[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6212639,"mediaKeyId","3683741-45782a7b02f9a19f687f4c17f1bd1258","parentId",3683741,"title","Cheyenne approves one-year MOU with Downtown Development Authority, gives DDA board hiring authority","audioSeconds",3115,"startMs",900000,"endMs",4015000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683741-45782a7b02f9a19f687f4c17f1bd1258&start=900&end=4015","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683741-45782a7b02f9a19f687f4c17f1bd1258/thumbnail_900000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212639/Cheyenne/Laramie-County/Wyoming/Cheyenne-approves-one-year-MOU-with-Downtown-Development-Authority-gives-DDA-board-hiring-authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212639-0ce2753f75754967d7f744aed06d5fb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153212&Signature=d83BUcQ0MB7foJwh9opOLhDWImbuSLA2sOEpUopCvtEaTd8QPvoIR5D5fqoCJmnVqbYTIwxYkNVw9lAISJIdAoCI4GkgATIOIcPfYiE70mj1FznBPlJJZ7NZny58Aff-d1Og8Tkg2q~qHxHYfXGxCLCxrqcrDd1kmWS2CYdZO9F7~ay18jbGQgvm27ENv8PS--XWcVY4ZmiwNdoI4upr32UxWav8RlEhDaDOMaYad8m-nyuoNnxffRHQBMDSSLVsP2pX6K67tmtIWwy~pPJw-iLw4yKoRe6OOtrlhePI1fIenibnhfaI2STlkiW2YZcPfC7HRjbnlVjaHnvNBAIhvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Cheyenne WY","date","2025-06-05T13:19:39Z","article","The City of Cheyenne Committee of the Whole on Monday recommended approval of a one‑year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City and the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, after adopting an amendment that gives the DDA board hiring authority for the DDA administrator and staff.

Administrator Sophia Mays presented the MOU and described it as based on the 2023 MOU, with key changes intended to clarify the city’s role in providing administrative and support services while limiting direct city direction of DDA operations. Mays said the MOU is intentionally limited to one fiscal year, citing City Code 2.76, which allows a one‑year work‑program MOU for the DDA.

Why the MOU matters

The MOU frames how the DDA will operate with city support while the DDA stabilizes staffing and systems. Mays told the committee the DDA is down a full‑time staff member, that the organization needs time to standardize grant parameters and maintenance contracts, and that stakeholders have expressed mixed views about whether the DDA should remain housed in City Hall, relocate to a city‑owned downtown facility, or operate more independently.

Public comment and board input

Wendy Volk, vice chair of the DDA, urged the council to approve the MOU and described the DDA’s work giving grants to downtown property owners and businesses. Volk said the mill levy raises funds for grants that assist property owners and listed recent projects supported by DDA grants, including exterior window replacement work at the Bell Building and work at the Atlas Theater.

Brian Bau, a DDA board member, also spoke in favor and said the board has a guiding plan of development and an engaged board and administrator.

Analysis, amendments and voting

Council members questioned the scope and outreach behind the MOU. Mays said outreach included a postcard survey, social media and emails to a subscriber list; she reported roughly a dozen respondents to the direct survey and said DDA‑specific responses were about eight or nine. Planning and Development Director Charles Bloom said staff had discussed a possible postponement so the DDA board could consider any significant amendments at its next regular meeting; Bloom noted it likely would not be necessary because major amendments did not appear imminent.

Councilwoman Aldridge moved and Councilman Roybal seconded an amendment to change hiring language in the MOU so that the DDA board, rather than the Director of Planning and Development, would hire DDA employees including the administrator. That amendment passed after no public opposition was recorded during the amendment discussion. After debate and public comment, the committee recommended approval of the MOU as amended; Councilman Laybourne and Councilman Moody voted no.

Next steps

The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the governing body for final action Monday night. Administrator Mays and DDA board members said they plan continued stakeholder outreach and internal work on grants and contractor arrangements during the MOU year.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council - Committee of the Whole - June 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Committee of the Whole recommended approval of a one‑year memorandum of understanding between the City of Cheyenne and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for fiscal year 2026, and adopted an amendment transferring employee‑hiring authority to the DDA board. Two council members opposed the recommendation.","taxTitle","Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming","taxId",4607,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212644,"Cheyenne committee backs FY2026 budget on third reading with small amendments; two council members oppose",691,191000,882000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683741-45782a7b02f9a19f687f4c17f1bd1258&start=191&end=882","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683741-45782a7b02f9a19f687f4c17f1bd1258/thumbnail_191000.jpg","/articles/6212644/Cheyenne/Laramie-County/Wyoming/Cheyenne-committee-backs-FY2026-budget-on-third-reading-with-small-amendments-two-council-members-oppose","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212644-5b8c7c274e8584190449ba3ad45cb727/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153212&Signature=kTdLDW0iioPjWYY2zax8rPnYgrieDjaCSDSMliDm-J7zhzIA4Otp8cJ-APO1nutTLDiQOl4bpZnkXTU4x5CcbPKMS7q8W2RchjbBdiwXpw0lH~mG3A1gypc9edZvahUTnUUMSRH0RuzIthJ8zEWSwSJngQzglWpb9zM0sPONHJuqbB3tIwWwYGGWzKfUSdnOx3R3ewsRzmDeTpLxZFj~JyQXZ53jzbhwJIJKFWu8sWmBO2knWQ6xnYLipaEioMDN1UWDIieh1l61mEXaZ6r2d9HvXGzNOH6Cb-E-8LLUEobMPJA5gkw~W-bNf2RwMpW6BbrPLVus1xYD8vpXvQFd1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Cheyenne Committee of the Whole on Monday recommended approval on third and final reading of the fiscal year 2026 budget ordinance, starting from a $74,417,876 proposed total and incorporating several small amendments, the committee heard.

The budget appropriation ordinance covers the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. Committee members approved an amendment to add $10,977 to the City Council department to fund a temporary part-time employee and corresponding benefits, funded by reductions elsewhere in the miscellaneous department. The committee also confirmed earlier amendments that added $100,000 for police traffic enforcement and $7,894 to a City Council payroll line item.

The committee heard a staff summary of the budget before debate. A city staff speaker reported the City began with a $74,417,876 budget and said the police department made 1,996 traffic stops in May as part of the council goal to reduce noisy and unsafe driving.

Discussion and amendments

Councilman Seagrave moved the amendment to add $10,000 to the City Council temporary part‑time line item and $977 to applicable benefit line items (total $10,977). He said the money is intended to allow a temporary part‑time employee in the City Council office. The amendment funded the increase by deducting $6,900 from the miscellaneous department insurance line item and $4,077 from the miscellaneous department general discretionary line item. That amendment passed in committee.

Councilman Moody proposed a separate amendment to reduce the Planning and Development Division professional services line item from $250,000 to $100,000 and move $150,000 to the general miscellaneous fund, citing a need to preserve funds for fire and police and questioning the planned scope of transportation-related work. Council members asked whether the sponsor had discussed the proposed cut with department leadership; Moody acknowledged he had not. Planning Director Charles Bloom (present remotely) and other council members urged caution, noting an updated community plan and consultant cost estimates that reflect community outreach needs. Moody’s motion was seconded for discussion then defeated.

Votes and next steps

A motion to recommend approval on third reading was made by Councilman Roybal and seconded by Councilman Seagrave. The committee recorded two opposing votes: Councilwoman Aldridge and Councilman Moody. The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the governing body for final action on Monday night.

The committee’s actions on the budget were limited to amendments and recommendation for third reading; the governing body will take the final legislative vote required to adopt the ordinance.","The Committee of the Whole recommended approval on third reading of Cheyenne’s $74.4 million fiscal year 2026 budget, approving a council office temporary-staff amendment and reporting other small line-item changes. Councilmembers Aldridge and Moody voted no on the committee recommendation.","actionData","errors"]

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Cheyenne approves one-year MOU with Downtown Development Authority, gives DDA board hiring authority

Cheyenne committee backs FY2026 budget on third reading with small amendments; two council members oppose