How Wine Walk will return to Parker after a lobbyingeffort at the state CapitolGov. Jared Polis signs bill outside at Parker Station

For nearly 15 years, Parker’s Wine Walk events lit a spark in the community, bringing people into Mainstreetshops. But when the state shut down the walks last year, that spark fizzled. 

Yet the cancellation lit another spark – a lobbying effort that would culminate almost a year later at the stateCapitol in the form of House Bill 24-1156. The bill, signed by Gov. Jared Polis, will bring back Wine Walkevents. 

“Wine walks are one of the oldest [events] that’s still around,” said Mayor Pro Tem John Diak. “It was greatthat we got support at the state level to figure out how we can continue our tradition.”

Polis swung through downtown Parker in early June to sign the bill, which is named the Chamber ofCommerce Alcohol Special Event Permit. It makes Parker’s chamber, and chambers of commerce throughoutthe state, eligible to obtain special event liquor permits. 

A special event liquor permit allows certain organizations to sell liquor, wine and beer during an event thatthey host.

The new law comes after the Wine Walk last June was canceled after a complaint was filed with the state’sLiquor Enforcement Division. Its investigation later determined the chamber of commerce’s event did notcomply with licensing laws affecting alcohol in retail locations. 

Now, a year later, the chamber is starting the process of planning its next Wine Walk. 

“It’s huge for the downtown businesses, it’s huge for the chamber just from a fundraising standpoint, so it’s abig win,” said T.J. Sullivan, president and CEO of the Parker Chamber of Commerce. 

The aftermath of the shut down

Sullivan was among many in Parker shocked last year by the state’s decision, saying it was a disappointmentas the event was an economic driver with hundreds of people participating. 

Republican state Rep. Anthony Hartsook, whose District 44 includes Parker, took that sentiment ofdisappointment and turned it into action at the state level.

“The community was visibly upset over this,” Hartsook said. “I’m going to do everything I can to help thesesmall businesses.”

He and town Councilmember Joshua Rivero walked around Mainstreet shortly after the cancellation to hearfrom businesses why the walks were important to them. 

They found the cancellation cost businesses tens of thousands of dollars. 

In October, a spokesperson for the Department of Revenue said the Liquor Enforcement Division claimed tohave worked “directly” and “amiably” with the town’s chamber to find a solution. However, Sullivan saidthere was no direct communication. 

An email sent to the Chronicle last year by the Liquor Enforcement Division listed several issues with thewine walks. These included that sidewalks are a public right of way and drinks cannot leave a public businessand that the events were not private functions as they took place in public retail businesses. The state said thechamber did not have the authority to create new types of liquor permits. 

“I am proud of the fact that when the Liquor Enforcement Division told us that our events were not legalbecause of certain reasons, we were able to work and change state law to eliminate those reasons,” Sullivansaid. 

Behind the legislation

Hartsook said that liquor laws were lacking clear guidance to chambers and businesses when holding eventslike these. 

“What we wanted to do is update a lot of regulations to kind of come in line with supporting businesses,making sure they’re adhering to good, safe laws, so there’s no walking around in public carrying wine,”Hartsook said. 

Wanting chambers across the state to have the opportunity to hold events like Wine Walk without additionalcosts, Hartsook spoke with a variety of people, including state officials. He said he received support fromchambers in city’s like Gunnison, Fort Collins and in the metro area. 

Looking from multiple viewpoints, Hartsook said they ended up with simple legislation, changing one mainparagraph and two sub-paragraphs. 

“But it was a huge, huge change,” said Hartsook.“And to do that we had to coordinate and make surethat there were no unintended other consequencesthat would impact other liquor bills.”

Sullivan and Rivero testified at the state Capitol infavor of the bill. Even though it wasn’t his first timetestifying on a bill, Sullivan said he felt “ownership”of this bill. 

Hartsook added it was a “process bill” that detailswhat is required of chambers to host these events,such as security plans, businesses involved and timeand place. 

Additionally, people have to stay inside to consumedrinks and every business location involved in theevent has to provide some kind of food.

Convenience stores and businesses that sell cars, marijuana, gas or firearms may not participate. Teachers andchildcare providers are also excluded. 

The future of Parker Wine Walk events

The Parker Chamber of Commerce is in the process of submitting permits to hold Wine Walk events in thefall, said Sullivan. However, that depends on the permitting process after the law goes into effect in August. 

“If we can milk out some benefits for the downtown merchants this year, we’re going to try to do it becausethe losing wine walks hurt those businesses,” said Sullivan. 

Several new policies to increase security and volunteers to ensure people don’t leave businesses with alcoholand make the event as safe as possible will also be implemented by the chamber. 

Brandi Wilks, town councilmember, went to the bill signing ceremony in place of Rivero. 

“Seeing a Republican House representative and a Democrat governor come together to work on what’s bestfor our community, it made me very grateful and excited to see what we can do in the future,” said Wilks. 

For Rivero, the win was not just for the community, but for the state. When he was part of the group thatstarted the Wine Walk events, the idea was to get people to see businesses they’ve never seen before. 

“When we started it, it was successful for us,” said Rivero. “It’s still that 15 years later, it still brings people tonew doors. That kind of marketing is, I think, what Parker thrives on.”