Casper City Council Regular Meeting - October 21, 2026

On October 21, 2026 (UTC; the presiding officer called the meeting the October 20, 2026 regular council meeting), the Casper City Council convened with all councilors present. Council recognized Casper's urban forestry award, heard public comment on the hockey arena agreement, Eagle Valley drainage, Elkhorn Creek water diversions, downtown gaming zoning, workforce housing, and Title 15 building-code changes, and acted on multiple ordinances and resolutions. The meeting closed with a unanimous motion to enter executive session for personnel and attorney-client privileged matters.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent minute approval items: minutes from the October 6, 2026 regular council meeting and executive session. Motion by Councilor Bond, second by Councilor McIntosh; all aye.
• Approved bills and claims as audited by Acting City Manager Tremel. Motion by Councilor Pollock, second by Councilor Haskins; all aye.
• Established November 17, 2026 as the public hearing date for a resolution approving a real estate purchase agreement and non-exclusive access easement with the Casper Mountain Fire Protection District, authorizing conveyance of approximately 2.16 acres of city-owned Casper Mountain property by quit claim deed. Motion by McIntosh, second by Pollock; all aye.
• Adopted consent resolutions 11B1-11B10, including subdivision approvals, a mortgage release for 728 North Glenarm, a Salt Works LLC street ice slicer contract, a Christmas Delight LLC Speedway use agreement, three alley wall-lighting license agreements, a Barnum Incorporated construction manager at risk amendment for the North Platte River Restoration Isaac Walton Reach project, a construction manager at risk delivery method for the Casper Tank Replacement 2025 project, and a Morrison Maierle amendment for the downtown alley paving project. Motion by McIntosh, second by Haskins; all aye.
• Approved consent minute actions 12A1 and 12A2: appointment of one new member to the Casper Council of People with Disabilities for a three-year term beginning October 28, 2026, and purchase of one loader/snow plow with wing attachment for $43,500 for the parks division. Motion by Pollock, second by Haskins; all aye.

Bright Spot: Urban Forestry Program of the Year

• Parks and Recreation Public Facilities Director Zulima Lopez announced that Casper was named the 2026 Wyoming Urban and Community Forestry Program of the Year. She said the award reflects work on 15,000 public trees, a public asset valued at more than $13 million.
• Lopez noted accomplishments including the first comprehensive public tree inventory in more than 20 years, Casper's first arboretum at Sage Park, and a nearly $700,000 urban forestry grant through the National Arbor Day Foundation and USDA Forest Service for the Branch Across Casper Project, which was later rescinded as part of federal funding reductions associated with the Doge Initiative. Current efforts include the Boulevard Relief L.E.A.F. program, funded by State Forestry, to remove over 60 dead and hazardous boulevard trees.
• Katie Halleck thanked the forestry team and community support and invited people to visit the Arboretum.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ross Shriffman raised concerns about the Casper Amateur Hockey Club ice arena agreement. He said the club had received another extension to produce an $11 million share, the city has held more than $3 million, and a September 1 document showed only $1 million in cash and a $6.6 million credit line. He questioned whether funds were enforceable, cited Wyoming Public Records Act 16-4-201, compared the agreement unfavorably to the Friends of Hogadon arrangement, and argued the agreement risks taxpayer money and could stop construction. He requested transparency and completion on time and within budget.
• Dave Driggers thanked the city for the third-party review of the Eagle Valley drainage study and asked the council not to approve CUP 1182 or additional building permits for the developer until all study recommendations are implemented and about five acre-feet of additional upstream detention is provided. He said dirt fill operations, including into a 50-foot easement, have continued after the study.
• Ron McMurray said municipal golf course employees have altered Elkhorn Creek flows, affecting residents with domestic wells along the creek. He asked the city to address dry-year water shortages, noting Wyoming law may allow wells along creek beds to commingle with surface water rights.
• Kevin Christofferson, a Natrona County School Board chair and Elkhorn Creek resident, said the city diverted 100% of the creek, filled the reservoir twice in one year contrary to a 'not to exceed one filling annually' water right, and left four of his five wells dry. He asked council to order the city to shut off the diversion, described 25 years of disputes and $50,000 to $60,000 in personal spending, and said the neighborhood wants to work with the city.
• A DDA representative, Melissa, spoke in favor of the gaming zoning ordinance's C3 element, saying intentional planning is reasonable, and clarified that the DDA boundary aligns with Ash Street and does not include the offices or Gaslight Social that had submitted letters.
• Richie Bratton, partner at Gaslight Social and the Rialto, opposed the gaming ordinance. He argued it solves no identified problem, contradicts prior state and local legalization, undercuts DDA and Old Yellowstone District missions, and disadvantages downtown. He cited data that Wyoming gambling produced nearly $25 million in 2025 from a $2.5 billion handle, with Casper receiving $2.3 million. He asked council to reject the ban and use existing design, use development, and licensing standards.
• Lisa spoke in favor of the workforce housing resolution, describing Casper as the economic and commercial center of central Wyoming, with employers struggling to recruit due to housing availability. She said the proposed project would create development-ready property supporting approximately 158 new housing units across multiple housing types and price points, primarily market-rate workforce housing on an infill site with existing infrastructure.
• William Scott, an ISA board-certified master arborist and brother of Building Official Justin Scott, supported the Title 15 updates. He said professional qualifications, continuing education, and life-safety licensing are consistent with public protection, and recalled a fatal accident involving unqualified tree workers that led to minimum standards for tree work on public property.
• Alicia Bell, a drywall and painting contractor, supported Title 15 updates. She said professional standards, licensing, and continuing education reflect the responsibility contractors have to residents and their investments.
• Scott Warren, a licensed electrical contractor and president of the appeals board, supported the ordinance, noting electrical contractors already complete 16 hours of continuing education every three years and that contractors he spoke with supported CE.
• Ben Turner, a general contractor, supported the proposed Title 15 changes, especially licensing of subcontractors. He said licensing helps general contractors vet subcontractors and that the city building department is excellent.
• Steve Freel, representing the Central Wyoming Board of Realtors, opposed the additional city-proposed regulations. He asked that state-required code updates move forward while additional city proposals be separated for meaningful stakeholder discussion. He raised concerns about CE standards, optional licensing classifications, requiring licensed contractors on non-owner-occupied properties, fee impacts, and rushing before a new council takes office.
• Dan Sabroski, a Bar Nunn council member and licensed contractor in Casper, opposed moving the full Title 15 package forward without more stakeholder input. He said contractors did not have the redline document in time to comment, suggested separating the state-required NEC update and tabling the rest, and called for an open forum.
• Bob Ide, a downtown building owner, voiced concern about more regulation, fees, and continuing education. He said as regulations grow, freedoms die, asked for verification that the owner-as-contractor exception remains in section 15.11.040, and said common-sense enforcement is important.
• Brent Higgins, a leader of a fire alarm and fire sprinkler company, supported the fire licensing direction but requested a simpler application process. He suggested allowing one fire contractor license with boxes checked for each discipline instead of separate applications for each license, and supported national certification and CE.

Discussion Items

• The council heard the first reading of an ordinance approving the Kaufman Edition final plat. After the public hearing and no recorded testimony, the ordinance passed with all aye.
• The council held a public hearing and first-reading discussion on an ordinance amending Title 17 to update gaming definitions and clarify where gaming establishments may locate. Council members who spoke included supporters who cited zoning precedent, downtown character, public health and safety, and the DDA/OID stakeholder consensus, and opponents who said the market should decide, the ordinance picks winners and losers, and the decision should be made through the neighborhood petition process in the companion ordinance. The first reading passed with Councilors Haskins, Jensen, and Sweeney voting nay.
• The council opened a public hearing and approved first reading of an ordinance creating Chapter 5.80, Simulcasting and Parimutuel Wagering. No public testimony was offered, and the motion by Bond, second by Haskins, passed with all aye.
• The council held a public hearing and adopted a resolution authorizing submission of an application to the Wyoming Business Council's Building Resilient Communities Grant and Loan Program for critical infrastructure for a workforce housing project. Motion by Sweeney, second by Bond; all aye.
• The council considered the second reading of the repeal and replacement of Title 15. City Attorney staff addressed the legal rationale for licensed contractors on rental properties, existing misdemeanor penalties, and the appeals process. Building Official Justin Scott highlighted four key changes: new subcontractor license categories, fire alarm and fire suppression permits and inspections, continuing education, and fee schedule changes, while clarifying the fee schedule itself would be considered separately. Deputy Chief Ross described fire code proposals, including a $500 nuisance alarm penalty and elevator reporting. Council discussion weighed public safety and regulation cost; several contractors and trade professionals spoke in the public comment segment. Councilor Sweeney offered an amendment to strike the full repeal/replacement and substitute only the 2026 National Electrical Code adoption, citing the state's six-month deadline after its July 1, 2026 adoption; the amendment failed. The full ordinance then passed on second reading with Councilors Jensen and Sweeney voting nay.
• The council approved on third reading the final plat for Park Ridge Medical Campus Number Five. Motion by McIntosh, second by Pollock; all aye.
• The council approved Change Order 21 for construction management services with Samson Construction Company Inc. for the Casper Business Center Police building remodel Phase Three. Motion by Pollock, second by Haskins; all aye.
• The council approved Change Order 1 with Falcon Construction LLC for the downtown alley paving project. Staff reported that buried windows, a coal chute, a required retaining wall, and Rocky Mountain Power coordination had added complexity and time. Motion by Sweeney, second by Haskins; all aye.
• Council noticed the next work session for October 27, 2026, and the next regular meeting for November 3, 2026, and then unanimously voted to enter executive session for personnel and attorney-client privileged matters.

Key Outcomes

• All routine consent items passed unanimously: minutes, bills, public hearing date, consent resolutions, and minute actions.
• Kaufman Edition final plat passed on first reading unanimously.
• Gaming zoning amendments to Title 17 passed on first reading with Councilors Haskins, Jensen, and Sweeney opposed.
• Chapter 5.80 simulcasting and parimutuel wagering ordinance passed on first reading unanimously.
• Workforce housing grant/loan application resolution passed unanimously.
• Title 15 repeal and replacement passed on second reading with Councilors Jensen and Sweeney opposed; Councilor Sweeney's amendment to limit the bill to NEC adoption failed.
• Park Ridge Medical Campus Number Five final plat passed on third reading unanimously.
• Both change orders (police building remodel and downtown alley paving) passed unanimously.
• Council voted unanimously to recess into executive session for personnel and attorney-client privileged matters.