Good evening, everyone.

I would like to call the December 22nd meeting of the governing body to order.

Madam Clerk, would you take the role?

Dr.

Emmons.

Here.

Mr.

Escobel.

Here.

Mr.

Labourne.

Here.

Mr.

Moody.

Here.

Dr.

Rennie.

Mr.

Seagrave.

Present.

Mr.

White.

Present.

Mr.

Wolf.

Here.

Dr.

Aldrich.

Mayor Collins.

Here.

Two members are absent.

We do have a quorum.

Thank you.

Would you all please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

I think Dr.

Alders is here.

I I am here.

Yes.

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America.

And to the Republicans.

One nation under God.

Liberty and Justice Crawl.

Madam Clerk for the record, uh, Dr.

Aldridge is with us.

She's traveling, so she's going to be a little slow in her responses.

I have noted that, Mayor.

Consent agenda.

All 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.

There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a member of the governing body so requests and support by two other members is received.

Any item removed from the consent agenda will be in will be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.

Before we go to the consent agenda, I just want to declare that I have a conflict on number 11.

So my intention is not to vote.

I'll abstain from the consent agenda.

I am a director of the bank and uh a shareholder.

And um, so I have a conflict.

And with that, I would entertain um any questions or removal of any items on the consent agenda.

Mr.

Mayor, Mr.

Leyborn, could we please pull uh item 18B for an updated version of that contract?

Uh that original contract stated the total amount.

The original contract stated the total amount, including the M PO portion of the total amount, and it did not.

Well, I guess there was a something that needs to be corrected there.

There is a mistake.

We have a concur.

Okay.

18B will come off the consent agenda.

Are there any other items?

Hearing none, I would entertain a motion.

Mr.

Seagrave made a motion, seconded by Mr.

White.

All those in favor of the consent agenda with 18B removed, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

The consent agenda is approved with 18B removed.

Number 7A, public hearing for amendments to the city's 2025 to 2027 consolidated plan and 2025 program year annual action plan for the housing and community development division's community development block grant program.

Ms.

Gorby, welcome.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh good evening, everyone.

Um, my name is Amy Gorby, and I'm the community development manager for the city's housing and community development division.

Uh our division manages the community development or CDBG block grant, and we have the support of a nine-member volunteer advisory council.

This council, I would love to um commend to them publicly and also City Council Representative Ken Escovelle for their continued guidance and dedication.

And I have my chair with me this evening.

Um, I'm here today to provide you with a staff report on the amendments included in the 2025-2027 consolidated plan and the 2025 annual action plan.

There's also a required public hearing tonight as mandated by 24 CFR Part 91 of and the city's citizen participation plan.

Um, the purpose of the amendment tonight is to repurpose returned and available CDBG funds to address identified community needs in a manner and a manner that is timely, feasible, and compliant with federal regulations.

So when we receive returned funds and repayment funds, it is really essential that we seek out activities where we can spend the funds in a timely manner.

I'll just kind of get off my notes for a second.

Um the amended funding allocations that are included um in the amended plan are uh goal one, preserve and improve low-income neighborhoods.

We have um decreased this amount slightly.

So the new amount is 480,946.

Goal two, public facility improvements.

Again, we have decreased this slightly because originally we thought some repeat paid funding funding would go toward these activities.

So there's a little difference in the original plan and these amounts.

That new amount is 330,000 and 473.

Goal three is to promote self-sufficiency through public services.

That amount is 140,438.

And goal four is job training, public services.

Uh, this amount decreased slightly from the original plan because we lost an activity that was originally funded to climb Wyoming.

Goal five is program administration, which stayed the same at 249,660.

This for all three years of the action plan or the consolidated plan.

And then we have a new goal, number seven to provide safe, decent and affordable housing.

And the amended plan proposes to fund $642,000 to that approximately.

We've had multiple changes to the program year 2025 action plan that triggered a substantial amendment.

So that included a new consolidated plan goal to provide safe, decent affordable housing, a new program activity, and that is the acquisition of real property.

Um, with that, the city plans to allocate approximately 260,000 from return CDBG funds, plus another 375,000 in anticipated CDBG repayment income, totaling approximately 635,000 to new land acquisition activities.

And hopefully these will lead to over 180 affordable rental units.

We have also included the cancellation of two public service activities, Health Works and Climb Wyoming.

Um, these activities basically were canceled due to new federal regulations that either the subrecipient felt like they weren't in a position to meet, or one of the regulations was for translation services, and that is no longer being funded by HUD.

Um, so we've had some big changes this year.

Um, so pending the city finance committee and council approval, um, our division will submit this amended con plan and annual action plan to HUD in January.

And once that amendment is submitted and all the environmental and regulatory requirements are completed, the city will be authorized to allocate the funds.

Um, that concludes my staff report, but there certainly was a lot here.

So I would welcome any questions and comments from the public.

Thank you.

Amy, I know how hard you work on this.

It's uh a challenge to uh to keep up with all the things that are going on.

So thank you for your report.

And with that, is there anybody on the governing body that would like to uh ask a question or comment?

Dr.

Emmons.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I just want to thank Amy and her board for all the work that you do.

This is so critical for our uh low-income families and families just struggling to be housed.

So thank you so much for all the time and energy you put into this.

Mayor Collins through you.

You're very welcome.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Mr.

Mayor, Mr.

Escobal, I know this is one of the committees you serve on.

Yeah, it's uh such a pleasure to serve with this committee and uh the advisory council.

They're so knowledgeable about all these uh projects that we're working on, especially goal number seven is really one that we've been striving for ever since I've been on the council uh to see that that we're finally gonna see that come to futrition is really a milestone.

And uh wanna shout out to uh not only me, but Chair Soto sitting over there.

Uh really keeps us in line and moving forward.

And then I really just enjoy this group.

She is a taskmaster, but I love her for that.

Thank you guys.

All right, hearing no other comments.

Uh, the purpose of the public hearing has been met.

This will go to the finance committee next Tuesday and then back to the governing body in uh the new year.

Thank you, Amy.

Mayor Collins, I believe Chair Soto wanted to say a few words.

Is that okay?

Of course.

I'm sorry, I didn't bring that up at the end and I shouldn't have done that.

Not a problem.

Ms.

Soda, welcome and thanks for being here tonight.

Mr.

Mayor, council members.

Um I just wanted to let you all know how excited the council is about the opportunity that will be given to us once this plan is changed.

Um the opportunity to partner with the developer and with the city to acquire land and uh develop affordable housing, which we all know is a problem in Wyoming.

So we're real excited.

I want you to know uh this is my fifth year, I think, on this advisory council.

And last time I was in front of you, um, you were all considering doing away with a CTBG program here in Cheyenne.

And I'm very grateful to you.

And I know there are lots of nonprofits that are grateful that we overcame that concern.

And I want to tell you that the advisory council is firing on all cylinders.

You've made some great appointments to the council.

And um, it's just been a pleasure to work with the new folks and get a lot of positive things done for the city.

So thank you very much.

And Winnie, I'm really excited about the public-private partnership that we're working on with uh the Wasatch group to uh uh create some of that affordable housing.

I think this is a if this works, and I think it will.

Um, I think this is a really a good plan and and a way for us to move forward to do much more of this.

I agree.

And I uh uh that we should express a great deal of appreciation to Amy, of course, and to Renee Um Smith, who I know is long no longer with the city, but who did a great deal of work to move us forward on these projects.

So amen.

Thank you very much.

Happy holidays, ma'am.

All right, Mr.

Mayor.

Yes, sir.

Uh it's January 6th is when finance meets.

Okay.

So that'll be noon in this room, January 6th, where we'll discover discuss that.

And then uh uh six days later, we'll have the uh council meeting to finalize that.

And the purpose of the public hearing has been met then.

On to the next item.

Number eight ordinance, second reading, defining the terms and conditions of employment for sworn officers of the Cheyenne Police Department for January 2026 until the end of fiscal year 2026.

This is our annual update for the terms and conditions for our police officers.

And the only real change, the meaningful change is reflects a three percent code that was approved recently at our city council meeting.

We'll open it up to the public and see if anybody has any questions or comments.

All right, hearing none.

Mr.

Layborn.

Mr.

Mayor, the recommendation of the finance committee is to approve on second reading, and I so move.

Second.

That was second by Mr.

Moody.

Comments from members of the governing body.

Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

The uh terms and conditions are approved on second reading.

Number nine, ordinance first reading, creating chapter 1.28, administrative inspection warrants, establishing authority for their issuance and amending the municipal code of the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming to authorize certain city officials as specified to apply for administrative inspection warrants.

We'll assign this item to the public services committee.

Number 10, resolution repealing resolution number 6479 and directing the relisting of the Cheyenne Auxiliary Pumping Station located at 1504 Dillon Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming, for sale or lease with revised terms to facilitate redevelopment and community benefits.

All right, this is uh a new resolution to keep the conversation on the pump house going.

We had a deadline of uh January 14th uh for demolition.

So um we'll open this up to the public.

So anybody in the public wants to speak to um the repealing of item or resolution number six four seven nine.

Hearing none, Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

Seagrave.

I'm not sure this is the right time, but I'd like to move to amend if possible.

Well, we need to get a motion from Mr.

Lebourne first, if you wouldn't.

I apologize.

Mr.

Leborn.

Mr.

Mayor, the the recommendation from the finance committee is to adopt and I so move.

Second.

Seconded by Mr.

Moody.

Mr.

Seagrave.

Mr.

Mayor, I would move to amend by substitute data, December 22nd, 2025.

Second.

Seconded by Mr.

Escobel.

And if I could, I would try to explain that.

If you could explain to the audience, and we'll go out to the audience for comment.

Mr.

Mayor, thank you very much.

On July 14th, 2025, we approved uh resolution number 6479.

Well, which gave the opportunity to um sell the the uh historic pump house.

Uh and there was an amendment um to that with a uh final date of January 14th.

If it had not um been the sale had not been consummated, it would be uh demolished.

Since that time, we've had several um proposed uh substitutes.

Um in my opinion, there's been a lot of confusion with that.

Um most of that has been in trying to get this completed before the uh January 14th date.

So what this resolution does, the sub that I am uh sponsoring uh it would repeal the original resolution number 6479, uh that would eliminate all of that prior, including the deadline.

So we would no longer be under the January 14th deadline.

Would it give us the ability to maximize flexibility to continue working on with stakeholders on uh trying to uh do something with this with the pump house?

Uh give us an opportunity to evaluate and pursue uh all options.

So if this passes, the other uh proposed substitutes will go away with the original resolution.

We'll be back to square one.

Uh we'll try to if in fact we have an opportunity to try to sell it, we'll try to do it correct the first time and get the language and everything together.

And I'm open to any questions, sir.

Okay, let's go out to the audience and see if anybody in the audience wants to uh to comment on it.

So basically what this um substitute does is it just goes back to where we were before we did anything, which is the the pump house is the way the pump house is.

We're open to any suggestions, but there's no limitations on what could be brought forward.

Uh there's no deadline now for demolition.

Um, we're just kind of going back to the future, if you will.

Please.

Ms.

Callis, right?

Mr.

Mayor, that's correct.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Happy holidays.

Um, so as the only representative here, I wasn't planning on speaking, but uh always welcome.

Okay.

So I I guess I okay.

I know that we're supposed to be speaking to the amendment.

Yep.

The repealing resolution number 6479 and directing and relistening of so does that mean that all of the discuss so we have been trying to come up with a substitution the last two weeks, and there are two versions floating around.

And is this amendment talking about getting rid of both of those?

Ms.

Calce, it is.

Basically, it's just as if we didn't have anything on this.

You remember back a year ago.

Correct.

We'd be back to basically the same conditions.

Yep.

Okay.

So there'd be no deadlines, there's no conditions.

We're just going to try to find somebody to partner with us on the pump house.

Okay.

And uh do the best we can to uh make that happen.

Okay.

Your thoughts.

Well, oh, thank you.

So this is the um I think the key is the last the the two last two paragraphs.

Thank you.

Um be further so can you say we'll continue to work with stakeholders and other interested parties.

Okay, so I guess this is kind of like sudden.

So I don't have a ton of time to like um get my head around it.

But um Ms.

Calce, while you're thinking, I the thing that I like about it is is um it gets rid of the any sort of deadline to uh tear down the building.

A demo deadline from my perspective.

Okay.

Um I don't want to spend any time talking about demolition of an old building that that we don't have to do.

So I think that's what I like most about clarity.

Yeah, okay.

It gives us the time.

Yeah, sometimes this language is difficult to just parse out in on the fly.

So so basically what we're doing is we are um starting from scratch and we're not gonna bring up demolition.

Um I mean, as representative of of uh the only one here.

Uh I think that sounds pretty good.

Okay, that's my comment.

Thank you so much.

Thanks for being here.

Happy holidays.

Okay, thank you too.

Anybody else in the audience?

Yes.

Mr.

Mayor, I just have uh Dr.

Aldridge with her hand raised.

So I'm not sure if you want to wait till let's let's go ahead.

Uh Dr.

Aldridge, you can go ahead.

Uh thank you, Mayor Collins.

Um, I just uh wanted to um note as the original um the originator of the initial resolution that was then amended by my colleague um councilman Seagrave uh to add that date in order to um in um increase the um motivation that yeah the urgency of anyone I think that uh that resolution has been successful in bringing this into the public arena uh to have the conversation and to help the public understand um that this is a building that uh we believe has historical significance to Cheyenne and also um is worth saving.

So um while I had hoped that we would uh be able to find a um someone to purchase it, um I will fully support this amendment um so that we can uh move forward and uh hopefully be able to put this building into use at some point in the future.

Appreciate it, ma'am.

Ms.

Castlewood.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh, I just wanted to address uh Dr.

Alrich.

Um, thank you very much for uh your efforts to bring this to the public.

It really worked, I think.

So we're sure talking about it.

I know.

I I can see the intention behind everything, and um I just want to uh extend my appreciation.

And um I just want to uh extend my appreciation.

So thank you.

Anyone else in the audience?

Jennifer, who do you have?

Mr.

Mayor, we have Milwaukee Simpson with his hand raised.

Mr.

Simpson, welcome, sir.

Thank you all very much.

Uh, can you all hear me?

We can, sir, very well.

Thank you.

All right.

Well, happy holidays to all of you.

Um, just wanted to make sure that uh uh I I weighed in here.

So um as chair of the board, we were um uh thinking that we were gonna get a chance to propose a substitute resolution to the finance committee.

And this uh agenda item was uh postponed at the last meeting.

Um so this is a little bit of a surprise, but um uh perhaps the outcome is something that gives us more time for all of us to try to get on the same page and deliberate and bring all the various thoughts and interests um to the table to come up with a solution that's best for the community, and I sure would support that.

Um so I guess the I guess that's my comment.

Appreciate it and happy holidays to you, sir.

Thank you.

Jen for any of the raised hands.

All right, nobody else in the audience.

All right, we'll go to the governing body.

Comments on the substitute uh presented by Mr.

Seagrave, uh dated 1222.

Mr.

Labourne.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I think uh this is well intentioned and understandable that's probably going to satisfy at least to a degree most people who really are concerned about demolition, and who are also concerned about the fact that uh that's a very difficult building to sell.

I look forward to uh working with this stakeholders and other interested parties to evaluate and pursue redevelopment or adaptive reuse options.

And Mr.

Mayor and members of the council, I particularly want to mention that the pump house does not occur all by itself.

It is right next to the greenway path that we need to open up so that people can use it.

It is right next to the uh wetland that needs to be fixed, and that whole area is uh really to be considered as a whole, I hope.

And that was one of the things that was not in the previous uh iterations of this.

So I think that uh the important points are that uh the demolition is not gonna be coming before us, and certainly I'm sure that the proponents of uh the salvation of the building are gonna continue with their efforts.

So I think this is uh very timely.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Anyone else?

All right.

The motion before us is a substitute.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed aye.

The substitute is adopted, and we're back on the main motion, which I guess is the substitute, but I think we have to vote on that too, don't we?

So any of the last comments on the uh the main motion.

Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

I the resolution is adopted as amended.

Next item is number 13 resolution authorizing the mayor and the city clerk to sign a final plot for scenic development, seventh filing, city of Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming, located south of Story Boulevard, west of Converse Avenue and north of East Carlson Street.

All right.

We have before us uh a piece of property that was recently annexed, and this is the plat that divides that up into uh buildable areas, one of which was just talked about in our um our plan from uh Amy Gorby, uh, which is 184 unit affordable housing um uh development and some other future developable lands.

And so we'll go out to the audience to talk about this final plat that would create that.

Anyone here want to speak to that.

Welcome, sir.

Thank you.

This is uh my name is Jaden Smith with the Wasatch Development Group.

Was it bumpy coming in today?

It was bumpy coming in today.

I figured I figured so welcome.

The Cheyenne wins, never never uh let us have an easy flight for sure.

So um, no, but thank you guys.

And like the mayor mentioned, this plat is for uh the affordable housing project earlier mentioned, and thank you to to Amy and uh Renee and everyone who's had a hand in uh making this project come to life.

Uh I know a year ago we set out with a goal to create a project like this, and uh Mayor Collins and uh the staff and many many hands have gone into making this project uh a possibility.

So thank you to everyone there.

Um to this plat here tonight.

I know there's been a lot of back and forth between what staff originally recommended, um, what happened with zoning that happened at uh committee meeting.

Um, and we're basically back on to where the staff originally recommended it, uh, which I think is a good um middle ground and and which something we can all live with, hopefully.

Um, I think it follows the um earlier phase of our Ridgeview apartments.

What what was finalized there with a north-south easement across that property, pedestrian easement?

I think it follows that same pattern.

I so I think it's it's uh that's a good middle ground to land on.

So I hope uh I hope uh we can have some support with uh this this plot here tonight.

So thank you, guys.

And I'm here for any questions as well if there if there is any comment.

Any questions for the developer?

Jane again, thanks for being here tonight.

Thank you, Mayor.

Anyone else in the audience tonight?

All right, hearing none, we'll go to Mr.

Seagrave for a motion.

Mr.

Mayor, the recommendation of the public services committee is to adopt with planning commission recommendations, and I so move.

Seconded by Dr.

Emmons, Mr.

Mayor.

Yes, sir.

I move to amend condition A to remove planning commission um requirement for external access easements and revert back to the staff's original recommendations.

Second.

Seconded by Mr.

White.

Okay, we're gonna go back out to the audience, and I think that's what Mr.

Smith was just talking about.

Um leaving the uh the final pedestrian easements to uh when we get the the project finished rather than um the way that they were laid out by the planning commission.

Anyone in the audience want to speak to that?

How about from the governing body?

Hearing none, we have an amendment.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

That amendment is adopted.

We're back on the main motion.

Comments from members of the governing body.

Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye, aye.

Those opposed?

No.

The final plat is uh approved as amended with Mr.

Moody voting no.

Next item is number 18B on page three.

Memorandum of understanding by and between Laramie County, the city of Cheyenne, the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities and the Cheyenne Laramie County Board of Health regarding the management of the Ezri Enterprise Agreement.

All right.

Every three years we have to do an update on cost in our contract on our this GIS agreement.

Um, we'll go out to the audience to see if anybody has any comments on this agreement.

Okay, hearing none.

Mr.

Labourne.

Mr.

Mayor, the recommendation of the finance committee is to approve an amount not to exceed $36,185.

And I so move.

Second.

Seconded by Mr.

Moody.

Mr.

Labourne.

Mr.

Mayor, I move to amend by substitute dated December 18th, 2025, which corrects the city's total share of the contract to include the Metropolitan Planning Organization portion of 44,585 annually for three years.

All right.

Second.

Seconded by Mr.

Moody.

The purpose of the amendment is we had the wrong value for this contract during the um the committee meeting, but we've we've corrected that.

The total amount for three years will be 128,200.

Anyone in the audience want to speak to that amendment.

Anyone on the governing body?

Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Those opposed the uh substitute is adopted.

We're back on the main motion.

Any comments?

Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

The memorandum for understanding is approved as amended.

Next item is 20A on page four.

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.

License currently held by scooter scoreboard LLC doing business as scooter scoreboard bar.

Uh earlier this afternoon, um, I received a letter.

I'd like to read just for the record, says Dear Cheyenne City Council.

It's with sincere disappointment that I'll write this letter, withdrawing my application for the transfer of liquor license number 34.

While I believe high market would have been a good fit for this license, it has become immediately apparent that during the finance committee meeting that the council does not agree.

I respect this decision and believe you're doing your best for the city of Cheyenne.

As such, I wish to respect your time and inform you that I will not be attending the city council meeting tonight, December 22nd.

Is my hope that we will again uh meet again once my business has expanded and I can continue to contribute to Cheyenne in a meaningful will.

Thank you for your time and your work signed by the applicant.

And so um they uh they recognize that um and they're asking that they their application be withdrawn.

However, I believe it's owned by the the body, so we're we're gonna need to vote on that.

And so with that, we'll go out to the audience and see if anybody wants to speak to this uh uh requested transfer of a liquor license.

Hearing none, um that would be Mr.

Labourne, would it not?

Mr.

Mayor, the motion to approve failed at the finance committee.

Therefore, there is no recommendation.

However, for the sake of discussion, I move to approve.

Is that seconded by Mr.

Seagrave?

Comments for members of the governing body.

Comments.

Hearing none.

All those in favor of the transfer, please signify by saying aye.

Those opposed.

No.

The transfer is denied.

Next item, please.

21A, reappointments of Patrick Van and Patrick Boustos to the Cheyenne Preservation Board, and Amy Hernandez and Robert Matthew to the planning commission, Nick Pickering, Ray Furtig Jr.

and Julie Good to the Building Code Board of Appeals.

Jeffy Wiggins McMullen to the Fire Civil Service Commission, Carla Winkler to the Police Civil Service Commission, Patty Rislin, Julie Tucker, and Michelle Warner to the Mayor's Council for People with Disabilities, William Beaman to the City County Joint Powers Board for Frontier Park Improvements, and Brian Casey, Ryan Girch, and Travis Schaefer to the contractor licensing board.

All right.

I don't get to vote on appointments, but I will take a motion for these reappointments.

Second.

Moved by Mr.

Seagrave.

Seconded by Mr.

White.

All those in favor of the reappointments, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

The appointments are approved.

And I just want to say thank you to those folks for continuing to serve our community.

Number 20B, appointments of Jeff White to the Downtown Development Authority Board, Brittany Wardle to the City County Board of Health.

Charity Campfield to the Board of Adjustment.

Joseph Ramos to the housing and community development board and John Burdick to the historic preservation board.

Same thing.

I don't get to vote on them, but I will entertain a motion.

So I moved, Mr.

Mayor.

Move by Mr.

Wolf.

Seconded by Mr.

Seagrave.

Mr.

Mayor.

Yes, sir.

Rabam.

Thank you.

Um I'm going to declare conflict on this since it involves my employment.

So noted.

Thank you.

I better write that down so I don't forget.

All right.

We have some appointments.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

The appointments are approved with Dr.

Emmons voting no.

And again, my appreciation for their willingness to serve the community.

20 C, Mr.

Mayor.

Conflict.

Did I vote no or did I abstain?

Did I say you voted no?

Yes.

Yes.

Conflict.

I wrote conflict here, but I said no.

Let me recorget the record.

Dr.

Emmons declared a conflict.

Thank you for correcting me.

20 C voucher report.

Is there anyone in the audience or on this governing body that would like to discuss the vouchers?

Hearing the next item, please.

Revenue report.

Same thing on the council or in the audience that would like to speak to the revenue report.

Next item, please.

Announcement of a public hearing to be held January 12th, 2026 at 6 o'clock PM in City Council Chambers, 2101 O'Neill Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and via electronic conference meeting to determine whether compliance of annexation conditions required by Wyoming Statute 15-1-402 exists for the city.

Initiate an annexation of 26 parcels of land, totaling roughly 279.98 acres, comprised of various tracts of land situated in North Cheyenne, generally located south of Story Boulevard, east of Powder House Road, north of Del Range Boulevard, and west of Ridge Road.

Announcement of a public hearing to be held January 12th, 2026 at 6 o'clock PM in City Council Chambers, 2101 O'Neill Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and via election via electronic conference meeting for a transfer of ownership of retail liquor license application filed with the city clerk's office for ACEs Range, LLC, doing business as ACEs Range, 1505 Pioneer Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

License currently held by FNG Corporation, doing business as the Green Do.

Other business.

Did you have another item you want to read into the uh record for me, please?

After failure of a prior application involving the same liquor license application, a public hearing will be held January 12th, 2026 at 6 o'clock p.m.

in city council chambers, 2101 O'Neill Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and via electronic conference meeting for a transfer of ownership of retail liquor license application.

Filed with the city clerk's office for West B Edge LLC, doing business as West B Edge Brewing, 714 West 20th Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming, license currently held by Scooter Scoreboard Bar Inc.

And I would just like to comment that this license, if it's not approved by January 24th, if I remember correctly, would remit back to the city.

Our next council meeting, um, our second council meeting in January would be, I believe, on the 26th.

And so this would mean that we would have to do a special meeting on January 23rd.

We have a work session scheduled that day.

And so my intention would be to call a special uh meeting of the governing body at noon here in this office or this chambers uh to um entertain the um uh liquor license transfer, and then we'd go right into our public here or our uh work session.

And I don't remember what the subject is on that day, but we have a work session, and uh that way we will beat the uh deadline by one day uh and then they will not um lose their liquor license before it's transferred.

And with that, we'll go to other business.

Is there anybody in the audience who would like to speak to the governing body under other business?

Welcome.

How are you today?

So I need you to bring that microphone and point it right at you so we can hear you well.

Yes, my 43 years in Shine, I've never come and spoken at a meeting.

So we're happy that you're here.

Uh I'm a little nervous, but um, Mr.

Marin, the council, I'd like to um you introduce yourself first, please, just for the record.

My name's Natalie Lancy.

Um, I own Satin and Spice Lingerie Boutique and novelty.

And I'm coming here with concerns with uh projects going on in the city.

And I have a few questions um in specific about uh the Reed Avenue Corridor project.

And I'm I really like to know what are the benefits of this project.

Um that's something that I I've been pondering since it's been brought to my attention.

Um I I would like to ask the council um and the the governing body, I guess, um, to prioritize the projects around the city for our community.

I I really feel that Cheyenne needs some healthy drinking water and our storm trains need attention more than we need um revitalization of the railroad tracks.

Um I will be affected the most, I think, by this project, um, as far as my business goes.

And, you know, I just I have some concerns about it.

And I've went to a few meetings, but never had the opportunity to kind of vocalize my concerns.

Um, so I thought tonight's the night.

I'm I'm here.

Um, but I I'm curious to know if we put up these chain link fence along Reed Avenue along the railroad tracks, who's going to maintain those as far as like the tumbleweeds and the trash.

Um, is there something allocated for that?

Um, but I I just think I'm I'm very against the project.

I I feel that Cheyenne needs healthy drinking water.

I am one of those, um, my business and my home that have received a letter for unsafe drinking water.

So I have to have filtration systems.

I have to buy bottled water.

And I just think that that's more of a priority.

Uh the same with the storm drains.

I um have submitted a concern for repair.

Um, I know other neighbors, I get notifications.

The other neighbors have also submitted for those storm drains to be repaired.

And I see that now we're being assessed a tax from the city for concrete on our property, which I have a problem with.

I have a French drain that most of the concrete on the east side of my property goes into that drain.

So it doesn't even go out to the city.

But I just think that we could allocate those millions of dollars that are there for the Reed Avenue project to the better good of the whole community, not just the corridor.

And I say that as a business owner that is directly on the corridor.

I just think that we should prioritize for the common good.

Excuse me, the common good of the whole community, not just the people along Reed Avenue.

Um I am nervous.

You're doing great.

Well, thank you.

Um, I I think that's just my basis thing.

I I've seen people come and go.

Um, you know, talking to other businesses.

Uh, they definitely, I don't know, stay away from mine, maybe because I'm against the project.

I was for the project, but that's why I have that question, or what are the benefits?

I've been told by other people that are for the project um that will increase property value.

I don't think that's a good enough reason to do this project.

Um I've also been told that it would help people put fencing along their property.

And I think again, if they need fencing around their property, they should probably incur that expense themselves and not the city.

So um, and then also the people that are coming to work on this project.

Why are we outsourcing to Colorado to other states when we have firms that could do it here?

I'd like to see our money.

I'm a small business owner.

I'd like to see our money stay here.

But I think my biggest point is I think that we need to prioritize the projects to the better good of the community.

And I think healthy drinking water and storm drainage should supersede the Reed Avenue project.

I appreciate it.

And it's really nice to have you here tonight.

Thank you.

You asked, you know, what what do you think?

And maybe I could just speak from my perspective.

Mr.

Layborn took me on a tour of the Reed Avenue right after I was elected mayor.

And I've been very excited about this project ever since.

And I think from my perspective, what I'm excited about is we have a dirt road that has a railroad track going out through it.

And not in your case with uh your beautiful building and the work that you're doing there.

But many of those buildings are either uh unoccupied or underoccupied.

And the idea would be if we put some public money into this area, that we'd first of all um be able to uh create kind of a linear business park along there where some of those older buildings might be brought back to life, bringing some activity to the corridor, um, which hopefully would help all the businesses that are located there by getting more people there shopping and doing uh those types of work, um, creating maybe a uh a desirable location where people on the west side of town would come to that would uh spill over and start to affect um the quality of uh development that's in our downtown.

And uh so I definitely appreciate your comment about uh uh trying to hire people and some of our consultants on this project are local.

Uh GLM is one of those guys that we work with locally, but to try to find an expert that knows how to talk to railroads, it took us two or three years to finally somebody, and we don't have an expert on railroads here in Cheyenne.

So we have we have hired some folks, and and they've been very successful in at least getting the roads to talk to us for the first time since we passed that in 2017.

Um you could not be more right about you know how important drinking water is.

Those are the basics are stormwater.

Uh, this governing body passed a uh an ordinance last December to start collecting money from all property owners towards a stormwater management effort, because you're right, those uh drainage inlets have to be maintained and we have to be able to uh to take care of that.

And right now we don't have a funding source for it.

It's one of the highest priorities.

We started that in 2021 as a as a city council goal.

And uh we are so close now to seeing the realization of that and having a funding source specifically targeted towards that.

And uh the thing that I'm really scared about that you mention is um the EPA has a mandate for lead pipes.

We have some in our community.

We don't know where they are yet.

Um so what people are getting letters saying, hey, there may be a chance, and uh we have identified a couple properties that do have lead and we're giving them, you know, filters to try to make sure that those properties are safe.

But it's going to be our responsibility in the future to replace those lead lead services and correct that problem.

And that is a hundred million or more dollar um ask for our community.

It could be even twice that much money.

Um, and so the small amount of money that comes to Reed Avenue isn't going to fix that problem.

But you could not be more right.

Those are very high priorities for this governing body we're working on those things uh because we also believe that they're high priorities.

And I'm so happy that you're here tonight.

Thank you.

Don't be a stranger, okay?

Yeah, can I speak back to that?

Like, well, um you can't speak back to that, but you can sure talk.

Okay, okay.

We're not gonna argue.

Well, I I mean, I think when this project, Reed Avenue was presented to me, I was very much for the project.

Um, but as um development and things that have come about, such as shutting streets off.

I just think if maybe there was a redesign, I might change my mind.

Um, but cutting streets off and accessibility already downtown where we have one ways.

Um, I just think I think that it makes it a mess.

I mean, we have three access points to our city building.

And if we shut off my street 21st, that's closing off an access.

You know, I worry about emergency personnel.

I worry about patrol.

Um I really feel that shutting those off for pedestrian crossways.

I mean, I work here, I'm down here six days a week, eight plus hours a day.

I get outside a lot and there's not a lot of foot traffic.

I I'm curious to know where they're coming from and where they're going to.

Um, but to speak on, you know, I think the vision was to have businesses all along there.

Um, but I just don't think a chain link fence is going to be the solution to bring in people.

If we go and we look at Fort Collins, is I think that was kind of a comparison for this project.

If we go and look at their real avenue, whatever their corridor is, whatever those businesses are desolate.

Um, that works for me in my business.

I like the privacy of being in the light industrial part of downtown.

Um, but it doesn't do anything for those businesses.

Um, they don't last because there's not a lot of pedestrian walkway.

I mean, we have to consider we're in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

There's not a lot of walkable days between the wind, the snow.

Um I I think if we had more pedestrians, I would feel like it would be okay to shut down streets from commercial traffic, but I just don't see the point of that.

Um in my block, um, there's plenty of commercial businesses that utilize those roads.

Um even just on Reed Avenue, we have the fire trucks that use Reed Avenue.

I mean, most people in China don't even know that's a street.

We don't have um the appropriate stop signs and one-way markings on each intersection.

Some I know there are some on um 19th and 20th, but I don't know about the rest.

So it's just kind of an uncontrolled intersection.

But again, that doesn't constitute enough for pedestrian walkways.

I just I'm concerned.

I I just would like to see that money allocated to other projects in the city, really.

It's I understand I really do.

And um, you know, I think that's the whole idea of um is extending uh a concrete path of greenway from 16th Street all the way to 23rd is to give people a reason to walk because right now Reed Avenue is you know, it's gravel.

Uh, we don't own the right-of-way the railroad does.

We can't do anything there.

The only way we could get the railroad to allow the vision to move forward was to close some streets for safety.

Um the collisions between trains and uh and vehicles uh can be devastating.

Well, and I would we don't have a history of that though.

So, you know, it's yeah, I was just gonna say I I don't think we've had any instance um where that's been a problem.

I mean, I I haven't seen a train come through there since August.

Um it's it's a switch track, so it's not a normal everyday railway.

Um yeah.

Well, we sure appreciate your being here this evening.

Thank you so much.

Have a day.

Don't be a stranger.

Come back again.

Thank you.

Good evening, uh Christmas.

Anybody else?

Anyone else in the audience want to speak under other business?

Mr.

Swain, welcome.

Uh, good evening, Mayor, uh, members of the council, Brandon Swain, 3201 Shine Street.

Um, here for items 12 and 15, which uh remained on the consent agenda and passed.

So thank you for that.

Um, as we wrap up 2025, just didn't want to miss an opportunity to thank uh several of your city departments and the governing body planning commission as well.

Um we've broken ground on a total of um 10 units this year.

Uh we've completed four.

Hopefully in another week, we'll have another four completed.

Uh and it's always learning.

We closed down Del Range a month ago.

Sorry for the letters you got, but we did only have it closed for three days.

So I would say that that's pretty efficient.

Um, these info projects are just so tough when we really rely on every department to get these passed to make them work for the public and the private, as me as a developer.

Uh, and I tend to believe that it results in a win-win uh for both what I'm envisioning and then for the city.

So uh just wanted to appreciate their time spent and looking forward to continuing with real estate development and strengthening my relationships with the city.

Brandon, I just want to say thank you to you two, you know, building things with density and doing things a little different is what it's going to take to fix our housing crisis.

And so I appreciate your in ingenuity and creativeness.

And so thank you for doing that.

You bet.

Happy Christmas.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

All right.

How about from the governing body?

Mr.

White.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh, just uh wanted to make an announcement.

I think a press release had gone out today or or will go out soon.

Um, since this is our last meeting of 2025, uh ward one city council, uh, Mr.

Wolf, Mr.

Labour, and myself will be holding um council and coffee meetings in 2026.

And our first one will be held at the David Romero uh meeting uh park in that uh meeting facility.

And that will be on Saturday, January 3rd from 8:30 in the morning until 10.

So just wanted to read that into the record.

And I understand you guys are bringing coffee and snacks.

Yes, we are.

There you go.

There's a reason to show up, you guys.

You get to talk to your council members and you get a coffee.

Mr.

Escobel.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Through you um couple of uh my colleagues and I were downtown last week and we were looking at the gutter bins and they were clogged.

We just want to get an answer why those aren't being cleaned out.

So maybe Director Nimitchuk give us an answer.

We have a contract with the developer um the gutter bin folks to do that, and they're gonna do that on a regular basis.

And I don't remember exactly the intervals, but uh as part of their contract, they will do the the cleaning of those.

Go ahead, Ms.

Nimichek.

Vicky Namichek Public Works, they are contracted to clean those once a year.

Um, other than that, we will clean upon request.

So if you have, if there are some that need to be cleaned, we can take care of that.

But other than that, we uh we are leaving those to the gutter bin people as they are contracted.

Ms.

Raskin Bell, if you have those uh those at uh locations, uh I'd be happy to call them and uh and let them know that they need to be cleaned out.

That was part of uh the agreement that they made with us um to take care of that maintenance.

Looks like it's all of them.

Okay.

I'll I'll make a note to them.

Mr.

Laborne.

Well, I agree.

It's uh it's a worthwhile program, but um especially in the fall, it just gets choked with the leaves and right now uh it needs some attention, whether it is uh I I guess this whole thing uh comes down to um if they're gonna clean it once a year.

Uh we need we need more regular cleaning than that.

And it really is uh uh serious issue.

And it also leads to uh down further on down by the pump house where the uh water treatment facility there is non-functional.

So I think it's all important that we uh follow through on what we've started with those water quality improvements and making sure that uh um we don't have a I mean I'm just speculating uh someday it's gonna snow and it's gonna melt.

And well, uh I'm I'm I'm optimistic.

I won't have a white Christmas, maybe, but uh uh Mr.

Escobel is quite correct.

And um obviously this is a new program, and we need to uh make sure that we have to do whatever we have to do to uh uh get those cleared of those uh leaves soon.

Thank you.

I just found the the owner's phone number and I'll text him at the end of this meeting.

Um anybody else in the governing body?

Mr.

Moody.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Through you.

Um thank you again, everybody, for uh public comment and just wanted to say uh I did visit the flea maintenance department.

I would encourage my colleagues to visit it as well.

I know I sent out an email regarding that.

And also I wanted to wish my colleagues, everybody public uh very merry Christmas, and may God bless you and your family, your loved ones during this season and have a happy new year.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

Wolf.

Um Mr.

Mayor, thank you very much.

Um I'd like to echo Mr.

Moody's uh sentiments um regarding the holiday.

Um I've been on the council almost a month now.

Um I want to thank the council members for uh their uh warm welcome of me and their tolerance for me uh making motions that uh are not exactly uh uh the correct ones and uh for leading me to the uh right responses.

I want to I had my first liquor license hearing.

I want to thank Ms.

Cassidy for her work with that.

I think uh uh we made a very good decision, Ms.

Mayor, and thank you and all the council members for that.

Um, and uh look forward to how that uh might work out next month.

Um I've been going to lots of meetings.

I spent two hours of the DDA work session.

I met with the the executive director of the chamber of commerce uh on Friday and um have more meetings this week and next.

And so it's been a wonderful learning experience, and I appreciate all of you.

Thank you.

Dr.

Ammons.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, as you all know, I'm sure um Wednesday we had a oops, a fire out in the county.

And I just wanted to recognize um the public, the the cooperative efforts between the county and the city.

I got to go help with the um shelter that was in place myself and some of my team.

And um Andrew Dykeshorn did a phenomenal job of keeping me in the loop so that I could share information with um the folks who were at the shelter.

And uh Janine's team and emergency management was phenomenal.

Um I talked to one of the people who was whose home was in the pathway of the fire, and she said it was just amazing that people came from everywhere.

She said, I had no idea we had so many firefighters in Laramie County.

Um, and it was both city and county folks.

So um, I really wanted to recognize them and thank them and let people know that we are definitely in good hands in Laramie County when it comes to emergencies.

And these high winds and dry temperatures uh make me real nervous for the future.

So I'm as who said that a minute ago, Mr.

Labourne.

We're praying for some snow.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Hey, everyone, thank you for yes, Mr.

Mayor.

I have Dr.

Aldridge with her hand raised.

Dr.

Aldridge.

Uh Mayor Collins, thank you.

Um just a quick note.

Um, we did receive a uh a second edition of a newsletter this week from uh your chief of staff, Amber Ash.

And um that newsletter pointed out uh many of the um achievements of the different departments in our city government and um and went on for pages quite literally, but I wanted to just make sure that um our employees know that we appreciate the hard work that they do.

Uh their work is evident every single day.

Some of them are more visible and out in the public more than others.

Um but it takes everyone from our accounting department um and uh people that work for a city treasurer Lockman and purchasing with TJ Bartleboard all the way through the community reckoning events that might be a little bit more visible than people who are working in an office.

Um and so I just want to give a huge shout out and appreciation to um our city employees.

I know that we're hoping to um be able to do the cost of living increases, but I also know that um a lot of times just uh recognition and gratitude um goes a long way for the work that they do.

So um wish everyone a uh happy holidays and happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas, and uh hope to be back with you soon.

Is it two o'clock in the morning there?

It is.

I'm up in the middle of the night doing this, and so get some good rest and have a great day tomorrow.

Uh you guys, I just want to say it's been a great year.

Uh it's been a fast year.

It's amazing how days are along and um and years go so dang fast.

But uh, I just want to say thank you to everybody.

Happy holidays to everyone.

Hope you get a chance to spend that with loved ones and family, and we'll see you all back in the new year.

Thank you.