Council adopts seasonal downtown open-container area through October after narrow vote
May 19, 2026 | Laramie City Council, Laramie City, Albany County, Wyoming
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The Laramie City Council on May 19 approved Resolution 2026-36A to establish a downtown open-container area for the summer season, continuing a practice the city has used since 2020. The adopted substitute resolution sets the permitted hours (approximately 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and lists which license types (retail liquor, microbreweries and wineries) may allow alcohol to leave their premises under state statute.
Staff said the substitution responds to council interest in possible permanent authorization but that any permanent change would require a code amendment; the city attorney noted he would review ordinances if council asked for a permanent change in the future. Assistant Chief told the council police records show little or no increase in calls for service related to the open-container area during prior years of the program.
Public commenter Brett Glass urged council to reject making the area permanent, citing concerns about public urination, fights and underage access, and asked the council to reconsider whether the policy benefits downtown businesses. Several councilors, including Councilor Lockheart and Councilor Newman, said they support the seasonal policy and described positive feedback from merchants and the public; Vice Mayor emphasized that researching ordinance changes across city code would be required if made permanent.
Council voted on a substitution to keep the authorization flexible and to proceed with the seasonal program; the substitute passed on a 3–2 vote and the final adoption recorded five yeses, zero nos, and four absent on roll call later in the meeting. The resolution will be in effect for the stated season; staff said they will continue to monitor police reports and business feedback.
The action keeps downtown special‑event-style open-container allowances in place while preserving council discretion to consider code-based permanence at a future date.
The council directed staff to notify affected liquor-license holders and downtown merchants about allowed participants and operational hours.
Staff said the substitution responds to council interest in possible permanent authorization but that any permanent change would require a code amendment; the city attorney noted he would review ordinances if council asked for a permanent change in the future. Assistant Chief told the council police records show little or no increase in calls for service related to the open-container area during prior years of the program.
Public commenter Brett Glass urged council to reject making the area permanent, citing concerns about public urination, fights and underage access, and asked the council to reconsider whether the policy benefits downtown businesses. Several councilors, including Councilor Lockheart and Councilor Newman, said they support the seasonal policy and described positive feedback from merchants and the public; Vice Mayor emphasized that researching ordinance changes across city code would be required if made permanent.
Council voted on a substitution to keep the authorization flexible and to proceed with the seasonal program; the substitute passed on a 3–2 vote and the final adoption recorded five yeses, zero nos, and four absent on roll call later in the meeting. The resolution will be in effect for the stated season; staff said they will continue to monitor police reports and business feedback.
The action keeps downtown special‑event-style open-container allowances in place while preserving council discretion to consider code-based permanence at a future date.
The council directed staff to notify affected liquor-license holders and downtown merchants about allowed participants and operational hours.
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