Colorado Springs City Council Regular Meeting – May 27, 2025

The Colorado Springs City Council met on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. The meeting included recognitions, consent calendar items, unfinished business, new business, public hearings, and citizen discussion. Key actions included the adoption of resolutions honoring D-Day and Historic Preservation Month, the rejection of a PPLD Board appointment, approval of park land acquisition and bond issuances, a resolution opposing state housing mandates, and multiple zoning map amendments.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The minutes from the May 13, 2025 regular meeting were approved unanimously (9-0).
• Appointments to PPRTA and Fountain Creek Watershed Board: Approved as part of the consent calendar (9-0).
• Items Called Off: Items 4B.B. (Cumbre Vista Park Extension resolution) and 4B.C. (PLDO supplemental appropriation ordinance) were pulled at the request of citizen Carol Beckman and considered separately.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Cumbre Vista Park Extension: Carol Beckman spoke in opposition, citing the need for sustainable park funding and noting that parks funding as a percentage of the general fund has dropped from 8.4% in 2008 to 4.4% in 2025. She urged the council to consider park impact fees.
• Royal Pine Apartments (Item 9.B.): Five citizens (Sarah Markham, Tim Lewan, Laura Wilkey, Grant Decker, Georgia Wunsch) spoke in opposition. Concerns included insufficient parking (264 spots for 232 units, only 14% over unit count), potential crime, lack of public transit access, and overcrowded schools. Speakers argued the project would create more problems than it solves.
• Resolution Opposing Executive Order (Item 10.A.): Three citizens (Janette Capron of HNP, Lisa Bigelow, Dutch Schultz of Old North End Neighborhood Association) spoke in support. They argued the order is an unconstitutional intrusion on home rule authority and urged the city to join a lawsuit filed by six other municipalities.
• Parkside Historic District (Item 11.D.): One citizen (Mike Anderson, Old North End Neighborhood Association) spoke in favor, noting it would be the first HP-O in 18 years and that less than 0.2% of city land has such protection.
• General Citizen Discussion: Julia Melendez spoke about trash and needles in Cheyenne Creek in the Ivywild neighborhood; Jaymen Johnson proposed replacing fireworks with drone shows for the Fourth of July; Lee Brooks expressed appreciation for council and asked for wildlife-friendly plantings; Dallas Whitewolf urged a shift in values toward community self-reliance.

Discussion Items

• Recognition – D-Day: Councilmember Donelson presented a resolution honoring the 81st anniversary of D-Day (June 6, 1944), noting 2,501 Americans died on that day, and that the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson landed on Utah Beach. Adopted 9-0.
• Recognition – Historic Preservation Month: Councilmembers Henjum and Gold read the resolution designating May as Historic Preservation Month. Christine Lowenberg (HPB Chair) highlighted the first Saving Places conference held in Colorado Springs and the upcoming Historic Resource Survey Plan. Adopted 9-0.
• Appointments to PPLD Board of Trustees (Item 5.C.): Kaname “Kenny” Kuniyuki was proposed. Councilmember Henjum explained he was her fourth choice out of seven based on a rubric. Citizens opposed due to his short residency (15 months), lack of financial expertise on library budgets, and the perceived lack of transparency in the selection process. Kuniyuki stated he could not commit to never closing neighborhood libraries. Motion to adopt failed 3-6.
• Cumbre Vista Park Extension (Items 4B.B. and 4B.C.): Lonna Thelen presented the resolution and ordinance to acquire 5.75 acres from School District 20 for $794,740 through the PLDO program. Councilmember Leinweber noted the deferred maintenance backlog is approximately $300 million. Both items passed 9-0.
• Royal Pine Apartments (Item 9.B.): Aimee Cox presented the second reading of an ordinance authorizing up to $60 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds for a 232-unit development. 90% of units are for households earning 60-70% of AMI ($67,500–$78,750 for a family of four). The project did not require a zoning change. A motion to postpone failed for lack of a second. Final passage passed 8-1 (Donelson opposed).
• Resolution Opposing Executive Order D 2025-005 (Item 10.A.): Councilmember Risley read the resolution opposing the governor's order and related state housing laws as unconstitutional intrusions on home rule. Councilmembers argued the city has already made progress on housing without state mandates. Jamie Fabos (Chief of Staff) stated the administration opposed the resolution, warning it could jeopardize up to $20 million in state grants. President Crow-Iverson noted the governor cannot arbitrarily withhold funding. The resolution passed 7-2 (Gold and Henjum opposed).
• Fillmore Place Right-of-Way Vacation (Item 10.B.): An ordinance to vacate 0.034 acres (1,900 sq ft) of unimproved right-of-way at 2938 Main Street to resolve a building encroachment from 1953. No public comment. Passed 9-0.
• Zoning Map Amendments (Items 11.A. and 11.B.): Rezoning of two parcels (0.41 acres at 1222 N Academy Blvd and 0.35 acres at 1202 N Academy Blvd) from R-5 and MX-M to MX-M to eliminate split zoning. No public comment. Item 11.A. passed 8-0-1 (Donelson absent); Item 11.B. passed 9-0.
• Zoning Map Amendment – 2024 E Boulder St (Item 11.C.): Rezoning 0.39 acres from R-4 and MX-M to R-Flex Medium for future development of three duplexes. Councilmember Risley noted it provides a good transition between commercial and residential uses. Passed 9-0.
• Parkside Historic District (Item 11.D.): Ordinance establishing an HP-O on 4.15 acres (14 parcels) between N Cascade Ave and Monument Valley Park. All property owners consented. The district covers homes spanning seven decades of architecture. The motion included a condition approving design standards with reference to the Old North End Interpretive Guide and Secretary of the Interior Standards. Passed 9-0.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution No. 67-25: Adopted honoring June 6, 1944 as D-Day (9-0).
• Resolution No. 68-25: Adopted designating May as Historic Preservation Month (9-0).
• PPLD Board Appointment: Failed (3-6); the joint committee will nominate a new candidate.
• Resolution No. 66-25: Adopted authorizing the acquisition of 5.75 acres for Cumbre Vista Park Extension through PLDO (9-0).
• Ordinance (First Reading): Approved for PLDO supplemental appropriation of $794,740 for Cumbre Vista Park Extension (9-0).
• Ordinance No. 25-55: Finally passed for LART supplemental appropriation of $194,000 (9-0).
• Ordinance No. 25-56: Finally passed authorizing up to $60 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds for Royal Pine Apartments (8-1).
• Resolution No. 69-25: Adopted opposing Executive Order D 2025-005 and related state housing laws, reasserting home rule (7-2).
• Ordinance No. 25-50: Finally passed vacating a portion of Fillmore Place right-of-way (9-0).
• Ordinance No. 25-51: Finally passed rezoning 1222 N Academy Blvd to MX-M (8-0-1).
• Ordinance No. 25-52: Finally passed rezoning 1202 N Academy Blvd to MX-M (9-0).
• Ordinance No. 25-53: Finally passed rezoning 2024 E Boulder St to R-Flex Medium (9-0).
• Ordinance No. 25-54: Finally passed establishing the Parkside Historic District HP-O, with condition approving design standards (9-0).
• Meeting Adjourned: 3:32 PM.