City Council Meeting Summary - November 4, 2025

This regular meeting of the Casper City Council addressed the approval of routine consent items, a Veterans Day proclamation, significant public commentary regarding City Council election procedures, legislative lobbying restrictions, and concerns over the future of Casper Youth Baseball (CYB) and park renovations, followed by a public exchange on community dignity and a motion to enter an executive session regarding potential litigation.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the October 7, 2025 council meeting and executive session.
• Approved the November 4, 2025 general bills and claims.
• Adopted resolutions 7A1 through 7A16, authorizing various contracts including a temporary use agreement for the Casper Speedway, the sale of a service weapon to police officers, construction agreements for the North Casper Boat Ramp and Athletic Complex improvements, professional services for river restoration and LED improvements, and multiple amendments to record and towing service agreements.
• All consent items passed with unanimous votes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Shriefman: Expressed strong support for city employee benefits and holidays but raised concerns regarding the transparency of the mayor/vice-mayor straw ballot process, questioning why votes are not cast in public. Expressed opposition to the use of taxpayer funds for lobbying the municipal association and county commissioners, suggesting such bills should be tabled. Inquired who is paying for the annual legislators' dinner and suggested a table might be purchased with taxpayer money.
• Bethany Moore (CYB President): Expressed concern regarding the CYB lease expiring in August 2026, questioning why major facility upgrades are being discussed only now. Stated that parents are concerned about the fairness of the process and the potential for construction to disrupt the upcoming season. Requested transparency regarding ownership of fields and equipment, and a direct meeting with city leadership.
• Brian Voss (CYB Equipment/Safety Manager): Expressed strong support for the CYB program's impact on children's lives. Urged the council to make decisions "with your heart, not with the money," emphasizing the difficulty of running the organization and the need to prioritize the kids over financial considerations.
• Joey Moore (CYB Board Member/Business Owner): Expressed suspicion that the city intends to convert the facility to a "pay-to-play" system for travel clubs. Stated that the original 20-year lease was a "backroom deal" and raised concerns about hiding information and a lack of transparency. Expressed concern that the current construction timeline would interfere with the league's final year of the lease and argued that travel clubs should not utilize rec league fields.
• Ryan Perry: Expressed strong disagreement with the narrative that Casper Pride affiliates are victims of bullying. Stated that the group has bullied others, cited personal experiences of name-calling and the doxxing of his home, and alleged that individuals affiliated with Casper Pride assaulted his sibling. Stated that the group's behavior contradicts their preaching of tolerance.
• Tom Morton: Expressed appreciation for the council's work and offered a brief personal greeting.

Discussion Items

• City Council Election Process: Councilor Sweeney questioned the illegality of the city's city-manager form of government regarding private straw ballots. The City Attorney clarified that the current procedure complies with Wyoming state statutes, noting that the straw poll is non-binding, used for internal preparation, and the final election of the mayor/vice mayor occurs publicly in January. Councilor Sweeney and Mayor Pacheco defended the annual legislators' dinner as a productive, low-cost, and necessary forum for community-government relations, refuting claims of impropriety.
• Casper Youth Baseball (CYB) Lease and Renovation: The City Manager explained that the 20-year lease was established 20 years ago in exchange for significant CYB investment in the facility's construction. The manager clarified that current funding for the renovation is being utilized via a specific Wyoming Outdoor Rec Grant (ARPA dollars) for North Casper, not a pre-existing cash fund. Stated that a new lease structure (likely shorter-term) would be determined after the current one expires and that the city would work with the Parks and Rec Advisory Board to establish a new point of contact.
• Community Dignity and Conflict: Mayor Pacheco engaged with Mr. Perry and Councilor Gamrath, emphasizing that the city's non-discrimination ordinance and anti-hate crime laws provide a framework for investigating such incidents regardless of the parties involved. The Mayor expressed a commitment to dignity and respect for all individuals despite political differences and highlighted the need to address hate speech and violence across the community spectrum.
• Legislative Update: Councilor Larson and others confirmed that the bill restricting taxpayer funds for lobbying was tabled during the committee session, noting strong representation against the bill from various organizations.

Key Outcomes

• Straw Ballot: Clarified by the City Attorney that the private straw ballot is legal, non-binding, and compliant with state law.
• Legislators' Dinner: Defended by the Mayor and Council as a standard, transparent, and productive practice.
• CYB Lease: The City will connect with CYB leadership to establish a new point of contact; the Parks and Rec Advisory Board will oversee the review of the future facility utilization after the 2026 lease expiration.
• Executive Session: The council voted unanimously to adjourn to an executive session to discuss potential litigation. The meeting subsequently reconvened solely to adjourn.
• Departing Staff: Councilor Gamrath announced the retirement of Support Services Director Tracy Belzer after 23 years.
• Next Meetings: Work session scheduled for November 12 at 4:30 PM; Regular Council meeting scheduled for November 18 at 6:00 PM.