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Council directs staff to draft ordinance for special malt beverage permit to simplify event alcohol regulation
Summary
Council unanimously directed staff to prepare an ordinance establishing a special malt beverage permit for public auditoriums, civic or event centers. Staff said the new permit would streamline permitting for Moose Hockey (Snow King Sports & Event Center) and the annual rodeo and recommended a six-month permit with a $1,000 fee.
Jackson Town Council on May 19 unanimously directed staff to draft an ordinance establishing a special malt beverage permit for public auditoriums, civic centers or event centers.
Lindsay Hahnemann of Internal Services told council the permit is authorized by state statute and allows local governments to define the qualifying venues, permit duration, fees and location rules. Staff proposed a six-month permit with a $1,000 fee. Hahnemann said the change was prompted by compliance issues discovered in 2023 around 24-hour catering permits and by the needs of local event operators.
Hahnemann said the new permit would better fit operations at the Snow King Sports and Event Center (Moose Hockey), which runs an estimated 22 to 26 games per season, and at the annual rodeo, which has about 37 events each summer. Under the proposed approach, Moose Hockey would be limited to malt beverages (beer and hard cider) but could save money; Hahnemann estimated Moose paid $1,100 to $1,300 per season under the prior approach and staff's $1,000 fee would provide a small saving. She said rodeos historically were issued standard malt-beverage permits but do not qualify for the state rodeo exemption because the statute requires arenas to seat at least 7,500 people; the town's arena seats about 2,400.
Councilmember Beeman asked whether there were downsides to limiting sale to malt beverages; Hahnemann said none were anticipated, and both Moose Hockey and rodeo management had been consulted and "were amenable to the change." Councilmember Beery asked whether the streamlined permit would substantially save staff time; Hahnemann said it would improve compliance but not produce large administrative time savings.
Councilmember Veena moved and a colleague seconded a direction to staff to present a draft ordinance establishing the special malt beverage permit at the next available council meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
No final ordinance was adopted at the meeting; staff will return with a draft ordinance including the proposed six-month term and $1,000 fee for council consideration.
