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

Um, and also remind everyone that council meetings are live streamed on the city's YouTube channel.

I now call the June 16th, 2026 regular council meeting to order.

Please note that Councilor Bond is joining us remotely.

Uh the chair would entertain a motion to by consent minute action, excuse the absences of Councillor Jensen and Counselor Pollock.

Move by Councillor Mackintosh, seconded by Councillor Haskins.

Please cast your vote.

Councilor Bond, how do you vote?

Aye.

Please record the vote.

Mayor, it looks like your vote is not on there.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Please join me.

Please read the consent minute approval titles.

Approving the minutes of the May 26, 2026 special council meeting, the May 26, 2026 executive session, and the June 2nd, 2026 regular council meeting.

Thank you.

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

Move by councillor Macintosh, seconded by the Vice Mayor.

Any abstentions?

Please cast your vote.

Counselor Bond, how do you vote?

Aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Chair would entertain a motion to approve by minute action the June 16th, 2026.

Uh general bills and claims as audited by City Manager Jordan.

Move by Councillor Haskins, seconded by Counselor McIntosh.

Any abstentions?

Please cast your vote.

Counselor Bond, how do you vote?

Aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Chair to entertain a motion to approve by minute action the June 16th, 20 uh 2026 uh conflict claims as audited by city manager Jordan.

Move by Councillor Sweeney, seconded by Councilor McIntosh.

Any abstentions?

Any other abstentions?

Please cast your vote.

Counselor Bond, how do you vote?

Aye.

Please record the vote.

With Vice Mayor Gamroth abstaining and all others voting aye, the motion passes.

And to voice any concerns.

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

No personal obscenities or threats will be tolerated.

Council will not respond to personnel matters.

Those will 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 persons present.

Presentations are limited to five minutes and no time uh extensions will be permitted.

Also, please note that the public hearing and ordinances each have their own separate comment periods.

Good evening.

How are you doing, Mayor Ray?

Good to see you.

You too.

I'm here to speak about uh the water on earth.

Uh inland rivers on what I'm addressing right now.

I sent you guys an email.

Just got done with the Great Lakes, speaking at uh five different ports there, putting oil on the uh edge of water is not a good idea.

And as far as the containers go that are rapidly running around the world on trains, trucks need to be checked with Geiger counters and scintillation counters.

I have emailed every state police, which would be highway patrol troopers, uh advising that they check the freight while they're weighing the trucks.

That is the mass amount of transportation is a semi-trucks.

Millions of them.

Um as well.

Uh coal getting dug out of the ground.

I noticed uh this river's lowered as it's ever been that I've ever seen it.

When I first came to Casper, it was way, way up there.

It's nice to see that.

But they're all low.

And the more the coal comes out of the ground, that is a filter for rain for subterranean waters for the Great Lakes.

And there are, I don't know if you guys have heard of the Ogalala.

It's called the Aquifer.

Look it up.

It's really low.

We're really hurting on that.

But the thing about inland is these freight trains are called hot shots.

And if any containers are slipping through the coastlines and getting on these trains, because that's where they load up, they come in, Lynn, drop the containers, and then who knows where that freight goes.

But uh they run along the rivers uh heavily, these hot shot trains as well.

Uh like I said, just got done with the Pacific Coast as well before I went to the Great Lakes, and I had every port except for Seattle, and then I came this way to speak.

So just trying to get the message out there to get uh everybody aware, and hopefully some people will start calling and follow up on what I'm doing on suggesting Geiger counters and scintillation counters put to every bit of freight that's moving around in our country.

It would probably be a good idea.

Thanks for letting me speak.

Thank you.

Do we get your name?

I know I thank you, Craig.

I appreciate it.

Does anybody have any questions for Craig?

I actually I do.

Okay.

Am I supposed to pass these out for you?

Are these yours?

What's that?

Are these yours?

Those no, those are for you guys.

That's what I meant.

You want me to pass them around?

I wasn't sure why they would need to.

Sorry, I don't have enough for everybody, but you actually do for tonight, so we're good.

Okay, great.

All right.

It's good to see you, Craig.

Anybody okay?

Let's go ahead and move on.

Uh would any counselors like to respond?

To Craig.

All right.

All right, please read the consent agenda title.

Established July 7th, 2026 as the public hearing date for consideration of an ordinance approving a vacation final plat and zone change for the Shepherd of the Hills edition subdivision in the city of Casper, Wyoming.

Thank you.

The chair going attain a motion two by minute action, establish the public hearing date just read.

Move by Councillor McIntosh, seconded by Counselor Haskins.

Any abstentions or nay votes?

Please cast your vote.

Councilor Bond, how do you vote?

Aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

I now declare the public hearing open for the consideration of a resolution adopting the proposed City of Casper municipal budget for fiscal year 2027.

Mr.

City Attorney, do you have any exhibits?

Thank you, Mayor.

I do exhibit number one correspondence from Jill Johnson to Janine Jordan, dated May 28th, 2026.

Exhibit number two, affidavit of publication for publication in the Casper Star Tribune on June 4th, 2026.

Mayor, I do not uh prior to the public hearing.

Great, thank you.

Oh, now I see my notes.

Council will now listen to public comments.

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

At this time, I asked those individuals who wish to speak in favor of the resolution to please approach the lectern.

Anybody who wishes to speak in favor.

At this time, I would ask individuals who wish to speak in opposition to the resolution to please approach the lectern.

Anybody in opposition.

There being no one to speak for or against the resolution.

I now declare the public hearing closed.

Please read the resolution by tunnel only.

A resolution making appropriations of funds to cover expenditures of the city of Casper, Wyoming for the fiscal year of July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027.

Thank you.

Chair to entertain a motion to adopt the resolution just read.

Move by Councillor McIntosh, seconded by Counselor Haskins.

Madam City Manager, do you have a report?

Um Mayor, thank you.

I do.

Um Council, I would remind you that when we see statutes do uh require municipalities to adopt an annual budget, a public hearing uh typically being held prior to uh the third two, excuse me, the third Tuesday in June, and then adoption occurring within 24 hours of that public hearing.

Just as a refresher of the journey we've been on for the last couple of months, the capital budget was published in March and presented in a public meeting to the council on March 10th.

Then on May 5th, a summary of the proposed budget was published.

Uh subsequently in May, the detailed budget was published, and on May 26th, the budget was presented in a public meeting and reviewed by in a public meeting this city council.

A proposed summary of the budget was also entered into the minutes of the regular council meeting on June 2nd, which brings us to this evening and the uh final adoption of the budget to take effect for fiscal year 27, beginning on July 1st of 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027.

Thank you.

Any discussion from the council.

Okay.

Please cast your vote.

Councillor Bond, how do you vote?

Aye.

Please record the vote.

With all councillors voting aye, the motion passes.

Please read the ordinance on second reading by title only.

An ordinance approving a temporary moratorium on the establishment of new simulcasting establishments in the city of Casper, Wyoming.

Thank you.

The chair would entertain a motion to approve on second reading the ordinance just read.

Move by Councillor Haskins, seconded by Councillor Mackintosh.

Madam City Manager, do you have a report?

Um thank you, Mayor.

I do.

Um we wanted to provide a report to the council of what the working group that you established has accomplished thus far in the two meetings that they've had.

We thought this information was relevant and pertinent as you consider second reading.

So two meetings have occurred, as I said.

Um, generally, these are the outcomes.

The uh committee has been advised that legal authority does exist for the city council to regulate where simulcast gaming occurs through land use controls and or licensing.

Uh the committee has talked about the uh state of play, if you will, in Wyoming and nationally.

We do know that other communities in the state are considering regulations.

Uh nationally, the American Planning Association, we have learned, does treat gaming as a local character issue and consequently uh does not issue any land use best practices that might advise us as we move forward.

Uh local conditions have also been reported on to the committee with them reviewing maps showing gaming sites in Casper along with zoning, calls for service in and near those locations, and also income data.

There were no clear trends evident in that mapping exercise.

And then we also have asked some of our uh partner agencies around Casper to help us gauge some local sentiment.

Uh, the majority of surveyed property owners in the downtown development authority area do support a moratorium on new gaming or simulcasting establishments.

That was about 65% in favor.

A minority of those property owners in the DDA oppose or said they would like more information.

Uh, supporters cite community harm, displacement of traditional businesses, um, and opponents uh cite their preference for allowing market solutions to deal with this.

It was also reported to your working group from the OID or Old Yellowstone District Advisory Committee that they have strong support for prohibiting gaming or gambling through the form-based code changes that will be in front of you before uh too long here, and that the OID advisory committee also favors using special districts to control location and growth in that Yellowstone district.

Um fiscally, the committee has received a report on gaming revenue to the city.

Uh, that revenue has grown notably since 2020, but we do see it slowing in recent years, and so uh I would suggest to you we expect gaming revenue to level out from its current level and become more consistent in future next years.

So, where is your committee at right now?

That working group's next steps are to report out here on second reading of the temporary moratorium.

The working group members also would like to determine whether location-based impacts are going to be best addressed through zoning and land use or licensing or liquor license standards or maybe a combination of these tools.

And the working group members so far are going to be completing the can the worksheet to help them identify concerns around where gaming is located.

And as you know, the working group has invited all members of council to complete that worksheet to help define if there are specific problems that you as policymakers are concerned about.

And if so, that would help us to determine what local regulation might be most effective in addressing or mitigating those concerns.

That's the end of my report from your working group.

Thank you so much.

But this time council will now listen to public comment.

Does anybody wish to speak for or against?

Come on, Abathy.

Yep.

Good evening.

Good evening, Mayor.

I didn't know if you wanted to hear from proponents of the ordinance first.

We're we're speaking against it.

Yeah, so we'll second reading as we don't do for or against separately.

Anybody can come up and talk for or against it.

Mr.

Mayor, I do have a handout.

Um, I sent um a copy of this letter.

My name is Affi.

I represent uh Bally's.

I work for a law firm called Brownstein Hyatt Barber Shrek.

I did email the council a copy of the letter, but for your convenience and if you didn't have a chance to review it, I did bring hard copies.

Um, knowing that I've got a limited amount of time, I just wanted to cover a couple of highlights from our letter and really wanted to provide some background about Senate File 45 and our experience in working on that.

I appreciate the report that you just received that talked about kind of the limits of what Senate File 45 provided.

Uh, we supported local control to the extent that it decided the where and when a facility could operate, but not on giving uh municipalities or counties the ability to decide who, as we have concerns about that allowing for monopoly creation or economic protectionism.

Um, our letter also talks about market saturation and how it's often a tool used by private industry in deciding whether or not they want to enter a community.

It's not really a tool used by government to decide whether or not a particular community has uh too much of one kind of business.

Um so we have spoken out about that, and if you went back and looked at the record that the legislature has on Senate file 45, you will see we've had that conversation robustly, and ultimately the legislature did not include language in its final bill that would allow for local governments to exclude based on um or fence out new operators.

A couple of other provisions I want to just to bring to your attention.

Um, prior to Senate File 45, I think a lot of municipalities expressed concern about getting notice from the gaming commission.

Over the years, the gaming commission has been a lot more vocal in letting communities know when an application or a new entrant wants to come into a community.

But you'll see in statute that will take effect in a few short weeks that the that municipalities or counties, depending on where the facility would be located, could provide uh notice to the community and an opportunity opportunity for public hearing.

So we think that that provides a lot more robust conversation about the citing of these local these localities.

Um second, local approving authorities.

Uh, we it's the law specifies that they can impose reasonable conditions.

The law provides two examples of that hours of operation, and something that I think maybe hadn't been utilized as much was the designation of areas within a certain facility of where those HHR uh terminals could be located.

Um, we'd note that um we think some of this was a little redundant and that localities were enforcing this already.

Um, we can't think of one example where a gaming facility was operating outside of established local operating hours.

So um we think that's good clarification.

But moving on into the bill, the law is very clear about uh defining the limits of denying or revoking a site-specific approval, and you'll see that um that can only be done for good cause.

And the legislature was very clear in saying that that was limited to four conditions.

One for a breach of those reasonable conditions I mentioned without you know curing the defect.

If the permit holder had violated certain gaming laws, again, those are defined in the statute, failure to commence or demonstrate commencement of a game or simulcasting facility within two years.

And then finally, the last one was probably the most broad, and that's what defining the welfare of the people residing in the vicinity of the permitted present premises is adversely and seriously affected.

On this point, this was language specifically adopted by um utilizing liquor law and in doing some research.

If you look at some case law, there is some instruction on what that means.

And so we provide a bit of an analysis in that in the letter that I provided to you.

In short, the city of Casper has a bit of ahead of its time.

It actually has already contemplated gaming and gambling facilities in its code.

As you know, your C2 general business district and your C4 highway business district already contemplate that use.

And so we just kind of lay out our concern that if you've identified that already in your land use, your zoning ordinances, um, it might be problematic to start fencing those out for new operators.

Um, so finally, we wanted to touch on something that was brought up, and that is that market saturation.

Um, it's good to hear that there was kind of a leveling out of gaming revenue that aligns with what we've looked when what we would determine in looking at your statutes or in your data.

Um, it's good to hear that there was kind of a leveling out of gaming revenue that aligns with what we've looked when what we would determine in looking at your statutes or in your data, um, there haven't been a lot of new uh facilities coming online, not for two and a half years, and there have only been nominal increases in the number of machines on actual floors.

So when we hear that you know, gaming has erupted or is it continually erupting in Casper, um, that facts just don't align with that.

I think you have seen a leveling out.

In closing, we'd say that if you are to move forward with the moratorium, we've heard from the council and through our last meeting and individual conversations that really is about downtown that will be Yellowstone district.

So we'd ask that moving forward if the council wants to move forward with a temporal temporary moratorium that it limit it to that geographic region.

With that, Mr.

Mayor, I'm happy to answer any questions.

Yeah, go ahead, Councilor Sweeney.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Um so on uh this sheet, if I was to understand it correctly, uh number of approved terminals.

And if I look at the very bottom number on totals, approved terminals uh for ECL is 725 plus the 51.

And the number of terminals as I read it um site as of May 27th is five 554 plus 11.

And I so I was a little confused at the plus.

Okay.

And then obviously in ECL in particular, they're they've got roughly 200 more machines approved than in use.

Um exhibit.

Councilman Sweeney represent or Mayor Pacheco, uh, maybe I'll explain a little bit.

In part, so if you look at these charts that I provided, you're gonna see then the location of a certain facility, where it is, and we wanted to just provide kind of the lay of the land in Neutrona County, so we did include Mills and Evansville.

You can see the year that those facilities were approved, and I can't get into too much detail.

You'll see one was 2020 and 2022.

That's data from the gaming commission.

Um, so I don't know exactly what their chart means.

But moving on, you'll see the number of approved terminals from April 1st to 2025, and comparing that to the number of the approved terminals to May of 2026, May 27th, 2026.

So the comparison would be between those two columns.

Um, in places like Cheyenne, you have operators that have asked the gaming commission, they say, you know, we're good, we have a facility, we want to put a thousand machines in there, but right now our immediate plan is to do 300 machines.

So you'll see that they've been approved for a thousand machines, but they only have 300 on the floor.

So that's the distinction of what's been approved versus what's actually in play.

So when I put sorry, when I put those numbers that are highlighted in blue, you'll see that the Evansville location currently has been approved for 100 machines.

I tried to do a plus 28 to show that that's an increase from April 1st of 2025.

Same with wine and spirits in Casper.

It was approved for 57 machines, it's up to 80.

That's an increase of 23 machines approved at that location.

But then moving on to the column of the number of terminals on site, that's where you're gonna see the Beacon Club has had an increase of 14 machines of actual machines on their location from 66 to 80 for an increase of 14 machines.

Galloways had 54 machines on their floor, now they have 49.

That's a decrease of five.

So that's what those numbers councilmen are uh meant to illustrate.

So when you get to the bottom, you'll see that the total number of approvals in Casper or Netrona County is 725.

That's an increase of 51 machines from for from this last 14 month period.

Um so yes, um, you'll see though the final number is there are 543 machines up to 554 most recently.

That's an increase of 11 machines.

So that's how we we looked at that metric.

Um in places like Cheyenne, as I've mentioned, those numbers get a little more dramatic when you talk about a location tripling in size.

Uh, we would think an increase of 11 machines is pretty nominal.

Go ahead, counselor.

Do you have something else?

Um yes, and then um you mentioned fencing out a couple of times um in your presentation.

So we're we're your bully fund, I guess the fencing out within within a moratorium.

How might how might that be part of the definition, I guess, of fencing out?

Mayor and Councilman Sweeney, certainly we understand this is a temporary moratorium.

But as we explained the last time we came up here, I think our concern is that somehow if other local governments start adopting this practice, we're going to kind of see a lay of the land across the state of Wyoming where gaming activities permitted this type of gaming activity where it will cause substantial delays.

And then, you know, I think our ultimate fear too is that this will start setting precedent for a longer term moratorium in all of your identifying zoned areas.

So as we explained in our letter, when the legislature looked at Senate file the Senate file it enacted, there was the compromise that was made.

If a community, and this is talking jurisdiction-wide, a city or a county had no gaming activity, even though they they had voter approval for it at some point in the future, um, that community could say no, no more.

We're gonna treat all, but we're treating everyone fairly.

You know, we don't have it in Johnson County and the county limits, we don't want it there.

They can then say no, they don't want it.

Um but when they start approving it, and if there's an established market, then they have to allow new entrance in.

And so we tried to draw that analogy with your existing zoning districts.

If you make the argument that it was appropriate, which you did through your zoning, there's a location um that's operating right now.

That's our concern is that those areas will be fenced off uh to new entrance.

Okay.

Other questions before we move in.

Anything else?

Go ahead, Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor.

And uh thank you, Miss Uh Ellis for this letter.

I did get a chance to read it um earlier, but uh appreciate having it here as reference, and we'll make sure to read it again so I understand it all clearly.

Um I uh got a couple questions for you, if you don't mind.

Um you have uh in any of the other communities, you know, I I imagine uh Ballys has presence in a lot of uh cities, a lot of states around the country.

Do you have any examples of communities where you feel like they do have a model that they've um fairly equitably and accurately balanced public health concerns with uh as you've alluded to, kind of the free market uh enterprise philosophy?

Mayor and vice mayor, um I visited with um my team at Valleys internally.

What you had just heard from your own staff is it's such a localized issue that what's right for one community isn't necessarily what's right for another.

I can tell you that when Kentucky first enacted legislation that authorized historic horse racing machines, they were very concerned about the nexus between gaming and live horse racing.

So they have, I believe, nine state-issued permits for horse tracks, and each of those horse tracks is allowed to have one gaming facility located near that horse track and then a satellite facility.

And so at max they have 18 facilities statewide.

I think that makes sense when you start an industry and you kind of have the freshness of getting to determine that, kind of like our liquor laws.

The hard part is when the horse is so far out of the barn or the genie so far out of the bottle, how do you start reining it in in a way that's fair and thoughtful?

And so that's why we've rejected um and oppose things like trying to do it population based because it would just favor those who have already been established in the last 15 years or so and would exclude new market entrance.

Thank you.

Uh I appreciate that point of view.

And uh, you know, I do feel like that's a situation we're in, is that the horse is out of the barn and uh we're doing our best to kind of corral it and decide we're in the stable.

I'm just happy I didn't mix my metaphors and say the genie's out of the horse's barn.

So it's a win for me tonight.

Um curious, does uh Bally's um do you track uh things like uh the gambling website?

Do you keep numbers of uh, you know, my understanding is people can be added to exclusion lists if they you know uh even close family members can add people to self-exclusion lists.

Um do you guys track or have any metrics in regards to how many people that are using the facilities are uh you know being referred to a hotline uh for gambling issues or on a self-exclusion request?

Mayor, I don't have that information.

I'd have to follow up.

Do you know if uh the gaming commission would uh I uh I wish we would have asked Mr.

Laramendi when he was in front of us a couple weeks ago, but thought of it after the fact.

Do you know if the gaming commission tracks those metrics?

I don't.

Thank you.

I can tell you the legislature is looking at all of those issues.

Um anecdotally, when the legislation came about in 2013 to allow for HHR machines, there was some discussion um in the House.

So there was a representative who wanted dedicated funding from HHR machines to be used for responsible gaming or problem gaming.

And at the time um that was defeated, the argument was local control.

Governments at the local level will now have this new gaming revenue so they can decide to set up programs as they see fit.

Um and so the tide has shifted a bit, and now we're looking for a more kind of state solution to ensure that dollars are flowing to to that particular area.

Happy to send the link though if anyone wants to listen to the debate.

Yeah, go ahead, Councillor Sweeney.

Did you have anything else?

Uh yeah, I'll go after Pat.

Okay, go ahead, Councilor Sweeney, and then I'll get back to the vice mayor.

All right.

Go back to go back to the vice mayor.

Okay.

Go ahead, Vice Mayor.

Thank you.

Uh, kind of as a follow-up to uh uh um what you just described, I'm not aware of that historical knowledge about it being uh introduced and then defeated.

But my understanding is that there is $300,000 in gaming revenue set aside allocated to the Department of Health for problem gaming.

That's my understanding.

Uh my understanding is also that that amount has remained the same essentially since uh this industry was legalized uh 10, 12 years ago, uh despite the fact that the growth in revenue has been pretty exponential.

So I guess my question is uh do you think Bally's uh have you guys talked internally about whether you would support an increased allocation to Department of Health for problem gaming?

To me, it makes sense that if the revenue has increased by orders of magnitude, that the contribution towards the problem gaming uh resources should probably match that.

That's just my personal feeling, but just curious if Ballys has any sort of position on that.

Uh mayor or vice mayor, not that I'm aware of.

We are in the process of getting our racetrack built and trying to get all kinds of kinds of approval.

So during legislative hearings, people are asking about all kinds of revenue, how much foot traffic.

We're the newcomer.

We have not turned on the lights to any facilities, so it's really hard for us at this point to opine on some of these questions.

I would say that um, yeah, Bally's in the jurisdiction that operates adheres to best practices and works well with their gaming commissions on all the know your customer and and things like that.

Thank you.

Do you remember now?

I do.

Okay.

Council Sweet.

Thank thank you, Mayor.

Um so could you remind me how many states actually um have historic horse racing?

Um, because not every state um um has delved into this.

Uh and especially Wyoming.

Um this all started to get the horse industry um back up and going, and uh which has worked very well.

Um but so how many states you mentioned Kentucky, uh, but I I think I forget how many.

Yeah, mayor and counselor Sweeney, um I don't have that exact list off the top of my head.

Um, but it's looked a little different in every other state.

Um, some states like Louisiana would utilize video poker, that they would require a uh countywide or parish wide vote.

So it looks a little different in other jurisdictions.

But um, you know, the tie between gaming and and horse racing has been uh there's a nexus there.

There are some states that have tried to separate those out, and um, you know, that's an ongoing thing in some other jurisdictions.

And then go ahead.

So my recollection on the 300,000 um that that goes back quite quite a long ways, and uh not I I'm guessing 10, 15 years maybe uh but that that was applied.

But I do think uh the vice mayor's got a good point uh on looking at that.

Uh the distribution model um hasn't been utilized.

Uh the counties actually, if I remember right, and I'm looking at the city attorney, he might recall uh the county actually has to apply uh for use of those funds, which Netrona County has my recollection, but I think not every county um even um again proportionately is asked asked for those funds.

So it's is my recollection, but I don't know if uh Miss Ellis might have anything or city attorney mayor.

Ellis might have anything or city attorney mayor.

Happy to defer to your city attorney if he knows that off the top of his head.

But I can say the legislature right now, there's a slight meeting.

And there's a bit of a discussion about whether or not all the money should be funneled through one entity like the Wyoming Department of Health to put out billboards and do more knowledge, public um dis outreach, or whether or not we wanted to rely a little bit more on localities to do that and distribute those funds.

I think there is concern that if you're in a small community, if you get a portion of that gaming revenue, it really isn't enough to do a lot.

And so I think the legislature, and I certainly don't want to speak for them ever because I don't know what they will do, but I think they are looking at how do you have somewhat of a state kind of program but allow some a little bit more dedicated funding at the local level and how that shakes out, I don't know, but something you visit with your legislature, legislators about city attorney.

Yeah, mayor uh counselors, I am aware that our local health department did receive some funding for problem gambling.

I couldn't uh tell you as I sit here today how much or how that was deployed, but uh I do recall that they received a grant from the state.

Okay, thank you.

Madam City Manager.

Um and Mayor, I can add to that um counts through you, Counselor Sweeney.

So the first $300,000 is um uh appropriated continuously to the Department of Health on an annual basis uh for county level programs.

I think the vice mayor said he doesn't need to ask.

So do you have another one?

Okay, go ahead.

So you your recommendation in the letter is if we're going to move forward with the moratorium on this six may six month basis, but to limit it to the Yellowstone district is that um Valley's recommendation.

Mayor and counselor, um, I think our recommendation is just look at the facts.

Um, you know, is there this rush of gaming, this exponential growth?

There might have been at one point in Casper where your community felt that.

But if you look at the numbers, I do think it's leveled out.

So I think we do question the need for an emergency moratorium.

A moratorium is a pretty severe action for any local government to take.

I think you're always balancing that.

Are we closing our door for business or is this truly a public health need?

And so when we look at those numbers and we see a very plateau, I think is the word I heard uh mentioned prior, it that that makes us question the need for um a dramatic remedy like a moratorium.

So I think our position is you know, we don't think it's necessary, but we you're the decision makers in that regard.

So if you do do that, we would um ask that you limit it to the area that um has been discussed by your staff, and that is kind of your downtown old Yellowstone district area.

Anyone else?

And Mr.

Chair, just adding on to that, if you look at the old Yellowstone district, which I've spent some time really studying Casper maps, um, there are limited areas.

I think you've got a school district not too far.

There's obviously no gaming activity occurring in that.

And then your C3 district, I believe, requires a conditional use permit.

So you're going to see people having to reach out to you and have those conversations about whether or not doing a project there is appropriate.

Um, and then even looking at the old Yellowstone district requirements themselves are very onerous.

So our point would be if as an operator, just looking at it from the outside, not saying I'm representing Valley's position, but as just someone who advises them, looking at that, I would say, you know, if you want to develop in this area, it's gonna be a lot of work and a lot of conversation with the city.

Um so is that in a place where you're likely to see a pop-up immediate throwing of a gaming facility?

My guess is no.

I think that's much more cumbersome.

And then again, to my point, in a very two short weeks, it'll be July 1st, and then you're gonna have new requirements that require a public meeting where you can take public comment.

And so I think that the landscape is changing.

Um, and I just for those reasons don't see a need for a moratorium.

Thank you so much.

Appreciate it.

Thank you for coming to Casper.

You're welcome.

Thanks for having me.

Thank you.

Okay.

Anyone else wish to speak for or against the good evening.

Hello, how are you?

Good, thank you.

Hello, Mayor.

Uh, my name is Melissa Hugot.

I'm the executive director of the Casper Downtown Development Authority.

I'm here to offer some comments in support of the temporary moratorium on behalf of downtown stakeholders.

Uh City Manager Jordan already spoke to our survey, so I'm gonna save some time on the clock.

Um, I won't duplicate what has already been reported.

Um as an organization, it is difficult to consider the temporary moratorium as a singular topic or decision.

Um, at the beginning of the year, we initiated a see something say something campaign.

That allows the public to report issues or concerns directly to us.

And these range from crimes to parking to homeless contacts, and we review each of these with the intent to resolve the concerns.

So let's take parking out of that list.

We know parking is not perfect downtown, but we also know many people are working to improve it.

Some property owners and businesses offer parking options for their tenants and employees.

The parking garage offers validation stickers.

The community service officers with the Casper PD are regularly monitoring to enforce parking violations.

In the proposed moratorium, parking demands for these establishments would be considered.

I think this is a reasonable and relevant detail to consider, especially in the downtown area.

We would advocate that placement of these establishments in downtown would be would further put strains on parking.

As an organization, we must also consider the years of work and investment that have been made by this very body and by the private sector, not just in the DDA boundaries, but in the greater downtown area.

If intentional planning and zoning aren't considered now, then we are leaving things to chance.

The years of development, the infrastructure, our downtown identity could potentially be undone should an establishment locate within the downtown area.

Moving forward with intentional planning of the for these establishments would be very reasonable without putting the work and investment at risk.

As an organization, we welcome new business to the downtown area.

There are properties for sale and for lease right now, so we have space for them.

We welcome businesses that contribute to our thriving community that move visitors from the restaurants to the retail shops to the coffee shops to the drinkeries to the concerts and to the comedy shows.

We welcome businesses who share that vision for downtown.

We urge your support of the temporary moratorium so intentional planning and zoning can be addressed specifically in the greater downtown area.

That's all I have.

Great.

Any questions?

Yep.

Counselor Schmeen.

Thank you, Mayor.

So I didn't remember that the surveys were completed for our last meeting, but I may have been daydreaming at the time on looking at Brandy.

Were the results available at the meeting?

So if you could refresh my memory then in particular, how many surveys actually got completed?

It was about a 25% response rate, which is pretty good.

Not bad.

Yeah, I'll take it.

It's about voter turnout.

Um did it also incorporate, because the boundaries, if I remember right, at the DBA kind of used to end at, I think Ash Street.

Is that still the case?

So it wouldn't have incorporated any of the old Yellowstone businesses.

Mayor, Councillor Sweeney, no, to my knowledge, uh, that advisory board did their own uh survey, and that was reported separately.

Okay.

Um does it um concern you.

I'm not I'm not aware of any businesses or buildings that would be appropriate use with the exception of the um old Wonder Bar Rib and Chop House, which is now Chase Foundation.

Uh, but I'm not aware of any downtown business that would actually fit um or be appropriate for historic horse racing.

Are you aware of any?

Mayor, Councillor Sweeney, I am not.

Okay.

I've um I think the position is the temporary moratorium would make sure that we are all we are there moving forward and it would not be appropriate.

Okay.

And so um do you believe DDA is advocating for both the downtown development authority district on top of the Yellowstone district, or um if council so chose to only do moratorium on the Yellowstone district, what um what does that mean to the DDA?

Mayor, Councilor Sweeney.

We we understand as an organization we have very distinct boundaries, and we are responsible to those taxpayers to those commercial property owners.

However, there's um a feeling and a spirit of community, not just that is is contained outside of those boundaries.

And so we do consider our neighbors and what they think and and what they envision.

And I do believe that they share the vision for downtown that I just described and moving people through, um, engaging in commerce, um participating in activities.

I don't think that that is exclusive to DDA stakeholders.

I think that is that goes beyond our boundaries.

Hopefully, I answer that question.

Any other questions?

All right.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Anyone else who wishes to speak for or against?

All righty.

Uh we'll open it up now for the council for discussion.

Would like to go first.

Yeah, go ahead, Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor.

I have some comments.

I got 75% of the way through typing out.

Uh so I'll give you a partial summary at least.

Uh yeah, I mean, I just want to uh uh recognize I you know I do agree that the moratorium is kind of a blunt and imperfect tool, and I do think there are merits to the arguments being made in its opposition, uh, but I personally am gonna continue supporting it towards the next reading to give us uh what I think is time uh that we need to meet and discuss.

I don't feel like we are prepared to consider additional locations because I don't think we have the framework and foundation to do so in an informed and intentional manner.

I personally think that the industry's explosion and growth has got a lot of communities flat footed, ours included.

Uh you know, probably a lot of work that we should have done in years past that we're having to make up for now.

And I also don't think the conversation should be regulated specifically towards historic horse racing or off-track betting.

I I've called out for years my frustration with us not having any sort of similar framework for the issuance of liquor licenses, uh, especially since the legislature increased the amount of available liquor licenses several years ago.

So I actually think it's an opportunity to um create a more robust framework and foundation for liquor licenses as well, whether we want to fully uh leverage all the available licenses or whether we want to uh through zoning or uh other methods be a little bit more uh practical and conservative in our approach.

Uh we've sort of just approved every license that's come in front of us, and I I would like to see us take a more informed and intentional route going forward.

So um uh you know, I I don't want to pick on one particular industry.

I think it's uh pretty much uh any business that I think um their success comes at the expense and uh in coordination with an impact to public health and uh you know character and community culture, and so um you know uh the last meeting we discussed coffee shops, um, and I just uh you know I don't agree that those fold in the same way.

Uh we could build as many coffee shops as we want, and uh we're not gonna see any impact to our public services or uh you know um uh people losing their life savings being unable to take care of themselves.

And so I do think there's several industries that do benefit from having informed uh regulations and uh I just would like to see us have those in place.

Um, you know, I understand uh Ms.

Ellis's comments about the kind of plateau of the industry in our community, but obviously uh Bally sees opportunity here and uh uh you know uh I mentioned the allocation towards the uh problem gaming.

I I do think that's something I would love to see more of.

Uh there's mention in this letter about the fact that uh uh we do get revenues from gaming, and the intent of that I believe was to help provide public services, but uh you know I've pointed out before that we do split that revenue 50-50 with the county.

This is just back despite the fact that the majority of these establishments on this chart are within Casper City limits, and so I still don't feel like um it's probably equivalent to the kind of services that we're providing uh and the impact it's having on our community, and so it's just again I think we have some more research and homework to do.

I'm appreciative of the work of the committee members and uh hoping they can keep us in the loop as uh uh they continue having those conversations.

I do apologize, I've not added to that chart that was passed out.

So I I need to be um you know doing my part to encapsulate these thoughts into these uh these uh documents that you guys have been putting together so that you're aware of my feelings on the thought on on the topic, but yeah, I just I support uh passage of it on the second reading uh so that we can continue having this discussion and um I think that's all I got.

Thanks, Mayor.

Counselor Sweeney.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um so to part of the uh comments on uh from counselor gamroth, which are uh terrific perspective.

have been putting together so that you're aware of my feelings on the thought on on the topic but yeah I just I support uh passage of it on the second reading uh so that we can continue having this discussion and um I think that's all I got thanks mayor counselor Shweeney thank you mayor um so to part of the uh comments on uh from counselor gamroth which are a terrific perspective so the liquor license full retail liquor license um which these gaming license would be tied to are still statutorily bound to a um population formula uh where unfortunately well fortunately I mean the restaurant license is wide open and unlimited with certain restrictions and then the bar grill licenses were totally exploded um um uh mostly be around Laramie and um Cheyenne um but we also gained quite a few um bar grill licenses and that was based on uh the Applebee um concept um and it that's changed a little bit resort licenses have um strict um gotta have uh so much in investment so many hotel rooms so many uh conference seats um and uh um so those those have got some restrictions but the retail liquor license in particular um in my opinion really hasn't uh exploded um like like the others um i guess i'm still um i am at first i would was in favor of the moratorium but after last council meeting um after mr johnson's comments in particular and i have a lot of respect for the amount of operations he's got across multiple states um and his expertise i i too believe i'm a free market guy um and that um that really concerns me with uh the moratorium in this particular uh aspect and as we're hearing additional comments about different kinds of moratoriums um you know especially in cheyenne you're hearing a lot about data centers right now so i i don't want to see us go there um uh in particular and i see this as one way of potentially making that more attractive uh for the community to look at moratoriums as um a type of tool um the other concern i guess i've got in um i i hope at our next meeting uh working group meeting we can uh possibly have some information around um what the moratorium would mean to existing businesses uh that um um i visited with the office owner yesterday and um he really wasn't certain what was going on with the moratorium but 307 horse racing um earlier had indicated an interest in purchasing that business um and decided to go and purchase a different business um which was popular wine and spirits i don't know why uh i have no knowledge of why but so he he was kind of concerned about the moratorium um and um in visiting again with uh pete maxwell that's um invested in the um gaslight social which clearly both of those operations are within the yellowstone district so my question will be uh for staff is um is is there brand fathering what does grandfathering look like uh if we move forward with the moratorium um and uh does a moratorium mean if another operator wanted to come in and purchase one of one of those operations and we've got the moratorium in place uh would they have to um could either of those operations in particular sell or would they have to lease in order to be quote unquote grandfathered so these are the kind of things that I would hope staff could look at and we could

And we've got the moratorium in place, would they have to um could either of those operations in particular sell, or would they have to lease in order to be quote unquote grandfathered?

So these are the kind of things that I would hope staff could look at and we could uh I think our next meetings on the 23rd, if I remember right, and uh and get better answers and a better understanding on what that actually means for um a business owner um that hit hits all the right marks, they've got the um the size building that somebody may want or may not want um and does that mean they're stuck, they can't do anything with with their business except sell to uh uh non-gaming establishment.

So thank you, Mayor.

Anyone else before I make my comments?

Okay, I just have some several points that I want to make.

Um I am gonna be supporting the moratorium on second reading as well.

I want to make it really clear though that this is not a vote against local businesses, um, balllies, um, or even gaming and simulcasting.

Um to me, this is about ensuring thoughtful and consistent frameworks that we put in place before we do any expansion um that occurs.

I do believe that moratoriums are a necessary tool, and I'm just gonna say that as a tool.

Uh we know, although it's been said that things are slowing down, that's what our city manager had mentioned.

Um, we know that things have grown exponentially within the last um in the recent years.

It's also noted that current zoning and land use regulations um were not necessarily designed with this level of growth in mind.

Um a couple things that we need to look at.

We need to look at appropriate zoning districts, we need to look at compatibility, parking and traffic um impacts uh that was brought up by the DDA, the concentration of facilities, um, and we also need to look at long-term goals, uh planning goals.

Um I want to also say we know that the moratorium is temporary, it is not permanent.

Existing businesses can continue to operate, um, nobody will be shut down, um, and no one is being singled out or targeted.

The purpose of this is to allow the staff and the council time to review the issue and to develop recommendations.

And I want to be clear at this good planning is good governance.

One responsibility, as as many of us up here know, local government is to ensure regulation to keep pace with changing circumstances.

And I know regulation is is a word that not a lot of people want to hear, but moratoriums are common planning tools used when communities need time to review these regulations and expansions.

Um I appreciate the investment businesses bring, like Bally's and Nethers into this community, but I also want to make it clear that businesses benefit from clear and predictable um planning and regulations.

This is true.

I am um my record has shown over and over that I'm pro-business and have continued to support that, and I will continue to do that.

But creating a framework helps us with certainty in future investments.

One thing that Ms.

Ellis had said about statewide precedent being um brought up, um I've heard those concerns, and I want to make it clear that we're not making policy for every city in the state of Wyoming.

We are talking about local control.

We are making decisions based on unique circumstances and the needs based upon our community.

That is local control, and that is at the heart of what we talk quite a bit in the state of Wyoming.

Um, if there is a precedent, it's simply that when a city identifies gaps in regulations, it's time to study the issue, create thoughtful policy, and more additional expansion occurs.

Okay, any amendments.

Yeah, go ahead, counselor.

Mayor, if I could ask a question.

So with uh counselor Jensen um not being able to be here tonight, and I have um supposed to be um July 7th in the arena out of the fairgrounds uh with my fareboard duties.

Um so I'm wondering um is an absent vote marked as absent or um uh or a no vote Mr.

City Attorney Uh Mayor Council so uh under Wyoming statute 15115 um an ordinance needs a majority of the qualified members of the governing body um so that means five affirmative votes and so um either absence or um a negative no vote would be deemed a no vote essentially you need five affirmative votes to move it forward so I'll call for any event amendments if there is okay please cast your vote counselor bond how do you vote aye please record the vote with counselor Sweeney voting nay and all others voting aye the motion passes thank you everyone please read the ordinance on second reading by title only on ordinance amending section 10.36.031 mobile vendor parking of the Casper municipal code Chair Dunertan a motion to approve on second reading the ordinance just read moved by counselor mackintosh seconded by counselor Haskins at this time council will listen to any public comment on the second reading anybody wish to speak to this okay any discussion from the council on second reading any amendments please cast your vote councillor bond how do you vote i please record the vote with all counselors voting aye the motion passes please read the ordinance on third reading by title only on ordinance amending section 6.04.001 6.04.04.040 6.04.260 and 6.04.270 of the Casper municipal code to allow the keeping of domesticated foul within city limits chair doing a motion to approve on third reading the ordinance just read moved by counselor sweeney seconded by counselor haskins uh any discussion or excuse me uh madam city manager do you have a report um mayor yes um just briefly uh I would wanted to let the council know that in preparing this ordinance change it became apparent that there are probably additional changes that are warranted um but we're really outside the scope of this ordinance change so uh I would sort of let you know and advise you that staff do intend to conclude the work that we started and bring a second round of ordinance changes in the future that would serve to clarify and really streamline requirements for domesticated file being kept uh within city limits thank you council will now listen to public comment anybody wish to speak or against this third reading okay any discussion from the council any amendments oh yeah go ahead counselor swane sorry so thank you mayor so I was a little confused this um we had taken this up several months ago I think maybe two three I don't and then got pulled back for more work now um can we staff share me was there a particular domesticated foul that um ran a foul of your notes or I don't even want to recognize that counselor Sweeney go ahead Mr.

City Manager Mayor uh counselors um there there was a metro case that kind of brought this to light and it didn't involve that was the the initial impetus um uh to to move this forward um in consultation with with our metro folks um between second and what was going to be third reading um we realize that there's some some clarifications around setbacks um coup construction etc that while addressed in our um uh building codes aren't clearly delineated um or efficiently delineated within our uh animal ordinances but uh upon further reflection that really went far beyond what was initially uh relayed to the public um uh when this process was started so I believe that the the city manager um in consultation with staff decided to bring this forward on third reading as is and then we would circle back and and work on cleaning up um some of those more building and and and setback type issues that while related really uh far exceeded the scope of what we had initiated any other discussion any amendments please give

So I believe that the city managing um in consultation with staff decided to bring this forward on third reading as is, and then we would circle back and work on cleaning up some of those more building and and and setback type issues that while related really uh far exceeded the scope of what we had initiated.

Any other discussion any amendments please cast your vote as I'm being attacked by a moth.

Counselor Bond, how do you vote?

At least it wasn't a foul.

Some type of bird, you're you voted aye.

Aye, yes.

Okay, please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Councilman resolution regarding replacement of um of HVAC on the recreation center rooftop because this is not on the consent agenda, it is open for discussion by the council.

Please read the resolution by title only.

Authorizing an agreement with Casper Tinshop LLC for the recreation center rooftop HVAC.

Thank you.

The chair to entertain a motion to approve the resolution just read.

Second moved by Councillor Haskins, seconded by Councilor Sweeney.

Any discussion from the council.

Please cast your vote.

Councilor Bond, how do you vote?

Aye.

Please record the vote.

With all council counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Council now consider consent resolutions.

Please read the consent resolutions by title only.

10 B1 authorizing the community development block grant agreement in the amount of 1 million million three hundred six hundred forty-nine dollars between the city of Casper and the Wyoming Community Development Authority to assist in the funding of rehabilitation for the Juniper Ridge Sighting Repair Project with the Wyoming Housing Network.

10 B2, authorizing the levying of eight mills property tax by the Notrona County Assessor on behalf of the City of Casper.

10 B3, authorizing acceptance of grant funds from the Office of State Lands and Investments for Pedestrian Pathway and Lighting Improvements at the Ford Wyoming Center.

10 B4, authorizing amendment number one with Amundson Associates LLC for design, bidding and construction administration services for the new Metro Animal Facility Project.

10 B 5, authorizing a contract for professional services with long building technologies incorporated for a cooling tower gearbox replacement at the Ford Wyoming Center.

10 B6, authorizing a contract with 71 construction incorporated for the miscellaneous city sewer service repairs project.

10 B7, approving a non-exclusive lease agreement between the City of Casper and the YMCA of Netrona County for the use of North Casper Soccer Complex Fields 1 and 2 and Mike Cedar Park.

10 B A authorizing amendment number two to the fiscal year 2023 to 2028 five-year memorandum of understanding between the city of Casper, Wyoming and the Natrona County School District regarding joint facility use and 10B9 authorizing an agreement with Arc Electric LLC for the Fort Casper Campground Upgrades Project.

Thank you.

The chair to entertain a motion to adopt to adopt the consent agenda items just read.

Move by Councillor Haskin, seconded by Councillor Sweeney.

Any abstentions or nay votes?

Please cast your vote.

Councilor Sweeney, how do you excuse me?

Councillor Bond, how do you vote?

Aye.

That moth threw me off.

Please read the consent minute action.

Oh, sorry, please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Thank you.

Now consent minute action titles.

11A1 approving the transfer of ownership interest for restaurant liquor license number 29, JJM CW Hospitality Incorporated, doing business as Denny's, located at 4220 hospital hospitality lane.

11A2 approving the transfer of ownership interest for resort liquor license number nine.

JJMHYT CPR hospitality LLC doing business as Hyatt Place Casper located at 407 North Walsh.

11A3 authorizing the discharge of 49,813 and 62 cents on collectible accounts receivable balances.

11A4 authorizing the purchase of one new articulating tandem roller roller for use by the streets and traffic division of the public services department.

Thank you.

Chair Dinner Tane a motion to approve the consent minute action agenda items just read.

Move by Councillor Sweeney, seconded by Counselor Haskins.

Any abstentions or nay votes?

Councillor Bond, how do you vote?

Aye.

Please record the vote.

With all counselors voting aye, the motion passes.

Thank you.

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

Counselor Haskins, we'll start with you.

I don't think I have anything other than politics in the park tomorrow.

Washington Park 5 30 is going to be U.S.

Senate US Senate candidates.

That's it.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Counselor Mackintosh.

Uh passed a zone and plat changes for the new housing project at uh Robertson Ron Travet.

So that'll be coming before us soon.

And then uh it's uh pretty good looking project.

It's gonna be a good addition to housing in Casper.

And uh CNFR Thursday night.

Looking forward to uh watching the rodeo.

That's all I got.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Council Larson, I don't have much.

We had a regional water board meeting today with uh councillor Sweeney and I.

Um, not much happened there.

Water use is up, and we voted and passed on the fiscal year 27 budget.

So that's pretty much it.

Thank you.

Counselor Bond, do you have anything tonight?

No, Mayor, thank you.

Councilor Sweeney.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um so just to add on uh today's Central Wyoming Regional Water uh joint powers board meeting.

Um I got elected the treasurer.

So um I tried to nominate Mac because he hadn't quite got there yet, and uh, but I was unsuccessful.

So um, but uh so I'll need a lot of guidance on that one.

So uh last Wednesday attended uh AMICO Joint Use Joint Powers Board meeting.

Um things are going along okay, and uh um food sales we still need to uh get up, but uh rounds of golf seem to be pairing along pretty well.

So um and then um I on the CNFR uh bid uh last Thursday.

I totally missed and did not get up there until a little before two o'clock, marched in the room, and um those that knew me uh said I had missed missed the part, but wanted me to speak to the history of uh why CNFR is saying Casper and what it means to Casper.

So I got about 10 minutes with the board and uh um it turned out my CNFR 2002 committee jacket that I I wore was older than um a lot of the student representatives so um but uh then later that afternoon um I went to Jonah Banks uh 20th year celebration um in great great attendance and it was uh super um uh nice event.

Um tried to find the chamber business after hours, marriage and family, new counseling spot, and uh uh could not find that, so then I headed to Laramie for uh first ever uh the next day, Friday all day meeting, uh UW conference center on um Wyoming Health Care put on by the hospital association, the main uh uh portion of the event was put on by the Wyoming uh Medical Society, and all the docs.

So um very educational, great panels, and uh so that was great.

I did miss Lemonade Day on Saturday and Pride Fest.

Um and uh um and also the uh Bishop House had their fundraiser with uh Thomas Jefferson and uh so I missed all of those things.

Unfortunate for me.

Um and uh yesterday um had the uh um meeting over at Casper Business Center um and tour of that and then Fairboard meeting last night and then regional water uh at 1130 today, which meant did a great job of um going through with the exception of me getting voted.

So and Mayor, I'd just like to say uh that uh was a very good uh recap of um what uh the moratorium uh in general as being a tool and uh um a really good perspective uh for the citizens.

So thank you, counselor.

Thank you.

Yep.

Mr.

Bikes Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor.

I have a couple things.

Uh Councillor Sloeney will be pleased to know he didn't miss lemonade day.

It's actually this Saturday.

So you still have a chance, and I will be uh squeezing the citrus all morning.

So I'll let you know what address we're gonna be at, and you can come get one from my eight-year-old daughter.

Uh she usually cleans up pretty well, but it's because we do some of the best lemonade in town.

So I'll let you know where we're at.

You can come see us.

Their website says the 20th, so I 20 yeah.

I think you're good, man.

Yeah.

Uh last Wednesday, I was pleased to participate in a downtown cleanup event.

Uh we had 44 volunteers working several different shifts from eight to four, and ended up picking up about 530 pounds of trash from the downtown corridor.

So uh I was thankful for that opportunity.

Glad to see everyone show up.

Uh and uh yeah, great, great event to hold, especially right before CNFR kicks off and uh everything.

So uh thankful for all the volunteers that showed up and participated in that.

The uh downtown development authority completed their tree lighting project.

We had a final debrief meeting and uh little demo yesterday to discuss maintenance logistics and uh stuff like that.

And uh last night was the first night that they were left on.

So uh it looks like the community has responded very warmly and positively to that.

I want to uh thank our executive director of the DDA, Melissa, she's here this evening.

Uh and I want to thank everyone else that was uh involved with that.

You know, we had city staff, our arborists, and uh folks from our parks department obviously in close coordination working with that.

Uh the DDA board was very supportive, and obviously it's funding that comes from the mill levy on downtown property business owners, and so uh want to thank them as well.

Yeah, I believe it was four miles of lights that we hung on 17 different trees on 2nd Street over a one-week period.

I believe it was 75,000 pixels.

Uh Melissa is giving me a thumbs up, so I got that number right.

So uh yeah, 70,000, 75,000 lights, four miles, and uh looks very nice.

So uh I'm looking forward to seeing that.

Uh you know, we have the flexibility to do a lot of different colors, a lot of different uh things with those lights.

So really interested to see how creative we can get over the holidays and stuff.

Um and uh silver lining, it will save us about $8,000 a year in uh cost to the city because we usually have to have uh park staff out there every Christmas doing the Christmas lights.

The lifespan on these lights is uh I believe it's about five years, and so hopefully uh we can go at least five years without park staff or anyone else having to touch them and they'll be up there and so yeah, it's great.

Very pleased with it.

Also had a Casper Housing Authority meeting this morning and afternoon.

Uh they were in the middle of their fourth audit this week.

So uh, you know, I know um there's some belief among some people that there's very little oversight uh in regards to uh our housing authority and others around the state, but that is the most regulated entity I'm aware of.

I believe they have 40 to 50 audits every year.

So there is lots of people always combing over their books, doing tours of their facilities.

The most recent one was from our regional HUD team, and uh they were very complimentary of our team.

Said the books were all great.

Um uh everything looked great.

All the members on their team they like interacting with, and they said it's one of their favorite places to come to.

So I'm thankful for their team over there and the work they do.

They do have their Father's Day event coming up this Saturday.

It's gonna be a busy weekend, always is over the summer.

But uh yeah, their Father's Day event is this weekend, Washington Park.

Uh so if if you're looking for some free burgers and uh some bouncy slides, uh that's a place to be.

So would encourage you to maybe check them out.

I think that's all I got, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh just a couple items as well.

Be attending the government um Council of Government's breakfast on Thursday with the Vice Mayor.

Yep, I think so, right?

I think believe that's so.

Um, I did have an opportunity to welcome the CNFR athletes and the coaches um at the armband ceremony um at the sports ranch.

It was um incredible.

The turnout, um, the amount of people that showed up, um over a thousand um people were there, um, the athletes.

Uh one of the things that I really appreciated about it was we have this um opportunity to have this facility that's complements um CNFR, you know, along with the mercantile and then having to be able to do this.

Um just fantastic.

So it was honored to be able to welcome them to Casper to kick off CNFR.

So then of course government night will be Thursday.

I'll be there for that.

Um on Friday, as Councilor Sweeney said, um, took a tour of the new police building um with the uh committee for the police police building.

I know uh the city manager is already planning on getting other council members to take a tour of that as well, uh, but it's coming along nicely and and they're putting a lot of time and effort um in that, and so it looks great.

Um and unfortunately, I will not be able to attend any part of Limited Lemonade Day.

I have to teach that whole weekend.

So if you want to bring me a lemonade to university fourth floor, let me know.

All right, whatever you want to do.

Usually got peach or strawberry in my place.

Um, on that note, though, I do encourage the community to participate um in Lemonade Day.

Um, like I said, I I'd love to go around and and um usually could jump on my bike and go all over the neighborhood to um buy as much as I can um to participate in that.

And so it's something that's very um meaningful to our to the young people.

Um, and I think it's always um um a good good sign that we have young people wanting to do entrepreneurial work, but also it really is a cool opportunity for community.

Um, and so I encourage everybody to stop at at least one or two when you see them drive by and um it'll make their day.

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

on Tuesday, June 23rd, and a regular council meeting to be held at 6 p.m.

on Tuesday, July 7th.

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

We have attorney client privilege matters to discuss.

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

Moved by councilor Haskins, seconded by Councillor Mackintosh.

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 Bond, how do you vote?

Aye.

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

We hereby are adjourned into an executive session.

Thank you, everyone.