On the agenda: Laramie meeting — Data Center (Aug 26)

City of Laramie
City Manager’s Office
P.O. Box C
Laramie, WY 82073

(307) 721-5226

City Manager’s Budget Advisory Committee Meeting
MINUTES
August 26, 2026 - 7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Municipal Operations Center (4373 N. 3rd Street)
North Platte Conference Room
1. Welcome (5 minutes):
• Meeting called to order at 7:36 a.m.
• Committee Members in Attendance: G Anderson, T Stentz, J Parten, R Downham, and J
VanDyke
• Committee Members Absent: R Hensley, J Gruber, and D Peterson
• Staff in Attendance: T Feezer, J Malmborg, J Wade, J Smith, B Moan, S Ketura, and N OaklandPotter
• Guest: Chris Michael, Laramie Young Professionals/Wyoming Business Council
• Assistant City Manager-Chief Financial Officer Jenn Wade welcomed attending members and
give opening comments.
2. Successful Benchmarks - Council Goals (30 minutes):
• Jenn Wade discussed the process of Council’s annual development of goals. Explanations and
examples of the various levels (Policy, Management, and Executive) were provided. In order to
achieve the desired outcome of these goals, their efforts need to be coordinated and unified through
a “pathfinding” process. At the Council retreat, members learn by looking at past successes and
failures, they brainstorm with general ideas, refine the ideas and begin to draft more specific goals,
then they propose final ideas for adoption through resolution. Jenn went over the adopted goals for
FY27 and discussed the mid-year “check-in.”
3. Key Department Deliverables (30 minutes):
• Public Works Director Jay Smith presented on “Deliverables” related to the Public Works Division
and their impact on the community, which is the most important measure of success. Action does
not always equal performance – being busy does not measure effectiveness. Performance
information is used to strengthen budget decisions, “It’s the results that show the effectiveness of
the purchase.” The City Manager’s Webpage and Agenda Center publishes a monthly manager’s
report that provides data on the work performed by each division and can reveal the effectiveness
of their efforts.
4. Updates On (20 minutes): - TABLED FOR THE SEPTEMBER 30TH MEETING
• Water
• Data Centers
• West Side/West Laramie Development
• Old Slade School Purchase
THE GEM CITY OF THE PLAINS

BUILDING COMMUNITY

The City of Laramie is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

COL/CMO/EA—Rev. 12/18/2025

5. Farmer’s Market “What Do You Want From Laramie?” Survey Results (15 minutes):
• Management Analyst Brannen Moan presented data gather from the survey cards collected by
CMBAC members manning the June 26th Farmer’s Market table. Brannen reported that more
surveys were completed using the hard postcards rather than the online option.
• Troy Stentz, James VanDyke, Gustave Anderson, and Jasmine Parten volunteered to man the August
28th Farmer’s Market table for CMBAC. The group expressed interest in having additional survey
postcards printed up due to the successful submission of responses at the last event. Brannen will
be at the event, along with Jenn Wade, to get things set up and underway.
6. Staff Updates (10 minutes):
• Informed Laramie website showcasing 5th Penny information was discussed.
• People’s Initiative Work Session scheduled for September 8th was discussed and an invite was
emailed out to members encouraging them to attend and share the meeting information.
7. Hot Topics: Members report on things they’ve seen and heard in the community and discuss how to
best address the issue. (10 minutes)
• Todd Feezer talked about the Open Container Ordinance change that will go before Council.
This change would see the ordinance go from a limited time period, currently May 21 - October
25, 2026, to year around. Members supported this change as it is supportive of downtown
businesses by encouraging people to stay and enjoy their beverages while shopping around.
• Chris Michael from Laramie Young Professionals (LYP) and Laramie Business Council (WBC)
discussed the following:
o LYP’s desire to continue partnering with the City, “It’s not just a Laramie thing . . . brain drain
and youth retention.” LYP will tackle first with City’s support – create community by coming
together. Develop a list of people to reach out to along with a topics to involve them in
discussions.
o Potentially hold quarterly collaboration meetings to build involvement, create better
demographic outreach – including older generations.
o Shared an ice breaker activity idea of, “How to Describe Laramie in One Word.”
8. Next Meeting: September 30, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
9. Meeting Adjourned at 9:44 a.m.

THE GEM CITY OF THE PLAINS

BUILDING COMMUNITY

The City of Laramie is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

COL/CMO/EA—Rev. 12/18/2025