Downtown open container area back on the table
The Laramie City Council will consider reimplementing its summertime open container area. Business owners have requested extending the area, including weekdays, and allowing later hours.
For the past two summers, Laramie residents have enjoyed the ability to day drink in the downtown area. The special allowance was originally part of an effort to keep downtown bars afloat during the sometimes challenging pandemic summer months.
Tonight, the Laramie City Council will consider the open container area again, as well as requests to increase its range and hours, when it discusses Resolution 2022-28.
“For the past two years the Laramie City Council has approved similar resolutions establishing the rules, areas and constraints related to an open container area in the Downtown District,” the city’s cover sheet states. “Over the past two years no major concerns have been identified through law enforcement related to the open container area.”
The relaxed open container laws would be in effect from the weekend before Memorial Day to the end of October, and allow residents and visitors to Laramie to sip on legally purchased drinks in aluminum or plastic containers. Glass bottles are explicitly forbidden.
As the resolution stands, the open container area would be defined by this map, running roughly from 4th Street to the tracks and from Kearney Street to University Avenue.
But René Williams, owner of 4th Street Studios, requested in a letter that the area be expanded to include her own business.
“In the past, the open container stopped on the west side of South 4th Street,” Williams writes. “We are officially part of downtown, so is it possible to please include our side of the street in the open container area this summer? We are planning many events for the community and would appreciate having this opportunity.”
The council has among its agenda documents an alternate map that would lay the open container area over the Laramie Main Street Alliance service area. The alternate map would scoop up additional blocks of mainly commercial businesses. From Garfield Street to Ivinson Avenue, the area would extend to 5th Street, encompassing 4th Street Studios and other businesses. The alternate map would also add about a block more to the south and two blocks to the north.
And John Guerin, the owner of Coal Creek Coffee and TAP, has asked for a temporal extension.
Under the resolution as written, the open container area would only be in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, as it has been for the past two years.
“This request stems from both customer comments and opinions shared by other license holders at our bi-annual Tavern Meetings hosted by the city,” Guerin writes in a letter to council. “First, please adopt to the policy that the open container be allowed seven days a week as opposed to the current Thursday through Saturday only. This would allow for the many visitors to our town in the warmer months from all over the United States and other countries that are here at various times of the week to enjoy our outside Downtown as well as provide more opportunities for the sales for tavern owners.
Guerin writes he would also like to see the special allowance extended later into the night, when more people are out seeking and buying drinks.
“Additionally, please adopt to the policy a change in hours of open container to 11:00 a.m. - midnight,” he writes. “Again, this would allow for more folks to enjoy the outside Downtown and increase revenues (and sales tax) for the tavern owners.”
The open container area resolution is the 19th item on what is a busy council agenda. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and can be attended through Zoom or streamed via Youtube.
The council is also scheduled to discuss the 5th penny tax, affordable housing in single-family zones, and safe sight distances when it comes to trailers parked near intersections.