The MPO in his
own words says he is not a legal office:
Mr. Voss through you? If the question are appropriate to ask can you send this to the MPO?
As a county commissioner I need some information from the MPO
For information on a investigation on how and where some of the money goes for the MPO?
1. Like to know how many outside firms are hired. Out of state VS in state a list of names?
The MPO hires professional firms to conduct planning projects which the Policy Committee approves. The MPO follows the Brooks Act and City Policies for selecting consultants. The Brooks Act is a United States federal law passed in 1972 that requires that the U.S. Federal Government select engineering and architecture firms based upon their competency, qualifications and experience rather than by price. Additionally, we cannot discriminate on where the firm is located. In-state preference does not apply; therefore it is irrelevant on where the firms are from. Even with that, the MPO requires professional expertise on some of its job that cannot be found in Wyoming. We must go out of state to find these professional.
2. Can I see all budgets cost on MPO salaries on personal cost and number of staffs members job description and there duties? I believe the budget is close to $800 thousand and $400 thousand is in salaries is that correct.
The MPO budget is found in the Unified Planning Work Program and is on our web page.
http://www.plancheyenne.org/about-cheyenne-mpo/cheyenne-mpo-work-program/
A copy of a standard monthly budget of the MPO from the City Budget is attached. Salaries can be seen on it. We have 5 full time and one 1/2 time. The half time person is shared with the City Planning Office. Job Descriptions are attached.
3. How much money goes to the transportation side of plan cheyenne? Can that dept. Transportation be separated from plan cheyenne?
From the $304,692 PlanCheyenne contract the Clarion share was $114,170. The Fehr & Peers share was $120,950. Other subcontractors made up the rest.
Fehr & Peers also had a separate contract to calibrate and build the Travel Demand Forecast Model. This cost was $78,760.
The Transportation Plan is based and built from the future Land Use Plan.
4. How many studies have been done in state or out of state firms in the past year?
See #1
and name them, and how much money been spent on studies in 2013?
The MPO prepares an end-of-the-year "Performance Report" which is a detailed summary of our work and budget. This is also found on our Web page, http://www.plancheyenne.org/about-cheyenne-mpo/cheyenne-mpo-work-program/.
5. Has a audit ever been done of the MPO or plan cheyenne since 2006 can we do one now?
The FHWA reviews the program about every three years. This review was done last August. A copy of it is attached as a PDF. The City's Annual Audit includes the MPO. There have never been any issues or problems.
They get a 114 million dollars to implement this plan from federal Map 21 funding what does the county required to do to get the money?
As explained at the County Planning Commission Public Hearing, the MPO does not receive the mentioned $114 Million. Only the City and County receive funds for road use from the State and federal gas tax money and our local 5th Penny. On occasion, funding from the 6th penny. The only federal funds received on an annual allocation come to the City and/or County, through the MPO, is STP-Urban funds which is made possible by the WYDOT Transportation Commission. This is $1.14 million a year. Other federal funds can be obtained by the city or county from other various grants.
r
6.Hows the funding from the 114mil from map 21 get to the county.
See above. Read pages 103-112 of the Transportation Plan.
7. How many projects or what percent of them,since 2006 has done in Laramie County
Recent MPO projects that were done for the County and/or City and County include:
Summit Road, County Road Maintenance Plan, County Road Standards, East US 30 and Dell Range, Christensen Road and Overpass Plan, Innovative Finance Plan, Allison Road Plan, Pedestrian and Safe Routes to School Plan, Traffic Counts, Interstate Interchange Enhancement Workbook, Transportation Safety Plan, Fox Farm Road Plan, South Greeley Highway, PlanCheyenne, and Division Avenue.
8. I like to no how many projects have been done in our smaller communities Albin ,Burns,Pines bluff others?
The MPO plans land use and transportation only within the MPO Planning Boundary. See Future Land Use Map in PlanCheyenne.
9. How does the bid process work for plan cheyenne projects?
See #1.
10. Who keeps a record on the money paid to contractors? And how much does the MPO have today for projects where's the money kept.?
The City is the MPO's Fiscal Agent, therefore the City Treasurer. See #4. The City pays bills for the MPO. The City then bills WYDOT for reimbursement for the Federal funds (90.49%) and the County for their share (4.75%)
11. How did we plan before UDC and Plan Cheyenne? We built what we got today for the past 100 years with out you the MPO and Plan Cheyenne?
The UDC are codes/regulations, not a plan.
The earliest plan I have a record of was done in 1962 and it was a joint city and county plan. The 1962 plan was funded from the Housing and Home Finance Agency, under the provisions of Section 701 of the Housing Act of 1954 (federal funds). PlanCheyenne was just the last of many comprehensive plans done over the years, all of which were conducted by the MPO since 1980. Many road, bridge and other multi-modal projects exist today and came to be due to MPO plans and federal dollars for their construction. One could say the General Dodge "Planned" the city as it was first laid out in 1860's.
12. Did you right down the concerns that every person who brought up that where against Plan Cheyenne and have a copy of those concerns all 25 people who spoke at the county planning meeting on 2-13-14? Why doesen't public commints be keep and shared to everyone else at the next meeting.
Minutes of the Public Hearings and other letters and comments received will be provided to the City Governing Body and Board of County Commissioners.
13. What date did the county get to vote on Plan Cheyenne and approve it can you provide a copy of the minutes of that meeting?
That can be obtained from the County Clerk. November 8, 2006, #061107-05.
14. Who does the MPO answer to? the city mayor county commissioners or someone regional? Provide names.
The Policy Committee members are Mayor Kaysen, Commissioner Humphrey and WYDOT District Engineer Pat Perrson. They govern the work and budget. The MPO follows the rules of State Statutes for the City 15-1-503 through 15-1-507, for the County 18-5-202 and 23 U.S. Code §450 subpart C.
I am happy to say that if one of the regulation in PLAN CHEYENNE out of the 500 pages,or the 300 pages of the UDC CODES, That's 800 pages total, does not abide by the 79 pages in the wyoming constitution then all of the Plan Cheyenne and UDC codes is null a void.
Is Mr. Mason aware of that?
Then anyone as a elected official who's knowingly knows it unconstitutional and votes for it is in violation of there oath to office. Is that correct? Since Plan Cheyenne been introduced in 2006 by in large has any one reviewed it by going through every page of both documents and seeing if it is constitutional. And who would do that?
To the degree that I understand these questions, they apparently call for what would be legal conclusions in regard to either the constitutionality of the comprehensive plan, the UDC codes or the actions of elected officials. The MPO is not a legal office. These appear to be questions that should be referred to the respective attorneys for the City and the County.
Can I get these questions answered please. And please comment on my general statements in brief.
Giving me a call 307-640-4248 maybe easier
Tom Mason, Director
Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
307-637-6299
tmason@cheyennempo.orghttp://www.PlanCheyenne.org
Mr. Voss through you? If the question are appropriate to ask can you send this to the MPO?
As a county commissioner I need some information from the MPO
For information on a investigation on how and where some of the money goes for the MPO?
1. Like to know how many outside firms are hired. Out of state VS in state a list of names?
The MPO hires professional firms to conduct planning projects which the Policy Committee approves. The MPO follows the Brooks Act and City Policies for selecting consultants. The Brooks Act is a United States federal law passed in 1972 that requires that the U.S. Federal Government select engineering and architecture firms based upon their competency, qualifications and experience rather than by price. Additionally, we cannot discriminate on where the firm is located. In-state preference does not apply; therefore it is irrelevant on where the firms are from. Even with that, the MPO requires professional expertise on some of its job that cannot be found in Wyoming. We must go out of state to find these professional.
2. Can I see all budgets cost on MPO salaries on personal cost and number of staffs members job description and there duties? I believe the budget is close to $800 thousand and $400 thousand is in salaries is that correct.
The MPO budget is found in the Unified Planning Work Program and is on our web page.
http://www.plancheyenne.org/about-cheyenne-mpo/cheyenne-mpo-work-program/
A copy of a standard monthly budget of the MPO from the City Budget is attached. Salaries can be seen on it. We have 5 full time and one 1/2 time. The half time person is shared with the City Planning Office. Job Descriptions are attached.
3. How much money goes to the transportation side of plan cheyenne? Can that dept. Transportation be separated from plan cheyenne?
From the $304,692 PlanCheyenne contract the Clarion share was $114,170. The Fehr & Peers share was $120,950. Other subcontractors made up the rest.
Fehr & Peers also had a separate contract to calibrate and build the Travel Demand Forecast Model. This cost was $78,760.
The Transportation Plan is based and built from the future Land Use Plan.
4. How many studies have been done in state or out of state firms in the past year?
See #1
and name them, and how much money been spent on studies in 2013?
The MPO prepares an end-of-the-year "Performance Report" which is a detailed summary of our work and budget. This is also found on our Web page, http://www.plancheyenne.org/about-cheyenne-mpo/cheyenne-mpo-work-program/.
5. Has a audit ever been done of the MPO or plan cheyenne since 2006 can we do one now?
The FHWA reviews the program about every three years. This review was done last August. A copy of it is attached as a PDF. The City's Annual Audit includes the MPO. There have never been any issues or problems.
They get a 114 million dollars to implement this plan from federal Map 21 funding what does the county required to do to get the money?
As explained at the County Planning Commission Public Hearing, the MPO does not receive the mentioned $114 Million. Only the City and County receive funds for road use from the State and federal gas tax money and our local 5th Penny. On occasion, funding from the 6th penny. The only federal funds received on an annual allocation come to the City and/or County, through the MPO, is STP-Urban funds which is made possible by the WYDOT Transportation Commission. This is $1.14 million a year. Other federal funds can be obtained by the city or county from other various grants.
r
6.Hows the funding from the 114mil from map 21 get to the county.
See above. Read pages 103-112 of the Transportation Plan.
7. How many projects or what percent of them,since 2006 has done in Laramie County
Recent MPO projects that were done for the County and/or City and County include:
Summit Road, County Road Maintenance Plan, County Road Standards, East US 30 and Dell Range, Christensen Road and Overpass Plan, Innovative Finance Plan, Allison Road Plan, Pedestrian and Safe Routes to School Plan, Traffic Counts, Interstate Interchange Enhancement Workbook, Transportation Safety Plan, Fox Farm Road Plan, South Greeley Highway, PlanCheyenne, and Division Avenue.
8. I like to no how many projects have been done in our smaller communities Albin ,Burns,Pines bluff others?
The MPO plans land use and transportation only within the MPO Planning Boundary. See Future Land Use Map in PlanCheyenne.
9. How does the bid process work for plan cheyenne projects?
See #1.
10. Who keeps a record on the money paid to contractors? And how much does the MPO have today for projects where's the money kept.?
The City is the MPO's Fiscal Agent, therefore the City Treasurer. See #4. The City pays bills for the MPO. The City then bills WYDOT for reimbursement for the Federal funds (90.49%) and the County for their share (4.75%)
11. How did we plan before UDC and Plan Cheyenne? We built what we got today for the past 100 years with out you the MPO and Plan Cheyenne?
The UDC are codes/regulations, not a plan.
The earliest plan I have a record of was done in 1962 and it was a joint city and county plan. The 1962 plan was funded from the Housing and Home Finance Agency, under the provisions of Section 701 of the Housing Act of 1954 (federal funds). PlanCheyenne was just the last of many comprehensive plans done over the years, all of which were conducted by the MPO since 1980. Many road, bridge and other multi-modal projects exist today and came to be due to MPO plans and federal dollars for their construction. One could say the General Dodge "Planned" the city as it was first laid out in 1860's.
12. Did you right down the concerns that every person who brought up that where against Plan Cheyenne and have a copy of those concerns all 25 people who spoke at the county planning meeting on 2-13-14? Why doesen't public commints be keep and shared to everyone else at the next meeting.
Minutes of the Public Hearings and other letters and comments received will be provided to the City Governing Body and Board of County Commissioners.
13. What date did the county get to vote on Plan Cheyenne and approve it can you provide a copy of the minutes of that meeting?
That can be obtained from the County Clerk. November 8, 2006, #061107-05.
14. Who does the MPO answer to? the city mayor county commissioners or someone regional? Provide names.
The Policy Committee members are Mayor Kaysen, Commissioner Humphrey and WYDOT District Engineer Pat Perrson. They govern the work and budget. The MPO follows the rules of State Statutes for the City 15-1-503 through 15-1-507, for the County 18-5-202 and 23 U.S. Code §450 subpart C.
I am happy to say that if one of the regulation in PLAN CHEYENNE out of the 500 pages,or the 300 pages of the UDC CODES, That's 800 pages total, does not abide by the 79 pages in the wyoming constitution then all of the Plan Cheyenne and UDC codes is null a void.
Is Mr. Mason aware of that?
Then anyone as a elected official who's knowingly knows it unconstitutional and votes for it is in violation of there oath to office. Is that correct? Since Plan Cheyenne been introduced in 2006 by in large has any one reviewed it by going through every page of both documents and seeing if it is constitutional. And who would do that?
To the degree that I understand these questions, they apparently call for what would be legal conclusions in regard to either the constitutionality of the comprehensive plan, the UDC codes or the actions of elected officials. The MPO is not a legal office. These appear to be questions that should be referred to the respective attorneys for the City and the County.
Can I get these questions answered please. And please comment on my general statements in brief.
Giving me a call 307-640-4248 maybe easier
Tom Mason, Director
Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
307-637-6299
tmason@cheyennempo.orghttp://www.PlanCheyenne.org
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