Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Godwin Mercado topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wyoming council establishes Godwin Mercado fund, clears path for alcohol sales and civic-center license
Summary
The Wyoming City Council approved a budget amendment to create a separate fund for the Godwin Mercado, voted to allow alcohol service at the venue through ordinance changes, and authorized the city to apply for a municipal civic-center alcohol license; council members debated whether city-run alcohol sales were appropriate.
The Wyoming City Council on Oct. 20 approved a budget amendment to create a new dedicated fund for the Godwin Mercado, adopted ordinances to allow sale of alcoholic beverages at the Mercado, and authorized staff to apply for a Class C municipal civic-center license for the venue.
City staff described Budget Amendment No. 6 as the creation of an enterprise-style Godwin Mercado Fund with $254,995 in initial budget authority and transfers from the general and parks funds to cover initial operations and reserves. “Weare setting up a new fund called the Godwin Mercado Fund. Itwill be an enterprise fund, much like a water and sewer fund, and itwill help the staff be able to show the council and the public how the revenues and expenses are tracked for the Godwin Mercado,” John (staff member) said during the meeting.
Council members voted to adopt two related ordinances in final reading that permit the Mercado to serve and sell alcohol. Ordinance 14-25 amends the city code for on-premises consumption licenses to add Godwin Mercado; Ordinance 15-25 amends parks/offenses provisions so the Mercado may sell alcohol under the specified circumstances. The council then approved a resolution directing staff to file an application for a Class C municipal civic-center license for Godwin Mercado, 30130 Sixth Street, Wyoming.
Council discussion focused on two questions: whether the city should operate alcohol sales directly or allow external vendors to do so, and how permitting a civic-center license affects the cityquota of available liquor licenses. “Idont want the project to be a burden on our general fund,” one council member said in support of the city-managed approach; another council member said they were uncomfortable with the city itself selling alcohol but voted in favor as a practical measure to make the market solvent.
On the vote, the budget amendment and the civic-center license resolution passed; the alcohol-related ordinances passed on final reading with one recorded dissent (Council Member Hill opposed the alcohol ordinances). Following the councilapproval, staff said the Mercado reservation line is open and reservations may be made for Thursday/Friday/Saturday events with a 200-guest maximum.
