WYOPASS Holds Annual Spring Workshop
by Angela Parker, AICP
Wyoming’s planning association (WYOPASS) recently held their annual Spring Workshop. This is a one-day event with a networking social held the evening before. Unique among state planning events, the Spring Workshop is free for members to attend and strongly encourages planning commission members to attend, engage with other members, and receive training. There were five informative and engaging sessions plus a breakout session for City and County planners to discuss topics of concern.
Legislative recap during the workshop
Wyoming’s legislature has been concerned about over-regulation lately, so there were some interesting discussions regarding new and upcoming potential bills. We got a refresher course on the legislative process and updates on new bills that affect planning. The takeaway that I found most helpful was the timing for submission of amendments. To have any effect on potential legislation, amendments should be submitted to the proper committee/legislator between the first and second readings of a bill, which requires a quick turnaround. WYOPASS cannot afford to hire a lobbyist but we have several members that are actively involved in following potential legislation and how it might affect the planning process. Members are able to access our Google Spreadsheet that is continually updated with bills of concern, where they are in the process and, ultimately, if they pass or fail. We are also becoming more involved with interim topics and tracking those that are related to planning.
Enjoying ourselves at the evening social
Planning Commissioner Training is always included in our Spring Workshop. This year, there were several planning commissioners in attendance and we had some great conversations. Some of the topics included ex-parte communications, conflict of interest, and impartiality in decision-making.
During lunch, we discussed potential changes to daycare regulations and how they might affect planning. This is a relatively new topic of concern that hasn’t been given much consideration in the past. Daycare facilities are in short supply in some areas and the Wyoming Business Council (WBC) is looking for ways to increase the availability of daycare for working parents. Discussion included the roles of the state regulatory agencies and potential overlap with planning regulations. There was excellent dialogue and WBC and WYOPASS will continue to partner as we look for solutions.
Public Engagement was another session topic. Once again, we had excellent discussions and ideas for improving our public meetings. One of the biggest concerns in Wyoming is getting people to come to public meetings with an open mind, willing to hear all the information before making any decisions. Often, uninformed citizens take to social media and cause unnecessary conflicts because they have not attended the public hearing or done their research on a proposed project.
City breakout discussion city issues with other city-based planners
For our City/County breakout sessions, we set up an area where participants could write a topic/question on a sticky note prior to the session. Those topics were discussed during the breakout session and there were helpful discussions within both groups.
The last session of the day was a presentation on historic preservation. Staff from Douglas, WY talked about their process and how they have engaged partners to help preserve the history of the area. It was a great topic to keep everyone engaged and had some helpful ideas for planners to take back to their own communities.
WYOPASS Spring Conference is always a great opportunity to network with other planners throughout the state, but we also have a listserv that helps to continue the conversations throughout the year until we meet again in the Fall. This is especially important since many jurisdictions have small, one-person planning offices. When a planner encounters an unfamiliar situation, the listserv is a convenient place to go for information and advice.
As always, I enjoyed meeting with planners from around Wyoming and I look forward to the Fall Conference in Sheridan September 17-19, 2025!