This has been a busy week. I don’t know why the schedule has been so full, but it has been fun to be this busy.
The week started off with Jeanine West, the director of our Emergency Management Agency. She presented the updated emergency operations plan that elected officials and staff would follow in an emergency. As I watch the news and the horrible damage caused by the recent hurricanes, it makes me appreciate these plans and those who help prepare them.
I met with a downtown business owner who has a historic building that needs repairs to its masonry walls. Our DDA has a program that helps property owners with a grant that pays up to 50 percent of the costs. Downtown business owners tax themselves an additional 20 mills on their property taxes and the DDA uses these dollars to make improvements downtown. It is so important to keep our historic buildings in good shape and this program helps make it happen.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I signed a proclamation to that effect this week. The folks from Wyoming Workforce Services shared with me how they are working to help our disabled community find jobs. These folks are so dedicated and hard working. I was surprised to learn they have some folks getting CDL drivers licenses. We have a big need for these drivers, so I not only got an education, but a lead on potential new employees. I appreciate all that DWS does for our state.
Earlier this year, City Council passed an ordinance to help slow down drivers in our neighborhoods. We call it the Critical Traffic Control Area program. I met with our departments this week to finalize all the details so we can roll out the program and begin to protect our neighborhoods. On Oct. 15, the Critical Traffic Control Area program committee will meet for the first time. We will be reviewing a petition for the Gardenia Drive corridor to determine if it should be designated as a critical traffic safety area.
I testified before City Council’s Public Services Committee this week on a couple of issues. I have written about how the City and South Cheyenne Water and Sewer District have grown together. We considered an agreement between the BOPU and the SCWSD that will allow a housing development to use water from the BOPU and sewer from the SCWSD, which will save $1 million in costs and get a 200-unit housing project started. It passed and I am so proud of everyone who worked together to make this happen. The committee also approved an MOU between the City and Habitat for Humanity. The City applied for a grant to support a 12-unit Habitat project with infrastructure and roads from the State. We were fortunate to get the funding and the MOU outlines how the city and Habitat will collaborate on the installation of the infrastructure. It is an exciting partnership.
The MPO hired Quandel Consultants to help decide where a potential passenger rail station might be located. This week, they gave an update on their progress with both the Passenger Rail Commission, and later that evening, to the public. Getting passenger rail service from Pueblo to Cheyenne is the first goal, and the hope is Amtrak will bring back cross-country service that was discontinued years ago. Having a station location and plan is essential for these services to happen. We will share which location is chosen in the future.
Doug Voss ran an airline here in Cheyenne and has over 40 years of airline experience. I met him for coffee to learn more about the industry and get advice on what he sees as possible opportunities in the aviation industry for our city. Cheyenne is blessed to have daily air service and an airport that can support our Air National Guard mission. I learned that today’s aviation industry is really challenging and that federal changes affecting pilots have really hurt smaller markets like ours. Thanks, Doug, for the time and information.
We have been working on a community solar project and a renewable natural gas project for over a year now. The folks from Black Hills Energy were in the office this week to get an update on our progress and restate their support and willingness to partner with the city on these projects. For us civilians, these projects seem easy, but the reality is they are very complicated. It is nice having the professionals from BHE on our team.
We held a homelessness round table a couple of weeks ago. We did a debrief with staff this week to talk about the event and what our next steps should be. I am so impressed with the folks working in this arena. Their passion and compassion are amazing. My goal is to find the gaps in homeless services and see what we can do as a community to find solutions. I hope we will continue to work and bring the community together to meet the needs.
Cheyenne passed an Urban Renewal Authority ordinance in 2021. It is a powerful tool that can be used to help economically underperforming properties redevelop. An example of an URA project is the old Hitching Post Inn site. The URA was instrumental in getting the contaminated building removed so development can occur. Laramie has a URA plan and project along 4th Street. They came to Cheyenne to discuss a bill currently before the Legislature’s Corporations Committee that includes language that would allow a URA to use their tools to promote building more housing. Cleaning up problematic properties and building more housing is something that all municipalities can support.
I had lunch with a developer looking to build a 116-unit multifamily apartment complex on Thursday. With our housing shortage I get so excited to meet with folks looking to make these kinds of investments in our city. The WCDA study that was released a couple of months ago showed Cheyenne and Laramie County will be short between 4,386 and 7,266 housing units in 5 years. Our housing challenges are hurting our ability to create a vibrant workforce. We are blessed that people see Cheyenne as a place they want to invest in. Thank you!
We have been working on the Reed Avenue Corridor project for my entire term as mayor. The challenge has been getting an agreement with the BNSF railroad, which currently controls the right of way. Some good news: we have made great progress with the BNSF and are close to being able to start the project. Matt Jones works as the director of public affairs for BNSF, and he stopped by to check in on our Reed Avenue progress and talk about our passenger rail aspirations. It is exciting to be at a point where we are working collaboratively with the BNSF to make this project happen.
I spent some time with our partners at the Wyoming Association of Municipalities to discuss upcoming legislation. We have 99 cities and towns in the state, and it is a challenge to find the right language on legislation that will be beneficial to Cheyenne and the rest of the communities in the state. WAM is doing a great job of navigating these challenges and helping us advocate for our needs. I enjoy spending time talking with our legislators about the needs and challenges our city faces.
If you pray, please keep the folks in the Southeast in your prayers. The pictures and videos show so much devastation from the recent hurricanes. They need our prayers and help.