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Council declines to advance digital-billboard text amendment on first reading
Summary
The Laramie City Council rejected on first reading a proposed change to Laramie Municipal Code that would have allowed conversion of nonconforming static billboards to digital displays, after staff reiterated its recommendation for denial and councilors expressed mixed views.
The Laramie City Council voted 3-5, with one member absent, on May 20, 2025, to not advance on first reading a proposed ordinance that would allow nonconforming static billboards to be converted to digital billboards within city limits.
The proposal would have added language to Title 15.22 of the Laramie Municipal Code to permit removal of a static billboard in exchange for one digital billboard subject to size, height and lighting restrictions. Philip Gabetuller, planning manager, told the council that staff continued to recommend denial and cited concerns about visual impacts and conflict with existing planning documents. "We continue to recommend denial of this proposed text amendment," Gabetuller said.
The ordinance’s proponents and some council members argued it could lower advertising costs for local businesses and provide a civic messaging opportunity. Christopher Stratton, a member of the public, said digital signs could make advertising cheaper for small businesses and provide space for city announcements. "This is something that we should be very for and not trying to gatekeep," Stratton said during public comment.
Opponents and planning staff warned the change would represent a departure from the city’s long-standing policy to phase out nonconforming signs. Councilor O'Doherty noted that converting nonconforming billboards could set a precedent for other nonconforming structures, a point Gabetuller said was not directly applicable but underscored the ordinance’s narrow scope. Several council members said they wanted clearer limits on brightness and size before moving forward.
Councilor John Newman said he would support advancing the ordinance to second reading to allow further amendments, particularly on size limits, while Councilor Fried and Vice Mayor Richardson said they would not support the change now and wanted public planning work completed first. After the roll call, Miss Beatty recorded the vote as 3 yeses (Lockhart, Newman, Shumway), 5 noes (O'Doherty, Vigil, Richardson, Combee, and one other), and 1 absent; the motion did not pass.
The ordinance failed at first reading; councilors may refile similar language later subject to council rules. The city’s planning staff said the current chapter name and references remain Laramie Municipal Code Title 15.22. No new regulatory text was adopted at the meeting.
