Plans for renewal in an area near downtown are one formal vote away from approval.

The Casper City Council will vote tonight for the final time to change in zoning and design guidelines in the Old Yellowstone District, an area wedged between downtown and Poplar Street. The council has already approved the changes twice.

The proposal was initially met with many questions, concerns and dissent from property and business owners in the area who feared the changes would harm their businesses. After nearly one year of discussion and meetings, council members said they hope the plan will work to everyone's benefit.

If the changes are approved for the final time, the council will form an advisory committee of three businesses or property owners from the area, two Planning and Zoning Commission members and two city council members.

Changes to downtown parking is also on the agenda for tonight.

The downtown parking committee proposed four changes to current regulations, including creating a loading and unloading zone in front of the Wyoming National Bank Apartments and instituting a two-hour handicapped parking limit.

The committee also proposed increasing existing fines from $5 for a first offense, $10 for the second and $20 for the third to $10 for the first, $20 for the second and $30 for the third.

Lastly, the parking committee, which includes representatives from the Downtown Development Authority, downtown businesses and the Casper Police Department, recommended creating a "no parking area" from 2:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. between the east side of Durbin Street, the former Chicago Northwest Railroad right-of-way, the west side of Ash Street and the north side of First Street.

The council will also vote for the first of three needed approvals on the budget proposal for fiscal year 2008-09. The budget, which includes a 6.5 percent pay increase for city employees, will also allocate more than $400,000 in police grants and increase $200,000 to the Casper Events Center to cover costs for increased show activity.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com



To attend

The Casper City Council meeting will be at 6 p.m. tonight in City Hall, 200 N. David St.