Council approves amended MOU with Downtown Development Authority after changes to executive director language

The Cheyenne City Council on June 9 approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority (DDA) after the council adopted committee amendments that change references to the DDA administrator to the DDA executive director and adjust notification language about rule violations.

The approved amendments strike a sentence that read “no city personnel or DDA staff shall be considered the board’s executive director under Wyoming statute 59‑2‑07” and replace references to an administrator with the executive director title. The MOU amendment also clarifies who the executive director should notify in the event of violations of city rules and regulations, specifying both the DDA president and the city council president (or equivalent officers) as contacts.

Supporters said the amendments are intended to stabilize DDA operations and align the position title with historic practice; Councilmember Rainey recounted prior instability in DDA leadership and urged support for the newly hired executive director. Opponents said financial oversight and recent spending decisions require further work; Councilmember Layborn voted no on the final MOU, saying the matter remains a work in progress and that the council will scrutinize DDA expenditures going forward.

The ordinance as amended passed with a recorded no vote by Mister Layborn. Council discussion indicated the city and DDA will continue coordination on staffing, reporting, and budgetary oversight.