Cheyenne council approves repeal of paid on-street parking on second reading after wide public opposition

The Cheyenne City Council voted to approve on second reading an ordinance repealing the city’s paid on-street parking districts program, following extensive public comment from downtown business owners, residents and civic groups.

Why it matters: The measure affects how downtown parking is managed, enforced and funded and led to repeated public testimony that the paid-parking system would harm small businesses, elderly customers and visitor access.

Council action and outcome: Mr. Seagrave moved the Public Services Committee’s recommendation to approve the ordinance on second reading; Dr. Aldridge seconded. The ordinance passed on second reading with Mr. Seagrave recorded as the sole no vote on the council’s roll call; the complete vote tally was not given on the record.

Public comment and stakeholder positions: Dozens of speakers told the council the paid-parking program would disadvantage older patrons and out-of-town customers who do not use apps, and that enforcement and employee behavior—rather than pay stations—were the main problems downtown. Corey Lothrey said he represented “many of the 30 downtown stakeholders” and delivered a petition plus about 460 customer letters urging repeal. Astrid, owner of the Plains Hotel, and business owners including Glenn Garrett and Caleb Wilkins urged alternatives such as better use and upgrades of the Spiker parking garage, striping and employee-incentive programs. Maren Stalt, a longtime resident, urged a return to coin meters for people who do not use smartphone apps.

Council debate and alternatives: Supporters of repeal said enforcement and incentive programs—not paid curbside meters—should be the focus. Councilmembers discussed options to increase garage use, boot repeat offenders, and to explore private-sector parking solutions. Mr. Seagrave said he planned to bring an amendment on third reading to “eliminate all paid parking in downtown” and to take the city out of the parking business for a trial period; he described that amendment as a proposal to end meter enforcement and meter-funded staffing downtown for a year to test the results.

Context and next steps: Councilmembers repeatedly referenced prior studies and DDA outreach. Several speakers and council members asked the Downtown Development Authority and city staff to pursue implementation steps that came up in testimony—such as incentives for employees, Spiker Garage improvements, and clearer communication—and to return with options. The ordinance will return for third reading and final action at a future meeting two weeks hence.

Ending: With the second-reading approval, Cheyenne’s paid on-street parking program is repealed in principle, but the council and downtown stakeholders said they will continue to work together on follow-up measures to address parking supply, enforcement and garage utilization.