CHEYENNE - By year's end, gabbing your cell phone while behind the wheel and storing your oversized camper on the street may earn you a ticket here in the Capitol City.

Last week, the mayor and councilmembers were asked what they hoped to accomplish this year.

Some had new ordinances in mind. Others were hoping to button up ongoing projects, such as getting restrooms built on Cheyenne Depot Square and a successful sixth-penny ballot to fund a community and recreation center.

On top of those projects, terms will be up for six of nine council members and the mayor: Mayor Jack Spiker and Councilmen Jimmy Valdez, Pete Laybourn, Patrick Collins, Tom Segrave, Don Pierson and Jim Brown. All the possible incumbents - except Laybourn, who will not grant interviews to the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle - will say for now is they are undecided about running again.

Here is what they had to say about 2008:

Mayor

Spiker said his main goal was to get the sixth penny approved to build a new community and recreation center, and begin construction on that.

He still wants to build a skywalk from the former Union Pacific depot to the roundhouse. He plans to resume discussions with the railroad this year.

Ward 1

Councilwoman Judy Case said she would like to see her fellow councilmen follow the ordinances as written. Her concern lies with how the council follows Robert's Rules of Order, which is their official guide, by ordinance, to govern meetings.

Last year, she authored legislation to purge a rule that allows the council to reintroduce a failed motion at the following meeting - without giving public notice.

The council voted it down, saying they liked the option to quickly rectify misguided votes.

Collins did indicate a compromise is on the way - he wants to add a public notice component to the rule.

Case also took aim at the proposed recreation center by pointing out the past sixth-penny projects that were not done yet, namely replacing the Norris Viaduct - delayed by property acquisition and a sharp, upward spike in steel costs - and rebuilding and realigning of Walterscheid Boulevard.

However, councilmen indicated these projects were on track to be finished this year.

"We have not accomplished what the voters asked for," Case said. "Infrastructure is far, far more important to the citizens than having a top-heavy recreation department. ... We're beginning to be out of balance, I think."

Valdez would like to look into beefing up security at the Municipal Building by adding metal detectors and cameras. The county courthouse and federal buildings have them, he said.

"You never know what's going to happen," Valdez said. "I think it's a good idea. ...I know it's expensive, but someday, we'll have to move forward and do that. Why not do it now?"

Also, when the Norris Viaduct is rebuilt, he plans to organize a contest for local schoolchildren to rename it and raise money for a savings bond for the winning school.

He would like to promote use of the city's latest acquisition of the Taco John's Ice and Events Center.

Valdez also said Romero Park will start taking shape. Softball fields are coming, and the old Kiwanis building will be remodeled into a teen center.

Laybourn's goals and plans are not known; again, he won't talk to the WTE.

Ward 2

Councilman Dr. Mark Rinne said he plans another look at downtown design guidelines.

Last year, the council voted down that controversial ordinance after hours of input from business and property owners.

Before Rinne introduces the next incarnation, he plans to spend more time talking to business owners. They may be supportive if they realize how flexible they are, he said.

"At this point it's just a matter of building consensus and explaining," Rinne said. "If there still isn't support from council, there's no use in going though that again."

Segrave hopes for the successful passage of the projects on the sixth-penny ballot, especially the $55 million recreation center. This election is scheduled for May 6.

"My goal this year is to get things finished," he said. "Button them up. Get them done."

He listed several projects.

- Finishing the Cheyenne Depot Square by building restroom facilities.

- Rebuild, expand and realign Walterscheid Boulevard: "That's a road project that's been lingering."

He said it was stalled because the engineering firm hired to design it was bought out, and property acquisition took longer than expected.

- Finalize the master plan for the Belvoir Ranch.

- Get clearance from Veterans Affairs to develop land on Dell Range Boulevard and Windmill Drive.

Councilman Patrick Collins did not return phone calls for this article.

Ward 3

Councilman Jim Brown has been working on an ordinance banning the use of a cell phone while driving, though hands-free devices would be OK. It may be introduced to the council in March.

"I drive around the city so much in a day's time," Brown said, "I'm constantly stuck behind someone on a cell phone. I think they drastically contribute to accidents."

Before that goes to council for a vote, he said that Police Chief Bob Fecht suggested they collect some data. Starting July 1, 2007, the police department's accident forms now ask if the driver was using a cell phone.

Brown also says it's time to start thinking about a new facility for the police department. Parking is limited at the current building, and the state could probably make better use of it. He also wants to expand parking for the east side of downtown.

Councilwoman Georgia Broyles wants to know how people feel about a ban on storing large vehicles on streets.

This isn't new for Cheyenne - newer developments such as Bar X and The Pointe have covenants.

On one hand, people who endlessly park their RVs and trailers on the street are impeding visibility - it's a safety issue. At the same time, there are property rights.

"There's a difference between storing and parking," Broyles said. "I believe there are certain times when it should be allowed."

She said she wants to hear from as many as possible. She won't write anything until she's researched the issue.

She'd like to toughen the current penalties for dog bites and dogs on the loose to give municipal judges more discrepancy in levying fines and force first-time offenders to appear in court.

Broyles also had a list of goals and upcoming projects. Here are some:

- Use contingency funds to increase lighting at the shelter at United Nations Park in hopes of decreasing vandalism.

- Increase security at the skate park, because graffiti and vandalism have become "a very serious problem."

"We have a lot of young kids using that facility and they don't need to see some of the things that are written," Broyles said.

- A girls' softball field will be converted from an existing baseball field at Converse Avenue.

"They've not only waited their turn, but they waited long enough," Broyles said.

- In her capacity as a social worker for Laramie County School District 1, Broyles plans to hold training sessions on how parents can keep their children safe if their neighbors are registered sex offenders.

"I was amazed at how many there are (in Cheyenne), particularly in Ward 3," Broyles said. "It's frightening."

Pierson has been nominated to serve as the council's president in 2008.

If the Jan. 14 council vote goes that way, he plans to hold a work session with the council to make a list of their top goals.

Other than that, the councilman who brought forth the smoking ban ordinance in 2006 has nothing planned.