Evanston council repeals local cap on multi-license ownership, approves liquor license renewals

The Evanston City Council voted to repeal a local code provision limiting any one person or entity to a single liquor license and approved routine renewals of licenses after a public hearing and council discussion.

City Attorney Mark Harris opened the public hearing on liquor-license renewals, saying, “My name is Mark Harris. I'm the Evanston city attorney, and I'll be acting as a hearing officer this evening.” He told the council the clerk’s office and the Wyoming Liquor Commission staff had determined renewal applications were complete and that notices had been published in the local newspaper.

Why it matters: The ordinance on third and final reading (Ordinance 25-06) removes a local restriction that once prevented any one corporation or person from holding more than one license. Harris said the city code’s restriction reflected an older state rule that was repealed at the state level in February 2021, explaining: “That used to be what the Wyoming state statutes provided, but that provision was repealed in 02/2021.” Council members debated whether the change would permit concentration of licenses under common ownership and how the city could exercise oversight on transfers.

Council discussion focused on the city’s remaining checks. Harris and councilors explained that transfers of license ownership require applications and a city hearing and that renewal applications are presented to the council annually. As Harris described the mechanics, a transfer that changes which corporate entity holds a license would trigger council review: “To acquire a company, you don't necessarily have a transfer of ownership because one way you can acquire a company is you buy all of the stock or interest in that company… The purchase of the interest or the stock does not require approval of the council. All it requires is that they notify the clerk of a change in the stock ownership.” Council members noted that renewals and transfer hearings provide opportunities to assess community needs and the potential for excessive concentration.

Action and outcome: On third reading the council approved Ordinance 25-06 by voice vote, removing the local single-license limit. The council also approved the renewal applications presented at the public hearing; the clerk’s advertising proofs and the statutory publication requirement (two newspaper notices and clerk website posting) were noted on the record.

Details and next steps: Councilors asked staff to retain vigilance over transfers and renewals, since the statutory landscape now places more responsibility on the city to review transfers and renewals and to consider resident input. The city attorney advised obtaining proofs of publication for the renewals and noted the council retains the right to deny a renewal if it finds that renewal would “adversely and seriously affect” the welfare of residents in the vicinity or otherwise fail to meet code criteria.

Ending: The council closed the liquor-license hearing and moved on to other agenda items after approving the renewals and adopting Ordinance 25-06 on third reading.