Good evening.

Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone to please silence your cell phones.

Council meetings are live streamed on the city's YouTube channel.

And now call the December 16th, 2025 regular council meeting to order.

Please note that Councilor Sweeney is joining the meeting remotely.

The chair would entertain a motion to by consent minute action, excuse the absence of counselor Pollock.

Move by Councillor Bond, seconded by Counselor Haskins.

Please cast your vote.

Councilor Sweeney, how do you vote?

I vote aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Please read the consent minute approval titles.

Oh, geez.

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thanks, Vice Mayor.

Yes.

Please read the consent minute approval titles.

Approving the minutes of the November 18th, 2025 regular council meeting, the November 18th, 2025 executive session, the December 2nd, 2025 regular council meeting, the December 2nd, 2025 executive session, the December 9th, 2025 special council meeting, and the December 9th, 2025 executive session.

Thank you.

The Chair do entertain a motion to approve the consent minute action agenda items just read.

Move by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Councilor Bond.

Any abstentions?

Please cast your vote.

Councilor Sweeney, how do you vote?

I vote aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Chair Generating a motion to approve by minute action, the December 16, 2025 by interim city manager Lopez.

Move by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Councilor Gamroth.

Any abstentions?

Please cast your vote.

Councilor Sweeney, how do you vote?

I vote aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Now is the time that we invite anyone in the audience who wishes to speak with the council to come forward.

This portion of the meeting is dedicated to the public to allow them time to discuss matters of public interest and to voice any concerns.

We ask that you please state your name, direct all questions and comments to the mayor.

No personal absenities or threats will be tolerated.

Council will not respond to any personnel matters.

Those will all be referred to our city manager.

Counselors may ask clarifying questions, but if they choose to respond to matters, they will do so during the scheduled council response time following communications from personals persons present.

As always, presentations are limited to five minutes, and there are no time duplicated no time extensions permitted.

And please note public hearings and ordinance each have their own comment periods.

Good evening, Mr.

Shriffman.

Good evening, Mayor.

How's everybody doing tonight?

Um the last meeting I had asked some questions concerning the uh rental of for the ice arena for the warbirds to uh blade edge ventures.

And I did get uh documents through public records.

Uh there was no gap.

Um and uh looking at the invoices and the dates due and the payment dates in the early part of this year, they were pretty much on time.

But then on March 20th, the bill due on 419 wasn't paid until August 1st.

And then there was another one 415 due on 515 that was also paid on August 1st.

Uh recently, they just paid the bill due on 918.

So concern is that the agreement, I also have the agreement.

Section four uh paragraph three says tenants' failure to pay the owner uh by the above described rent on or before the 15th of the month of this agreement shall be considered a default by the 10th of the terms.

And I hope that going forward, uh, we don't have the problem because this is also taxpayer money that uh supports the ice arena in the private sector.

If you don't pay your rent after three months, usually get thrown out.

You don't pay your mortgage within three months, you might face default.

And as an insurance agent, I'm constantly on the phone with clients approaching their usual 30-day grace period.

And if they don't pay by that day, uh their coverage lapses and they lose their coverage.

The other issue is tonight.

Um you're going to be voting on increasing the utility rates, especially on water and sewer.

Water's going up eight percent for next year and eight percent for the year after.

Sewers going up 34% for next year and 18%.

In the work session last week, it seemed to me that the main issue is deferred maintenance on equipment that's older.

Um pipes are rotting out, need to re be replaced.

Deferred means that this is not just happened, but a multiple year problem.

And uh infrastructure is a primary responsibility.

And uh concern is that you know, we we have a lot of wonderful activities, which are council calls amenities in our community, and they're subsidized the losses, the operating losses are subsidized by the taxpayers.

And we really need to focus on making sure that if people having fun, but the sewers aren't running properly, the water's not running properly.

We got a problem.

So I know you're going to be addressing that in the resolution section tonight.

And I'll answer any questions.

Any questions for Mr.

Shrickman?

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate it, Ross.

Good evening, Mayor.

Good evening.

I'm here to see if we can extend the bus route on 2nd Street to at least uh Rocky Mountain Oncology.

Uh it came to my knowledge about two weeks ago that there's a veteran that rides the bus.

He rides as far as Coles, then he walks three quarters of a mile to get to the clinic, and then three quarters of a mile back.

You got sidewalks on in front of the bank and sidewalks in front of uh Elkhorn.

And on that route, that extra mile and a half route, there's uh Rocky Mountain Oncology, uh Elkhorn, uh Summit or South Summit Hospital, and uh the other hospital.

There's uh pain and premier pain and joint in reach therapy.

There's a lot of health clinics along there that could use you know the bus route.

And uh another question for you is uh if we could get it so the veterans don't have to pay if they could go to the Catsky office with their DD Form 214 and get a bus pass.

I don't know how many ride the bus, but there might be more if uh they had the chance to do it, and it took them all the way to the clinic.

Uh any other questions from you?

Questions.

It's a total of a mile and a quarter all the way to uh uh Rocky Mountain oncology.

That's the total total.

Okay.

And out the sidewalks there, they have to walk in the street.

Yeah, there's uh it's hazardous for the citizens, not just better citizens.

Yeah, they'd have to walk all the way up to uh fire rock to cross legally.

Otherwise, they're crossing four lanes of traffic.

You know, and no, I couldn't cross it very fast.

Yeah.

Any questions?

Any questions?

So stick around because we'll have uh comments uh after, so we can talk a little bit about that.

All right, so stick around.

Thank you.

Great.

Thanks, gentlemen.

Any others who as you speak.

Hi Tom, I'm Tom Morton.

I live at 353 South McKinley, and I'd like to bring something to your attention.

And I have a question that I don't know quite what to do with.

Uh, in August of 2023, I published a story for K Radio entitled The Fall of the House on Thorndike.

Uh Sean uh Johnson, who used to be a council member and his wife bought the house at an auction in uh February of 2023.

It looked perfect to them.

And then uh for their family, but by December, uh there were problems starting, including uh their daughter who'd never really had any health problems, uh, had to be hospitalized for asthma.

And over the course of the year, they found um a huge mold infestation and that was uh crumbling.

And over the course of the year, they found um a huge mold infestation and that was uh crumbling, the floor in the kitchen was about to just fall through.

Um the house had been purchased by a guy who uh hired somebody who did not register with the city to do uh you know the fix-up stuff.

And um, and actually I wound up getting in there.

It was the first time I wore a hazmat suit.

And so the uh Johnsons had to move out, they lost everything that they had uh because their personal possessions in the house were infected and so forth.

And so um I think it was Keith Goodenough brought it up as well as uh Mr.

and Mrs.

Johnson that according to Zillow, uh the house is now going to be auctioned sometime in the near future.

And that I could not figure out poking around who exactly was doing the auctioneering, nor who uh it was being auctioned for.

Uh the um uh if you go look at the story, uh again, it's uh followed the house on Thorndike.

I was playing Edgar Allan Poe briefly on that one.

Um so this is what I saw in August of 2023.

I can only imagine that it's gotten worse since then.

Um Zillow says it's estimated market price is 320,000.

Uh if that's true, I got a box at home, I'll sell you for 20,000.

And so uh part of the rules of this auction thing is the prospective buyers can't even get inside to look at it, which boggles my mind.

So my question for you, City is can this building be condemned?

Because uh somebody out there somewhere is gonna look at this and say, you know, however the house auction thing works, and they get it for 150,000 and hot damn, we're going to Casper and we're gonna have a good life, and they're gonna wind up losing what the Johnsons did.

Um, I also wonder about the uh how this thing will affect property values.

I mean, it is uh I remember I think Rebecca Johnson told me that that to fix this thing would cost a half a million bucks.

So I am wondering, I don't know how this is done, but what's involved in getting a house condemned because this is this is a public threat.

Um and so that's my question.

Any questions for Mr.

Morton?

So Tom, if you stick around and we'll have some answers for it, hopefully.

Sure, sure.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Good evening, Mayor.

Uh David Lewis here, at 3841, East 15th Street, number 630.

Uh, this is about well, I left town for work and been gone for like eight years and come back.

But the road infrastructure in town is terrible.

I've been in many states and cities working, and their road infrastructure is just so well compared to here.

The revenue that comes in here versus what's spent out on roads.

Um, I had a $2,500 repair bill for my front end from hitting potholes, you know, and professionally done.

I could do it myself, but I had someone do it.

And uh, you know, there's machinery out there that can fix the potholes instantly instead of you know fixing them like in the 50s.

They have these machines that will eat out the repair and instantly put in a asphalt you know patch, and it's done.

And now you're still trying to do the road repairs from the 1950s, which is just doesn't cut it.

And uh but uh yeah, I just I just think that the city ought to fix the road holes and stuff.

When I left 10 years ago, they were still working on auto drive.

And I mean I-25 there, but uh no, it's I don't know.

Does anybody think that I'm talking wrong?

So this section here, Dave, is that we'll kind of if we have those questions and then we'll respond here in a little bit.

Okay.

So um, but does anybody have any questions for for Mr.

Lewis?

No questions.

Okay, great.

It's good to see you, Dave.

Anybody else representative, how are you?

Good.

Good.

Hello, Mr.

Mayor and uh council members.

My name's Tony Locke.

I'm a uh City of Casper resident, and uh I'm here speaking on my behalf as well as um uh several people who've reached out to me, fellow citizens here in Casper.

And this is related to the increases in the uh um utility rates that have been proposed and that you guys will hear in the resolutions coming up.

Um I would I just want to push back on that a little bit and ask the the uh commission or the you the commission here to please think about this very carefully before we hit the citizens with these high rates.

We all know they've been they've been hit with rates from every possible perspective.

We're we're hitting people with that are already uh experiencing all this inflation.

We've done our best in many areas to try to put put money back in their pocket, but uh and I'd like this uh city council to please consider uh looking at other alternatives to try to keep those rates in check.

I understand rates have to go up.

We understand maintenance has to occur.

There's no question about that.

The point only point I'd like to make to the council here today, or Mr.

Mayor, is the fact that it's one thing if you have uh two percent, four percent, five percent increases over the years, which you guys have had on you the utilities to the people.

There's no doubt those have happened and those have occurred.

It's entirely another when we start seeing 50 percent over two years or even 24 percent over three years of some of these rates are planned to increase.

Though it could be argued that uh, you know, it's one thing uh again, seeing that three to five percent, it's entirely when you see the 50% or the 20% uh one might and then you hear the terms uh deferred maintenance, one might argue that refers to those two things come together as uh we spend our money badly.

Okay, and so I'd like us to consider, I'd like you to consider please looking at other alternatives.

Um, the proper role of government is infrastructure.

No question, that's what this is.

It absolutely is, but it also means that sometimes we have to look at our discretionary funding and say, where do we redirect other discretionary funds to make sure we do that?

And I would the numbers I want to throw out tonight are these, and these are just simple full top-end budget that came right straight out of the audit reports out of the state.

You know, between 19 or between 2021 and 2025, and I didn't look at your current budget in any detail, but between those time frames, there's a 43 million dollar uh budget change.

There's an additional 43 million dollars between those years, and that and that's on top of a budget that in 2021 was 144 million.

So you're looking at about a 30 percent increase.

So the question I ask the council, Mr.

Mayor, is have you guys looked hard at that and said where can we change the use of discretionary funds to make sure we fund the things that are the proper role of government?

And that's infrastructure and public safety.

Okay.

So again, it's one thing to see increases.

We all understand stuff's going up.

When we see increases this big, that screams mismanagement of money.

That's what it screams, and that's what the people out there, at least constituents that have called me, that's their concern.

So I wanted to bring that concern to you, Mr.

Mayor and the city council and ask you to consider that.

I stand for questions, and thank you for the opportunity to speak.

Any question for representative Locke?

Okay.

Thanks, sir.

Thank you.

Good evening, representative.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

Thank you for having me tonight.

Jamie Lean, House District 38.

I just want to take a moment and address some of the resolutions before you today.

Um, a couple of my constituents reach out from the county in concerns with bail field increases because they don't get a vote.

They don't get a vote for the council, and they don't get a vote for the mayor, and they don't get a vote when it comes to increases that they're paying for.

And so I just want to spend a uh a minute and just address that that they are displeased with the amount of services that they're receiving when they are able to attend the bail fill for the money that they're paying.

And so they don't feel like they're getting adequate services to just be able to run to the dump once a month for them is not included in their water bills.

Um, furthermore, our we have fixed income residents that live within the city limits, and so I'm curious to know how we're supposed to help them offset their budgets.

This comes with the elderly, the disabled, those that are out of work for a short period of time or a long period of time.

On the top of page two of resolution 25301, um, which is the rates for water, um, it says unlike water distribution, which has sufficient reserves.

Um in the sewer, excuse me, the sewer resolution.

It says unlike water distribution, which has sufficient reserves.

Um, so why are we increasing water rates if we have sufficient reserves in our water fund?

Furthermore, we have pedestrian bridges that were brought before us and sold to us as a savings.

We're gonna take this money out of the water account because it's saving our citizens money, but now we're gonna raise their rates.

So I'm curious to know could somebody please tell us um what the increases are and how much we're saving by building those pedestrian bridges with the water lines running underneath underneath them.

Uh your five cent bonds further into this resolution.

If you read, um, it says that uh the rate assumptions also reflect the end of one cent funding for sewer capital projects in fiscal year 28.

And so I would just like to ask the city council to be please be very true and impartial when you come to our voters in 2026 and ask them for that fifth penny bond to be renewed.

That we are true and impartial and that the verbiage is very clear on where you intend to spend that money when it ends up in your general fund.

Um again, in this same resolution, we're gonna talk about rate increases, not just right now that give us 34% in 2026 and 18% in 2027.

But then there's additional increases if you continue to read in there from 2028 to 2036, there are 15, 12, 8, 6, 6, 6, 4, and 4.

When when you add those all together, you get 113% increase in 10 years.

And so I'm curious to know where the city is getting um that they need 113% increase for a 10-year budget for our sewer rates.

Um, those are my questions this evening.

And again, we stand opposed to the rates.

Not that we can't have a reflection of a moderate increase, but that these seem to be very substantial.

And I am concerned for the constituents that are mine and yours, that one don't live in the city that are paying these additional rates, and two, the ones that live in the city that are on fixed incomes and how this is going to reflect on their budgets.

Thank you, council, for your time tonight.

Thank you.

Any questions for representative lean?

Yeah, go ahead, council.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Miss Lean.

I believe that's the capacity in which you're speaking to us this evening.

May I ask, uh, I probably should have asked uh Mr.

Locke as well.

Did you by chance watch our work session meeting meeting last week on this topic?

Mr.

Mayor, City Councilman, um, I did see a part of it, but I haven't had a chance to watch the entire thing.

And I do realize that some of these increases are from the EPA regulations.

I also know that the town of Barnun has chosen to not follow those EPA guidelines.

And so I would be curious to know why a town four miles away is not following those guidelines and the city of Casper is opting to follow those guidelines at a massive rate increase to our citizens.

Thank you.

That's the only question I have.

Anyone else?

Okay.

Thank you.

Anybody else wish to come speak to council?

Okay.

I'd like to open it up now for counselors to uh briefly respond to any of the matters brought up.

Council, Councillor Gamroth.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thanks, everyone for uh coming to speak tonight.

Mayor and we haven't had a diverse uh gathering like that for like six different speakers, six different topics.

So uh really appreciate uh folks coming out, spending their time with us and vocalizing their thoughts.

I'm gonna try to um uh I have a little something to say about all of them, so I'm gonna try to keep it all.

I was trying to type my notes as fiercely as possible.

We'll see how far they got me.

Uh uh Dean, and I'm sorry, the other gentleman, uh, I'm not seeing Larry Seams.

Appreciate uh you guys and your advocacy for the bus routes.

We are unfortunately without Liz Becker this evening, who's kind of our guru uh regarding the transportation system, but uh uh my understanding is we've probably noted your questions and we'll follow up with Liz and the transit team to see, you know, um how realistic that is, how doable that is.

Obviously, there's gonna be budget constraints.

Uh, we work with the Federal Transportation Administration very closely on any changes to routes and stuff.

So I don't know how much bureaucratic red tape is involved there, but you bring up some good points and uh we'll make sure that city staff bets them and comes back to us with some uh additional information so that we can make an informed decision on that.

Wanted to uh thank Mr.

Morton for your advocacy on uh that I guess I I'm also curious.

Uh I did see Rebecca and Sean posting those, and uh so I appreciate you bringing that to our attention.

I don't I would be curious what levers the city can pull, if any, on um, I would not want another family to get strapped with uh something like that.

And so I don't know what ability we have.

Um zoom are we I'm sorry, uh should I be going through you, Mayor?

You just want to make sure that doesn't fall off the radar.

So whatever follow-up looks like, I'll start with the city manager, and then I'll come to you, Eric.

Mayor, counselor.

So we have a very structured process by which we determine um unsafe structures and condemn buildings within the city.

And so uh certainly I'm happy to engage with Liz and her team uh to identify and and I'm sure the city attorney can speak to that process uh more eloquently than I can.

Yeah, thank you, Mayor Council.

Um very much similar to what our interim city manager had to say.

We do uh have a very defined process.

Um the city has adopted the uniform code for the abatement of dangerous buildings.

Our building official has uh the authority under uh this code to declare um a building as dangerous.

Um what I I've I've looked it up online, I've got the address, I will talk to our code enforcement team.

Um if we have a reason to uh uh tag it, then we'll certainly work uh that angle if staff feels we need more information.

Um we have recourse to an administrative search warrant.

So so there's a couple different levers we can pull.

Um certainly happy to follow up uh on that uh tomorrow with staff.

Um and mayor, if I might make a comment on the transit um issue.

I just was looking.

I know uh Liz is not here, and I'm happy to chat with her on that.

We do have just uh for the public's benefit, the link and the assist.

And my understanding is with the assist, you can you can actually get a ride to a specific address if you reserve that um in advance.

So that may be something um in the short term that these individuals rather than having to walk that stretch, might be able to work with the assist.

And then certainly it would be up to Liz to weigh in on whether we can change those routes.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Um to uh Mr.

Locke's comments, I I apologize.

You made a few of them there, so I'm gonna try to make sure I address them all.

Um, but sir, you brought up a uh change in our budget over the course of several years.

Uh it's something five years on my council.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around, but I do think rather than focusing on the overall budget, which includes our capital budget, which is very sensitive to the grants that we receive and rollovers, and you know, there's a whole litany of things that go into the budget.

And so I don't think it's uh probably the fairest assessment to look at the budget overall from year to year.

What I think is most fair is to look at our general fund, which is our day-to-day operations.

And uh Mr.

Shriffman, we have the benefit of having in the audience as well.

He had a town hall uh earlier this year, maybe uh talking about the growth of our general fund as a reminder, our general fund has increased 16% since 2019.

Inflation over the same period is 30%.

So uh if we're looking at our general fund, our day-to-day operations, yes, it has grown 16% since 2019, but it has not kept up with inflation.

We actually have 15% or so less purchasing power than we had in 2019.

And so uh while it's more money overall, the city does not operate in a vacuum.

We are uh we succumb to the same inflationary pressures we as individuals do.

And uh fact of the matter is things are uh much more expensive these days than they used to be.

And so I'm pretty comfortable with the um growth of the general fund over that time.

Again, it's if you account for inflation, it's less than we had in 2019.

And I know there's been concern to get to pre-COVID levels.

We're we're pre-COVID levels.

Um, I I don't think there's uh if you have uh specific things, happy to follow up with you afterwards.

Uh, but as far as the general fund is concerned, not much growth.

Uh I believe you and Miss Leam both brought up the sewer fees, and I would strongly recommend that you watch our work session from last week because it has all the, you know, these are complicated concepts and um things that we're talking about, and you you know, I think you would benefit from the couple hours of conversation we had on this topic.

You get a look at all the pro forma graphs, it's all very objective.

Uh displays up on the TV, and uh everyone can see the same numbers that we're seeing and what those projections look like over time.

I am also uncomfortable with the increases, and I voiced that at our council meeting last week.

However, I do believe that our enterprise funds, which are the funds that manage our water sewer, uh bail fill, solid waste funds, they do need to be self-sustaining.

They were at one point self-sustaining, but over the course of time, the one cent revenue has um subsidized it.

My understanding is that that began in the early 90s and has just been status quo since then.

But 2.6 million dollars in one cent revenues annually goes to water and sewer.

For water, it's 2.25 million, I believe.

And for sewer, it's 475,000, something along those lines.

And so uh every year we give an infusion of one set monies to uh one, well, it covers the capital project.

Sorry, my city staff doesn't necessarily like the um word subsidy, but um as far as I'm concerned, that's what it is.

It covers capital projects for uh those utilities that would otherwise have to be absorbed by the rates, and we've had the benefit in Casper of having visitors pay for some of those.

And um, so I do think they need to be self-sustaining.

That is part of the reason for the increase is to pull out that subsidy from the one cent and make those enterprise funds self-sustaining.

That's that's one uh aspect of it.

Uh deferred maintenance was brought up.

This idea that uh, you know, the city hasn't been doing what it's supposed to over the years to catch up on maintenance, and I might agree with that to a certain extent.

However, in regards to our sewer system, in the late 80s, there were projections that the city of Casper was going to go to 300,000 people because of the oil boom, and they built the sewer infrastructure to accommodate for that.

The unfortunate result though is that we never obviously got to 300,000 people.

We're at a you know uh six of that.

We only have 60,000 people, and that sewer infrastructure is oversized, and as a result of it being oversized, the the uh gases that build up in the sewer infrastructure corrode.

Uh, you know, you want to right size that infrastructure because if it's too large, then the gases sit there and they corrode the interior, and that's what we're faced with is is oversized sewer infrastructure built in the late 80s, is now uh corroded to the point that it requires a lot of investment and repair.

And uh so I I think the city staff's been doing a really good job trying to tackle that.

One of the things that came out of our conversation last week that I've been harping on my entire five years on council is this concept that our rates were currently based on a 300-year replacement schedule for sewer infrastructure.

I've brought that up since my first year on council.

I thought that was unrealistic, and it sounds like after doing our diligence and looking at governmental best practices.

Um, there's agreement that that's unrealistic that we've been paying too little rates over the course of the past few decades.

Our maintenance has been faller behind falling behind, and so this is an attempt to right size that uh the maintenance schedule that uh was proposed in our meeting last week is a 100-year replacement schedule, which I think is much more realistic.

The unfortunate reality of that is that we are having to catch up on those decades of deferred maintenance.

It is a tough decision.

Uh, it's not one that sits well with me.

I totally understand the concerns about all of the financial pressures that we as individuals are under.

I'm certainly uh under myself as somebody with uh chronic health conditions.

The fact that my premiums are going up 50% this next year gives me a lot of concern.

Uh, but I also uh did not serve on council to avoid controversy or make the easy decisions.

My concern is that if we don't uh make these rate adjustments now, we're just kicking that can down the road for a future council to have an issue that's even compounded further, and that's irresponsible in my opinion.

And so that's why, while it's a tough decision, it's not one I make lightly or any of us make lightly.

We all pay water and sewer rate.

I don't think anyone up here wants to pay more for it.

But us having the luxury of having sat in on many of these conversations and having all the appropriate context and knowing what the result would be if we didn't make these rate adjustments, I think we all agree it would be irresponsible to make a future council uh you know, tackle this.

And so uh I know you know this isn't a great time to do it, but there's no saying that two, three, four, five, ten years down the road, any of us are going to be any financially better off, and the issue will be even worse then.

And so um, yeah, really torn on it.

It's uh it's it's one of the tougher decisions I've had to make probably on council, these significant rate increases.

But um we hear from folks, uh many folks uh that I imagine are ideologically aligned with you, sir, that the one cent has been going towards things that it was not originally uh put in place for, and water and sewer subsidies is absolutely one of those things.

And so uh happy to chat more offline, but I feel like a monopoly is the conversation enough at this point.

I'll give the uh microphone to someone else.

Thank you.

Somebody else did you say about that?

So I just wanted to speak uh to the bus route.

Um we'll get uh look into that and have a conversation with Liz Becker, who uh oversees um that area, and then we'll get back with you guys.

And I think we had waiver contact information.

We do okay, perfect.

So we will follow up with some information for you.

Okay.

Mr.

Mayor, I follow Mr.

Mayor.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Go ahead and get that.

Oh, go ahead, counselor.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, so uh I totally ditto what um Kyle Counselor Gamer uh put forward.

Um very succinctly very good.

Um like to follow up.

Uh one question was asked about the the war birds.

uh put forward um very succinctly very good um i like to follow up uh one question was asked about the the war birds um so we had an a lot of uh quite honestly public outcry on trying to keep um not necessarily the war birds here but try to be cognizant of the players that are from all sorts of different places across the country um who have paid uh to be here to the previous owner so trying to balance some of those things um uh i believe uh that the current owner has done a great job of trying to catch things up and keep the kids and the team on track um how that'll all end up i'm not quite sure but i know staff's done a great job of trying to balance everything in um and i i i believe that they are on track as far as payment uh as far as I know to the bus route I think that uh that we've got some good direction already uh from uh the uh city attorney who will relate some things but uh again um the the lift and some of those uh assist uh absolutely uh should be checked into more that could get them directly to the location I believe for those appointment of uh different appointments uh uh lastly I just like to address uh back to um uh representative lock and representative mean's comments um I I think um I I don't disagree that these rates are pretty substantial increases uh especially over uh the next several years uh to get back on track but I too believe there's some way we've got to uh wean off the fifth cent um that has been trying to prop up and keep our rates lower and make those self-sustaining those uh enterprise funds I I have to be honest um uh to both representatives I appreciate you advocating uh for our fellow constituents um but I feel that it's quite rich for uh the chairman of revenue on the house side and uh another member of the revenue committee to talk about property tax continue to talk about property tax um and knowing full well what that has done to some of our communities and will continue to do um by putting on an additional resolution on the 26th ballot um that basically will be acquisition value along with uh the other issue of subs no residential property tax and putting a two percent sales tax process in in beginning so I find it uh pretty uh disingenuous to point fingers at us uh as the city council and at the same time stand up there and continue to plot a way when we have the tool in place uh with the long-term homeowner uh residential property tax that I believe is the best best fix along with the cap uh that's already been approved but with that um and I'll be glad to meet with both of you when I get back from Pennsylvania um on January 1st so thank you mayor thank you counselor camera thank you mayor I apologize I I need to steal a few more moments uh but a few things came back to me uh as I sat here and uh gathered my thoughts Mr.

So I would totally agree with you in the sense that they're not in great condition.

Our 2019 streets assessment uh overall average condition was 59 out of 100.

Our previous city manager Carter Napier liked to joke when he went to school, that was not a passing grade.

So I would agree with you that uh deferred maintenance is not exclusive to the water and sewer uh utilities that uh applies to the streets as well.

That's why the last once in allocation cycle, the only one I've been a part of so far, I fought really hard to increase that.

And thankfully, uh, with the support of uh staff and my colleagues, we got that from it was 3.7 million when I got on council, and I believe it's at 5.2-ish, a little over 5 million now.

Uh it was roughly a 50% increase.

Uh the unfortunate reality is that I don't think that's still enough to um maintain their current bad condition.

And so certainly as the one cent allocation comes up for renewal next year and thinking about how we're gonna allocate those funds, I will be um fighting really hard to get another significant increase to streets funding.

And I'm hoping that uh because we are making our enterprise funds more um self-sustaining, reducing that subsidy, that that will allow for us to increase funding in that regard to get us to a place where we're at least maintaining the current conditions.

Ideally, I'd love to be improving them over time, but one step at a time, as long as we can maintain and keep them from getting worse.

Uh, that's really the basic minimum, I think we as council need to do.

So uh stay tuned for next spring when we start having that discussion about allocation of the one cent revenues.

And uh hopefully you'll be pleased with the direction that we go on that.

Uh to Miss Lean's comments about the one cent resolution, as has been the case historically, certainly the last time I was a part of it.

We spend many hours talking about those allocations.

I don't know.

We typically do a survey as well.

So that's something that has historically been done beginning of the year.

So we'll get those survey results back, we'll talk about them.

Uh, we'll have those discussions in open forum, and then like always, we'll pass a resolution that will be uh pretty granular about how we expect to spend those funds.

So I would encourage folks uh to follow that conversation very closely.

Um there was uh mention of county residents not uh getting the free bail fill pass.

My guess is because they don't pay city utility bills and that uh cost is integrated into that bill.

So if you're not paying a city of Casper utility bill, you are not paying for that bail fill pass.

So I I can understand some frustration, but I do appreciate you guys um coming here advocating for the folks that gave you a call.

I I would welcome them to give me a call.

I um I was hoping for more uh opportunities to chat with people about this.

I got one call from one constituent today, and we had a really great conversation.

They were gonna show up and uh express some concerns, but after we had a really good 15-minute conversation, they felt really good and informed about it and they decided they didn't need to come tonight.

So uh if any of those folks that you talked to would like more information and maybe don't have the time to watch our work session from last week, give them my number and uh I'd be happy to chat with them.

And then I think the last thing was uh there was a uh chat about the bridge funding, the pedestrian bridge uh over by North Paplar.

Miss Leen, I uh I had seen you made some comments about that under a Cowboy State Daily article a couple months back, and I offered you a response and I didn't see one.

So uh unfortunately we couldn't continue the conversation there.

But I do want to remind you and other folks that um I'm happy to talk about either bridge, but uh in regards to the North Platte Pedestrian Bridge, that is a roughly six million dollar project, 2.2 million in utility infrastructure from water and sewer enterprise funds, um, and 3.7 million in Wyoming outdoor rec grants.

So again, no general fund revenues.

That's a common misconception.

Uh uh, it's got nothing to do with general fund revenues and the property tax reductions we've experienced as a city.

The reason we can still move forward on those projects is because again, it's funded through the enterprise funds and through the Wyoming Outdoor Rec Grant.

The cost savings, I would say um, it took me a while to uh um realize what you might have been talking about that about there, and that's because when the state put out for bid the reconstruction of the traffic, the street traffic bridge there at Poplar, we were in originally including utilities on that, and the bid came back.

We had a budget of $2 million, and the bid came back at $4 million.

And so the bid came back twice what we had budgeted for putting utilities on the traffic bridge.

And so um I personally am very thankful that city staff had the um creativity and the wherewithal to uh find this Wyoming outdoor rec grant and come up with this opportunity for us to still get those utilities across the river.

That those utilities need to be rebuilt and they need to cross the river.

And uh the state is not moving forward with the traffic bridge at this time, but uh they will at some point in the future, and it doesn't make any sense to me to put you new utilities on a end of life uh traffic bridge that's gonna eventually be replaced.

And so um I'm hoping the bids come back at what we have budgeted again.

I I don't know what the timeline is to put those bids out, but uh certainly if we get another four million dollar bid for utilities, we're gonna have to pivot.

But that I think is what you were talking about, the costings there, it's necessary utility upgrades that need to occur.

And this was the most pragmatic and uh in my opinion, financially responsible way to make that happen.

So I just want to remind folks uh while they might see projects run around town that think, you know, oh, why are we raising utility rates uh while we're building bridges?

That doesn't make any sense.

And I understand the optics of that uh are tough to grapple with, but I would encourage folks to give me a call because again, um, the uh city financing, city budgeting is a very complicated process, and I'm happy to walk people through that.

But uh yeah, again, in regards to those bridge bridges, none of those uh uh projects have any sort of general fund impact.

They're all one cent revenues or why I mean outdoor rec grants, cap grants, private donations, or other funding sources.

So I think that's all I got.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Yeah, go ahead.

Yeah, I did I did want to comment about the the gentleman yes or Lewis, I believe about the uh about the streets.

Um I believe we still have available, I don't know if you're aware of this, but the city does have a an app that everybody's got an app, you know, but uh it does have an app where you can report the specific potholes.

And so, and I I've done it myself at my both in my neighborhood and other locations.

But if you notice a I I would just encourage you to if you want to use the app or somehow notify uh the city of a specific location, um they're they're very responsive.

I use the app, like I said, both uh near my home, and I've had constituents contact me about potholes in their neighborhood, and they don't have the app, and I you know driven by and got a picture and set it in.

And the the city is pretty responsive to those reports.

So if there's a route, for example, that you travel quite frequently, uh that you are you know concerned about potholes.

If you wouldn't mind taking a minute to uh and and I think I don't know, they can call the main number for the it's on the city website.

I think you can download the the app and onto your phone or a pad, uh, or you can uh if if you need assistance with that, I'm sure you could call the main number for the city and they'd find you someone who could direct you through kind of walk you through downloading that and accessing that.

Okay.

It's pretty pretty easy to use though.

Okay.

Thank you.

And I just have a just a brief comment.

Um, I want to thank everybody for being here tonight.

Appreciate it.

Always um appreciate the uh public comment to be longer.

Um, and I appreciate everybody that comes up and shares.

Uh I've I know I've talked with uh both Miss Lean and Mr.

Locke when we have um gone toe-to-toe about the property taxes, and I've always told them that it's much better for us to have dialogue rather than um not because without dialogue and comes up with misunderstanding.

The city budget is complex, and I've I've mentioned this before to to both of them.

It is a complex process, and we rely heavily on our staff that know it intricately and know it inside and out.

They are extraordinarily professional and good at what they do.

And I agree with Counselor Gamroth.

Um, what they presented to us, I would I would also um uh say the same thing as go back and watch our work session if you have not seen it.

It's very detailed, it's got a lot of information.

Um, and I think that that is an important context.

Secondly, yes, have your constituents reach out to us to talk to us, have them come and see us.

Um I invite you guys to sit down with us and have coffee.

We'll pour over it with you, we'll do all those things.

But you have to reach out to us if you are concerned.

This is a first step.

This is the first step coming to this public meeting, and you're able to express that to us, then reach out to us.

You have my number, text me.

You're like, Pacheco, this is not right.

Let's meet.

I haven't heard from you.

Okay.

So my point is dialogue, then come and talk to us, and then we will be a part of that solution to talk about it.

And and that's really as uh as simple as that gets.

We may disagree ideologically on a lot of stuff, but we can still respect each other.

Okay, and so please reach out to us.

We'll pour over the numbers, we'll show you the all the things that we do, all the graphs.

Our staff that is incredibly intelligent and professional and experts in what they do.

We trust them.

I've been on this for 12 years and I've seen it.

I stand behind our staff.

I stand behind what they do.

Just reach out to us if you want to see those numbers.

Then see we'll open up the books.

It's it's public record.

We'll show you everything and why we made the decision we did.

Go watch the work session and then come back to us.

Please read the consent agenda titles.

Established January 6th, 2026 as the public hearing date for consideration of the transfer of ownership for retail liquor license number 34.

Dorsey Van Galloway, doing business as Galloway's Irish pub, located at 2800 CY Avenue to Galloway's LLC, doing business as Galloway's Irish Pub, located at 2800 CY Avenue.

The transfer of ownership interest of retail liquor license number 22, Wyoming Spirits Incorporated, doing business as 2nd Street Liquor and Wine, located at 939 East Second Street, suite three, suites 300, 400, and 500, and the transfer of ownership interest of retail liquor license number 15, Wyoming Liquor LLC, doing business as Wyoming Discount Liquor, located at 4330 East Second Street, and establishing February 17th, 2026 as the public hearing date for consideration of liquor license renewals for the licensing period of April 1st, 2026 through March 21st, 2027.

Thank you.

The chair entertained a motion to by minute action establish the public hearing dates just read.

Move by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Councillor Bond.

Any abstentions?

Please cast your vote.

Councilor Sweeney, how do you vote?

I vote aye.

Aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Text amendment pertaining to planning and zoning commission meetings.

Mr.

City Attorney, do you have any exhibits?

Thank you, Mayor.

I do.

Exhibit number one, correspondence from Liz Becker to Zulema Lopez, dated November 26, 2025.

Exhibit number two, affidavit of publication from the Casper Start Tribune, dated December 11th, 2025.

Thank you.

Madam City Manager, do you have a report?

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

So state statute requires that a majority of all planning and zoning commissioners, not just those present at a meeting, must vote in favor to approve decisions.

However, a recent code review identified that the Casper Municipal Code currently states that only a majority of commissioners present in a meeting is needed for an affirmative vote.

So this proposes the municipal code to align with state law.

In practice, I want to make clear the commission has already been following state law by requiring at least four votes for any decision, regardless of attendance at a meeting.

But again, this text amendment is just to make sure that we're aligned with state statute.

Thank you.

Council will now listen to public comment.

Public hearing comments are limited to five minutes and no duplication of speakers are allowed.

At this time, I would ask those individuals who wish to speak in favor of the ordinance to please approach the lecture.

Anybody who wishes to speak in favor.

Okay, at this time I would ask those individuals who wish to speak in opposition to this ordinance to please approach the lectern.

Anybody in opposition.

There being no one to speak for or against the ordinance, I now declare the public hearing closed.

Please read the ordinance by title only.

Approving a municipal code text amendment to section 17.12.210 pertaining to planning and zoning commission meetings.

Thank you.

The chair entertained a motion to approve on first reading the ordinance just read.

Moved by Councillor Bond, seconded by Councillor Haskins.

Discussion by the council.

Okay, any amendments.

Please cast your vote.

Councilor Sweeney, how do you vote?

I voted aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

I now declare the public hearing open for the consideration of the transfer of uh retail liquor license number 18 to 30H7 Hospitality LLC.

Mr.

City Attorney, do you have exhibits?

Thank you, Mayor.

I do.

Exhibit number one, correspondence from Fleur Tremble to Zelina Lopez, dated December 5th, 2025.

Exhibit number two, affidavit of website publication dated December 16th, 2025.

Exhibit number three, affidavit of publication from the Casper Star Tribune, dated December 9th, 2025.

Exhibit number four, liquor license application filed with the city clerk on November 14th, 2025.

Thank you.

Madam City Manager, do you have a report?

Thank you, Mayor.

The City of Casper has received an application to transfer retail liquor license number 18 for Wyoming's ribbon chop house located at 256 South Center Street to 308H7, which I believe is pronounced 307 hospitality located at the same address.

If approved, the transfer will become effective January 1st, 2026.

However, the license will be non-operational initially.

The new owner intends to complete some building upgrades, after which they will determine their next steps.

Per state statute, the applicant has up to a year to make the license operational.

Thank you.

Council now listen to public comments.

Public hearing comments are limited to five minutes and no duplication of speakers will be allowed.

At this time, I would ask those individuals who wish to speak in favor of the transfer of retail liquor license number 18 to please approach the lectern.

Anyone wish to speak in favor?

This time I would ask those individuals who wish to speak in opposition to the transfer of retail liquor license number 18 to please approach the lecture.

Anybody in opposition.

There being no one to speak for or against the retail or the transfer of retail liquor license number 18.

I now declare the public hearing closed.

The chair would entertain a motion to approve the application for the transfer of retail liquor license number 18.

Casper Chop House LLC doing business as Wyoming's ribbon chop house located at 256 South Center Street to 30H7 Hospitality LLC doing business as 30H7 Hospitality located at 256 South Center.

Move by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Councilor Jensen.

Any discussion by the council.

Please cast your vote.

Please record the vote.

Oh, excuse me.

Counselor Sweeney, how do you vote?

I would vote aye.

Thank you.

Please record the vote.

Council will now listen to a consent resolutions.

Please read the consent resolutions by title only.

Authorizing an underground right-of-way easement with Rocky Mountain Power as part of the Marion Criner Pool and Park Improvements Project.

8A2, authorizing an agreement with JTL Group Incorporated, doing business as Knife River for the Bryan Evansville Road Improvements Project.

8A3, authorizing a contract for professional services with Stantec Consulting Services Incorporated for Engineering Study and Design Services for the North Platte River Restoration North Casper Knife River Reach Project.

8A4, authorizing our procurement of goods agreement with Water Technology Group for submersible pumps for use at the River West Sewage Lift Station Station.

8A5, authorizing a contract for professional services with civil engineering professionals incorporated for the FY26 Priority Water Main Replacements Project.

8A6, approving a contract for professional services between the City of Casper, Wyoming, and Converge One Incorporated for upgrades to the existing 911 phone system.

8A7, authorizing a contract for professional services with advanced Casper for assistance with economic strategic planning and grant funding.

And rescinding resolution number 23-287 and 8A11 creating a policy on considering the issuance of industrial development revenue bonds.

Thank you.

The chair do entertain a motion to adopt the consent of JEDA items just read.

Move by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Councilor Bond.

Madam City Manager, do you have any comments on any of the items?

No, thank you, Mayor.

Any abstentions and nay votes from the council.

Please cast your vote.

Counselor Sweeney, I vote aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Please read the consent minute action titles.

981 authorizing the reappointment of Susan Burke to the Civil Service Commission for a three-year term effective January 1st, 2026, and expiring December 31st, 2028.

982 authorizing the purchase of 14 new police placement vehicles from Grindr Motors, Casper, Wyoming for use by the Casper Police Department.

983 authorizing the purchase of one new compact tracked loader for use by the water distribution division of the public services department.

984, authorizing the purchase of one new one-ton pickup with utility body for use in the water distribution division of the public services department.

985, authorizing the purchase of one new heavy-duty cab and chassis 4x4 truck for use by the water distribution division of the public services department.

986 authorizing the purchase of one new half-ton 4x4 pickup truck with six and a half foot bed for use by the water distribution division of the public services department.

987, authorizing the purchase of one new 48-foot box walking floor trailer for use by the solid waste division of the public services department.

988, authorizing the purchase of one new utility all terrain vehicle for use by the solid waste division of the public services department.

989, authorizing the purchase of one new utility all terrain vehicle for use by the Casper Police Department.

9810, authorizing the purchase of one new full-size cargo van for use by the Metro Division of the Casper Police Department.

And 9A11 authorizing the reappointment of Councillor Amber Pollock as a board member of the Central Wyoming Regional Water System Joint Powers Board with a term expiring on December 31st, 2028.

Thank you.

The chair to entertain a motion to approve the consent minute action agenda items just read.

Move by the vice mayor, seconded by counselor Haskins.

Councilor Sweeney, how do you vote?

I vote aye.

At this time, we ask counselors to bring forward any relevant concerns.

Mayor I needs to mayor need to record the vote.

I'm sorry.

Oh, please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Thank you.

I was going too fast.

Yeah.

At this time, we ask counselors to bring forward relevant concerns or items of interest.

Counselor Jensen, I'll start with you tonight.

Counselor Bond.

Counselor.

I guess the first thing was uh HDR engineering uh came and presented us with a water resource management plan.

Um they kind of go over the you know the whole uh purpose of the uh project is to assess water ply or water supply and management as well as water rights and resources valuations, um, that kind of thing.

Overall current water supply is meeting current demand conditions for the city of Casper, uh, but likely need to look at future water rights up water rights options in the future.

Um was the board was also presented with an audit report for 2025 for the fiscal year of 2025.

Uh nothing there, all is good, no deficiencies or concerns.

Um, and then we went on to approve a handful of contracts and agreements.

Um, more notably.

Uh we uh the board approved uh a loan for 20 million for a uh through the State Land Investment Board for primary disinfection, uh the uh primary disinfection improvement project, which I believe is uh starting next year sometime.

So and uh that was it.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Counselor Haskins.

Councilor Sweeney, do you have anything tonight?

Um just a couple of things.

Uh last Thursday, I think the mayor last Thursday I uh attended an open house uh down at the science zone, uh where uh uh spectrum donated it.

I believe it was 10,000 uh to the science zone and met the new director and uh um uh so it was a really nice turnout.

Uh Friday afternoon.

Uh Friday afternoon, I attended um an open house at the new Arbor House, um, which would provide um some transitional housing for men.

Um and uh I believe the it's over 18 um with also some um supportive services around counseling and the like.

Um I thought it was uh uh unique um opportunity and um I think a a great thing for uh for the city at Casper.

Uh uh Saturday was uh resecrised America.

Want to thank the city of Casper for um providing the uh cardboard um receptacles uh for recycling of the boxes that the reefs come in and uh really appreciate the landfill uh for providing that for us.

Uh a huge turnout, it's huge usual and uh uh great messages uh in particular from Senator Brasso gave a great message on Saturday.

Um so with that, thank you, Mayor, and appreciate um the ability to attend virtually.

Um and um I also attended um uh regional water.

Um and Matt did a great, much better job than I could on uncovering uh those those comments.

Um it was the consultants uh it was very interesting study and uh very detailed and really good.

Um and I'm sure more to more to come on the precious resource of water.

So uh thank you, Mayor.

And one last question that hopefully somebody can answer is for the executive session.

Do I just stay on this link or will a new link be sent to me?

Uh they'll get a hold of you um and get you set up.

So just wait for I think it'll be uh teams call.

Okay.

Thank you.

Yeah, thank you.

Counselor Gamroff.

Thank you, Mayor.

Had a downtown development authority board meeting last Wednesday.

We discussed the see something, say something poster that Melissa, the executive director and other members have put together.

This is to act as a resource guide for folks downtown, encouraging them to call PD for crimes and non-emergencies to call 211 for resources for folks in need, and to report incidents to the DDA for tracking and informational purposes.

We uh have a new website that's live, still fine-tuning it, but would encourage folks to check it out.

It's much better than the uh one that DDA used to have.

I was informed there uh that the shining a light on safety funding has been paused at the federal level, and that was uh I don't know if anyone can confirm that for me or not, but um that was a report that was given there uh as a reminder that was to enhance lighting mostly along the rail trail.

And so it doesn't sound like the funding was stripped, but it sounds like it's in limbo at the moment.

So uh, you know, uh I guess I would love some follow-up uh on the current status of that.

I was also told that the city has a graffiti abatement program through community development.

And uh I knew that was something that was historically a feature, but I guess I didn't know that was still going.

So I don't know if that's something, even just a quick work session item.

I would love to get some more information about that.

Uh sounds um would just love to learn more about it.

Um is that our official request?

Yes, please.

Um is everybody okay with putting something like that on the rush, but on the work session about graffiti abatement.

Let Janine get her legs under and stuff, but uh cool.

Thank you.

Um we discussed the results of the recent millave election.

The turnout was very low, unfortunately, but there was unanimous approval for the next four years.

So the DDA's funding is secured at least through then.

I attended a Americans for prosperity luncheon last Friday, and we heard from the founder of Prometheus Hyperscale, Trenton Thornock, regarding the proposed data center on the eastern side of the county.

Um I went in there with a very skeptical eye.

Um as somebody that works in technology, I I think this AI bubble is gonna pop.

And uh just uh just waiting for it to happen.

Uh so I I did go in with a high degree of sket uh skepticism, but Trenton was very um uh incredibly informative, uh, very intelligent dude, spoke to all the concerns I would have, which is power usage.

Their intent is to be completely off the grid and be using gas-driven turbines, uh gasketing from Black Hill, so not a part of the Rocky Mountain grid.

Um water usage, it's supposed to be a self-contained cooling system that doesn't require water.

My understanding is that they have piping that goes under the earth to cool the water, and then uh, you know, that's kind of uh how the feedback system works is you you drive the water underground to cool off and then bring it back up.

Um so yeah, very interesting um technologies that they plan on utilizing.

Um the gas-driven turbines.

I know that's been a huge issue for the Grok data centers in Tennessee, creating a lot of local pollution.

And uh, so that was my question to him.

And he talked about the differences in gas turbines and how inefficient the ones are in Tennessee.

They weren't intended for that purpose, which you know I can get into more detail.

But uh yeah, so I was really impressed with Trenton and uh, you know, all the information he provided.

Diligence, I think is still required, uh, just like the case with Radiant.

But um, you know, I think people should scrutinize the details of the project, but also be open-minded and uh uh willing to learn more about stuff that uh they probably know very little about because like Radiant, this they're using new innovative technologies kind of out on the on the cutting edge of uh uh the work being done in this industry.

So I would hopefully there's more public opportunities uh to engage with those folks, and I would encourage folks to do that if those present themselves.

We got a Metro sit rep report from Jody up at the animal shelter, and uh we've been holding off on those meetings just until we get some like more meaningful progress uh and updates regarding the animal shelter, but she does give out those regular updates.

So if you didn't look at it, they have a kennel technician in the final phase of a background check, and if passed, they'll finally be fully staffed, which uh I don't think is happened my whole tenure on council.

So I'm hoping fingers crossed that uh we get there.

They're currently doing vaccine clinics every Wednesday this month from one to five.

Uh so if you need to get your pets vaccinated, I would encourage you to check out those opportunities.

Otherwise, they're hoping to do them every third Wednesday after the first of the year.

It's contingent on a partnership with Petco Love, which I believe provides the kind of financial and resource backing of it.

And then lastly, uh looking at our sales tax reports, it looks like at least the way I read it, is we are 3.7 plus 3.7% behind in projected sales tax.

Um a bit unfortunate, but uh we're still early in the fiscal year, so it's something I'm gonna be watching pretty closely.

And uh, we also had a report in our information packet that we're up to 9.3 million in six cent collected.

So that's uh I believe just over halfway.

Uh so you know, despite the slow lag, you know, the small lag in sales tax, looks like the six cents sales tax collections are relatively on pace with uh what our initial projections were.

That's all I got.

Thank you.

Thank you, counselor.

Vice Mayor.

Nothing.

Uh just a couple different things.

First, I want to uh recognize um Julian Lopez, who will who did a wonderful job um as the interim uh city manager.

Uh her term will um this was her last meeting with us as our as our interim city manager and um Janine will be starting tomorrow, um, our new city manager, so we'll be welcoming her uh tomorrow.

But I just wanted to highlight um our gratitude from the city council for your hard work um stirring the ship, keeping it steady.

Um we are in debt to you uh for your hard work that you have done for us.

And so I just wanted to recognize you um and our gratitude that we have for you.

Thank you.

Uh Thursday will be the city employee holiday breakfast at 6 a.m.

Um, so I think I don't know how many counselors are planning on coming to that.

I know I'll be there.

Um so several of us will be there to help serve um the amazing uh staff that we do have, and and I know I mentioned that a second ago, but I want to reiterate um the incredible work that our staff does uh for us and for this community.

Um we are blessed to have their expertise.

We are blessed that they are able to come to us with the information.

We are indebted to them as well.

Um this is one of the finest staffs that I've that I've had the honor to work with from the very top to the very bottom.

And so um goes without saying they are a tremendous staff, and so I have a great deal of respect for them.

Um so thank you.

Next meeting of the city council will be a work session to be held at 4:30 p.m.

on Tuesday, December 30th, and a regular council meeting to be held at 6 p.m.

on Tuesday, January 6th.

A notice of an executive session to take place at this date and during this meeting was given.

We have matters to discuss related to attorney client privilege and land and potential litigation.

The chair would entertain a motion to adjourn into an executive session and at the conclusion of the executive session to reconvene this regular meeting solely for the purposes of adjourning this regular meeting.

So moved.

Move by the vice mayor, seconded by counselor Bond.

There are a majority of counselors present, and a motion to adjourn to an executive session has been moved and seconded.

This motion requires two-thirds majority of the council present.

Please cast your vote.

Councilor Sweeney, how do you vote?

I vote aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Greater than two-thirds majority of the council present voted in favor of the motion.