The Future of the DDA: What’s Next for Its Partnership with the City?

What is the Cheyenne DDA?

The Cheyenne DDA is a municipal board, created by the Governing Body and appointed by the Mayor (W.S. 15-9-201 et seq.). We are funded primarily by a mill levy on commercial properties within the DDA District (last approved by voters in 2023 and do for re-election in 2027). Per state statute, our purpose is to stop and prevent property deterioration and blight within the Downtown District. There are several ways we can do this:

  1. Planning or management of development activities in the Downtown District
  2. Landscaping and maintenance of public spaces
  3. Promotion of public events
  4. Activities in support of business recruitment and development
  5. Any economic improvement activities that benefit the district

It is important to note that there are many things the DDA cannot do:

  • We CANNOT replace City Departments: The DDA cannot issue permits, do public works, or enforce codes.
  • We CANNOT control parking enforcement or policy: The DDA can advocate for solutions, but the City manages parking policy, enforcement, and infrastructure.
  • We CANNOT collect or spend funds freely: All expenditures must follow public budgeting rules and must benefit the defined DDA district overall. Public funds may only fund a public purpose or improvements in the public right-of-way.
  • We CANNOT have legislative or policing power: The DDA cannot make or enforce laws, zoning decisions, or override City authority.
  • We CANNOT automatically represent downtown: The DDA must continuously engage with stakeholders to reflect their priorities; it does not automatically speak for everyone.
  • We CANNOT bypass public process: All DDA projects are public and require permits, licensed contractors, and compliance reviews through City departments.
  • Finally, we CANNOT have full autonomy: The DDA is a municipal board and will never be an independent organization. It operates under the City of Cheyenne and is bound by municipal procedures and oversight.

What is the current agreement between the DDA and the City of Cheyenne?

The DDA has shifted in and out of City operations over the years and has consistently been subsidized by the City of Cheyenne. Challenges (including staff and board turnover) have impacted the DDA’s stability. The most recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), adopted in 2023, was intended to stabilize operations once again (see the current MOU here).

Since then, the DDA has made significant progress, thanks in large part to the support of City departments. Operations have been streamlined, and multiple previous Plans of Development were consolidated into one guiding document: the 2024 Plan of Development available here. While leadership turnover has continued to be a challenge the past two years and not many improvements have been implemented (as you wouldn’t hang curtains in a house with a leaking roof), the newly hired DDA Administrator (starting her tenure in March 2025) is committed to refocusing efforts for maximum impact and return for downtown Cheyenne.

Currently, the City provides professional and administrative support to the DDA in lieu of direct financial contributions. This includes housing the DDA in a City facility and covering essential administrative costs such as rent, salaries, benefits, IT services, and interdepartmental support (e.g., Attorney’s Office, Engineering, Treasurer, and CRE).

Charles Bloom, Planning and Development Director, serves as the City liaison for the Board and hires staff to help implement DDA goals. He is not classified as the DDA’s Executive Director, but he has remained closely involved with the Board and hopes to reduce that role as the operations continue to stabilize. The DDA Board maintains strategic oversight, while the DDA Administrator leads implementation.

The staff currently includes:

  • Sophia Maes, DDA Administrator (full-time)
  • Irene Parsons, Operations Coordinator (full-time)
  • Miya Debusk, Social Media Assistant (part time, 20-hours per week)

 

What might change with the new MOU?

There has been ongoing discussion about the future of the DDA and its partnership with the City of Cheyenne. Some believe the DDA should be entirely independent; though under Wyoming state statute, full operational separation isn’t possible, and financial separation would effectively cut the DDA’s budget in half. Others advocate for maintaining City funding but relocating the DDA physically downtown, closer to the property owners who pay the mill levy. Still, some feel that remaining in City Hall offers strategic advantages, providing stronger access to key departments like Engineering and CRE, which can accelerate and strengthen DDA projects.

One thing is for sure: whatever the DDA and the City decide, the decision must be guided by what best serves the future of downtown Cheyenne as a whole.

MOU Next Steps

The DDA will be reviewing the costs and benefits of renewing its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Cheyenne during its next work session (date to be announced). Following that discussion, the DDA will collaborate with the Governing Body to determine the best path forward in mid-May.

What do you think? Share your input in our Q2 Survey and help shape the future of downtown: connect.cheyennecity.org/dda-survey-2025q2

 

 

 

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