ROCK SPRINGS – A public hearing on change to the Rock Springs city ordinance dealing with hospital and medical office parking standards will take place Tuesday night at the Rock Springs City Council meeting. Later the proposed changes will go through first reading.
For two months, the Rock Springs Planning and Zoning Department and Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County have been negotiating to  get the standards changed. The hospital is looking at a possible expansion, specifically at adding an a ambulatory surgery center. The proposed expansion would add approximately 37,000 square feet of hospital use and 60,000 square feet of medical office building use.
The current parking standard for hospitals is 1.5 spacer per 1,000 square feet of floor area while Medical and Dental Offices are  5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area. Under the current standards, MHSC would have to add 922 parking spaces for the proposed expansion.
After two months, which also included a study of the use of the parking lot at MHSC, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a change. The change would lower medical office building parking to 3.6 spaces per 1,000 square feet. The hospital standard would stay at 1.5 spaces, however, the P & Z would have the ability to grant a reduction allowed if it can be demonstrated that the unusual character of the use lowers the anticipated need for off-street parking.
The commission felt there was a need for a change the ordinance after the 30-day parking study at MHSC showed the parking spaces currently available were not being fully utilized. The study was done at peak times at MHSC and at the highest point, only 74 percent of the spaces were used and that was only on two specific days. The majority of the days were under 60 percent use.
The proposed changes will go through three readings at the council level before action will be taken.
Event and Alcohol Requests
There are only two alcohol permits request at the Tuesday meeting. The first is a request from Ascencion Pichardo for a malt beverage permit for a Mexican Dance on Nov. 1 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Sweetwater Events Complex.
The second request is also for an event at the complex. The council will take action on a request from Frank Lew, doing business as the Astro Lounge, Inc., for four liquor catering permits for the Ink Fest. If approved, the permits would be good October 9 through October 12 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the complex.
Parks and Recreation
The council will look at two requests from the Rock Springs Parks and Recreation Division. The first is for playground equipment while the second is for grants from the Sweetwater County Joint Travel and Tourism Board for three events.
In his request to council, Park and Recreation Director Dave Lansang explained they have the opportunity to apply for grant funding through the Wyoming Community Foundation – Larsen Fund. This fund provides support for equipment and amenities in Rock Springs, specially for the enjoyment of children. The grant does not require any matching funds.
Lansang said the hope is to request the funds to replace the playground structure at Palisades Park. The park is the last on the list of many playgrounds that the parks department identified as needing upgrades approximately seven years ago.
The second request it to allow the department to apply for Travel and Tourism grants for the Drop-In Hockey Tournament, the Shootout in the Springs Basketball Tournament and the Wind and Mud Co-ed Hockey Tournament.
Board Appointments
There will be several board appointments voted on Tuesday night. They include Lee Clark for first term on the Building Code Appeals Board, Christine Garbett for first term on the Community Fine Arts Center Advisory Board, Bridget Renteria for first term on the Joint Travel & Tourism Board, Lynne Demshar for a third term on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Kelby Kramer for first term on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
The council will also look at appointed a new Historical Preservation Commission. The initial appointments have no defined terms and include Chad Banks, Joselin Mendiola, Jana Pastor and David Tate.
Proclamations and Presentations
There are also several proclamations and presentations on the Tuesday night agenda. Proclamations include Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Fire Prevention Week and Cowboys against Cancer.
Dave Hanks and Kayla McDonald  of  the Rock Springs Chamber Business Development will give the council an update on their recent happenings. Later in the meeting, the council will take action on purchasing the Chamber of Commerce Building for $10 dollars.
The purchase is due to grant requirements as the chamber will start going through several upgrades includes the long awaited public restroom addition. The grants specify the city must own the building to receive the money. One the upgrades are done, the building will be sold back to the Rock Springs Chamber.
The final presentation on the agenda is Americans with Disabilities upgrade requests at Kiwanis Ballfields from Mary Louise Johnson.
Budget changes
The council will also vote on a proposed budget amendment. The proposed amendment would move $122,286 from the general fund – undesignated fund balance. If approved it would move 106,601 for parks improvements and $15,685 to the Public Services Department for consulting and technical support.
There was a budget amendment approved at the last council meeting which moved $200,000. Councilman Clark Stith questioned the move of the money which would be used for real estate purchases. It was explained this money would be used to look at purchasing property around Bunning Park.
