Colorado Springs City Council Regular Meeting – July 22, 2025

A regular meeting of the Colorado Springs City Council was held on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, from 9:04 AM to 10:49 AM in Council Chambers. The council addressed a consent calendar, board appointments, a retirement resolution for the city attorney, a mayoral veto override regarding the retail marijuana sales tax special fund, a postponement of a business improvement district budget, and a public art ordinance. Nine council members were present (Bailey, Crow-Iverson, Donelson, Gold, Henjum, Leinweber, Rainey Jr., Risley, Williams), with Councilmember Leinweber attending virtually.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance No. 25-60 (Second Reading): Rezoned 7.33 acres southwest of Bradley Landing Blvd and Legacy Hill Dr from PDZ/AP-O to PK/AP-O (Public Park with Airport Overlay). Finally passed.
• Ordinance No. 25-61: Approved a Standby Bond Purchase Agreement with Computershare Trust Company and TD Bank for previously issued Utilities System Revenue Bonds. Finally passed.
• Ordinance No. 25-62: Authorized the issuance of Utilities System Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2025c/2026a/2026b, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $225,000,000. Finally passed.
• Ordinance No. 25-63: Authorized the issuance of Utilities System Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2025a (up to $700,000,000) and Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2025b (up to $55,000,000). Finally passed.
• Ordinance No. 25-64: Amended Section 409 of the City Code to allow the City Attorney to appoint Hearing Officers. Finally passed.
• Meeting Minutes (July 8, 2025): Approved.
• Resolution No. 91-25: Quarterly recognition for City Employee Retirees (Q2 2025). Approved.
• Resolution No. 92-25: Authorized an Intergovernmental Agreement with the United States Air Force Academy for Monument Creek Watershed and Habitat Restoration Services. Adopted.
• Resolution No. 93-25: Approved Overlook Mutual Water Company Settlement and Augmentation Agreement. Adopted.
• Resolution No. 94-25: Established the Restoration Of Yield (ROY) Water Authority through an intergovernmental agreement. Approved.
• Resolution No. 95-25: Authorized a Regional Wastewater Treatment Service Agreement between Colorado Springs Utilities and Cheyenne Mountain Estates. Adopted.
• Ordinance No. 25-65 (First Reading): Rezoned 2,163 square feet at 10 South 23rd Street from R-2 to MX-N, setting a public hearing for August 12, 2025. Approved on first reading.
• All consent items passed unanimously by a 9-0 vote.

Recognitions

• City Council Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees: The council approved one appointment to the El Paso-Teller County 911 Authority Board (Deputy Chief Jeff Jensen, CSPD). Councilmember Henjum expressed appreciation for his service. Motion passed 9-0.
• Resolution of Appreciation for Wynetta Massey: Mayor Yemi Mobolade, Acting City Attorney Marc Smith, and Deputy City Attorney Tracy Lessig recognized outgoing City Attorney Wynetta Massey for 35 years, 4 months, and 4 days of service. Massey expressed gratitude for her career and the city attorney’s office team. Councilmembers and Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Travas Deal also thanked her. The resolution was adopted 9-0.

Unfinished Business

• Mayoral Veto Override – Ordinance No. 25-59: Council considered overriding the mayor's veto of Ordinance No. 25-59, which aimed to amend the retail marijuana sales tax special fund to allow expenditures for mental health and veteran services (two of three buckets approved by voters in 2022). Councilmember Henjum asked for details on a proposed subcommittee framework; Deputy City Council Administrator Michael Montgomery said no details were yet determined. Chief of Staff Jamie Fabos stated the administration preferred to address funding through the regular budget process. Councilmember Donelson argued the ordinance was unnecessary since council could already form a subcommittee. Councilmember Risley supported the ordinance as an additional tool for future councils. Councilmember Henjum advocated including those who collect the tax in any committee. After debate, a motion to override the veto passed 6-3 (Aye: Bailey, Crow-Iverson, Leinweber, Rainey Jr., Risley, Williams; No: Donelson, Gold, Henjum). The veto was therefore overridden, enacting Ordinance No. 25-59.

New Business

• MW Retail Business Improvement District (BID) – Amended 2025 Operating Plan and Budget (Item 10.A): At the applicant’s request, the council postponed this item to the August 12, 2025 meeting. Motion passed 9-0.
• Public Art Ordinance (Item 10.B): Planning Manager Daniel Sexton presented an ordinance amending Chapter 7 (Unified Development Code) to remove references to the disbanded Public Art Commission and add criteria for staff review of public art as a substitute for façade articulation. Councilmember Donelson moved to strike the language allowing artwork as a substitute for façade articulation, arguing it could circumvent design requirements. The motion failed for lack of a second. During discussion, councilmembers Bailey, Henjum, Risley, and Williams expressed support for the ordinance as presented, noting it preserved flexibility for Planned Development Zone (PDZ) developers and that council retains final authority in PDZ cases. The ordinance was approved on first reading by a 9-0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Charles Barber: Spoke on analytical geometry and geomagnetic field changes, suggesting a link to climate change. Councilmember Rainey acknowledged the science.
• Jessica Leiver: Expressed gratitude for council’s attention to the closure of the Rockrimmon Library and urged thoughtful appointment to the PPLD Board of Trustees, citing transparency concerns.
• Lawrence Clark: Criticized City Auditor Natalie Lovell for not obtaining a CPA certification, arguing it undermines integrity.
• EmRhys Jenkins: Addressed misconceptions about homelessness, stating city officials sometimes use misleading data (e.g., point-in-time count) to downplay the problem.
• Lee Brooks: Proposed implementing martial arts in schools to empower children and prevent trafficking; also advocated for temporary pallet/shipping container shelters for the homeless, citing examples in Denver and Castle Rock.
• Gavin Rainey: Opposed the potential opening of a migrant detention center in Colorado Springs, citing humanitarian and economic concerns, and urged council to speak out against it.
• Kyle Ripple: Inquired about completion of South Academy construction and requested repaving of Mallard and Fountain streets. City Engineer Gail Sturdevant (online) stated the final segment of South Academy is out for bid, with construction expected to start Q4 2025 and last about two years. Councilmember Donelson offered to connect Ripple with staff for more details.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: All 12 items approved unanimously (9-0).
• Board Appointments: Approved 9-0 (El Paso-Teller 911 Authority Board).
• Retirement Resolution for Wynetta Massey: Adopted 9-0.
• Veto Override (Ordinance 25-59): Passed 6-3, overriding the mayor's veto and enacting the ordinance.
• MW Retail BID Budget: Postponed to August 12, 2025 (9-0).
• Public Art Ordinance: Approved on first reading 9-0; second reading and public hearing will be scheduled.
• Citizen Comments: No council action taken on citizen topics; some matters were referred to staff for follow-up.