WYOPASS Roundup Webinar Series

"Megawatts, Codes, and Community: Dynamic Planning in Cheyenne, Proactive Policy in Laramie.” (click title for webinar recording)

1 CM credit for attendees: #9335914

Cheyenne and Laramie offer two very different perspectives on the rapid growth of data centers in Wyoming. Cheyenne has experienced large-scale data center development firsthand, while Laramie has yet to see development at that scale and is evaluating whether its existing land-use regulations and infrastructure are prepared for it. This presentation will compare the two communities’ experiences and discuss lessons related to land use, power, water, infrastructure, community impacts, and local regulatory approaches.

Issues: How Communities Are Bargaining With Big Tech Over Data Centers (link to article).

Wyoming Rural Communities: Resilience, Challenges, and Pathways Forward (click title for webinar recording)

1 CM credit for attendees: #9336747

As one of the nation’s most rural and sparsely populated states, Wyoming has long maintained a distinct “Old West” culture shaped by an economy rooted in energy and extractive industries, outdoor recreation, and ranching. Today, however, many Wyoming communities are experiencing the transformational pressures of the “New West.” Researchers at the Center for Rural Community Resilience & Innovation interviewed community leaders across Wyoming to better understand their concerns, needs, and the changes their communities are navigating. This presentation will share those findings and help community planners better understand, anticipate, and respond to the diverse forces driving change—strengthening their ability to foster innovation, build community resilience, and help their communities thrive into the future.

Presenters: Dr. Jeff Hamerlinck
Jeff has served as Director of the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) since 2004. He serves on the State of Wyoming Governor’s GIS Advisory Board and is active in the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS). His teaching and research focus on land-use and environmental planning, spatial data infrastructure management, and place-based planning support systems, with particular expertise in the use of information and communication technologies in rural community land-use planning. Jeff holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Colorado-Boulder, is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and is a GIS Professional (GISP). Jeff is also an avid fly-fisher and day-hiker and has recently rediscovered recreational tennis.

Presenters:

Kelly Schroeder

Mark Christensen

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Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82885429360?pwd=YJIk0AuVWa1VhhhbVJ7D8nv1cPS3p3.1

Meeting ID: 828 8542 9360

Passcode: WyoLove90

County Authority to Protect Water Quality – Implications of Warren Livestock decision

Summary:  Water has always been a precious resource in the West.  As it becomes scarcer, decisions about how to protect it become more important.  Given the large amount of unincorporated land in Wyoming, many activities affecting water quality fall outside city limits. 

 What authority do counties have to protect water quality?  Where does this authority come from?  What opportunities exist for cities to work with counties to protect water quality?   

The Wyoming Supreme Court recently upheld Albany County’s Aquifer Protection Overlay zoning regulations following a challenge by Warren Livestock, LLC and others.  Learn what this decision means for local government action to protect water quality.  Learn how the decision can support other county efforts to protect public health, safety and welfare. 

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Presenter Bios:

Sharon Buccino After practicing in Washington, DC for 25 years with a private firm, a national non-profit and the federal government, Ms. Buccino moved to Laramie, WY, to teach. Her expertise includes energy and environment, land use, public meeting/records and administrative law. She created the Civic Law Center in 2025 to help cities, counties and community groups understand the law and confidently operate within it. An active member of the Wyoming Bar, Sharon represents clients in court as well as in legislative and agency matters.

Sharon led the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement at the U.S. Department of the Interior. In her role at Interior, she worked with states to distribute $11 billion in infrastructure funds to coal communities to reclaim and repurpose abandoned mine lands. Recently, she has worked on stormwater issues for the City of Laramie and wastewater issues for Teton County.

Ms. Buccino serves as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Laramie and a board member of the Albany County Housing and Land Trust. In addition, she is the secretary of the board for the Continental Divide Trail Coalition and a previous board member of the YMCA of Arlington, VA.
www.civiclawcenter.com 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sbuccino7220/

David C. Gertsch, AICP has served as the Planning Director for Albany County, Wyoming since 2011. David has worked as a land use planner for over 18 years. He has participated in a number of initiatives during his tenor with Albany County. Recent projects include the adoption of the Laramie Growth Area Plan, the Albany County Natural Resource Management Plan, updating the Casper Aquifer Protection Plan, and updating the Aquifer Protection Overlay Zone regulations. 

Matthew Ayres Deputy Albany County & Prosecuting Attorney

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Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82885429360?pwd=YJIk0AuVWa1VhhhbVJ7D8nv1cPS3p3.1

Meeting ID: 828 8542 9360

Passcode: WyoLove90

Hot topics roundtable community discussion session about four hot topics in community planning. Presenters: Andrew Bowen, AICP; Katelyn Oage

Presenter: Melissa Ruth, AICP

Ethics Jeopardy is an interactive session that reintroduces the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Code of Ethics and its application in contemporary planning practice. Participants will explore ethics resources from the American Planning Association (APA), review recent ethics inquiry data, misconduct cases, and emerging trends, and examine equity within the Aspirational Principles. Through a Jeopardy-style team game, attendees will apply ethical reasoning to real-world planning challenges and strengthen their ability to integrate integrity, accountability, and equity into daily professional decision-making.

Presenter: Andrew Bowen, AICP