February 9, 2026 City Council Study Session Summary
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
February 9, 2026 City Council Study Session Summary
The Sheridan City Council held a study session on February 9, 2026, beginning at 5:03 PM and adjourning at 6:29 PM. The council discussed seven agenda items, including lodging tax reauthorization, vehicle purchases, infrastructure contracts, water study applications, a prosecutor's contract, and the transportation plan update. No formal votes were taken; all items were for discussion and will be brought forward for action at future meetings.
Discussion Items
1. Resolution 03-26 – Lodging Tax Ballot Proposition
Travel and Tourism Director Sean Parker presented the resolution to support placing a 2% countywide lodging tax on the November 2026 ballot. The current local lodging tax is 4% (of which 2% is locked by state legislation). The city has sought voter approval every four years since 1989. Council members asked clarifying questions about the rate and history; no opposition was expressed.
2. Bid Award – Dodge Durango Pursuit Vehicle
Fleet Administrator Heather Kaplinski presented the bid award for one 2026 Dodge Durango Pursuit AWD vehicle from Fremont Motor Company for $40,417. Three bids were received; Fremont was the lowest. The vehicle will be added to the police fleet to support vacant officer positions. Council members noted prices have decreased from previous years.
3. Bid Award – South Downtown Phase 1 (Residence Hill) Project
City Engineer Thomas Monroe presented the bid award to LJS Concrete and Excavating LLC for $2,660,588.23. The project includes full reconstruction of streets, sidewalks, utilities, and landscaping in the historic South Downtown area. Five bids were received; the engineer's estimate was $4.5 million. The design preserves large trees and incorporates resident input through bump-outs. Council member Brance questioned tree preservation and snow removal; Monroe explained the public engagement process and that phased construction will begin this summer.
4. Resolution 04-26 – WWDC Level Two Study Joint Application
Utilities Director Dan Roberts presented a resolution to authorize a joint application with the Sheridan Area Water Supply (SAWS) Joint Powers Board for a Wyoming Water Development Commission Level Two study of Lake DeSmet as a long-term water supply. The study would be 100% state-funded. A consultant engaged stakeholders over the past year to develop a broader scope after a 2023 application failed. Johnson County expressed indifference but willingness to lease/sell water rights. The study would evaluate costs, governance, and feasibility. A resolution will be presented for action at the next council meeting.
5. Revised Professional Service Agreement – Municipal Court Prosecutor
City Attorney Brad Tibbs presented a revised contract for prosecutor Zach Linninger, changing from an hourly rate of $175 to a monthly fee of $5,500 (based on average monthly billing of ~$5,600). The two-year term would run from March 1, 2026, to February 29, 2028, with a deduction for missed court dates. Council expressed support for retaining Linninger.
6. Transportation Plan Update
Thomas Monroe provided an update on the Sheridan Transportation Master Plan, which began with a policy plan in 2009. The update involved a steering committee, public meetings (September and October 2024), an interactive online map (115 comments), and a draft plan with 54 projects posted in October 2025. Public feedback led to modifications; some projects (e.g., Bluebird Lane connection, Airport Road improvements) received opposition. The plan includes conceptual alignments for future corridors, including the West Corridor. Monroe emphasized that alignments are preliminary and require future studies. The plan will be presented again on February 23 for a study item and recommendation, with adoption anticipated on March 2. Council member Wood requested hard copies for review.
7. General Discussion and Future Agenda Items
City Administrator Stuart McRae reminded council of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities winter conference in Cheyenne, the Tuesday February 17 council meeting (due to Presidents' Day), and introduced new Assistant City Clerk Michael Shapiro.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken during the study session.
- Resolutions 03-26 and 04-26, bid awards for the Durango and South Downtown Phase 1, and the prosecutor's contract will be presented for action at the upcoming regular council meeting on February 17 or later.
- The Transportation Master Plan will return for further discussion on February 23 and for potential adoption on March 2.
- Council members expressed general support for the items discussed, with some questions and requests for additional information.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the February 9, 2026 study session. It's five three we've got going. We have a total of seven items to discuss tonight. Our first one is discussion of resolution 03-26 supporting the ballot proposition for the implementation of the 2% countywide lodging tax on the November 2026 general election. And with us tonight is our travel and tourism director, Sean Parker. Welcome, Sean. Mayor Council, thank you. Um no presentation. I will be very brief tonight. I think everybody's very familiar with uh with what we do. Um at our last meeting, our board uh unanimously approved uh going after the lodging tax once again, as we have done every four years since 1989, um, and taking essentially to the voters for their approval of lodge attacks in this coming November. So uh I do uh take any questions, but I don't really have anything else else other than that. No, this is like yeah, go ahead. Right now our lodging tax is what, four percent? Mayor uh councilman, yes, it's four percent. Two percent of that is locked in by state legislation. They did that a couple years ago when um we adopted the statewide lodging tax. Okay, now we saw if we got voted, it would be state. So the I just checking didn't Colorado's 10 and three quarter. And it gives us 13 percent. So I mean not bad. Sure. Yeah, and actually, no, we would still only be 4%. We would 4% local option line tax. Yeah, it's the same. Oh, okay. I thought we were in the never raised it, it's been the same forever. Okay, great. All right. Any questions for Sean on this one? No. Well, thank you for coming. Thanks for having us here. That's a record, I guarantee it. For my next act. Stick around, it gets more aggressive. Okay, number two, discussion of bid award to Fremont Motor Company for one 2026 Dodge Durango Pursuit all-wheel drive vehicle in the amount of forty thousand four hundred and seventeen dollars. And with us is our fleet administrator, administrative coordinator Heather Kaplinski. Welcome, Heather. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um this is for the purchase of a Dodge Durango. Uh this will be the fourth one this year. It was approved in that budget amendment that was um passed on January 5th of last month. And then we did a request for bids advertised January 8th and 17th and held a bid opening the 27th. We got three bids with Fremont Motorlander again coming in at the lowest at 40,417. Before issuing the request for bids, the specifications were confirmed with the chief of police Travis Qualtisca. The timeline for receiving the vehicle is estimated to be 45 to 90 days. Um, and then which time it will be outfitted with the necessary PD accessories, camera system radio as usual. And this vehicle will be an addition to their fleet, as currently there are no spares, and they do have vacant officer positions to be filled. So we won't be surplusing one out of the fleet at this time for this fourth car.
openpublica.com