Casper City Council Regular Meeting – September 15, 2026

The Casper City Council held its regular meeting on September 15, 2026, covering a wide range of items including a proclamation for Hunger Action Month, the approval of key agreements for the Casper Ice Arena expansion, several land use ordinances, and vehicle purchases. The meeting also included public comments from hockey community members and council reports on recent community events.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the September 1, 2026 regular council meeting and executive session were approved.
• Bills and claims as audited by City Manager Jordan were approved.
• Consent agenda items: establishing October 6, 2026 as the public hearing date for an ordinance repealing and replacing Title 15 of the Casper Municipal Code, and a resolution adopting budget amendment number one to the FY 2027 adopted budget. Councillors Sweeney and Haskins voted nay on the Title 15 item; the motion passed with all others voting aye.
• Consent resolutions (10 B1–B12) were read and adopted unanimously, covering use license agreements, contracts, grant awards, and subdivision approvals.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Travis St. John, President of the Casper Amateur Hockey Club, expressed strong support for the ice arena expansion project, thanking the council for years of partnership. He highlighted the economic impact of tournaments, reduced subsidy to the existing rink, and the importance of amenities to retain youth in the community.
• Mr. Wold also spoke in favor, thanking the council for their leadership and urging support for the resolution authorizing funding for the second sheet of ice.
• During the public hearings for three subdivision ordinances, one speaker (Julie and Bruce Hit, representing Anything 23 LLC) spoke in favor of the Brian Stanko annexation. No opposition was expressed for any of the three ordinances.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation – Hunger Action Month: Diana Caspita, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Wyoming, along with staff, presented on food insecurity in the state. She noted that Wyoming has the 12th highest percentage of the population facing food insecurity, with more than 13,100 individuals (16.4% of the population) in Natrona County estimated to be food insecure. The Food Bank distributed over 12 million pounds of food in 2025. Mayor Pacheco proclaimed September as Hunger Action Month and encouraged community awareness and support. The mayor and council thanked the Food Bank for their work.
• Casper Ice Arena Expansion: Two companion resolutions were discussed and approved unanimously. The first authorized a funding and completion assurance agreement with the Casper Amateur Hockey Club, with the city committing 30% of project costs and the club providing the remaining 70% through private fundraising. The second authorized a construction management agreement with Samson Construction Company Incorporated at a guaranteed maximum price of $15,979,975, including plan review and permitting fees. Groundbreaking is tentatively set for September 28, 2026. The city manager noted that the club paid preconstruction costs and that the city will retain ownership and control of the facility.
• Purchase of Side Loading Sanitation Trucks: Authorized the purchase of two new side-loading 27-yard sanitation trucks for $733,764. Councillor Sweeney expressed concern about one 2023 model with 64,000 miles but voted in favor after learning it would enter the five-year rotation cycle and that lead time for new trucks is about two years.
• Purchase of Heavy-Duty Trucks for Fire Department: As part of the consent minute action agenda, Councillor Sweeney voted no on item 11 Bor (two heavy-duty three-quarter-ton crew cab trucks for the fire department, totaling $125,702) because they included a premium "Tremor package" that he felt was unnecessary, saving an estimated $20,000 with a standard F-350. The motion passed with all others voting aye.
• Public Hearings – Subdivision Ordinances: Three ordinances were each approved on first reading unanimously after no opposition: Park Ridge Medical Campus No. 5 subdivision, annexation of a half-acre portion of the Brian Stanko subdivision, and the Nissan Addition subdivision.
• Second Reading – Lease Transaction Ordinance: An ordinance authorizing a lease transaction for financing capital improvements (site lease with U.S. Bank Trust Company) was approved on second reading unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Excused absence: Motion passed to excuse Councilor Larson.
• Agenda removal: Item 11 B 14 removed from the agenda.
• Proclamation: September 2026 declared Hunger Action Month; proclamation accepted.
• Ice Arena Expansion: Both resolutions approved unanimously, enabling construction to proceed.
• Land Use: Three subdivisions approved on first reading (unanimous).
• Lease Financing: Second reading approved (unanimous).
• Vehicle Purchases: Sanitation trucks approved; heavy-duty fire trucks approved with one nay vote; all other consent minute action items approved with same nay vote.
• Executive Session: Motion to adjourn into executive session for personnel and attorney-client privilege matters passed with a greater than two-thirds majority.
• Future Meetings: Work session on September 22, 2026, and next regular council meeting on October 6, 2026.