Laramie council rejects repeal of surface-water drainage ordinance; fees refunded, 120-day suspension approved
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
On Aug. 5 the Laramie City Council voted 2-6 to reject repeal of Laramie Municipal Code Chapter 13.8 (surface water drainage), approved a 120-day suspension of a section of the code to allow staff and council to propose amendments, and announced refunds of surface-water drainage fees. Four public comments were received during the hearing.
Laramie City Council on Aug. 5 voted 2–6 against repealing Laramie Municipal Code Chapter 13.8, which governs surface-water drainage, during a second-reading consideration of the ordinance. The council separately approved a temporary 120-day suspension of a section of Chapter 13.8 to allow staff and council to draft and consider amendments, and the city announced that previously charged surface-water drainage fees have been refunded.
The failed repeal came on second reading with a 2–6 vote; council members were not individually named in the meeting recap. The council approved the suspension for 120 days so staff and council can propose amendments for future consideration; the meeting recap indicated the suspension was approved by resolution. A work session to begin considering amendments was scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025, at 6 p.m., according to the council announcement during the meeting.
Director Wade announced during the meeting that surface-water drainage fees have been refunded in accordance with a council resolution referenced during the meeting (referred to in the meeting as "council resolution 20 25-65"). The city said refunds were issued either by check or credited to customers' utility accounts.
Four members of the public addressed the council during the hearing on the surface-water drainage ordinance; the meeting recap recorded that there were four public comments on this item but did not provide individual names or verbatim remarks.
The council’s action leaves Chapter 13.8 in place while the suspension and the upcoming work session create a temporary pause for staff and council to draft proposed changes. The council did not provide additional detail in the recap about what specific amendments staff will propose or the timetable for returning a revised ordinance to the council for consideration.
Next steps noted in the meeting recap: the staff–council work session on Sept. 9 to consider amendments and future council consideration of any proposed ordinance changes.