Storey County moves to add beer‑and‑wine license category and enacts first reading to update parks and pool fees

On April 7 the Storey County Board directed staff to add a beer‑and‑wine license category to County Code chapter 5.12 and advanced an ordinance amending chapter 13.118 (parks) to include pool provisions and updated fees.

Staff attorney Laura Mather told the board she is rewriting chapter 5 (business licenses) and recommended adding a lower‑tier alcohol license that would allow businesses such as bed‑and‑breakfasts, boutique wineries or small food establishments to offer beer and wine without a full liquor license. Commissioners discussed whether the new license should be limited to Sea Street in Virginia City and Gold Hill’s Main Street, with special‑application review off those downtown cores to allow neighbors an opportunity to comment.

The board voted to direct staff to draft the beer‑and‑wine license category and to propose limits consistent with today’s discussion.

Separately, the board adopted the first reading of an ordinance amending parks code to add pool language and set pool fees: $5 daily admission, an $80 individual season pass, and a family season pass priced at $80 for the first and second person and $50 for each additional family member (staff will clarify family pricing language prior to final adoption). The first reading passed unanimously; staff will publish the ordinance for public review and bring it back for final reading.

Commissioners and law‑enforcement staff emphasized the importance of narrowly tailored language and a review process for off‑street licenses so residents can weigh in when a food‑oriented business seeks to serve alcohol outside the downtown core.