforcement.

Boulder City Council members said Tuesday night that they support the broad outlines of a new enforcement approach recommended by the city staff and a working group of residents and business owners, and they said they want to put more money into enforcement in next year's budget.

They also want to at least look into restoring the 500-foot buffer around the University of Colorado that would limit alcohol sales in most of the University Hill business district and in the Basemar shopping center. That option wasn't recommended by the staff, but Councilman Ken Wilson, a University Hill resident, said it needs to be on the table.

Wilson proposed several variations on an outright ban on new liquor licenses, including allowing late-night service with beer and wine only or allowing full liquor service but not past 11 p.m.

"I'd like to hear from the business community whether it's better to close late and serve beer and wine or better to serve margaritas at 5 p.m.," he said.

Most council members supported the idea of creating a late-night business license that would give the city additional leverage over bars and restaurants that want to stay open past 11 p.m.

Existing bars and restaurants may be asked to apply for the new license, officials said. That idea will come back to the council later this year for further debate and public input.

Council members rejected the idea of implementing a "cost-recovery fee" on the hosts of parties that require police or medical response.

City Attorney Tom Carr said the city would have to find a way to justify charging for a response to alcohol-related party calls but not for other police response, and many council members worried about discouraging party-goers from calling about legitimate emergencies.

Council members struggled to find agreement on some of the details, including creating more distinctions in the zoning code between high- and low-intensity alcohol uses and hiring administrative hearing officers to rule on liquor license violations.

Councilman George Karakehian said it's not hard to figure out which businesses primarily operate as bars at night, despite having a hotel/restaurant license.

"I don't know how many people eat after 11 p.m., but it's not a lot," he said. "I don't want to spend a lot of money to figure out that if you're open after 11 p.m., you're mostly serving alcohol."

Councilman Tim Plass said he has concerns about separating ruling on liquor license violations from granting licenses and renewals, and Beverage Licensing Authority member Dave Zessin told the council that liquor board members want to stay in the loop. However, other council members said an administrative hearing officer, who would be an attorney, would have more expertise on considering rules of evidence, particularly as the city considers bringing stronger penalties against violators.

Despite their support for the proposed changes, several council members said they doubt any of the measures would have much effect on binge drinking and the impacts it has on the surrounding neighborhoods.

Stepping up enforcement on house parties, where a lot of drinking occurs, would be difficult, Police Chief Mark Beckner told the council. Police already respond to loud parties, but there isn't a good way to know what's going on behind closed doors if they aren't bothering neighbors.

Councilwoman Suzy Ageton said the city needs to develop concrete measurements to assess whether it's making progress.

Boulder Mayor Matt Appelbaum said many of the proposals are good ideas, even if their impact is limited.

"I would push back on the idea that everything we do here has to have an immediate and strong impact on alcohol," he said. "Some of this is just organizing our staff better and doing a better job, and if we can do that, I don't know why we wouldn't."