Mayor Collins, sworn in Jan. 6, urges focus on water, housing and downtown projects

Mayor Patrick Collins, sworn in Jan. 6, 2025, told the newly seated governing body that securing new water resources and addressing the city’s housing shortfall will be top priorities for the next two years.

“In the near future” the city could face a reduction in Colorado River drainage water that supplies about two-thirds of Cheyenne’s system, Collins said, noting the Board of Public Utilities expects a potential shortage “of up to 7,000 acre feet” from current annual use. Collins said staff and the governing body have been working to find new water sources but “nothing is finalized.”

Collins also flagged housing as a major economic constraint. He referenced analysis by state and regional partners showing a housing deficit that limits workforce availability and said the city is encouraging market-rate multifamily development while seeking additional tools to support affordable housing construction. “Everyone deserves a safe place to live,” he said, and the city’s target for affordability is housing costing about 30% of a household’s income.

On downtown and capital projects, Collins described several initiatives the council should monitor and support: remediation of rail cars for a planned rail experience with a target installation of summer 2026, restoration of the historic pump house (construction documents being prepared by TDSI), the Reid Avenue project to rehabilitate vacant warehouses at the west edge of downtown, and opening the Belvoir Ranch to the public with more than seven miles of trails and a planned ribbon-cutting next year. Collins further noted the city must prioritize road maintenance — Cheyenne has roughly 370 miles of roads (about 1,400 lane miles) — and estimated it will take about $10.5 million a year for the next decade to reach and sustain a satisfactory pavement level.

Collins thanked department directors and staff for preparing new-council orientations and stressed the governing body’s previous agreement to focus on Cheyenne-specific issues and avoid using social media to criticize colleagues. Justice Kate Fox, of the Wyoming Supreme Court, administered Collins’ oath of office earlier in the session; the mayor also introduced the new department directors who were later sworn in.

Why this matters: water supply and housing directly affect Cheyenne’s long-term economic resilience and growth. The projects Collins highlighted — downtown redevelopment, pump house restoration, Belvoir Ranch trails — are large, multi-year investments that will require oversight and funding decisions by the governing body.

Looking ahead: Collins said the governing body should work with the Board of Public Utilities and state partners to secure additional water resources and with private developers and state agencies to expand both market-rate and affordable housing.