Wyoming City Council adopts personnel ordinance, extends DORA and approves awards and proclamations

The Wyoming City Council on Jan. 21 voted to adopt an amendment to the personnel ordinance as an emergency, approved a five-year extension of the city's Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), and passed resolutions honoring two 2024 Green Business Award winners and proclaiming February 2025 as Black History Month.

The personnel ordinance amendment was considered in a single-night process after council voted to suspend council rules to allow immediate consideration and adoption. The motion to suspend the rules and the motion to adopt both passed on roll-call votes that the clerk recorded as affirmative, and the ordinance was adopted that evening.

The council also voted to continue the DORA—first established Jan. 27, 2020 and expanded March 18, 2024—for an additional five years. City management told council the DORA has produced no police issues since its establishment and that many businesses view it as beneficial to draw patrons and support events at the Village Green and Performance Pavilion. The motion to extend the DORA passed; one council member said, “I don't oppose, but I probably should abstain as a person who benefits from the DORA,” and abstained from the final voice tally.

Council members also adopted resolutions recognizing the Presbyterian Church of Wyoming and BLLC as the city’s 2024 Wyoming Green Business Award winners, and the council proclaimed February 2025 as Black History Month. Each of those resolutions was moved, seconded and adopted by voice vote.

Other formal actions included approving the consent agenda and receiving the city’s fourth-quarter financial summary (see separate article), and a motion to excuse Councilman Chris Woodside from the meeting, which carried. The meeting adjourned after miscellaneous council comments and committee reports.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (December 16, 2024 minutes; various resolutions including contract authority for Barrett Paving Materials Inc.; advanced payment request to Hamilton County Auditor; others) — Motion to approve moved and seconded; voice vote recorded as carried. - Resolution: Proclaim February 2025 as Black History Month — Adopted (voice vote). - Resolution: Honor Presbyterian Church of Wyoming as 2024 Wyoming Green Business Award winner — Adopted (voice vote). - Resolution: Honor BLLC as 2024 Wyoming Green Business Award winner — Adopted (voice vote). - DORA continuation: Extend Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area for five years — Motion to extend moved and seconded; motion carried with one abstention (council member who stated a personal benefit). - Ordinance: Amend personnel ordinance and declare an emergency — Council voted to suspend the rules (required affirmative vote of five) and then to adopt the ordinance the same evening; roll-call votes recorded as affirmative and the ordinance adopted. - Report received: Q4 2024 financial summary — Motion to receive the report moved and seconded; adopted by voice vote. - Motion to excuse Councilman Chris Woodside — Adopted (roll call recorded as affirmative).

Council members and staff who spoke during the items above included the mayor (presiding), the city clerk (calling roll), Jeremiah (finance director; presented the Q4 financial summary), the city manager (reported on DORA and other operational items), Chris Pagan (Wyoming Environmental Services Commission; presented Green Business Awards), and Carla Winburn (sworn in as EMS lieutenant; ceremonial). Several council members offered remarks during miscellaneous business and committee reports.

The meeting record shows routine procedural voting throughout the evening. Where a recorded roll-call was required (suspension of rules and ordinance adoption), the clerk called the roll and the votes were affirmative for passage. The DORA extension carried after the abstention noted above. No ordinances or resolutions were reported as failed or tabled.