Cheyenne recreation director asks council to fund grapple truck, pool repairs and other one-time projects in FY26 budget

Jason Sanchez, director of Community Recreation and Events (CRE), told the City Council at a work session that his department’s FY26 budget request includes one-time capital needs and program funding to maintain parks, facilities and public events across Cheyenne.

Sanchez said CRE is requesting a replacement grapple truck (the department’s current unit is a 2010 Peterbilt with about 5,200 hours) priced at about $350,000; replacement of worn facility items such as carpet at the Ice and Event Center; additional lighting for sports fields; and funding to proceed with the Johnson Pool design through “six‑penny” consideration. “We’re doing all we can to keep [Johnson Pool] operational for the summer,” Sanchez said, “but if it is leaking, we may have to go ahead and put the pool to bed.”

The requested capital items come as the department reports roughly 375 employees across full‑time, part‑time and seasonal roles and manages an operating portfolio the director estimated at a little more than $18 million, not counting variable project allocations. Sanchez listed recent accomplishments — Depot Museum renovations, new playgrounds, irrigation upgrades at Lakeview and Bethel cemeteries, LED lighting projects in multiple facilities, and the acquisition and programming of the BEAST facility — and emphasized that many of those projects relied on one‑time funds or interdepartmental support.

Why this matters: CRE maintains parks, event venues and recreation programs that are used daily by residents and visitors; the department also supports downtown programming that city officials say generates tourism dollars. Funding decisions for one‑time capital needs, infrastructure repairs and staffing levels will affect facility safety, program capacity and evening/weekend operations.

Budget highlights and requests - Grapple truck: Sanchez said the vehicle is critical after storms and for removing fallen trees; replacing the 2010 Peterbilt is estimated at roughly $350,000 and is not covered in the baseline budget. CRE reduced a $77,000 professional‑services line (previously used for contracted tree removals) and is asking the council’s support to buy the grappler and to rely more on in‑house labor for removals. - Johnson Pool: CRE completed a design and asked that it move forward for “six‑penny consideration” (a local capital funding mechanism discussed in the session). Sanchez warned the pool shell is 71 years old and may require retirement if leaks can’t be stopped. - Facility upgrades and one‑time requests: $45,000 to shell‑light the Civic Center stage area, $42,000 for new carpet at the Ice and Event Center, added lighting at Dutcher fields (to make four lighted fields), playground replacements, and other one‑time maintenance projects. - Parking lot repairs: Sanchez said the department has no existing funding mechanism to address widespread failing asphalt across parks and facilities and suggested exploring a revenue stream; he did not present a specific funding plan.

Revenue, funds and cost drivers - Lottery funds: Councilmember Esquivel raised lottery proceeds falling and asked for a breakdown of projects previously paid with those funds. Sanchez listed examples paid with lottery revenue (pickleball court in Lions Park; Junior League bleachers; skate park and Holiday Park lights; gymnastics equipment) and offered to provide an exact breakdown to the council. - Special funds: Sanchez described the department’s use of multiple dedicated funds, including a one‑percent (fifth‑penny) equipment fund used to buy machinery across divisions; a Botanic Gardens operation and maintenance (O&M) fund established by a 2012 ballot ($2 million initially); and enterprise funds for the Civic Center and Ice & Event Center. He said the Botanic O&M fund still supports some staffing and operations. - Reserves and Civic Center: The Civic Center and Ice & Event Center budgets include reserve transfers and periodic transfers from the general fund; those transfers and the uncertainty of ticket sales make annual subsidy amounts variable.

Staffing and program notes - Sanchez said CRE is proposing converting two seasonal positions to full‑time to support urban forestry and other functions; urban forestry currently has eight employees. Several divisions saw nominal budget adjustments driven by rising health insurance costs, overtime/time‑in‑lieu and inflation for supplies and utilities. - CRE described numerous self‑supporting programs (gymnastics, adult leagues, youth camps) that operate in enterprise or program funds and must break even or be restructured.

Constraints and council follow‑up Council members asked for clarifications during the presentation. Councilmember Esquivel asked for and was promised an itemized list of projects paid with lottery funds. Dr. Aldridge asked about staffing and line‑item reallocations; Britney Hooper (program and facilities manager) explained the city’s role in hosting the Wyoming Parks and Rec Association conference and noted the city donated toward hosting costs rather than collecting registration revenue. Treasurer Locke clarified reserve and transfer figures for Civic Center budgeting. Sanchez said CRE will return with more detailed breakdowns when requested.

No formal votes or budget approvals occurred during the work session; council members asked staff to provide additional documentation on lottery fund uses, the Botanic Gardens O&M balance and the cost options for the grapple truck and parking‑lot program.

Proper names, figures and clarifications provided in the session include the department’s stated staff size (about 375 employees), a department budget oversight estimate of slightly more than $18 million, the existing grapple truck model/year and hours (2010 Peterbilt; ~5,200 hours), the approximate $350,000 replacement cost, a $2,000,000 Botanic Gardens O&M ballot from 2012, and a reported economic impact of “over $1.5 million” from Fridays on the Plaza cited by Visit Cheyenne.

Ending The presentation concluded with council praise for CRE’s accomplishments and a series of follow‑up requests for itemized funding breakdowns and confirmations of specific fund balances. No formal actions or appropriations were adopted at the session.