Cheyenne recreation director seeks new leadership roles, arboretum supervisor and program staff in FY2027 budget request

Director Sanchez presented the Community Recreation and Events department's fiscal year 2027 budget request to the governing body, highlighting rapid program growth, division-level accomplishments and specific staffing and capital needs. The department asked for a recreation programmer to manage rising registrations, a full-time arboretum supervisor tied to a $3.5 million arboretum renovation, and a dual-deputy leadership model to support succession planning as Deputy Director Sam Payne nears retirement.

Why it matters: The presentation framed these requests as essential to sustain services that underpin Cheyenne's quality of life, including parks, pools, event venues and public spaces that attract residents and visitors and generate local economic activity such as Fridays on the Plaza, which the director said drew 53,000 attendees and produced an estimated $1.9 million economic impact.

Presentation highlights: Sanchez outlined that CRA oversees 12 divisions, more than 100 year-round facilities and roughly 400 employees, and described recent program growth: WCK program participants rose from 8,671 in 2023 to 11,226 in 2025, and the department reported substantial facility use across recreation, aquatics, ice and civic venues. Division-specific accomplishments included a new gymnastics facility, planning for a pool replacement, upgraded lighting and green room work at the Civic Center, and planting more than 200 trees across city properties.

Staffing and structure requests: To help meet demand the department requested a recreation programmer (half funded by general fund, half by recreation program fees) and a dedicated arboretum supervisor to operate and maintain the site after a multi-million-dollar renovation. Sanchez also proposed creating a second deputy director position to preserve institutional knowledge and ensure continuity after Sam Payne's planned retirement, arguing the dual-deputy model would avoid operational disruption.

Budget details and operating funds: Staff walked the council through the budget book pages for general fund and other funds. The presentation listed roughly $11 million in general fund operating expenses and about $9 million in other accounts that contain program-specific funds (gymnastics, camps, Civic Center, ice and events, Botanic Gardens funds and fifth-penny personnel for arborists/irrigation). The administration flagged a projected $75,000 increase in lottery proceeds for the admin budget and described typical increases for overtime, payroll, fleet parts, and event-related costs.

Council questions and clarifications: Council members pressed for clarifications on several points. On the arboretum: Dr. Renie asked whether staffing was tied to state-park status or prior grant funding; staff said the arboretum's expanded production and goals now warrant a full-time employee even though prior funding arrangements did not create a permanent position. On cemetery capacity: staff said the city manages five cemeteries, Lake View is nearing capacity for family plots, and an expansion master plan exists to use arboretum land if needed. On parking lots and pavement, Mr. Esabel raised the condition of roughly 46 acres of unmaintained parking lots; Mayor Collins said fifth-penny sales tax growth has been allocated to begin addressing parking-lot and road repairs with over $1 million projected over four years.

Facility finances and community value: Council members asked about the cost and revenue performance of individual facilities. Treasurer Lochman reported the aquatic facility's net operating cost at about $190,000 (transcript figure displayed as $1,90,000) with an anticipated $28,000 in additional revenue next year. Several council members and the mayor pushed back on judging Civic Center or other amenities solely on direct revenue, noting community benefits, nonprofit use and broader economic impacts.

Other operational issues: Staff described storm damage and tree loss (more than 100 city trees lost in recent severe weather, including 25 at Airport Golf Course), plans for strategic, diversified tree replacement, vandalism costs (roughly $30,000 annually in parks), and constraints on golf-course fencing to prevent errant balls (airport height limits and high fencing costs). The department also reported recent grant successes that helped fund restroom and lighting projects at Dunbar and other sites.

What happens next: The department concluded by thanking staff, partners and sponsors and asking the council to consider the FY2027 requests as part of the larger budget process. No formal votes or ordinance actions were recorded during this presentation portion of the meeting.

Representative quotes: "Community Recreation and Events manages and maintains over 100 year-round facilities across Cheyenne," Director Sanchez said, describing the department's scale and the need for additional capacity. "Over the next four years, it's over a million dollars that we're putting in there so that they'll have at least a place to start," Mayor Collins said, describing fifth-penny sales tax allocations for parking lots and roads. "The net cost of renting the facility is about $190,000 and we did increase revenues $28,000 in the next year's budget," Treasurer Lochman said about the aquatic center.

Ending: The director asked the council to consider the staffing and organizational changes as investments to preserve service delivery amid growing demand; council members requested follow-up materials (facility-level revenue/net cost breakdowns, past fencing quotes and arboretum funding details) to inform final budget decisions.