Colorado Springs City Council Regular Meeting - April 22, 2025

The Colorado Springs City Council met on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by President Lynette Crow-Iverson with all nine council members present. The meeting included recognitions, a consent calendar, a first reading for a rezoning ordinance, and one hour of citizen discussion. The meeting adjourned at 10:34 AM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The Council approved the minutes from the Special City Council Meeting on April 7, 2025, the Regular Meeting on April 8, 2025, and the Special Meeting on April 15, 2025, as part of the consent calendar. (Motion by Councilmember Gold, second by Councilmember Risley, passed 9-0.)
• Item 4B.D. Removed: Councilmember Dave Donelson requested the removal of item 4B.D. (rezoning at 3103 North Prospect Street) from the consent calendar for separate discussion, which was agreed upon by consensus.

Recognitions

5.A. Small Business Week (May 5–9, 2025)

• Councilmember Kimberly Gold read Resolution No. 57-25, recognizing May 5–9, 2025, as Small Business Week in the Pikes Peak Region. The resolution noted that Colorado Springs has approximately 74,287 small businesses, representing 98.7% of all businesses in the metropolitan area.
• Speakers:
  • Lauren Shakes, Associate Director of the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center (SBDC), expressed appreciation for small businesses and community partners.
  • Joe Reagan, Director of the Colorado Veteran Business Outreach Center, highlighted the role of military spouses in small businesses.
  • Craig Harley, Vice President of Membership at the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Center, described how the Chamber supports small businesses.
• Councilmembers Crow-Iverson and Gold expressed appreciation for small businesses. The motion to adopt the resolution passed 9-0.

5.B. National Volunteer Week (April 20–26, 2025)

• Councilmember David Leinweber read Resolution No. 56-25, designating April 20–26, 2025, as National Volunteer Week.
• Key Statistics (presented by Britt Haley, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services):
  • Over 7,000 volunteers contributed approximately 170,000 hours of service in 2024 across airport, public safety, stormwater, and parks systems.
  • Colorado Springs Airport: 51 volunteers, 2,856 hours.
  • Public Safety CAPS program: 180+ volunteers, 41,040 hours (valued at $1.5 million).
  • Stormwater Enterprise: 904 volunteers, 2,400 hours, removed 28.9 tons of litter.
  • Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services: 3,884 volunteers, 123,067 hours.
  • City Council-appointed boards: 100+ volunteers, thousands of hours.
  • Total value at $36.36/hour: over $6.1 million.
• Speakers:
  • Britt Haley highlighted volunteer contributions across departments.
  • Councilmember Leinweber noted mental health benefits of volunteering.
  • Citizens Ethan Jacobs and Catherine Czukas expressed appreciation.
  • Jim Lovewell, Assistant Director of Colorado Springs Airport, thanked airport ambassadors.
  • Councilmembers Williams and Gold conveyed appreciation for volunteers.
• Motion to adopt passed 9-0.

5.C. City Council Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees

• Appointments were made to the Fire Board of Appeals, the Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART) Citizen Advisory Committee, and the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department Board of Review. Councilmember Risley and Councilmember Henjum expressed appreciation for the volunteers. Motion passed 8-0-1 (Councilmember Leinweber absent).

Discussion Items

4B.D. First Reading – Rezoning at 3103 North Prospect Street (Prospect Village)

• Purpose: First reading only to set a public hearing for May 13, 2025, for an ordinance to rezone 0.78 acres (34,048 square feet) from R-5 (Multi-Family High) to R-Flex High to facilitate a proposed tiny home community.
• Presentation: William Gray, Senior Planner, presented the request. The Planning Commission had already approved the rezoning unanimously. The project includes 18 tiny houses, a community building, parking, and landscaping. The developer is requesting adjustments to setback (from 20 to 10 feet), separation (from 10 to 6 feet), parking (from 1 to 0.5 spaces per unit), and minimum lot area (from 1,000 to 690 square feet).
• Councilmember Positions:
  • Councilmember Donelson requested that quasi-judicial rezones not be placed on the consent calendar in the future to ensure public awareness. He provided a summary of the project and noted the development standard adjustments.
  • Councilmember Risley clarified that the item had already undergone a robust public process, including Planning Commission review.
  • Councilmember Henjum stated the item had been noticed appropriately and that more information would be provided at the public hearing.
• Motion by Councilmember Henjum, second by Councilmember Risley, to approve the ordinance on first reading and set the public hearing for May 13, 2025, at 9:00 AM. Passed 9-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rachel Knapp spoke about the need to revise the noisy pet ordinance (6.7.115), citing inconsistent enforcement and a 10-minute barking standard. Councilmember Henjum indicated she is working on a related ordinance with the Humane Society and would involve Ms. Knapp.
• Lawrence Clark spoke against human trafficking, criticized the distribution of Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART), and alleged that the Broadmoor hotel comped $8.1 million, calling for that money to go to the city.
• Kat Gale spoke against the one-hour limit on citizen discussion, against noise from the Ford Amphitheater (citing PTSD triggers), and against Dora Gonzalez as chair of the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) board. She urged enforcement of noise laws.
• Veronica Baker opposed new public comment restrictions (one-hour limit, no call-in option, moving citizen discussion to the end), arguing they discourage engagement and limit accessibility for caregivers and people with disabilities.
• Karla Powers invited citizens to the opening of the interim Rockrimmon Branch library and spoke about the need for remote comment options due to caregiving responsibilities.
• Joe Pelka opposed the public comment restrictions, asking the council to reconsider and citing the "SNF test" (appearance of impropriety).
• Catherine Czukas requested a fixed time for citizen discussion, suggesting 1:00 PM, and noted that the one-hour cap and lack of fixed time harm caregivers.
• Ethan Jacobs spoke about the need for harmony and against train noise in downtown, requesting a quiet zone.
• Dallas Whitewolf spoke about the need for assistance for people experiencing homelessness and mental health issues, describing outreach with Hope COS.
• Christie Morgan spoke about the loss of her goat, Jameson, and criticized animal law enforcement for lack of oversight, body cameras, and accountability. She requested a proper investigation.
• At the end of the meeting, Councilmember Donelson stated his disagreement with the council's recent changes to citizen discussion rules, including moving it to the end, the one-hour limit (though it has always been in rules), removing remote comment, and removing the ability to cede time. He recommended revisiting those changes.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved minutes from April 7, 8, and 15, 2025. (9-0)
• Resolution 57-25: Adopted recognizing Small Business Week May 5–9, 2025. (9-0)
• Resolution 56-25: Adopted recognizing National Volunteer Week April 20–26, 2025. (9-0)
• Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees: Approved 8-0-1 (Leinweber absent).
• Rezoning Ordinance (4B.D.): Approved on first reading; public hearing set for May 13, 2025, at 9:00 AM. (9-0)
• No other business: No Mayor's Business, Utilities Business, Unfinished Business, New Business, Public Hearing, Added Items, or Executive Session.