[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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",[32,76],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6160320,"mediaKeyId","5450678-36d21a0471a1c2b6381fc51a12d5dd2e","parentId",5450678,"title","Laramie begins billing for surface water drainage utility as residents push for credits, clearer appeals","audioSeconds",4550,"startMs",765000,"endMs",5315000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5450678-36d21a0471a1c2b6381fc51a12d5dd2e&start=765&end=5315","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5450678-36d21a0471a1c2b6381fc51a12d5dd2e/thumbnail_765000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6160320/Wyoming/Laramie-begins-billing-for-surface-water-drainage-utility-as-residents-push-for-credits-clearer-appeals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160320-52d56fcd9487e872bb1c658c670bae70/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154804&Signature=lxBgvk0Utb95PZkACK3x0f1TAu5bproemeKP0ALRpz6uQ5eH7TqPPdKXRe~ON6ficg0QbruwmLKdKosJdJgGAQQCA6bYG2inLtHBbE9~THb3t0Z81eHbnUO6nmzyOxFDJvhGb4aqrTgjOYFq5grONqDlIFDJ3XfeqUAVUZi07utqG3giQkH6HmEuProtOGQp3~Skdmpzwovt6EEMeLIXZ~9q7c3qEm2rUH10GFYP7RNMTczcT-k~ICQefJkGfn-V4GgpHln8ZTgkktl63Lf7zX6yzM14sK5DQ1-CLhIzCFJziRwKmNSLQmArY6bx6UPyqP0S9srD-GcNnSEZlod2Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Laramie MY","date","2025-07-23T11:46:52.437Z","article","City staff and outside consultants told the Laramie City Council work session that the city has begun billing a newly formed surface water drainage utility after a multi‑year feasibility study that quantified a large backlog of stormwater capital needs.

Consultants from WSP said the city’s 2010–2022 master planning work identified roughly $130,000,000 in stormwater capital projects, about $30,000,000 of which was labeled “high priority.” Aaron Murray of WSP described the effort as “establishing, was there a need? What would be the level of service that the city would want to provide?” and outlined a 10‑year program that pairs asset management, operations and maintenance, and a capital program with a billing model based on measured impervious area.

The fee uses a 500‑square‑foot “billing unit.” WSP showed how aerial imagery and parcel overlays produced an impervious area data layer at the lot level; the consultant gave an example calculation for a 3,700‑square‑foot impervious parcel (3,700 ÷ 500 ≈ 7 billing units) and said the adopted per‑unit charge is $1.67 per billing unit. Elizabeth Treadway of WSP said the adopted financial policy smooths capital spending by establishing a capital reserve so rates are more predictable rather than “letting the rate float.”

Why it matters: city officials say the change moves stormwater costs out of the general fund and into a dedicated utility so the city can perform proactive maintenance, fund street sweeping and pipe lining, and begin the prioritized capital projects identified in multiple master plans. Presenters warned that, if left unaddressed, the Laramie River’s impaired status could lead to regulatory requirements for stormwater monitoring and discharge limits.

Council and staff emphasized transparency and the ability for property owners to appeal or seek credits. The ordinance adopted by the council in December sets an appeals process (review of impervious area calculations) and a credit policy that, if criteria are met, can reduce a bill by up to 50 percent. Staff said an online GIS map and an appeals/credit application were available on the city’s website and that the billing had “just begun in the last few days.”

Public reaction: more than two dozen residents and local business owners spoke during an extended public‑comment period. Common themes were (1) concerns about the accuracy of the impervious‑area mapping (decks, rock landscaping and other surfaces picked up incorrectly), (2) affordability—residents and small businesses said the new monthly charges would be significant for some households and for certain commercial operations, and (3) process and legal questions, with several speakers asking why the city relied on Wyoming’s Title 15 authority rather than Title 16 and whether voter approval should have been required.

City staff and the city attorney told the council that two statutory paths exist and that Laramie moved forward under the Title 15 authority; staff also described the difference between an equivalent residential unit approach and the chosen fixed 500‑sq‑ft billing unit tied to measured impervious area. Council members asked for quicker remedies for residential credits and for more public outreach on calculations and the appeals timeline.

Numbers and policy details reported at the meeting

- Backlog identified in stormwater master plans (2010–2022): approximately $130,000,000 total, about $30,000,000 identified as the highest‑priority projects.
- Current piping rehabilitation: about $150,000 per year in lining work.
- Billing unit: 500 square feet of impervious area; per‑unit charge adopted at $1.67 per billing unit at the time of the presentation.
- Credit program: up to a 50% reduction is possible for qualifying non‑residential properties (residential credit process under discussion); an appeal process is available for contested impervious calculations via an online GIS map.

What the council directed and next steps

Councilors pressed staff for faster residential credit processing and clearer public communication. Staff said they will continue to refine parcel reviews flagged before billing, to publish detailed FAQs and to process appeals submitted through the online map. Consultants said the utility is designed to be eligible to support bonds and grant matches so the fund can be used to finance the high‑priority capital projects as they move into construction.

Ending: Councilors and staff said they expect rates and program details to evolve as capital projects are scheduled and as credit/appeal workloads are processed; residents were urged to check the city’s “Notify Me/City Flash” sign‑up and the GIS map on the City of Laramie website to view parcel calculations and file appeals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 22nd, 2025, Laramie, Wyoming - City Government Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","City staff and outside consultants told the Laramie City Council work session that the city has begun billing a newly formed surface water drainage utility after a multi‑year feasibility study that quantified a large backlog of stormwater capital needs.","taxTitle","Laramie City Council, Laramie City, Albany County, Wyoming","taxId",68475,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6160315,"Laramie police outline enforcement, compare regional rules as council weighs seasonal limits and new traffic data tool",2383,9951000,12334000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5450678-36d21a0471a1c2b6381fc51a12d5dd2e&start=9951&end=12334","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5450678-36d21a0471a1c2b6381fc51a12d5dd2e/thumbnail_9951000.jpg","/articles/6160315/Wyoming/Laramie-police-outline-enforcement-compare-regional-rules-as-council-weighs-seasonal-limits-and-new-traffic-data-tool","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160315-969628dfe26f39049d98a837785d30f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154804&Signature=DUyvFK6JGKCL33WEJvPiC~1Zz9q23-qVN4RDyFukziyw22Adm24T9C2SBk9rNjVr2bcP-EvMTtkyTfqHC1J67rqmI4xtm78z2dDC2uy5jkjV8IVvB9B64yL-wBNvlUBFEHpoKZXYTavz82NGhJzo1NLPPW7sgy4iEVtv~POO019Q46BvX~hl73u2DCx-rwF6bVZknS6tQbjvoxMVED1Ppf6BzTv-ASy8l-YZ2QDJf5Y3JhlE00iW8yB~sc5beJQ8WRBpK8Y6giiKcYsTP0FITr9KwUYQ2NHc4pISGeBykzRsTeKHciGu8YpkuKumN4KXgdJbMkgSkVF7AKQ3cN4dEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laramie police and staff reported to the City Council on enforcement of the city’s recreational‑vehicle and trailer parking rules and presented technology options to speed traffic and parking analysis.

Chief Brown said the department had stepped up enforcement over the past 12 months after several years of limited activity. Using police call records and court citations, the department recorded approximately 26 RV/trailer‑related investigations in the last year (9 officer‑initiated, 17 citizen complaints); court filings rose in a prior enforcement cycle after a period of limited enforcement, the chief said. The fine for the violation under the updated ordinance is $40.

Councilors pressed for remedies in neighborhoods where parked trailers obstruct sight lines and impede street cleaning and snow removal. Councilor Lockhart said she receives repeated complaints about seasonal campers that remain parked year‑round and requested the council weigh options such as a seasonal prohibition or time limits. Councilor Newman noted that some parts of West Laramie lack curbing or street geometry that make standard parking controls ineffective.

Chief Brown described enforcement tools and a possible operational change: assigning a Community Service Officer (CSO) to downtown to build relationships with businesses and to focus on enforcement of parking and time‑limit complaints. He said the department expects to fill a CSO position and that an additional CSO focused on downtown parking was under consideration.

Staff also presented a commercial traffic‑data product several councilors described as a potential force multiplier. The service aggregates scrubbed vehicle telemetry (from newer vehicles) and returns anonymized, location‑based speed and parking‑space occupancy data. The vendor’s current feed has about an 80% vehicle coverage rate for modern cars and can return weeks or years of historical speed and parking usage data; staff estimated a subscription and reporting cost of about $31,000 per year. City staff noted the tool could reduce the time and labor required for site speed studies and help target enforcement and engineering changes.

Councilors, staff and members of the public discussed alternatives and tradeoffs: some councilors favored seasonal limits or time restrictions, while others cautioned that setting new requirements could force storage costs on residents (storage units were cited at roughly $70 per month by one councilor) or push people in parts of West Laramie to park on other streets.

Public comments at the work session reflected both safety and affordability concerns. Residents said long trailers on narrow streets create sight‑line hazards at intersections and impede snow‑plow operations; several business owners warned that large monthly drainage or parking assessments would affect business viability. Multiple speakers suggested city‑run low‑cost storage or partnerships with private storage facilities as a way to reduce street clutter while avoiding disproportionate impacts on lower‑income residents.

What council directed and next steps

- Staff will continue targeted enforcement where parking creates safety problems and will evaluate corners and intersections where sight lines are obscured; staff said they will respond to reports and will examine specific problem locations.
- Police and city engineering will explore the traffic‑data subscription and report back to council on cost, data protections and whether the product can be used to support the $980,000 citywide speed study funded by grant dollars.
- Staff will evaluate whether additional CSO coverage downtown will improve enforcement and business outreach.

Ending: Chief Brown said the data tool and a more permanent CSO presence are intended to make enforcement faster and more consistent; councilors asked staff to return with cost, privacy and operational details before any purchase or ordinance changes.","The police chief reported rising enforcement of recreational‑vehicle and trailer parking complaints and proposed adding a community service officer; staff described a subscription traffic‑data tool as a faster, cheaper way to identify speed and parking hot spots. Councilors and residents pressed for seasonal limits and low‑cost storage options.","actionData","errors"]

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Laramie begins billing for surface water drainage utility as residents push for credits, clearer appeals

Laramie police outline enforcement, compare regional rules as council weighs seasonal limits and new traffic data tool