Votes at a glance: Council approves license, street design changes, rec funding priorities and code updates; growth-area IGA postponed

On Feb. 4 the Laramie City Council approved multiple agenda items by roll call, and postponed one intergovernmental agreement for further county review. Below are brief summaries and vote results for each action that received council action.

License agreement with the University of Wyoming (Item 12) The council approved a license agreement allowing the University of Wyoming to construct, use and maintain utilities in the public right-of-way to serve the new aquatic center. The agreement calls for directional boring at a minimum depth of 36 inches and requires the university to repair any damage to curb, sidewalk or gutter. Motion by Councilor Lockhart; second by Councilor Newman. Vote: 9-0.

Modifications to Fifteenth Street corridor by the University of Wyoming (Item 13) Council approved Resolution 2025-58 supporting design modifications to the Fifteenth Street corridor between Grand Avenue and Ivinson Avenue, including added medians north of Sorority Row and relocation of a transit stop onto campus property. Staff said the medians are intended to limit unchannelized turning movements and encourage crosswalk use; the university provided drainage and traffic analyses. Motion by Councilor Freed; second by Councilor Boling. Vote: 9-0.

Recreation project priorities to Albany County Rec Board (Item 14) Council adopted a prioritized list of City of Laramie project requests totaling $439,623.58 for Albany County Recreation Board consideration under the annual mill-levy grant process. Staff said the county determines the available mill-levy funding in July; the adopted list is the city's prioritized submission. Motion by Councilor Fried; second by Councilor Richardson. Vote: 9-0.

City policy goals and objectives for 2025 (Item 15) Council adopted the governing body's policy goals and objectives for 2025, derived from a recent council retreat and aligned with other adopted city plans. Motion by Councilor Beehill; second by Councilor Newman. Vote: 9-0.

Unified Development Code text amendments (Title 15) (Item 16) Council approved an ordinance (Original Ordinance 2097) implementing annual code cleanup and substantive clarifications to the Unified Development Code. Notable changes included clarifying window-sign limits in downtown, defining egress window-well projections and minimum building separation standards for one- and two-family residential units, and adding consistent definitions for "faade" and "primary building faade." The planning commission recommended approval with one amendment. Motion by Councilor Bowling; second by Councilor Richardson. Vote: 9-0.

Weed and dead-tree abatement cost alignment (Title 8) (Item 17) Council approved an ordinance (Original Ordinance 2098) aligning the weed and dead-tree abatement cost structure in Title 8 with the nuisance abatement fee structure, clarifying enforcement and billing practices. Motion by Councilor Richardson; second by Councilor O'Doherty. Vote: 9-0.

Intergovernmental agreement: Laramie Growth Area Plan (Item 18) Council considered an intergovernmental agreement with Albany County to implement the Laramie Area Growth Plan. Staff reported the county commission had tabled its consideration earlier in the day and recommended postponing action to Aug. 19, 2025 to allow additional work with the county. Council voted to postpone the item to the Aug. 19, 2025 meeting. Motion by Councilor O'Doherty; second by Councilor Richardson. Vote to postpone: 9-0.

How the council voted (roll-call excerpts): motions and roll-call votes for each item were unanimous when recorded; individual roll-call confirmations are included in the official minutes.

Items approved tonight do not always appropriate funds (some are approvals of agreements or design changes); where appropriations are required those items were or will be brought back to the council as budget or appropriation amendments.