Cheyenne City Council Regular Meeting – December 23, 2024

The Cheyenne City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, December 23, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The council addressed a consent agenda, multiple ordinances on second and third readings, resolutions, contracts, and appointments. Key topics included changes to building facade requirements for multifamily developments, a new camping ordinance, a contentious zone change for a property near West Allison Road, and a final plat for an infill affordable housing project. The meeting also included farewells to outgoing council members and city staff.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the December 9, 2024 regular meeting were approved.
• Resolution amending the 2024 Program Year Annual Action Plan for housing and community development was adopted.
• Resolution designating local banks as depositories for municipal funds was adopted. (Mayor Collins recused himself due to a conflict of interest with one of the banks.)
• Resolution to effectuate property record corrections and amend easement agreements affecting a portion of the Belvoir Ranch was adopted.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Laramie County for public transportation services to Laramie County Community College and adjacent areas, in the amount of $93,000, was approved.
• MOU for the Laramie County Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program Policy Coordinating Group was approved.
• Agreement with WYDOT for a Wyoming Rural Public Transportation grant was referred to the Finance Committee.
• Agreement with Wyoming Cattle Company for the Belvoir Ranch Grazing Lease was referred to the Finance Committee.
• Purchase of gymnastics equipment for the new Cheyenne Gymnastics Facility from Spieth Gymnastics, not to exceed $200,518.00, was approved.
• Purchase of Quest Netvault Software from Zivaro for the IT Department was referred to the Finance Committee.
• Bid for Happy Jack Landfill Litter Fence Maintenance and Repair Services from Alco Fence Co. Inc. was referred to the Finance Committee.
• Liquor license application for Rock Ranch LLC d/b/a Nellie’s at 4020 Airport Parkway was approved.
• Request to extend the operational time period for Scooters Scoreboard Bar’s retail liquor license was referred to the Finance Committee.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 6 – Facade Design Requirements:
  • Mr. Stephen, a developer, spoke in favor of the ordinance removing the requirement for stone/brick on multifamily facades. He provided cost estimates: stone at about $17/sq ft, stucco at $12/sq ft, and siding at about $8/sq ft. He argued the change would reduce costs and give developers design flexibility, potentially improving affordability.
  • Brandon Swain (Ward 3), a developer, supported the change, noting it would also apply to attached townhomes and could help lower his project’s price point toward $250,000. He cited the Carrie Cottages project as an example where stone might still be used based on context.
  • Dan Dorsh, speaking online, agreed with the previous speakers and mentioned he served on the Affordable Housing Task Force. He stated that removing the requirement could help market-rate housing costs come down and that developers should have choice.
• Item 12 – Zone Change to AG near West Allison Road:
  • Levi Filer (Ward 1) expressed concern from constituents about the zone change because AG zoning allows work camps as a conditional use. He requested that the council vote no until the landowner discloses the intended use, citing a lack of transparency.
  • John Sayers, agent for True Grade, asked for approval of the A1 to AG zone change, stating it is the standard holding zone. He confirmed that they had withdrawn their request for a work camp from the Board of Adjustments and that a future change would require a new application and public process.

Discussion Items

• Item 6 – Ordinance on 3rd Reading: Amending UDC Facade Requirements for Multifamily Residential Development: The proposal would remove the current requirement that 30% of multifamily building facades be made of stone or brick. Debate centered on cost savings versus aesthetics and long-term quality. Councilman Seagrave argued that cost savings are minimal and that reducing standards could harm community appearance. Councilman Rennie supported the change, noting it was a recommendation of the Affordable Housing Task Force and that market forces would still drive good design. Dr. Aldrich favored developer choice and noted that many attractive multifamily projects in the county use alternative materials. The motion passed unanimously (9-0).
• Item 7 – Ordinance on 3rd Reading: Requiring Annual Report of Outstanding Debt Owed by Board/Commission Members: The ordinance requires the City Treasurer to annually evaluate and report any outstanding debt owed to the City by any board, council, or commission member. No public comment. Approved unanimously.
• Item 8 – Ordinance on 3rd Reading: Camping on Public Property: The ordinance expands the prohibition on camping to all public property, following the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision, and creates a permitting process for events like Girl Scouts and Frontier Days. No public comment. Approved unanimously.
• Item 9 & 10 – Annexation and Zoning (MR) for land north of Cheyenne Street and west of Ridge Road: Owner-initiated annexation to obtain water and sewer services. The accompanying zoning established MR Medium-Density Residential. Both approved on second reading without opposition.
• Item 11 – Zoning (AG) for North Range Substation parcel: Correction of a missed zone on a recently annexed area. Approved on second reading.
• Item 12 – Zoning (AG) for land northeast of West Allison Road and Walterscheid Boulevard: This parcel had been annexed about 40 years ago but never given a city zone. The applicant requested A1 to AG, the holding zone. Debate revealed the property had been subject to a recent work camp proposal that was withdrawn. Council expressed concern about the potential for future work camps, but staff clarified that AG is the standard interim zone and any conditional use (including work camps) would require a separate public process. The motion to approve passed on a voice vote with two opposed (Councilman White and Dr. Aldrich).
• Item 13 – Zoning from PUD to NR-3 for 44.16 acres north of West College Drive: Owner requested the change to allow a more dense, alley-loaded subdivision. Developer agent John Sayers stated the plat will be submitted January 8. Council supported the innovative design. Approved on second reading.
• Item 14 – Ordinance on 2nd Reading: Clarifying Failure to Maintain Liability Coverage as a Jailable Offense: The ordinance resolves a conflict between city ordinance and state law. City Attorney Boster confirmed state law is more restrictive. Approved.
• Item 16 – Final Plat for 5th Street Towns (infill townhomes): Developer Brandon Swain proposed four small townhome lots (approx. 700 sq ft each, two-bed/two-bath, no garage, slab on grade) with a target price of $250,000. The plat included relief for reduced parking (from 2 spaces to 1 per unit) and reduced rear setback. Councilman Seagrave expressed parking concerns but voted in favor. Approved.
• Item 17 – Final Plat for Edgar Subdivision (11 single-family lots): Approved. Councilman Johnson asked about drainage and retaining wall concerns raised at Planning Commission; City Engineer Cobb confirmed those would be addressed at site plan review.
• Item 20c – Contract for Juvenile Diversion Coordinator: Contract between the City, Office of Youth Alternatives, and Laramie County Community Juvenile Services Joint Powers Board for $156,251.30. Approved.
• Item 21a – Contract Modification for Van Buren Avenue Storm Sewer Interceptor Project: Grant award increased from $1,000,000 to $1,421,212 using ARPA funds reallocated from other communities. Approved.
• Items 24a & 24b – Reappointments and Appointments to Various Boards and Commissions: Both sets of appointments approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Item 6: Ordinance to amend UDC facade requirements for multifamily residential development passed on third and final reading by a vote of 9-0.
• Item 7: Ordinance requiring annual debt reporting by board/commission members passed on third reading unanimously.
• Item 8: Ordinance expanding camping prohibition to all public property passed on third reading unanimously.
• Item 9: Annexation of land north of Cheyenne Street approved on second reading.
• Item 10: Zoning of annexed property as MR Medium-Density Residential approved on second reading.
• Item 11: Zoning of North Range Substation parcel as AG Agricultural approved on second reading.
• Item 12: Zoning of land near West Allison Road as AG Agricultural approved on second reading (vote: 7-2; Councilman White and Dr. Aldrich dissenting).
• Item 13: Zoning change from PUD to NR-3 for land north of West College Drive approved on second reading.
• Item 14: Ordinance clarifying failure to maintain liability coverage as a jailable offense approved on second reading.
• Item 16: Final plat for 5th Street Towns approved with modifications (reduced parking and rear setback).
• Item 17: Final plat for Edgar Subdivision approved.
• Item 20c: Contract for Juvenile Diversion Coordinator approved (amount $156,251.30).
• Item 21a: Contract modification for Van Buren Avenue Storm Sewer Interceptor Project approved ($421,212 increase).
• Items 24a & 24b: All reappointments and appointments to boards and commissions approved.
• Announcements: The Sine Die and First Regular Meetings of 2025 will be held Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in Council Chambers. Public Services Committee will meet first and third Mondays at noon; Finance Committee on first and third Tuesdays at noon. A Calcutta benefiting Make-A-Wish Wyoming will be held January 31–February 1, 2025.
• Farewells: Council members Cook and Johnson, City Clerk Chris Jones (retiring), and City Attorney Stephanie Boster (moving on) were thanked for their service.