Amid state uncertainty, Laramie council repeals surface water drainage code and pledges to track funds in general fund division

The Laramie City Council on March 3 approved first reading of an ordinance repealing Municipal Code chapter 13.80, which had created a surface water drainage fund and regulatory framework. The move followed state-level uncertainty after Senate File 116 did not pass the Wyoming Legislature.

Director Brooks Webb and Director Wade briefed the council on the background: staff recommended repeal because continued uncertainty at the state level could invalidate local code or make the local framework unworkable. Director Webb said the city, the Wyoming Association of Municipalities and other communities would work with the legislature during the interim. Director Wade told council that the $5,000,000 commitment intended for surface water drainage would remain restricted and be moved back into the General Fund under a newly visible division so spending could be tracked transparently.

Nut Graf: Staff framed the repeal as a pragmatic response to legislative uncertainty while promising to preserve and more transparently track the $5 million previously committed; public commenters urged keeping the code and putting funding decisions to a public vote.

Public commenters raised several objections. Brett Glass said he favored Senate File 116 and argued repeal creates uncertainty; he also warned the financing approach could be a constitutional issue and urged voter approval. Chris Stratton called repeal "one step forward, three steps back," and Arvin Martinez urged putting the question before voters and recommended a sales-tax approach.

Councilors thanked staff for the work and for the clear explanation of how the funding will be handled. Director Wade said staff will present a new General Fund division in the upcoming budget documents to show surface water drainage spending more transparently. The ordinance passed on a roll call of six yeses, zero nos and three absent.

The council requested staff to return with details on how SPET and other restricted sources will be managed and reported in the budget.