Cheyenne Mayor Responds To Business Criticism

Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen says he doesn't understand criticism of the city's business and regulatory climate by the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce and other critics.

City voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to create the position of city administrator to take over much of the day-to day decision making of city government. The proposal had been strongly backed by the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce along with some members of the Cheyenne City Council.

Chamber President and CEO Dale Steenbergen had said city development and business fees are a major problem under the current city government. He argued an appointed administrator would rein in the fee structure to help business development.

Steenbergen has also said the city's regulatory climate is a problem, citing the fact that it took three years for a second Walmart store to open in Cheyenne as an example of over-zealous regulation allegedly slowing business development.

Steenbergen called the situation "sad", going on to say the city "needs to do better" at getting businesses approved.

Mayor Kaysen at the time denied city regulations caused the Walmart delays.

On Thursday the mayor said he ''still cannot grasp"  the criticism of the city's business regulations and fees. The mayor says that while it's true the city has codes and regulations governing business construction and development, local builders and developers played an active role in developing those rules. He says comments from city residents also were a major factor in developing the codes.

The mayor also says a 2014 study of development fees around the region found Cheyenne was 'very competitive" with similar communities in terms of fees.

But Kaysen also said Thursday that he is open to discussion of business issues and fees. He added he had "no animosity" over the failed effort to institute a city administrator  position.

If the proposal had been approved by voters, it would have taken effect in 2017.