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Council asks staff to research patio alcohol rules, food-truck exceptions after local businesses raise issue
Summary
City council members discussed whether children may occupy patios associated with licensed liquor establishments and asked staff to research ordinance changes or permit types, given differing practices in other Wyoming cities and pending state statute updates.
Powell city council members asked staff to research local ordinance changes and potential permit types after a discussion about whether children can be in outdoor patio areas that are treated as extensions of licensed alcohol establishments.
At the meeting a council member asked whether a bar's outdoor patio would be considered part of the licensed building, which would affect whether under-21 persons could be present. A city staff speaker noted state statute and the liquor-division rules treat a patio attached to a licensed building as an extension of the license in some cases.
Council members debated local exceptions that currently allow minors on patio areas when a commercial kitchen is operating or when an establishment holds a specific license type. Several council members said similar arrangements exist in other Wyoming cities where food trucks or limited kitchen operations support minors being on patios.
One council member suggested an easy exception could hinge on whether a food truck is present and operating during hours when children would be allowed, proposing language tied to the kitchen requirement and a time window after kitchen closure. Another council member said the citys ordinance should be updated rather than rely on ad-hoc permits.
The police chief cautioned council members that state statute makes distinctions about separation of children from certain licensed areas and noted pending statutory updates effective July 1, 2025. The chief recommended clarifying the citys ordinance to ensure consistency with state rules.
Council members instructed staff to research: (1) how peer Wyoming cities regulate minors on patios associated with licensed premises, (2) whether a new permit type or an ordinance amendment would be needed for private-property patio use, and (3) how to define rules when food trucks are used to meet kitchen-related exceptions. No ordinance change or permit was adopted at the meeting.
Councilmembers indicated they want a follow-up at an upcoming meeting once staff and the city attorney have researched state rules and local examples.
