Colorado Springs City Council Regular Meeting - April 8, 2025

The Colorado Springs City Council held its regular meeting on April 8, 2025, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. The meeting included a consent calendar, public comments, discussion of several ordinances and resolutions, and recognitions for outgoing council members. Notable actions included the final passage of the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance, approval of a rezoning for senior affordable housing at Shiloh Mesa, and the decision to place the Karman Line Addition No. 6 annexation on a June 17, 2025 special election ballot.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance No. 25-41 dissolving the Public Art Commission of the Pikes Peak Region was finally passed.
• Ordinance No. 25-42 amending vehicle impoundment and illegal parking regulations was finally passed.
• Ordinance No. 25-44 excluding property from the Gold Hill North Business Improvement District was finally passed.
• Minutes of the March 25, 2025 City Council meeting were approved.
• Resolution No. 46-25 approving an Economic Development Agreement with Project Kokua was adopted.
• Resolution No. 47-25 authorizing First & Main Business Improvement District to issue Series 2025 Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds was adopted.
• Resolution No. 48-25 authorizing the use of eminent domain for the Marksheffel Road project (North Carefree to Dublin) was adopted.
• Item 4B.E: The petition for annexation of Woodmen Road Addition No. 3 was referred to City Administration for review.
• The consent calendar was approved by a vote of 8-0-1 (Councilmember Henjum excused), with three items pulled for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kenneth Kilty spoke (at the April 7 special meeting) about a barking dog citation.
• Lawrence Clark spoke against “corporatized human trafficking.”
• Dallas Whitewolf warned of imminent tsunami disasters.
• Veronica Baker, Katherine Czukas, Brooke Graves, and Renne Ludlam (COS Reads group) spoke against the closure of the Pikes Peak Library District Rockrimmon branch, criticizing the Board of Trustees and urging council action. Councilmember Donelson acknowledged the issue and committed to continuing advocacy.
• Lisa Bigelow (on behalf of Tim Leonard) opposed the inclusion of property into the Interquest North Business Improvement District (Item 4A.A), arguing it would be detrimental to the BID due to undisclosed costs and a conflict of interest because the property owner also serves on the BID board and holds its bonds.
• James Welch (representing the Enclaves at Shiloh Mesa HOA) opposed the height increase for the Sunrise at Shiloh Mesa project (Items 4A.D/4B.F), but supported the affordable senior housing concept.
• Dutch Schultz (Old North End Neighborhood) spoke in support of the ADU ordinance.
• Lisa Bigelow, Theresa Gazara, and Dana Dugan spoke in opposition to the ADU ordinance, citing home rule concerns, lack of infrastructure studies, and disregard for HOA covenants.

Discussion Items

• 4A.A – Interquest North BID Inclusion (Ordinance 25-40): Senior Planner Alison Stocker presented the request to include two parcels (5.44 acres) into the BID. Councilmember Donelson raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest because the property owner (David Jenkins) is also a BID board member and bondholder, and the costs and revenues for the inclusion were not clearly disclosed. Nicole Peykov (applicant) stated the average cost per lot is $600,000–$800,000 with annual revenue of $25,000–$65,000. Councilmember Leinweber noted that developer involvement on the board is common early in a district's life. The motion passed 6-2-1 (Donelson and Helms no; Henjum excused).
• 4A.D & 4B.F – Shiloh Mesa Rezone and Land Use Modification (Sunrise at Shiloh Mesa): Planning Supervisor Tamara Baxter presented the request to rezone 1.01 acre to allow a 50-unit senior affordable housing building (up to 50 feet height, 49.99 du/ac). The applicant (Lee Patke, Greccio Housing; Jim Anderson, Center for Strategic Ministry; Noah Brenner, Kimley-Horn) described design changes to address neighborhood concerns, including a flat roof, reduced height on the north end (40 feet average), and privacy screening. Councilmember Leinweber highlighted the need for diverse housing in the area. The zone change passed 8-0-1, and the land use modification passed 8-0-1 (Henjum excused).
• 10.A – Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) Ordinance (Ordinance 25-45): Daniel Sexton (Planning Manager) presented the final version, which includes a 16-foot height limit for detached ADUs (25 feet for garage conversions), public notice requirements, owner-occupancy affidavit, prohibition of short-term rentals, and retention of one off-street parking space. Councilmembers O’Malley and Donelson expressed concerns about state preemption of HOA authority, but City Attorney Trevor Gloss clarified the city does not regulate HOAs. Kevin Walker suggested a separate resolution to address home rule concerns. The ordinance passed 5-3-1 (Avila, Helms, Leinweber, Risley, Talarico aye; Crow-Iverson, Donelson, O’Malley no; Henjum excused).
• 10.B-D – Criminal Defense, Claims, and Housekeeping Ordinances: City Attorney Wynetta Massey presented three ordinances. 10.B (criminal defense for employees) passed 5-3-1; 10.C (claims and litigation settlements) passed 7-1-1; 10.D (housekeeping amendments) passed 7-1-1 (O’Malley voted no on all three; Henjum excused).
• 11.A – Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART) Committee Resolution: Michael Montgomery presented changes to increase citizen at-large representation and restrict voting members from receiving direct LART funding. Passed 8-0-1.
• 11.B – City Council Annual Report: Alex Ryden presented the report for April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025. Adopted 8-0-1.
• 11.C-E – Karman Line Annexation Referendum: Kevin Walker presented the reconsideration of Ordinance 25-16 (annexation of 1,876.24 acres). Councilmember Henjum raised water resource concerns. Councilmembers Helms, O’Malley, and others expressed support for letting voters decide, despite the estimated $500,000 cost. The motion to affirm the annexation passed 6-3-0 (Crow-Iverson, Donelson, Henjum no). Subsequently, Resolution 51-25 (ballot question) was adopted 8-1-0 (Risley no) with a concise ballot title: “Shall the voters approve Ordinance 25-16 concerning annexing that area known as Karman Line Addition Number 6... into the City of Colorado Springs?” The mail ballot plan was approved 8-1-0 (Risley no).
• Recognitions: Resolutions honoring Councilmembers Michelle Talarico, Mike O’Malley, Randy Helms, and Yolanda Avila for their service were each approved unanimously (8-0-1, Henjum excused). Speakers thanked each member for their dedication.

Key Outcomes

• Interquest North BID Inclusion (Ordinance 25-40): Finally passed (6-2-1).
• Sunrise at Shiloh Mesa Rezone (Ordinance 25-43): Finally passed (8-0-1).
• Shiloh Mesa Land Use Modification: Approved (8-0-1).
• ADU Ordinance (Ordinance 25-45): Finally passed (5-3-1).
• Criminal Defense for Employees (Ordinance 25-46): Finally passed (5-3-1).
• Claims and Litigation Settlements (Ordinance 25-47): Finally passed (7-1-1).
• Housekeeping Amendments (Ordinance 25-48): Finally passed (7-1-1).
• LART Committee Resolution (Resolution 49-25): Adopted (8-0-1).
• Annual Report Resolution (Resolution 50-25): Adopted (8-0-1).
• Karman Line Annexation Affirmed: Motion passed (6-3-0), triggering a special election.
• Karman Line Referendum Ballot Question (Resolution 51-25): Adopted (8-1-0) with a June 17, 2025 special election.
• Mail Ballot Plan for Special Election: Approved (8-1-0).
• Recognition Resolutions: Resolutions 52-25 (Talarico), 53-25 (O’Malley), 54-25 (Helms), and 55-25 (Avila) all adopted (8-0-1).