Council amends city liquor hours to allow earlier Sunday service after months-long debate

The Riverton City Council on March 4 amended and adopted Ordinance 25-001 to revise local hours for the sale of alcoholic beverages, removing the city’s noon-to-midnight Sunday restriction and allowing earlier Sunday service.

Administrative Services Director Miss Harris explained the proposal and the background: liquor license holders requested earlier Sunday hours to support Sunday brunch and sporting-event service. The staff proposal sought to align local rules with state practice; the ordinance language before the council would allow sales from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, with drive-through limited differently. At the February 18 meeting council had previously passed an amendment setting Sunday hours at 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.; on March 4 the council debated a new amendment to change the Sunday start to 6 a.m.

Local business owner Amanda Henry of Brown Sugar Coffee Roastery submitted a written letter urging adoption of earlier hours (she requested 6 a.m. to midnight or a 7 a.m. compromise) to match customer expectations for brunch beverages. Multiple business owners and operators addressed the council in person: Rob Epema (Adult Rec Center) and bar owners argued earlier hours would not increase over-serving and that responsible training and enforcement were the remedies; Rafael del Guedeo (bar owner) said restaurants may opt in but many businesses would not open earlier unless demand exists.

Opponents focused on local public-safety concerns and community values. Councilwoman Karen Johnson spoke against the change, citing Fremont County’s alcohol-related problems and urging caution; Nicole Wagon, who identified herself as Northern Arapaho and a community member, described personal family trauma linked to alcohol and opposed extending hours. Others urged stronger enforcement of existing laws rather than changing hours.

Councilmember Rebecca Pearson Lewis moved to amend the ordinance to change the Sunday start time from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m.; Councilmember Mike Bailey seconded. The council conducted a roll-call vote on the amendment with the following results: Eric Carr — aye; Rebecca Pearson Lewis — aye; Mike Bailey — aye; Carla Borders — aye; Kyle Larson — nay; Karen Johnson — nay; Mayor Tim Hancock — aye. The amendment carried (5–2).

The council then adopted Ordinance 25-001, as amended, on third and final reading. Administrative staff and several business owners said Tips/other server training and enforcement provisions would accompany the change; the meeting record notes that server training ordinances were also on the agenda that night.

Exact ordinance language amended Riverton Municipal Code title 5, chapter 5.04 (hours of sale) to allow earlier service; the ordinance will take effect per the city’s standard effective-date provisions. The council did not set a trial/sunset in the final motion, though some commenters had requested a six-month trial.