Cheyenne City Council Regular Meeting - April 10, 2023

The Cheyenne City Council met at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 10, 2023, in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 2101 O'Neil Avenue, Cheyenne, WY. All ten council members were present. The agenda included routine consent items, public hearings, annexation and zoning ordinances, a fund balance policy resolution, a Children's Museum infrastructure funding resolution, a vegetation management bid, and public comments.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved by a single motion with items 14, 15, and 23B removed for separate consideration at the request of Councilmembers Seagrave and Laybourn. Councilmember Rennie voted no; all other members voted aye.
• Routine items approved included the March 27, 2023 meeting minutes; resolutions adopting the Wyoming Region 7 Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023 Update, authorizing participation in national opioid settlements, reappropriating the FY2023 budget, naming Airport Fountain Park, and applying for a Wyoming Rural Public Transportation Program Grant; multiple contracts and agreements; contract modifications; bids; and a restaurant liquor license dispensing area relocation for Capitol Cinema 16.

Public Hearings

• Ace's Range bar & grill liquor license (Item 6A): Applicant Jay Bryant Coons, general manager, presented the business plan. Councilmember Aldridge expressed support for the project; no opposition was heard. The hearing was closed and referred to the Finance Committee.
• Blue Stem Wine House winery permit (Item 6B): Applicants Brandon and Virginia Erdman presented their proposal. Councilmember Aldridge voiced support; no opposition was heard. Referred to the Finance Committee.
• 5224 Ridge Road annexation compliance (Item 6C): Staff planner Aaron Fagan reported that the owner-initiated annexation of approximately 1.29 acres west of Ridge Road between Jackson and Douglas Streets met statutory requirements, including certified mailings completed by March 13, 2023. Public commenter Michael White expressed concerns about drainage in the area. No formal vote was taken; the hearing was closed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Voucher report (Item 25A): Jim Ridgway questioned a $14,700 recycling professional services voucher. Public Works staff explained that the city pays for recycling processing and that contamination (e.g., plastic bags, dirty containers) triggers additional charges.
• Other business: Jim Ridgway also asked about airport sixth-penny revenue guarantees, landfill expansion funds, and parking fine write-offs. City Treasurer Robin Lockman noted parking fines outstanding totaled $242,790 as of January 31, 2023, and that tickets over four years old are written off by resolution. Representative Marlena Schultz and partners spoke in favor of reopening the Dog Haus Beer Garden, with a target reopening of mid-to-late May 2023. Matt Kelsey made comments about recycling and plastic bags. Michael White asked about the status of the Cheyenne Animal Shelter contract, which is not yet signed; the goal is to sign before July 1, 2023.

Discussion Items

• Annexation west of Southwest Drive (Item 7): Ordinance on third reading to annex land west of Southwest Drive south of I-80. Motion by Councilmember Laybourn, seconded by Seagrave. Approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
• Zoning map amendment to LR (Item 8): Ordinance on third reading changing county LR to city LR for the same property. Approved unanimously.
• First-reading ordinances (Items 9–13): Annexation of the 5224 Ridge Road property (Item 9) and accompanying MR zoning (Item 10) referred to the Public Services Committee; rezoning of Twin 22 Subdivision Lots 1 and 2 from MR to NR-2 (Item 11) referred to Public Services; ordinance amending contract approval provisions (Item 12) referred to Finance; ordinance updating the Solid Waste Fee Schedule (Item 13) referred to Finance.
• Fund Balance Policy (Item 14): Treasurer Robin Lockman explained the proposal to raise the reserve requirement from 60 to 120 days of operating expenditures, noting current reserves were 224 days ($37.7 million, with $27.6 million spendable). Councilmembers Seagrave, Laybourn, Rennie, and Cook spoke against the policy; the resolution was adopted on a 6–4 roll call vote.
• Children's Museum funding (Item 15): Caroline Vight, president of the Children's Museum of Cheyenne board, requested $288,250 from designated downtown 6th Penny Tax funds for infrastructure improvements (curb, gutter, street repair, utilities, alley upgrade). Councilmembers discussed the amount and precedent; the resolution was approved by voice vote.
• Goat Green vegetation management bid (Item 23B): Bid #E-3-23 for Crow Creek vegetation management for $160,000 was approved. Councilmember Laybourn discussed homeless encampments and cleanup needs along the creek; Councilmember Aldridge asked about liability, and staff confirmed the contractor carries insurance. Approved by voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved, with Items 14, 15, and 23B removed and acted on separately.
• Public hearings for Ace's Range and Blue Stem Wine House closed and referred to the Finance Committee; the 5224 Ridge Road annexation hearing was closed without a vote.
• Annexation and zoning ordinance (Items 7 and 8) passed on third and final reading by unanimous roll call.
• First-reading ordinances (Items 9–13) referred to the appropriate committees.
• Fund Balance Policy resolution adopted (6–4).
• Resolution directing Downtown 6th Penny funds to the Children's Museum adopted.
• Crow Creek goat vegetation management bid accepted at $160,000.
• Public hearings announced for April 24, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. regarding the Sun Valley Estates land exchange, the Dog Haus Restaurant bar & grill liquor license, and the FY2023 Annual Action Plan.