0:40Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
0:42I would like to call the December 8th meeting of the governing body to order.
0:45Madam Clerk, would you take the role?
1:13One member is absent.
1:15Would you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?
1:21Pledge of allegiance to the flag.
1:24The United States of America.
1:26And to the Republic for which it stands.
1:28One nation under God.
1:32Liberty and Justice for all.
1:45All agenda items listed with the designation of CA are considered to be routine items by the governing body and will be enacted by one motion.
1:52There'll be no separate discussion on these items unless a member of the governing body so requests and support by two other members is received.
1:59Any item removed from the consent agenda will be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
2:04Are there any items a member of the governing body would like to remove from the consent agenda?
2:22All right, 22A is removed.
2:26Hearing none, I would entertain a motion.
2:33All those in favor of their consent agenda, please signify by saying aye.
2:38The consent agenda is approved with item 22A removed.
2:42It will be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
2:46Number six A, public hearing for a transfer of ownership of retail liquor license application filed with the city clerk's office for Cheyenne GS LLC doing business as high market Cheyenne, 215 East Lincoln Way, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
2:59License currently held by Scooter Scoreboard LLC, doing business as scooter scoreboard bar.
3:12Is anybody here to talk about the transfer of the ownership of this retail liquor license?
3:26If you push the button on that microphone, aim that right towards your mouth so we can hear you and identify yourself for the record, please.
3:34Mayor, members of council.
3:36Uh my name is uh Preet Singh.
3:38I go uh but my full name is Sok Prit Sang, and I own uh high market on Lincoln Way.
3:44And uh we're looking to transfer a retail liquor license.
3:49Anybody here have questions for the applicant?
3:57How many stores are there?
3:58Where's our corporate office?
4:02And this is the only store in Wy uh in Wyoming, State of Wyoming.
4:06How many do they have total through you, Mr.
4:09Uh in total uh 10, including the Cheyenne store.
4:18Um thank you for coming.
4:20Uh do you have a physical space to operate a retail store uh at your current location?
4:30Uh could you repeat the question again?
4:32I think I think the question is how are you going to uh dispense the alcohol?
4:36What's your plan to do that?
4:38Uh so we do have uh a small space which is not being used right now, and that's a space we have dedicated for the liquor sales within the store.
4:56Um, would you would you ask the applicant, Mr.
5:00Are they are they only gonna do package sales?
5:03Um no catering, no uh any of the other provisions that a retail license will allow them to do.
5:10Are you aware of all the things that a retail liquor license can do?
5:14Uh the two things I'm aware of is uh package sales and then even serve liquor.
5:20And uh the plan is that if the first step goes good, then we'll be expanding into the boarding uh expand the space and go into serving.
5:30Um so the other thing is you can actually cater alcohol to like for parties and different things like that.
5:36I don't know if that is in it entered into your mind or if you just learned that that's an option.
5:40Yeah, I just learned that's an option.
5:42Rainey, any follow-ups?
5:47Thanks for being here tonight.
5:48Anyone else in the audience want to speak to this uh uh transfer of liquor license?
5:54All right, hearing none, the purpose of the public hearing has been met.
5:57We'll assign this to the finance committee, which will meet next Tuesday, uh two o'clock, or excuse me, 12 o'clock, right here in this room.
6:08Number seven, ordinance, third reading, annexing to the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming, various tracts of land completely surrounded by current city limits situated in eastern Cheyenne, generally located south of Laramie Street, east of T Bird Drive, north of East Lincoln Way and US 30 and west of Parsons Place.
6:24All right, this is the eighth iteration of the city council goal to uh annex county pockets, 100% surrounded by the city.
6:31Uh we'll open up to the public.
6:33Is anybody in the public here to speak to these annexations?
6:40Mayor, the recommendation of the public service committee is to approve on third and final root reading and ISO move.
6:50Comments for members of the governing body on the annexations.
6:56Uh just a question to our staff.
6:59Has there been anyone that is uh questioning it or opposed to it?
7:10Uh mayor members of Council Counterway Planning and Development Department.
7:13No, there has been no further comment from the public, and I've actually had really nobody that has been against this annexation.
7:23Anyone else from the governing body?
7:26Hearing none, Madam Clerk, would you take the vote?
7:49This annexation, these annexations are approved on third and final reading.
7:54Number eight on page two ordinance, third reading, amending the official zoning map of the city of Cheyenne, establishing the zoning classifications of MR, medium density residential, M U B mixed use business, and C B community business for land annexed to the city of Cheyenne, generally located south of Laramie Street, east of T Bird Drive, north of East Lincoln Way in US 30, and west of Parsons Place.
8:16We just annexed a piece of property or multiple pieces of property, and we need to give them a city zone.
8:22And we have a program where we uh establish a zone that's closest to what is underlying in the county now.
8:28And that's what we're working on on this ordinance.
8:31We'll go out to the audience.
8:32Does anybody have any questions about the establishment of these zones?
8:39Mayor, the recommendation of the public service committee is to approve on third and final reading.
8:49Comments from the governing body.
8:54Hearing none, Madam Clerk.
9:16The established zones are approved on third and final reading.
9:19Number nine ordinance, third reading annexing to the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming, land located south of Story Boulevard, west of Converse Avenue, and north of East Carlson Street.
9:28This is an owner-initiated annexation of 20.41 acres with a plan to develop multiple multifamily housing in the area.
9:36We'll go out to the audience if anybody has any uh comments on this annexation.
9:45Mayor, the recommendation of the public service committee is to approve on third and final final reading.
9:55Comments from the governing body on these annexation.
10:02Through you, uh, just a question.
10:03Is this the uh property that they're looking to to put the affordable housing on?
10:10It's uh not all of it, but part of it, yes, sir.
10:13All right, thank you.
10:15Mayor, I'll be in Nova because I have explained uh earlier tied to a private equity firm.
10:21That's my reason for voting no.
10:25All right, hearing none, Madam Clerk.
10:27Would you take the vote?
10:47The annexation is approved on third and final reading with Mr.
10:51Number 10 ordinance, third reading, amending the official zoning map of the city of Cheyenne, establishing the zoning classification of AG agricultural for land annexed to the city of Cheyenne, located south of Story Boulevard, west of Converse Avenue, and north of East Carlson Street.
11:05All right, we just annexed a piece of property and as a city policy.
11:09We're going to establish a zone for that.
11:11And the zone that's in the county is AG.
11:14So we'll establish that zoning.
11:16Anybody in the audience want to speak to the agricultural zone establishment?
11:22Mayor, the recommendation of the public service committee is to approve on third and final reading in the ISO move.
11:32Any comments on the establishment of the AG zone?
11:36Hearing none, Madam Clerk.
11:57The established zone is approved on third and final reading.
12:01Number 11 ordinance, third reading, amending the official zoning map of the city of Cheyenne, changing the zoning classification for land located south of Story Boulevard, west of Converse Avenue, and north of East Carlson Street from AG agricultural N C B community business to NR3 neighborhood residential high density.
12:18We just annexed a piece of property and zoned it AG, but unfortunately, AG doesn't allow us to build the multifamily that uh the developer wants to do.
12:26So they're they're requesting a zone change uh to NR3.
12:30And um we'll go out to the audience at this time to uh talk about that owner-initiated zone change.
12:36Anyone hearing none, Dr.
12:41Mayor, the recommendation of the public service committee is to approve on third reading and final reading and ISO move.
12:47So that was seconded by Mr.
12:51Comments for members of the governing body on the zone change.
12:56Hearing none, madam clerk.
13:17The zone change is approved on third and final reading with Mr.
13:22Number 12, ordinance, first reading defining the terms and conditions of employment for sworn officers of the Cheyenne Police Department for January 2026 until the end of the fiscal year 2026.
13:33We'll assign this one to the finance committee.
13:36Number 13, resolution authorizing a 3% cost of living salary adjustment for all full-time and part-time employees of the city of Cheyenne.
13:53Anybody want to speak to that?
13:59Mayor, the recommendation of the finance committee is to adopt an ISO move.
14:06Comments from members of the governing body.
14:25However, because it is a cost of living adjustment, it is not possible to give them a little more.
14:31And that would create a lot of problems.
14:34I'm going to vote aye on this because I do want to see those that are, you know, really struggling to make ends meet under $60,000 get something.
14:43But I just hope for the next budget session, we do focus on those making under $60,000 a little more this time.
14:57As I said at the finance committee, I um I'm very supportive of this.
15:01I'm very much appreciate uh the um uh city bringing it to us and Ms.
15:07Lockman and all the effort that's gone into this and constructing uh pay schedules and and uh dealing with conversation as a complicated issue.
15:18And um I think this is uh this is an important and uh fair way to do this and um look forward obviously to talking about um compensation when we get to the budget, but thank you very much.
15:35Um, I want to echo what uh my colleague just stated.
15:40Um compensation is incredibly complicated, and I think it's always important to remember in compensation, it's a little bit like chess in that when you make one move, there's always a counter move.
15:57And if we start moving things without um a very specific policy and process, it can have terrible, terrible complications and ramifications for the bigger picture.
16:13So I think it's um incredibly important that we do a cola at a flat rate.
16:20And I think it's also really important that we keep in mind that retention and recruitment of our employees is one of our biggest expenses, but it's also one of our biggest returns.
16:31And for every employee you lose, you spend that salary plus about half of another to recruit, train, and retain those people.
16:41So any money that we invest now in the shortcome short term has very long lasting implications.
16:49So um, I'm gonna be very supportive of this mo of this move.
16:54Anyone else on the governing body?
16:56All right, hearing none, we have a motion to uh approve a three percent cost of living adjustment.
17:01All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.
17:06This resolution is adopted.
17:10Number 14 resolution, repealing resolution number 6479 and directing the relisting of the Cheyenne Auxiliary Pumping Station located at 1504 Dylan Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming, for sale or lease with revised terms to facilitate redevelopment and community benefit.
17:28We have uh the pump house before us again.
17:30Um, and just for the uh folks that that are out there in the audience, uh the motion that came out of committee is to postpone until December 22nd.
17:39So um, I'm not sure we need to spend a lot of time tonight uh going over what you guys did such a beautiful job with during the uh the committee meeting, but I will send it out to the audience to see if anybody has any comments.
17:55Good evening, Stephanie Lowe, 5421 Hamilton Avenue.
17:59I am president of Historic Cheyenne Inc.
18:01And we are kind of the public interest in the pumphouse building.
18:05I just want to say I hope you all support the postponement of this item tonight.
18:09We have started a Google document with the resolution reviewing some um possible amended language that the historic preservation board can discuss tomorrow night at their meeting, and hopefully we can bring back to you guys for finance next week.
18:22Definitely we'll look forward to those.
18:24Appreciate you guys being here tonight.
18:30Mayor, the recommendation of the finance committee is to adopt, and I so move.
18:37Mayor, I move to postpone until the December 22nd 2025 meeting of the governing body.
18:48Lowe just uh described what's happening.
18:50The historic preservation board and historic Cheyenne Inc.
18:53is going to work on uh some additional language for us.
18:56Uh that's the reason for the postponement.
18:58Anybody in the audience want to speak to postponing?
19:01How about from the governing body?
19:06Through you, and I do want to thank everybody at testify to finance committee.
19:10I'm looking forward to those uh amendments as well.
19:12And please email myself, uh Mr.
19:16Allerdess responsors.
19:18And I know I speak for my colleagues.
19:20None of us want to see this uh torn down.
19:23We don't want to be the council known for because we heard there was a council that tore down the Carnegie building.
19:27And I'll say it again as a history minor, I'm all about preserving our Western heritage, especially our buildings, especially with our 250th birthday coming up for our country.
19:41I uh want to speak to the postponement in a particular element that I think will be coming up uh probably uh seriously.
20:00Repealing resolution number 6479, which did uh address the this issue, also included as an amendment that this body adopted uh to get a review of the costs of demolition.
20:12And uh that didn't happen, and it didn't happen for a number of reasons.
20:17And I think it's very important that we take a look back at uh the contract we had with the design studio incorporated for this matter and uh very substantial amount of money.
20:32I don't think it's all been expended yet, but uh there was a lot of information developed.
20:39I'm sure we all saw the spreadsheets and understand that uh there was uh a real review of all the facts involved in the building's uh stability and it's uh all the issues that are surround that.
20:56So now that that contract has been terminated, I don't know how Mr.
21:02Mayor and members of the council we can possibly make a determination as to the cost of demolition.
21:08And then I believe that's definitely something that should not be excluded from the modified uh uh resolution will be coming before us because it was adopted by the body and was uh I didn't include a date certain in it, but certainly that's something that could be brought forward.
21:30But unless we can get somehow sort through uh that that those design plans that the design studio came up with, we won't be able to determine that.
21:43And I think that when we've spent this kind of money and we've had this kind of a process that's gone on quite a while, and obviously uh great community interest uh amongst the people that came and toured it.
21:56Um it's really important that we follow through with that concept.
22:01And I'm not sure that uh what we'll need to do to do that, but I did want to mention it because it is an essential element of all this.
22:11I think it's a reasonable expectation of the public that when we did make that amendment and included that information that it would be developed, and certainly I understand it's probably not going to be uh as detailed as uh something that will have to come up later if we do demolish the building.
22:33But an a reasonable estimate and from a professional uh evaluation is in order.
22:40And I think that um when we as I said, when we look through all the information that we got on this, which was quite detailed, um, that ought to be able to uh be determined as to what that what those demolition costs might be because obviously uh the this proposed substitute is going to stretch, hopefully, and I believe there's support for it, stretch that time out a little further so that we can uh take a look at options.
23:15I know that there's a lot of discussion about that.
23:18I assume the story preservation board is doing that as well.
23:22So I just wanted to mention that, Mr.
23:24Mayor and members of the council, because it is an important element.
23:28It's something that we added to that uh previous resolution and is uh something that I think there's a reasonable expectation of.
23:37Now, how that could happen uh is an interesting question.
23:42Mayor, um, could I ask uh a representative of the design studio um what uh their opinion might be of this?
23:51Laborne, my opinion is we're on the resolution to postpone, and I think we're off of that.
23:55I think we need to do that at a different time.
23:58Well, I did want to raise the issue, Mr.
24:00Mayor, and I do believe it is a matter uh very much to deal with this postponement, and certainly we can deal with it in finance, but uh I appreciate the opportunity to mention that.
24:15Motion is to postpone all those in favor.
24:17Please signify by saying aye.
24:20The resolution to postpone until December 22nd is approved.
24:26Next item is number 22A on page four.
24:32Consideration of bid number S-5-26 for an agreement between the city of Cheyenne and Bighorn Contracting LLC for the High Plains Arboretum Head House, Greenhouse, and Lap House renovation.
24:45We have before us a contract to uh refurbish and uh bring back into working order um those three items that the clerk just read.
24:53Is there anybody in the audience want to speak to that?
25:02Mayor, the recommendation of the finance committee is to accept the bid in an amount not to exceed 2,366,424.
25:16Comments from the governing body on this contract.
25:24Through through you.
25:25Um want to pull us off.
25:27So I want the public to know how important it is to restore this.
25:30We're looking at from a historic perspective, but also a tourism perspective, and hopefully it'll become a state park one day.
25:38This hopefully with this restoration will become a state park, like Quebec missile site is uh in western Laramie County.
25:46And I'm looking at from a tourist perspective.
25:48Somebody wants to visit the arboretum, go to the uh missile site or vice versa.
25:53And that can create tourism out there in uh Western Laramie County, even people visiting here during uh Cheyenne Frontier Days, they might want to go visit it.
26:02So I'm looking at it from that perspective.
26:04This is a good investment.
26:06It's gonna look great when it's done, and hopefully it will become a state park in the future.
26:17Um hearing none, we have a contract for the work on the arboretum.
26:21All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.
26:24Those opposite the uh contract is approved.
26:2822B consideration of bid number S-6-26 for an agreement between the city of Cheyenne and Rockies Environmental and Demolition Services for the High Plains Arboretum Greenhouse and Lap House Demolition and Abatement.
26:41Is anybody in the audience here to speak to the uh the abatement of those buildings that we just approved the contract for Mr.
26:53Mayor, the recommendation of the finance committee is to accept the bid in an amount not to exceed 148, 175 dollars and ISO move.
27:05White Comments um from the governing body.
27:13Is there an amendment there?
27:17White, I don't know that that amendment would be um it's on the memo, not on the contract itself.
27:25So I don't think it's in order.
27:27Um so I would prefer it not thank you for the clear.
27:31Does that make sense?
27:32Thank you very much.
27:33Ums on the contract before us.
27:38Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.
27:42Those opposed, the bid is approved.
27:46Next item is number 23A on page five.
27:50Is there anybody in the audience or on this governing body that would like to speak to the vouchers?
27:58All right, next item, please.
27:59Announcement of a public hearing.
28:02Announcement of a public hearing pursuant to Wyoming statute 16-4-404B to be held December 10th, 2025 at 6 o'clock p.m.
28:10in city council chambers 2101 O'Neill Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and via electronic conference meeting to discuss and gather public input regarding proposed six penny projects.
28:19Announcement of a public hearing to be held December 22nd, 2025 at 6 o'clock p.m.
28:23in city council chambers 2101 O'Neill Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and via electronic conference meeting for amendments to the city's 2025 2027 consolidated plan and 2025 program year annual action plan for the housing and community development divisions community development block grant program.
28:41Announcement that a Calcutta benefiting make a wish Wyoming will be held January 30th and January 31st, 2026 at Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center, 204 West Fox Farm Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
28:5210% of proceeds go to the charity, other business.
28:55All right, is there anybody here in the audience that wants to speak to us under other business?
29:04Good evening, Mayor and Council.
29:06Uh Jason Sanchez, community recognition events.
29:08Um, just on behalf of the staff, the employees and uh all of us at Cierra, just want to say thank you for your consideration and support of the cost of living adjustment for all the employees.
29:17Um, we genuinely uh appreciate uh your consideration and and your support.
29:23So thank you very much.
29:25Anybody else in the audience want to speak to us under other business?
29:29How about from the governing body?
29:32Mayor, um this afternoon, some wonderful news was released, and uh it's sent out all over social media.
29:42So I'm not I'm not uh releasing anything that's a secret.
29:46But the um Mori and Bonnie Brown Foundation has purchased the property and land, uh formerly known as the Outlaw Saloon, located at 312 South Greeley Highway.
30:00And uh release that they will be building the uh a community center, uh, which I understand is going to include uh many wonderful innovative and uh modern recreational uh services that will be open and available to all of uh all citizens of Cheyenne.
30:26And uh I know that my colleagues, staff, uh everyone gets questioned about something like this for the certainly the 10 years that I've been on council, it's been one of the biggest hot button issues in our community for quite some time.
30:42And the fact that something like this is going to come to fruition in South Cheyenne and be completely privately funded, is it's it's a Christmas miracle, quite honestly, and I'm thrilled.
30:59Uh I can't wait to see uh the plans and the design for it.
31:05And it's just it's um gosh, sorely needed.
31:10Uh, to to just think that something like that is going to be constructed where the outlaw saloon uh is um it's it's boggling, but it's thrilling as well.
31:23So I just wanted to uh mention that and certainly thank the members of the Mori and Bonnie Brown Foundation for their vision.
31:32You know, Maury passed away just a year or so ago, and uh it's amazing how he is still serving uh the folks here in Cheyenne.
31:39He is uh an amazing man, he and his family, and uh really looking forward to this.
31:43I did speak to one of the um foundation members this afternoon, and uh they're really excited to get started on this project, and I'm excited to see it.
31:52Did you have a comment, sir?
31:55I apologize, I just saw you light on.
31:59Mayor, um, I wanted to thank Jason and his team for um at the Civic Center.
32:05I went to the Nutcracker Friday night, and they did a phenomenal job.
32:09It was a beautiful performance, and um just exquisitely done in the facility.
32:16Um, so I just wanted to recognize them and thank them for that.
32:24I didn't want to remind everybody in the community and that's here that tickets go on sale this week for the good lineup for Cheyenne Frontier Days, and there's a lot of real young up and coming artists coming to town this uh frontier days.
32:44Um I've been uh listening to a lot of them lately, and uh I think it's gonna be some exciting shows.
32:50A lot of those artists that are coming here are probably gonna be future entertainers of the year.
32:56If I could uh expand on uh Dr.
32:59Emmons's comment, uh Saturday, my wife and I went to um the Rose Royce concert.
33:04Um if you guys haven't heard a concert in the Civic Center, um, our sound system is amazing.
33:11And uh the acts that we have um here are and it's free, these are free concerts.
33:17Um, and there was lots of speech left.
33:19So I just want to put out there, um, and again, I don't remember when the next one is, but the lead singer of Chicago and who's the other one?
33:26Who the lead singer of Boston and uh the lead singer of uh of Chicago are coming to the next concert.
33:33So you know, for guys like me, that's the soundtrack of our youth.
33:36And uh, so it's free, it's a free concert, and I just would really encourage people uh, if you haven't yet, to come and listen to a concert in the civic center.
33:44That new sound system is amazing, and our staff does an amazing job of uh customer service when you uh when you get there.
33:51So, anyways, that's all I have to say on that.
33:53Anybody else in the governing body?
33:57Mayor, pursuant to Wyoming State.
33:58Can I get you turn on your microphone, please, sir?
34:02Pursuant to the Wyoming statute section 164 405 AII or move that the governing body meeting executive session to consider or receive any information classified as confidential by law.
34:19Second, seconded by Mr.
34:22All those in favor of moving into executive session, please signify by saying aye.
34:28All right, ladies and gentlemen, just so you know, when we come out of executive session, the only motion we're gonna take is to adjourn, and we're all gonna go home.
34:34So you'll not miss anything.
34:36Uh so at this time, I'd ask everybody to uh please travel safely going home.
34:40We'll turn off all of our electronics and the governing body will meet in executive session.
34:44Thanks you all for being here tonight.
