The City of Casper is working on a plan to develop the Old Yellowstone District between downtown and Poplar Street south of First Street.

The Amoco Reuse Agreement Joint Powers Board is working on plans to market the former refinery property now known as the Platte Commons and the former tank farm site now known as the Salt Creek Heights.

In a few months, the two groups will know enough to determine whether they can help each other, their representatives said Monday at Casper City Hall.

After the Citizens for a Civic Auditorium in September abandoned its plans - and a match of $7.5 million from the joint powers board - to build a 1,000-seat performance hall on a 14-acre site on the Platte Commons, the board has been assessing its future.

In the late 1990s, the board received a pledge of $20 million from Amoco successor BP as part of the remediation of the site and passed a resolution setting aside $5 million as a reserve, later adding that 75 percent of that amount may be used to help fund projects in the Old Yellowstone District.

Some board members have cautioned that the money from BP, which will amount to a total of about $15.8 million by 2011, must last the remaining 94 years of the 99-year lease of the site.

But the city would like some of that money, too, which also could draw business and fun-seekers to the Platte Commons.

"There's still the expectation that all or part of it (the $5 million) would be available for a project," Casper City Manager Tom Forslund said. "If the board doesn't set aside some money, council will be concerned."

The joint powers board isn't ruling out helping the city, but it has to consider long-term maintenance, a possible $2 million renovation of the Amoco administration building, and marketing and investing in projects that will make money, responded its Chairman Mark Pepper.

"Our fear is you guys are going to ask for that money and we don't know if we're going to have it," Pepper said.

In a few months, the board will know whether it can make a commitment to the Old Yellowstone District even if all the money hasn't arrived from BP, he said.

Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at Tom.Morton@trib.com.