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Laramie council advances first reading of surface-water drainage ordinance with capped monthly fees
Summary
On first reading the Laramie City Council approved amendments to Laramie Municipal Code Title 13.8 that add billing definitions, create exemptions for city-owned trails, delete a proposed fee-credit program and set capped monthly billing units and dollar limits to fund stormwater maintenance.
The Laramie City Council on Tuesday approved on first reading an ordinance amending Laramie Municipal Code Title 13, Division 7, Chapter 13.8 to establish a capped fee structure intended to fund surface-water drainage maintenance.
City staff presented the changes after Councilor O'Doherty moved to advance the ordinance. Director Webb said the changes add definitions to resolve billing problems for condominiums and shared ownership, delay the ordinance's effective date to July 1, 2026, eliminate a planned second-year increase and add caps on billing units (200 for nonresidential and 30 for residential). Webb said the caps translate to maximum monthly amounts of $200.40 for nonresidential accounts and $30.06 for residential accounts as currently drafted.
Finance and administrative services Director Wade framed the vote as a response to a long-running funding gap. "What's the problem we're trying to solve?" he said, urging councilors to weigh the need to generate predictable revenue for multi-million-dollar infrastructure needs against community concerns. Wade said the ordinance represents a more maintenance-focused approach than prior language and stressed the city's limited ability to absorb several million dollars of new costs in the general fund.
Public commenters were split. Bob Moore, a property owner who said he lives in the county and owns property in the city, urged councilors to support a monthly fee for improvements and warned that delaying work increases long-term costs. Another speaker, who identified himself as Mr. Henderson, said he was "concerned with respect to removal of the appeal function" and asked that residents retain an effective appeal pathway. The mayor clarified that the staff proposal removed the appeal process tied specifically to fee credits (credits were removed if caps are adopted) while other appeal rights in the code remain.
Council debate emphasized compromise. Councilor O'Doherty said she would prefer no caps but accepted the compromise to deliver some immediate work. Councilor Shumway supported funding for stormwater but cautioned that the city lacks a fully funded plan for streets, curbs and gutters and urged a measured pace. Several councilors praised staff and said the capped approach offers a way to show results and build community trust.
The ordinance advanced on a roll-call vote of 8 yes, 1 no (Newman). Councilors were told second reading will occur in two weeks and third reading two weeks after that. Council members and staff encouraged public comment before those readings via council@cityofLaramie.org or by attending the upcoming sessions.
The ordinance as presented also includes exemptions for city-owned multi-use pathways and trails and proposed cleanup of billing-system terminology. Staff proposed deleting the fee-credit section and the attendant credit-appeal process because the credit structure would not exist under the capped billing model. Director Webb invited councilors to ask staff for further clarifications before the next reading.
Next procedural step: the ordinance returns for a second reading in two weeks, with a third reading scheduled two weeks after that.
