Garfield County staff recommend updates to liquor license rules, fees and festival notifications

Shelley, the county’s liquor-licensing lead, told the Garfield County Board of Commissioners on July 16 that staff had reviewed four county liquor license resolutions — the most recent dated 2014 — and proposed updates to reflect changes in state law, to consolidate fee schedules and to clarify how optional-premises and festival permits are handled.

The packet of proposed changes is intended to: correct statutory citations that moved into Colorado Revised Statutes (now in the 44-3 series), move fee language into a single fee resolution to match the state Liquor Enforcement Division (LED) schedule, and update who and how the county receives notice for festivals and special-event permits.

County staff asked commissioners whether the board wanted to add a local requirement that optional-premises licenses used for wedding or event venues include some provision for food service and adequate restroom facilities. "I don't understand why this is the only on premise license that isn't required to have some sort of food," Shelley said, during the presentation. She suggested a modest requirement such as on-site catering, snacks or approved…