City of Colorado Springs Work Session - January 12, 2026

The City of Colorado Springs City Council convened for a work session to discuss critical public safety training programs, police recruitment and retention strategies, and the ongoing assessment of the city's park and open space system. Key topics included the Colorado Wildfire Incident Management Academy's impact on the local economy and safety, an update on police department staffing challenges and hiring metrics, and a comprehensive review of public engagement survey results regarding park usage and needs. The session concluded with legislative reviews and a movement to an executive session regarding legal advice on residency restrictions and a litigation settlement.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of City Council Work Session Minutes from December 8, 2025, with no changes.
• Approval of a limited second amendment to the service plan for the Bradley Heights Metro Districts, two, and three, adding maintenance of internal alleyways to the scope of services (Councilmember Bailey confirmed this request originated from the affected districts, not the City).
• Adoption of the Pikes Peak Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan updated for 2026 to maintain federal grant eligibility.
• Approval of the Agenda Planner Review with no changes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Note: No formal public comments section was recorded in this transcript; public input was integrated into the presentation discussions via surveys and engagement data.

Discussion Items

Colorado Wildfire Incident Management Academy

Speaker: Scott Morrill (Liaison Officer), Bill Wan (Incident Commander), Wendy Fisher (Agency Administrator), Shelley Olson (PIO). Discussion: The Academy, now in its 32nd year in Colorado Springs, was presented as a premier training facility that mirrors real-world incident command structures. The program hosts students from 34 states, with 1,000 attendees estimated to have an economic impact of over $1 million on the community.

• Positions: The speakers expressed that the Academy provides a tangible investment in future firefighter readiness and regional leadership. Councilmember Henjam asked about critical public knowledge regarding wildland firefighters; Wan noted the singular focus on wildland fire and the physical/stress challenges of the role, while Olson emphasized that there are "not enough of us" to be in every neighborhood, urging the public to perform mitigation around their homes.
• Safety Concerns: Councilmember Gold raised concerns about occupational hazards, specifically cancer. Wan acknowledged recent research from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control indicating that wildland firefighters face cancer risks comparable to, or potentially higher than, structure firefighters due to the inability to wear SCBA masks in forest environments.

Police Department Recruitment and Training Academy Update

Speakers: Chief Adrian Vasquez, Director Heather Edwards. Discussion: The department reported 729 sworn applicants for the July 2026 Academy, a significant increase from previous years. Councilmember Henjam inquired about the partnership with Pikes Peak State College (PPSC). Edwards clarified that while PPSC allows academy coursework to count toward the 60 college credit requirement, there is no automatic pipeline; graduates must still pass CSPD's specific testing and background processes.

• Positions/Concerns: Councilmember Donaldson questioned the necessity of the 60-credit requirement versus work experience; Chief Vasquez stated the department is "mulling over" whether to remove the requirement entirely but notes the pool is currently increasing with the current alternative program. Councilmember Lineweber asked about community engagement improvements; Chief Vasquez highlighted the role of technology (real-time translation, body-worn camera transparency) in rebuilding trust post-2020.
• Retention & Turnover: Councilmember Rainey asked about specialized retention programs beyond Prop 130 bonuses; Edwards confirmed no long-term investment program exists other than city-wide longevity pay. The department reported a turnover rate dropping below 10% in 2025, with the majority of early exits (6 of 10) occurring during the probationary period due to "emotional intelligence" and "officer safety" issues.
• SRO Demand: Councilmember Ramie asked about increasing School Resource Officer (SRO) placements; Chief Vasquez expressed a strong desire to add SROs but cited current staffing constraints as the limiting factor.

Park System Master Plan Assessment

Speakers: Jeremy Kuhn (Kimley Horn), Nick (Consultant), Kim King (Acting Director Parks), Lanai Thielen (Parks Dept). Discussion: The assessment phase of the Park System Master Plan has been completed, utilizing statistically valid surveys and community events to reach non-users. Councilmember Banney expressed concern about the validity of data reaching non-users; the presenters confirmed the use of random, stratified household sampling to mitigate echo chamber bias.

• Positions/Concerns: Councilmember Bailey and Rainey expressed discomfort with the term "culturally responsive parks." Bailey preferred "responsive to the community," and Rainey sought clarification on the diversity data, which was confirmed as citywide 2010-2020 census data showing an 8% increase in the "two or more races" category.
• Key Findings: The top barrier to park use identified by residents is the "presence of homelessness," followed by "security/isufficient loitering" and "lack of restrooms." Councilmember Lineweber noted that safety and restroom issues are often directly linked to the homelessness challenge. Interestingly, only 22% of respondents (compared to 42% nationally) cited parks being "too far," indicating high accessibility.
• Priorities: Restrooms were ranked as the number one facility need (146/200 score). The top activities desired are walking, hiking, and biking. Councilmember Donaldson requested detailed district-level data, confirming it is available in the companion report. Councilmember Henry urged the board to formally report to Council, a request Thielen agreed to facilitate.

Key Outcomes

• Wildfire Academy: Acknowledged as a vital partner; Council expressed gratitude for the service and requested future briefings on cancer risks and mitigation.
• Police Department: No immediate actions taken, but Council was briefed on recruitment success and retention strategies; Councilmember Henjam requested the removal of "college requirement" discussions be paused to evaluate the PPSC partnership further.
• Parks Master Plan: The assessment phase is complete; a draft Master Plan is scheduled for presentation in late April or early May. Councilmember Lineweber requested a follow-up on the Parks Board's formal report to Council.
• Hazard Mitigation Plan: Adopted for approval on the consent calendar of the January 27th regular meeting. Councilmember Rainey recommended briefings to the PPACG, which Mr. Notbaum agreed to pursue.
• Metro District: Approval granted for the Bradley Heights amendment to include alleyway maintenance.
• Executive Session: The Council voted unanimously (Yes to both items) to enter an executive session to consult with the City Attorney regarding:
  1. Legal advice on residency restrictions for sexually violent predators.
  2. Negotiation positions regarding a litigation settlement exceeding $250,000 in El Paso County District Court case 24 CV 31928.
• Adjournment: The work session was adjourned following the executive session. An event with the Governor is scheduled for the following day at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center.