Riverton council amends proposed ordinance to allow limited Sunday alcohol service after hours debate

Riverton — The Riverton City Council on Feb. 18 amended a proposed change to the city's alcohol-hours ordinance after a lengthy public hearing that drew business owners, residents and addiction-prevention advocates.

The council voted to amend Ordinance 25-001, initially drafted to allow liquor sales every day from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., so that Sunday sales would instead be allowed from 10 a.m. to midnight. The amendment passed on a voice vote during the meeting's second-reading session; council members said final wording and formal adoption will return on third reading.

The measure grew out of requests from several liquor-license holders who said the city's long-standing restriction on Sunday hours forced them to turn away customers for Sunday brunches and sporting events. Administrative Services Director Mia Harris told the council staff surveyed 10 Wyoming municipalities and found most allow the same hours every day; "Sunday was very similar to Tuesday," she said, reporting her review of local arrest data.

Why it matters: Council members and public commenters framed the issue as a balance between supporting local businesses and addressing ongoing public-safety and addiction concerns in Fremont County. Opponents said increased availability would worsen alcohol-related harm; supporters argued limited, consistent hours across the week would help businesses operate legally and safely.

Council debate and public input

Councilwoman Karen Johnson, who said she had followed the public conversation online, told the council she remained firmly opposed: "I am still 110% against it," Johnson said, citing concerns that extending hours would worsen existing problems in Riverton.

Councilman Kyle Larson and others said they were persuaded by the staff's comparison with other Wyoming communities and by business owners' accounts of lost revenue during morning events. Councilwoman Rebecca Pearson Lewis pressed staff on the data and asked how many license holders had requested changes; Harris said roughly a third of licensees attended an informational meeting and a small margin asked for the change.

A steady stream of public comment preceded the vote. Multiple speakers urged the council to reject extended hours. Nicole Wagon, who identified herself as the relative of people affected by alcohol-related harms, told council members, "It's on you too, Mayor Hancock," asking them to consider the community safety consequences. Andy Anderson, who said he is an alcoholic in recovery, called the proposal a "bad idea." Other residents described personal and family harms tied to alcohol.

Business owners pushed back. Rob Epema, who manages the Adult Rec Center, said his business had lost customers during football season because he could not open at halftime under the city's current rules. "We're running a business," Epema said, describing tight margins and the struggle to cover customer demand under current hours. Jana Peterson, owner of Ralph's Bar, and Tyler Smith of Livestock Liquors said the current rules treat bars and restaurants differently and can be unfair in practice.

Council action and next steps

Council members debated several compromise options before Councilwoman Karen Johnson offered to amend her earlier position and put forward a narrower change to Sunday hours. The council voted to amend the ordinance so Sunday hours would be 10 a.m. to midnight. The amendment passed by voice vote; council members agreed to return the ordinance for a future third reading to finalize the ordinance language and the existing December 31 exception.

No final ordinance adoption was recorded at the Feb. 18 meeting. Council members indicated they will clarify the exact ordinance language and address remaining technical details at third reading before the change becomes law.

What the ordinance would change

- Original staff proposal: allow liquor sales 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, with drive-through sales limited to 6 a.m. to midnight. (Staff's recommendation was informed by a survey of other Wyoming municipalities.) - Amended motion approved on the council floor: allow Sunday sales from 10 a.m. to midnight; the rest of the week would remain as proposed. The council did not complete final adoption during the meeting.

Background and context

The item grew out of an informational meeting with license holders in November 2024. City staff told the council that some restaurateurs were unaware current city code prevented Sunday morning service and that licensees said the restriction made it hard to serve patrons during weekend events and tournaments. Opponents highlighted the county's ongoing struggles with alcohol-related crime and public-safety incidents and urged the city to pursue alternatives to expanding hours.

The city will return the ordinance for further council consideration; the clerk's office will post the agenda and the final proposal for the third reading once the amended language is finalized.

Ending

Council members said they were listening to both the business community and public-safety advocates and expected a final, clarified ordinance to return for a vote in coming weeks. The council's decision to amend the proposed hours reflects an attempt to split the difference between those priorities while leaving time for final legal language and enforcement details to be resolved.