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.