Good morning.

Welcome to City of Colorado Springs City Council meeting for Tuesday, January 13th, 2025.

Oh, 2026.

Wow.

It's 26.

Will the um clerk please read the roll?

Call the roll.

Councilmember Bailey.

Here.

Council Member Pro Iverson.

Here.

Council Member Donaldson.

Here.

Council Member Gold.

Here.

Councilmember Hingem present.

Councilmember Lion Weber.

Here.

Council Member Rainey.

Here.

Council Member Risley.

Here.

Council Member Williams.

Here.

All nine present.

So please stand for the invocation this morning.

We have the pleasure to be joined by the police department chaplain, our Padre Jean.

Good morning to you, City Council.

And may you have a very good and blessed new year.

I would like to read something from the Reverend Billy Graham that it was the start of one of his prayers.

And after I read this, I would like to offer prayer.

Our father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year, we confess our need of your presence and your guidance as we face the future.

Almighty God, we bow our heads before you.

And as we come to you to honor you and give thanks to you, we praise your name.

We ask a blessing upon the city council.

We ask blessing upon all those in this room.

That they might heed your words of your servant Billy Graham and seek you out this new year for guidance and direction.

And we just ask your Holy Spirit to be upon this room.

And all those gathered.

And we ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Amen.

Please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the fly of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Moving on to item 3A.

Will the clerk please read item 3A into the record?

Postponement of ordinance 25-101 to amend the zoning map of the city of Colorado Springs pertaining to 7.034 acres located at 3875 Aerospace Boulevard from Business Park with conditions of records, airport overlays, streamside overlay to business park with conditions of record, airport overlay, streamside overlay.

This is a second reading only to postpone the public hearing to January 27, 2025 with the purpose of meeting the public notice requirements.

Kevin, do you have any other?

We're good with just postponing it to a time certain, or we're just postponing it.

Postponing to January 27, 25.

We're postponing it to January 26th.

January 27th, 2026.

27.

Kevin Walker City Planning Director.

That's that's correct.

We're we'd like to hear this on the 27th.

Okay.

I have a motion from Councilman Bailey and a second from Councilman Gold.

Let's vote to postpone to January 27th, 2026.

And Madam President, if if uh if I could just I'm sure there's some citizens that'll wonder why.

I think it's uh what it says is for the purposes of meeting public notice requirements.

Perhaps uh the public works or the uh planning director wants to just put that on the record while we're doing it.

Is it is it to meet public notice requirements, Kevin?

Uh that's correct.

We uh failed to um set send out the postcard in a timely manner.

Okay, so we're we're doing uh we're doing what we should.

Right.

Thank you.

Motion passes nine to zero.

Moving into item three B.

Will the clerk please read item three B into the record?

Withdraw from consideration of ordinance 25-102 amending the zoning map of the city of Colorado Springs pertaining to approximately 2.17 acres located at 4880 Airport Road from single family medium with airport overlay to multifamily high with airport overlay.

Good morning again.

I'm catching up, thank you.

Um this matter uh uh was not properly appealed.

Uh we did not uh we being the city and the attorneys and the planning department did not uh provide the proper uh notice to that um property owner, they were gonna present some new information in any event.

We were gonna ask this go back to the planning commission.

And so we would like to withdraw this matter and um uh and then move that to and you will see it again in the future coming through the proper channels uh through planning commission.

If there are no other questions or comments from the dias, we have a motion from Councilman Gold and a second from Councilman Bailey.

So let's vote to withdraw.

Yeah, whatever.

The motion passes nine to zero.

Moving on to item four of the consent calendar, we will now consider the consent calendar.

These items will be acted upon as a whole unless a specific item is called off by a council member or a citizen wishing to address the council.

Is there anyone who would like to pull anything off of the consent calendar?

All in favor of the consent calendar.

Any opposed?

We need a motion, please.

I need a motion from Councilman Bailey and a second from Councilman Rayleigh.

Okay.

Moving on to item 5A, will the clerk please read item 5A into the record?

Day.

Councilman Rainey.

Uh thank you, Madam President, and good morning to everyone who is here and those that are online listening in as we get ready to celebrate uh the Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Day on January 19th of 2026, but also this proclamation, um, this joint proclamation between the mayor's office and city council as a time of remembrance and reflection.

And uh before I uh I know there's a couple of members uh that wanted to be here to include the mayor, I believe they're in another uh proclamation session actually, and uh should be traveling this direction.

Um but I wanted to take the opportunity uh just to kind of mention, you know, as we continue to reflect uh on the the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

That we also deeply think through um what transpired during that time frame, and and I say that um because this Southern preacher from um from the South who stirred the conscience of this nation, he stirred the conscience of this nation in order to live out the dreams of a more perfect union.

And the one thing I can say is someone who was born and raised on a sugar can plantation uh in southern Louisiana, Westfield Plantation, doesn't get any more closer than slavery than that.

And the fact that I can sit here on this dais because of the effort and the journey that those uh around the Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Um, what they fought for and during that time frame uh was very unique uh to driving us to be a nation um better than what we were doing that time frame.

So as we reflect on this, I I definitely uh want us to also remember where we were and where we currently are.

Yes, there is uh more to do, and as we continue to uh strive to be that perfect union, um, but I think uh in 2026, even though there are ills in our society, that there's also um a bright uh shining light.

Um and I know oftentimes we talk about his famous I have a dream speech.

Uh I would also implore a lot of you to listen to two other speeches.

Uh, one is the uh what is your blueprint to life, and the other is the knock at midnight.

Um so with that being said, I'll go ahead and read today's proclamation.

Proclamation Martin Luther King Jr.

Day, January 19, 2026.

Whereas on this Martin Luther King Jr.

Day, we gather as a city united in remembrance, reflection, and recommitment to the dream of justice, peace, and beloved community envisioned by the Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

And whereas Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

was a courageous leader, pastor, and advocate whose life and legacy continue to inspire generations through his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and nonviolent social change.

And whereas Martin Luther King Jr.

Day is observed as a national day of service, reminding us that honoring the Dr.

King's legacy requires action through volunteerism, civic engagement, and a shared commitment to building stronger, more people-centered and welcoming communities.

And whereas the City of Colorado Springs gathers in partnership with the MLK Legacy Preservation Society for the annual All People's Breakfast, a longstanding and sacred space of unity and courageous compassion.

And this year's theme, Mission Possible 2, uniting a nation, building a future, the nonviolent way, serves as both a call to reflection and a change for action.

And whereas we are deeply honored to welcome Yolanda Renee King, the only grandchild of Dr.

King and Coretta Scott King as this year's keynote speaker.

And whereas Yolanda Renee King embodies the living legacy of her grandparents, not only through her lineage, but through her voice, vision, fearless commitment to nonviolence, unity, youth-led social change, carrying forward the torch of justice and love, and a guiding light toward a more just future.

And whereas her presence reminds us that Dr.

King's dream is not confined to history, but a live advancing through a new generation that dares to hope to speak and to act with courage, compassion, and a commitment to the command good.

Now, therefore, the mayor and city council of Colorado Springs do hereby proclaim January 19, 2026 as Martin Luther King Jr.

Day.

In the city of Colorado Springs, let this proclamation be a reminder that the work continues, just not in Washington, not just in Atlanta, but right here in Olympic City, USA.

Let us recommit ourselves in word and deed to building a beloved community where peace is practiced, justice is pursued, and dignity is afforded to all.

She will be here on the 18th of January for a fireside chat, and also the All People's Breakfast on the 19th.

So that information is out on social media.

And I do have a representative from the mayor's office, Danielle here, who will make sure that that information gets out throughout the city.

And I think that is so special for us as a city, but also as that moment of reflection of what we continue to strive for as a nation.

With that being said, back to you, Madam President.

Thank you.

We do have a few people signed up for public comment on this proclamation.

First step, we have Rabulin Reverend Josh Rumpel.

Good morning, Office of the Mayor, City Council, and residents of Colorado Springs.

I stand here in solidarity with colleagues from around this city.

My name is Reverend Josh Rumpel, and I serve as a pastor here locally at First Congregational Church.

And I offer my support for this declaration.

Kudos to y'all.

And I offer an invitation to reflect upon the messages and lived reality of MLK Jr.

I care not to sanitize his actions, his beliefs, or his political advocacy for the sake of anyone's comforts.

Too long has his work been whitewashed to be to appease those who disagree with him.

I rise today in the spirit of one who had a dream where all people would be treated fairly.

And that spirit calls us to decry the unjust, immoral, and blatantly sinful actions of immigration and customs enforcement.

ICE.

We must boldly stand in solidarity with our migrant neighbors and the members of our community.

I know there's already ICE presence here in the city.

And I know that there are plans for more to be present here to harass our neighbors.

My faith calls me to stand in solidarity with the stranger, with the foreigner, my neighbors.

And I will not sit silently when violence is reaped upon my neighbors.

We have the power to resist this weak and crumbling authoritarianism witnessed by the federal government.

Immigrants are a critical piece to our society.

They are our co-workers, our neighbors, our students, our faith leaders, our friends, our family.

And I do not wish to see that happen.

So let us find the path of peace, of compassion, of welcome here in our city.

Let us resist the violence that will be reaped upon us if we abandon our migrant neighbors, sacrificing them in the hopes that the violence will end with them.

Please do not support the work of Martin Luther King Jr.

in name alone.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up we have Reverend Candice Woods.

Good morning, Council President, Council members, and the mayor's office.

I'm Reverend Candice Woods, a 21-year resident of Colorado Springs, and a student of history, political science, and nonviolent resistance, including the life and work of Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

First, thank you for remember thank you.

Remembering the life and work of Dr.

King is a cultural good.

As stated in the declaration, we recommit ourselves, quote, in word and deed to building a beloved community where peace is practiced, justice is pursued, and dignity is afforded to all.

End quote.

Thank you for those words.

Second, in order for this work to be done, we must speak clearly about what justice and peace look like.

Dr.

King did not waver in how he spoke truth to power.

In this moment of our nation's history, I am compelled to state this truth.

The violent authoritarian actions of immigration and customs enforcement, including the murder of Colorado Springs' own Renee Nicole Good.

These are a stain on the fabric of history.

Mayor Yemi said last year that he hopes to see more raids of federal agents in our city.

Because I see that ICE is a danger to my neighbors and community and to myself.

And at no point have I been more concerned about about the violence and inhumane rhetoric against immigrants than I am right now.

Dr.

King named three great evils of American society that continue to ail us.

Those are racism, materialism, and militarism.

What we are seeing in the current propaganda from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security are clear racist threats by one of the most militarized entities in the free world, whose development and expansion is lining the pockets of the wealthiest Americans.

ICE has a budget that is greater than most countries' standing armies.

We must ask why are we allowing this federal agency to terrorize our communities, U.S.

citizens and immigrants alike.

City Council, Mayor's Office.

In the face of this, I leave you with Dr.

King's final words from his speech on the three evils, and I ask you to take action that protects our community from federal overreach.

Quote.

So let us stand in this convention, knowing that on some positions.

Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?

Expediency asks the question, is it politic?

Vanity asks the question, is it popular?

But conscience asks the question, is it right?

And on some positions, it is necessary for the moral individual to take a stand that is neither safe nor politic nor popular.

But they must do it because it is right.

And so we say to you, to the government, the FBI, to ICE, we will not be harassed.

We will not make a butchery of our conscience.

We will not be intimidated, and we will be heard.

End quote by Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Thank you.

Next up we have Reverend Paula Stecker.

Good morning.

I'm Reverend Paula Stecker, Chair of the Colorado Springs Faith Table, and a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Thank you.

Members of City Council and Mayor Momoladi for again recognizing this important holiday.

I'm glad that we continue to mark the impact of the civil rights movement and of the legacy of Dr.

King, who dreamed of cities where we all thrive together.

That dream holds me accountable for the safety and the life of my neighbor.

I have my whistle.

Today, people of faith are holding you accountable to help us build that city where a city that values the safety and lives of all of our neighbors.

This is where I would tell a personal story, naming the people who are afraid right now, but that would endanger them.

In 2025, there were 32 deaths recorded of persons in detention with ICE or during ICE actions.

Already this year, Keith Porter and Renee Good have been killed by ICE agents.

That should make all of us wonder what is going on.

Renee was born here, and so she gives us a white face to grieve.

But we grieve all of those faces who represent people who have been devalued for far too long.

ICE is already desecrating lives in our streets.

What now?

On the eve of his assassination, Dr.

King gave an address in Memphis, Tennessee.

And speaking of our founding documents, he said, but somewhere in these I read of the freedom of assembly.

Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech, somewhere I read of the freedom of the press.

Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is in the right to protest for rights.

And so just as I say we aren't going to let any dogs or water hoses turn us around.

We aren't going to let any injunction turn us around.

We are going on.

End quote.

I am here today because these freedoms are challenged anew.

Minnesota is under siege, pressured to stop defending the rights and the neighbors that they have.

But the administration has underestimated the love and moral courage of Minnesotans and their leaders.

And my hope is that you, as leaders, will show that same love and courage.

Before ICE killed someone here.

May God help us.

And that is the citizens' discussion or comments on the MOK proclamation.

I see that we do have the mayor joining us.

Do you have any remarks on MLK before we come down and take a proclamation picture?

Okay.

Um I'll bring it up to the dais, Councilman Donaldson.

Yeah, thank you, Madam President.

I want to say that I fully support ICE and their activities.

To enforce our immigration laws.

Those laws were passed by our elected representatives and supported by the vast majority of the citizens of the United States.

I just heard, well, I don't remember the exact quote, but what I'll say is that Native born Americans are under siege by an illegal invasion of tens of millions of illegal immigrants.

So again, I fully support ICE and their actions.

And uh and and I find what was said here offensive, and I didn't even like sitting here listening to it.

So I won't participate in any picture.

Councilman Gold.

Thank you, Madam President.

Wow.

What a Tuesday.

Um good morning, everybody.

Um I'm actually quite glad that today's public comment in support of MLK has brought um fiery conversation.

Um, because Dr.

MLK was a fiery person, he had to be in order to create change, and we need that same fiery spirit today and beyond to create the continued change that we need in our country so that reflects the ideals and values of everyone and not just a select few.

And one of the things that I really love about MLK, you know, other national holidays, they say rest.

Hey, it's Christmas, you should rest.

It's Thanksgiving, you should rest.

But on MLK, there is a specific message that it is a day on, not a day off.

And I would challenge you that in these times to not just make MLK a day on, but make every day a day on.

Because as you heard, Councilmember Donaldson said that the rules that we are now abiding by are from our elected officials, which you, the people have voted in.

And you, the people can also not vote in.

So use your power that so many of our American ancestors have fought tirelessly, have lost their lives for, and do the right thing to honor Dr.

King's legacy by making your own legacy.

Thank you.

Seeing no other comments on the dais, I need a motion.

Oh, it's a proclamation.

We don't vote.

Okay, so we will um come down front.

We'll have um the mayor join us for a ceremonial picture for the joint proclamation in recon recognition of Martin Luther King Jr.

Moving on to item 5B.

Will the clerk please read item 5B into the record?

City Council appointments to boards, commissions and committees.

So we have a few this morning.

The Independent Ethics Commission.

A vacancy has occurred on the Independent Ethics Commission due to an expiration of a member's term.

Council liaison's um Dave Donaldson and Tom Bailey are recommending the elevation of Wyneta Massey, who has served as an alternate member since September of 2025 to a voting member position.

Councilman Donaldson or Bailey, do you have any comments?

Thank you, Madam President.

Um unfortunately Winnetta's not here, but uh I do like to take this opportunity, every chance we get to thank the uh citizens who volunteer for these positions.

It takes a lot of work sometimes, and uh having that kind of participation in the process uh I find to be um very uh well a bit more productive than some of the performances that we see on things that oppose the process.

So we need citizens to participate in this and uh and both uh Ms.

Massey on the ethics commission, and we'll hear about Mr.

Case on the uh planning commission.

These are people that take time out of their days, time out of their lives to uh work and support the rest of the people in the city and uh and we thank them and encourage others to uh follow suit.

So moving on to the planning commission.

A vacancy has occurred on the planning commission following the resignation of a current member, council liaisons, Dave Donaldson and Tom Bailey recommended elevating Ryan Case to a voting member position.

Mr.

Case has served as an alternate member since November of 2024.

And I think you've already stated your comments, and I don't see either one of them in the room.

So if there are no additional comments, council.

I have a motion from Councilman Bailey and a second from Councilman Williams.

We'll vote on both as a whole.

The motion passes nine to zero.

Moving on to item six, mayor's business.

Not in the room.

So we will move on to item a lot.

Oh, do we have any comments from the mayor's office?

Yes, sorry, I was just checking with the mayor on his comments.

Um, a couple quick things.

Um I do owe you all an update on the legislative tour, which some of you were kind enough to attend.

I think Councilman Bailey Donaldson and Councilwoman Henjam all attended um that tour when we visited small businesses, and I want to give you um what that has produced.

So last week, Mayor Yemi, along with Mayor Johnston and Mayor Kaufman, um, signed a letter to Governor Polis and the state legislature asking for some actions in this upcoming session.

Those actions being um changes to the IAI bill that was problematic last year, um, competency reform, which is heavily supported by the DAs in the state of Colorado, and increased penalties for shoplifters um in an effort to protect small businesses, which was largely the subject of that legislative tour.

Um, so just to thank you all again for participating in that and let you know where that has gone.

And finally, it's always good to have some happy news in January.

So the December sales tax report came out uh yesterday reflecting activity in November and sales tax was happily up 3.19%.

So some good news for this morning.

Thank you.

Okay, moving on to a public hearing item 11A and 11B.

Will the clerk please read both 11A and B into the record?

Ordinance 25-103 amending the zoning map of the city of Colorado Springs pertaining to proximity 156.18 acres located north and south of East Woodman Road and east-west of Banning Lewis Parkway from plan development zone with the airport Irving to mix use large scale with airport overlay.

And 11B major modification of the Persian on land use plan consisting of 350 acres located north and south of East Woodman Road and east and west of Banning Lewis Parkway to revised size and location of proposed land uses.

So today's hearing will proceed as the follows city staff presentation, applicants presentation, public comment in support of project, public comment and opposition of project, applicant rebuttal, closing staff comments back to the dice for council member questions, deliberation and discussion.

So now we'll hear from the city planning staff.

Good morning all.

This zone change is south of East Woodman Road and an additional 11 acres kind of to the northeast of the intersection of Banning Lewis Parkway in Woodman Road.

This would eliminate 39.4 acres of residential land use south of East Woodman Road.

The land use plan modification would also include some circulation changes and the consolidation of a school site.

So we can just go through some numbers here to highlight how this land use plan modification would impact the overall pertron land use plan area.

So we do see a reduction in the overall residential land use from 438 acres to 402 acres.

And that is mostly accounting for the elimination of the residential land use south of Woodman Road.

Additionally, we would be looking at an increased commercial land use area from 81.9 acres to 136.4 acres.

This would also include the increased uh acreage of the school site from 22.2 acres to 35 acres and a slight reduction in open space and trails, as well as a slight reduction in parks.

So here we have the land use plan as approved on the left and as amended on the right.

This shows the increased commercial land use south of Woodman, as well as some minor circulation changes north of Woodman and east of Banning Lewis Parkway, as well as the consolidated school site in kind of that purple color.

So this shows the area to be rezoned.

Again, this would be uh 156 acres, the majority of which is south of Woodman Road, and then there's uh an additional 11 acres to the north of Woodman Road.

Um the permitted uh uses and the mixed use uh large scale zone district and include a wide variety of uh commercial land uses, including retail office, restaurants, and many other uses.

I have a question from Councilman Hinjam.

Yes.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um yeah, I'm just trying to understand the disparity between the acreage in the staff report.

It lists um 350 acres and not the.

Can you just tell me the difference?

Yes, my apologies.

156 acres would be rezoned, and then 350 acres are being impacted by the land use plan modification.

Okay, thank you.

So this application was initially submitted on June 17th of 2025.

It went through three administrative review cycles, and it was ready for the planning commission agenda on October 22nd to 2025.

This went through standard public notice.

Um, so we sent out postcards during the initial administrative review uh prior to the planning commission hearing and prior to city council, um, sent out postcards to properties within 1,000 feet in addition to the public notice posters.

Nine comments were received.

Um, concerns included potential negative impacts on wildlife, increased traffic, and the overall intensity of potential commercial uses.

This was reviewed by several agencies.

Um traffic did uh um analyze this project uh for potential traffic impacts, and um where their concerns were addressed during the review.

Um PLDO um CDI program administrator also reviewed this and determined that park applications um are sufficient due to the reduced residential acreage.

So this project was evaluated for compliance with Plan COS and was found to be in compliance with the vision's big ideas and strategies of Plan COS.

Here are the criteria for approval for a zone map amendment.

Staff did find that after evaluation of this application, the application met the review criteria.

And here are the criteria for approval for a land use plan modification.

This was also found to meet re criteria.

And here are your optional motions for the zone change and for the land use plan modification.

I am happy to answer any questions.

I don't see any questions at this time.

Thank you so much.

We will now hear from the applicant.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Good morning, Madam President.

Andrea Barlow with NES here representing the applicant.

Okay.

So Pertron's a development that is on the east side of the city, Stradles Woodman Road.

It's already started construction.

There are several parts of the community that have already developed, including the signage and the horse that you saw on the earlier side, a sculpture that is quite an impressive feature in the parker area.

So that development is underway.

What we're looking at here is a change in the land use plan and the zoning.

So initially we zoned the hot entire property as planned development, PUD as it was then PDZ now.

Since then, plans have become a little bit more substantiated in terms of what's proposed in certain areas, and that has led to a desire to significantly increase the commercial component of the project.

There was already a fairly large commercial component, but we're looking to increase that.

So we're modifying 350 acres of the land use plan, which is the area bobbled in blue, and then the rezone area is the 1568 acres hatched in red.

So this is a little bit of a history.

I'm just going to kind of gloss over this a little bit, but it goes back to the 2021 annexation and initial establishment of the zoning and master plan.

We have done multiple different modifications of that master plan since a master plan is now called a land use plan.

They are tend to be kind of organic documents that change over time as they say as plans become more real, and we have a better idea of what's going to work on the site moving forward.

So this is the land use plan modification.

The entire property is 8 to 108 acres.

We're changing 350 acres.

And then on the uh in the northeast quadrant, there were some changes to land use, primarily the moving of the school site following discussions with school district 49 on their preferred location.

So this is a side-by-side comparison.

So you can see there the consolidation, the school site initially an elementary school was proposed in the center of that area with a small slither on the north side intended for a high school, which was intended to be incorporated with land on the north side of the boundary in other developments.

But since then things have changed, so uh we are proposing a larger site for the school district on that eastern boundary, and then some other minor changes to land use in that area.

But that again, the main change is uh there was some uh medium density residential proposed on the southwestern boundary, and that is going to commercial.

So that whole section in the southwest is um proposed for commercial.

Uh the rezone, as noted um originally all zoned PDZ were proposing to rezone those hatched areas to MXL that provides a lot of greater certainty in terms of the range of uses and development standards for future users, so that when uh the site is being marketed, we can say, well, these are the uses that are allowed, and we have the specific zoning standards in place.

It's a little it's a little uh better in terms of being able to provide some certainty to future users.

Um PTC is great for flexibility, but at some point you need to be able to have a better idea of what's being proposed to actually be able to market a property.

So trip generation.

Um, we looked at this, uh, we had to do a revised uh traffic study because of the change in trips, um, but there was an overall reduction in trips in the peak hours in the morning peak hour and an increase in the PM peak hour.

Obviously, commercial just generate more trips than uh residential, but based on earlier studies that were carried out, um, there was always anticipated to be certain areas that needed improvements, uh, such as on Woodman Road and Mohawk Road at Binding Lewis Parkway and Golden Sage intersections, and uh these um improvements have largely been implemented, and uh there will be future improvements as we move forward with the project.

Have a question from Councilman Laneweber.

Yes.

Um, so the um the previous slide and this um, you know, you talked about the school, and um I know many of us up here are always concerned about school safety around traffic.

Yes.

And um, I didn't are yeah, will we see at a later time how we'll address that?

I mean, is there going to be an interchange there?

Is what what kind of safety features are going to be put in for access to that school area.

We are working on proposed access improvements and changes beyond uh what we're looking at here.

They are not really ready for um incorporation into the land use plan, but that will probably be the next land use plan modification we present to City Council.

Included in that are considerations for the access to the school and improving the access to that school site.

I just I mean, we just we don't want to deal with the problem later down the road.

So just I just wanted to really highlight that we're very sensitive about safety around schools, and so we want to see that emphasized.

Yes.

So and as are the school district, and they have very specific requirements of what they expect from a development site if we are to dedicate that land to them.

So uh we will be working on um that part of the um project that is a bit longer term, and so we will be looking at improvements to access um for for the school site and generally along Woodman Road for the overall development.

All right, I think thank you.

Um here is a summary of the recommended improvements that were proposed in the original studies and that have already been implemented.

Um, and there are new improvements that are required moving forward.

So these are fairly standard improvements that are required through a traffic study um analysis.

So the review criteria, I think uh Molly set them out in in detail, but these are kind of the high-level um issues that really have to be addressed is compliance with the UDC criteria and other approvals, uh no adverse impact on the surrounding area and compliance with plan COS.

And so they're pretty similar across the two types of application.

So plan COS compliance, this is a tricky one because um, as I noted in 2021, the property was annexed into the city, and so it is not actually within the boundary of Plan COS.

Um, but it is identified um Woodman Road just generally was identified as a newer developing uh neighborhood, the banning Lewis ranch area and um new new developing corridor and activity centre for Woodman Roads.

So, what we're proposing in terms of enhanced commercial at this uh location with the intersection of Banning Lewis Parkway, which I'll talk a little bit more about, um, is an appropriate location to two major arterials coming together for as a good location for uh commercial uses.

So we took into account that location in the original designation of commercial at that intersection, and now we're expanding it.

Um, some other uh policies of uh Plan COS that are relevant are relate to supporting neighborhood activity centres within walking or biking distance of residential areas.

Obviously, a big portion of Perchon is residential together with the areas to the south in existing Banning Lewis Ranch.

So there is a lot of um uh walkability to the new commercial that's been proposed, and also integrating a mix of uses within neighborhoods, which we're trying to achieve here.

New developing corridor typology is taking advantage of the capacity of potential corridors to create unified vital connected and as transit supported um places.

So again, um, as noted before, this is a major corridor and intersection of two major corridors.

So achieving that objective of those new developing corridors, and also strengthening community identity by providing uses that everybody can benefit from and that are connected.

And thriving economy again, enhanced physical environment by creating amenities, which is important as part of commercial zoning.

And below, as part of these slides, you're seeing some photographs of uh existing development in Percheron, just showing that this has already started its development phase and is becoming a community.

We had neighborhood involvement during the process.

Um 264 postcards were mailed, and we posted it on three separate occasions with the first submittal planning commission and city council.

Five comments were received, one was in support, and four opposition.

So it didn't generate a huge amount of public comment.

Uh concerns were increased traffic, uh, the adjacency of the commercial to the existing residential to the south and reduction in open space.

Um we had a couple of people speak at the planning commission hearing, and afterwards we reached out to them and met with them.

Um banning Lewis ranch residents met with um representatives of the developer in November, and we believe that many of their concerns were addressed at that time.

Um one of their concerns was traffic.

I think here it's important to note that that Perchron development is in a location where there's a lot of a planned infrastructure improvements.

So obviously the purple line is Woodman Road.

That's pretty much the only east-west connection we have right now.

Um the uh blue line is um Banning Lewis Parkway, which extends south and will eventually what shortly be extending all the way to Barnes, which will go across.

I believe it goes to Stetson Hills right now.

Um, and then north, it will go and connect to the future connection, which is in yellow of uh Briagate Parkway, um, going across that northern portion of the county uh properties and connecting east to west.

So it will go directly make a connection all the way to I-25 over to Meridian Road.

So there will be significant improvements in the east-west connectivity through the construction of that road, and then the red is marked shuffle, so that's coming up from the north.

It will soon connect across to research parkway and then continue there.

So just overall, there will be significant improvements in the connectivity from a traffic perspective in this area.

Commercial uses just showing the existing kind of concentration of uh other existing and planned commercial uses along Woodman Road.

Just this I I think emphasizes the fact that they tend to congregate around major intersections.

Um you have a large area at Woodman Nostin Bluffs and at Powers, and then a smaller area around Black Forest, and then Mark Shuffle, and now the next logical progression is at Banning Lewis Parkway, and then further east, you have the concentration at Highway 24 in Falcon.

Um, this kind of just zooms in a little bit more on that southern area because that's where the neighbours to the south were particularly concerned.

We do have a fairly substantial buffer there.

There is a 100-foot buffer between the existing residential and the proposed development within that open space area.

That's a built-in buffer with this development.

In addition, the the neighbours to the south actually have a 30-foot um open space corridor where they have a trail.

And there is also the nearest buildings based on the grade and what have you will be about 150 feet.

Uh, there is also there was concern about loss of open space.

We are actually increasing the open space by a couple of acres, so there's no loss of open space in that area.

And this is another slide to kind of zoom out a little bit so you can see where the existing residents sit in in relation to this development.

Uh, we've highlighted there the existing 30-foot trail corridor on the north side of the Banning Lewis Ranch development, and then the 100-foot buffer, and the um there is the dash line that kind of goes through uh the middle, well, it's not really the middle, or the lower third of uh in an east to west is a utility easement, so there are overhead power lines that run through in that direction.

So the commercial development that's south of that dashed white line, which is the proposed future Golden Jubilee Drive, um, will be uh anticipated to be less intense commercial uses because they are not um uh they don't have the visibility of the northern portion of the site, so they will probably be some other uses that are allowed in the MXL such as office and and so on.

And with that, I am happy to answer any questions.

I don't see any at this time.

Shocking.

You have no questions or comments.

Okay, thank you.

Moving on to public comment in support, I have no one signed up.

And in public comment in opposition, I have no one signed up.

So that will close the public comment piece of this hearing.

Moving on to there should be no rebuttal.

Oh, Councilman Hingem.

Maybe she has a rebuttal.

No rebuttal, just a question.

It's more of a procedural question, uh, has to do with the planning commission.

Um, so I don't know who can answer this, but um the motion passed in uh in planning commission on a four uh vote four in favor, six absent, one recused.

I can't find one why the recusal and two is for a uh majority.

I mean, is that a quorum?

Did they have a quorum?

I assume they must have, but that seems like a pretty small number.

Just procedural question.

Thanks.

Kevin Walker City Planning Director, yeah.

That was um a sick day for a number of our uh planning commissioners, and we had to elevate our two uh uh alternates to make a quorum.

Uh that question was asked at the planning commission.

The attorney's answer was that as so long as there are five, uh you can have the meeting, and a recusal did not create a situation where uh a vote was um uh not able to be uh completed.

So I think that was asked and answered at the planning commission, though minutes may not reflect that.

Okay, great.

That's good to know.

And um do we know why the recusal of that commissioner?

Yeah, I was one of the alternates had was a broker and and had some potential future conflicts.

Okay, great.

Thanks.

Seeing no other comments, we don't have a rebuttal, so we will do you have any closing staff comments, Kevin.

Is that it?

Um so bringing it back up to the dice.

We have a motion from Councilman Hinchum and a second from Councilman Bailey to vote on 11A.

Can we do this together?

We have to do these separately.

Okay, so for 11A, we'll vote.

Motion passes nine to zero.

Um for 11B from Councilman Rainey and a second from Councilman Hingum.

Let's vote on item 11B.

Motion passes nine to zero.

So that ends the hearing.

Uh moving on to item 13, which is public comment.

We are zooming through this morning.

What are you doing?

We um we'll have one hour of citizens discussion for items not on today's agenda per city council rules.

Citizens will have three minutes to share their comments.

I have a list of those who have signed up.

When I call your name, please come forward, introduce yourself, and limit yourself to topics that are relevant and germane to city business.

Um, first up, we have Ms.

Shirley Martinez.

Good morning, Shirley.

Morning.

A little little behind, huh?

Us-laid plans, as they say.

And I would just like to say for all of you, we apologize.

We should have been here.

Um, we were at um county commissioners and I was at the podium.

Um, but to council member Rainey, I truly apologize that um we should have been here to uh be able to state what the preservation society committee uh commits to to the city of Colorado Springs for MLK Day because this is a huge event for our city.

And I'd like to say um, I'd like to read to you what I actually put together because I think it's very important that you hear it from us.

So good morning, council members, community partners, and honored guests.

As president of the Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Legacy Preservation Society, it is a privilege to stand before you today as we honor a leader whose moral courage and unwavering commitment to justice continue to shape our nation and our city.

This proclamation is more than a ceremonial act.

It is a reminder of the work we inherit and the responsibility we share.

And in 1983, when President Ronald Reagan signed into law the federal holiday, recognizing the third Monday of January as Martin Luther King Day, since then, communities across the country, including right here in Colorado Springs, have embraced this day as a time to reflect, to serve, and to recommit ourselves to the values of Dr.

King, that Dr.

King championed.

He was born in 1929 and dedicated his life to giving a voice to the voiceless and advancing freedom, equity, and justice for all.

Through peaceful protests and nonviolent resistance, he reminded us that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice, but only when we citizens and leaders are willing to help bend with it.

His leadership helped us advance landmark legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the voting rights of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

Laws that continue to protect and empower communities across our nation.

And on August 28th, 1963, when he delivered his timeless I Have a Dream speech on the steps of Lincoln Memorial, he ignited a movement rooted in the belief that every person should be valued by the content of their character.

But we also recognize that we live in a world that has evolved in many ways, yet at times still bears a backward look in the lens.

Even in moments of chaos, when division rises, when uncertainty shakes our confidence, and when the noise of the world threatens to drown out our progress.

We remember the path that uh path toward justice has never been linear.

This work is not easy.

There are days when hope feels distant and the weight of the moment feels heavy.

But even then, we continue to move forward.

Oh, we continue to move forward, we continue to stand, we continue to serve, and to believe in the possibility of more than just peaceful future.

And especially this year, um, as we welcome Yolanda Renee King, who is the only grandchild of Dr.

Reverend Martin Luther King, and that it's during America 250, Colorado 150, as a commemorative.

Her presence is a living bridge between our shared past and our collective future.

She carries forward the dream her grandfather sacrificed for a dream rooted in justice, dignity, and the belief that hope and courage can transform our communities.

So as I end, I just say together we affirm that the King's legacy is not simply to be remembered, it is to be lived, and that we are making history with bringing his granddaughter to our city during this auspicious times.

Thank you.

Thank you, Shirley.

And we do have comments for you or questions from Councilman Henjam.

Shirley, I just want to say thank you for being here.

You don't need to apologize at all.

I'm glad that you were with the county commissioners.

It's hard to be in two places at once.

And that both uh the county government and the city government are recognizing this incredibly important day, and thank you to you and your organization for uh what you do all year long in and especially on that day and reminding us and bringing us um to the uh the important awareness of the work of Dr.

Martin Luther King, Reverend Martin Luther King, and all the people at that time and today.

And I would say what you missed was um a really healthy tension that Dr.

Martin Luther Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King still brings to us in our world, in our society here in our city, um, the challenge of what justice looks like, and it is incumbent upon us as a city government to live in that tension and to hear all of those voices and to continue to build trust and cooperation and collaboration.

So thank you for being here.

No need to apologize.

Okay.

Thank you.

Councilman Gold.

Hello, Mrs.

Martinez, President Martinez, should I say?

Um, I wanted to one um say thank you for being here.

To could you just give us all a reminder of our activities that are coming up so that we can be um well informed?

And I have a few other things, but I'll wait.

Yes.

So um we're excited that it's gonna be a two-day event.

Uh, we start at Colorado College at a fireside chat from three to five at the Celeste Theater in Cornerstone Arts Building.

Uh, we are going to have youth from all over.

Um, we've got youth that are homeschooled, charter schooled, girl scouts.

Um, we have kids that are middle school, elementary school, college kids that are going to have a conversation with the granddaughter of Dr.

King.

And we appreciate that we want to hear from our youth because this is the year of the youth.

We we're we really have to put our work into youth.

And then on Monday, we have the actual breakfast where Ms.

Yolanda Renee King will be speaking.

Um and it's a full um just a full morning of just great speakers, lots of youth will be speaking, and I'm hoping that we see all of you there.

This is a momentous occasion.

Uh Colorado, of course, 150 America 250.

This is one of the premier events for the state that they have sanctioned as the first event of the year.

And uh, we're doing it here, and we're making history, not only a 250 years of Martin Luther King and all his work, but now we're starting at the beginning of this auspicious time, bringing his granddaughter here to talk to us and moving that forward.

And how important is that?

And when you talk about voices, Nancy, yes, we all have voices, and we all have things that we may want to push nonviolently, but we have to do it in such a way that it doesn't cause chaos.

Because that's most important is that we come together at the table and we speak and we talk, and that's that's what you're gonna be doing that morning.

So I hope that I see you, and um you'll be getting a special treat.

Uh we did do commemorative coins for this this special event for this special time.

So um, lots of events.

There isn't a gay light, I think Friday night with one of the churches, and um there's another event at uh concrete couch on Saturday.

So there's lots of stuff going on, but I really really hope that you're able to come and see this young 17-year-old who has written a book and is following it in her grandfather's dream.

And I mean, she's a high schooler.

So we get a we get an amazing treat to be part of history.

Thank you.

And this just two more things.

Um, one, I know we have some folks who came in um who represent many organizations that are affiliated um to how we honor MLK.

So um, if you are willing to wait, I'm sure there's several council members who would love to take a picture with you and the proclamation if you guys want to do a redo of that.

Um, and lastly, I I just cannot let this moment go past without honoring our matriarch June Waller, who is our own civil rights icon.

We were all in the same meeting.

So thank you, Mrs.

Martinez.

Just just real quickly, Shirley.

I'm not sure that if I received it, it I didn't get into my inbox.

It was in my spam, but uh, if there's a formal invitation to reply to for planning purposes, if you could just make sure that that gets we did send them out, but that's okay.

I can make sure that we get them to everybody.

So um, but thank you, and and hope to see you there because uh it's gonna be a treat for you.

She's a great orator like her grandfather.

Thank you, Shirley.

We appreciate it.

Better late than never, right?

That's right.

Um to um Steve Lightfoot.

I have the TV monitor turned on, please.

We don't control it up here, and we don't have we don't you normally do.

No, we don't start censoring the people who at your taxes.

There are times during the meeting when we also have a teams or virtual meeting interface up where you can see yourself that is not available today.

Let me use my three minutes of censored presentation by at least showing the people in this room a few things.

Arrest, try and execute Stephen King.

Until you do that, you're ridiculous.

You're pathetic, you're brainwashed.

You're letting America down, just like California did.

California is 15% homosexuals, and they don't care about this kind of stuff compared to the whole heterosexuals.

That's why I moved here to get away from that nonsense.

Now you people are trying to witch on me, I think lately.

There's not one officer working for your police department that's not being corrupted by your plat and Chilton camera light, which is on a nine-degree downgrade.

You don't make allowances for that downgrade.

You give it a four-second delay, and sometimes it's three.

I know you guys make $300,000 a year off of that light alone.

I'll bet it's your top performer.

I'll bet you half of the people in this area have been ticketed by that light because it is a ticket trap, and it's corrupting your police department.

Just last week, the judge in my case refused to dismiss my matter, even though the opposing party elected to have surgery and didn't show.

Another officer told me after I remarked, you know, I don't what I don't like is the way you're making me out to be the bad guy, but you are the bad guy.

You're gonna be found guilty.

We all saw the film.

You're gonna pay $75.

You're guilty.

You're gonna be found guilty.

This is the atmosphere of your police department by this one corrupt camera light ticket.

It's the one ticket, um, the camera lights uh you have.

That's not fair.

It needs a five-second delay, or it needs to be reduced to 35 miles per hour.

Because you cannot stop a vehicle over four or five thousand pounds in the space you a lot.

You guys are making a third of a million dollars off of that one red light camera.

And I'm the only one in Colorado who's got the guts to speak up about it.

Not to mention your potholes, by the way.

If you are on Route 25 northbound, and you take the 24 east exit right there at that juncture where they meet, it's an accident waiting to happen.

It's terrible.

It reflects a disrespect for your constituency.

That your potholes are still not fixed.

Now I wanted to say a few other things.

I'm I'm Steve Lightfoot.

I got the John Lennon murder evidence against the government.

You folks don't appreciate how close we were to going communists.

This last election.

They are at our heels.

They are ready to swallow us up.

The communists.

The ones who let Stephen King kill John Lennon to warp us spiritually, and it did.

They use fear against you.

Stephen King has you all scared, stupid.

How dare you let Stephen King get away with John Lenna's murder?

Next up, we have Derek Shatron.

So I have faith in the American people to make good decision of the facts.

For those that say only criminals worry about AI cameras.

I say Anne Frank wasn't a criminal until she was.

That's the patent name, operate.

What kind of data they're recording on each of our citizens, and how no server is secured from theft or alteration.

This includes Flock Nova, Palantir, ClearView AI, Axios cameras, which are all tied to those, uh, which work for the local police.

And yet Peter Teal, he doesn't follow our local laws.

So my question to you guys today by show of hands, who said no at that vote that we weren't allowed to?

I say no about these flock cameras.

Did you guys vote no or did everybody vote yes unanimously?

Everybody voted yes.

All right.

City council, the people demand to know what and what data and how that data is being transmitted about the city.

Uh, about how Peter Thiel, Alex Carp, and Garrett Langley in those agreements are benefiting from that data that you guys did not inform the public would be collected.

With a transparent view of the facts of Cambridge Analytica, the scandal that took place in 2015, and now Flock Shady.

I trust the people will agree that Peter Thiel should not write or govern our laws.

Hard stop.

Especially when he and his own people refused to follow their own laws and rules.

Even after lawful orders to shut Flock off, orders from the top at Flock Safety were to reactivate those cameras in direct violation of law.

This has happened all across the country, by the way.

After Google personally flagged my company, computer uh my company as the phrase computer repair offensive, and months of trying to save my business, and I still could not save my five jobs for the employees I had.

Um, it's become very clear to me the machines should not make management decisions because the machine cannot be held liable, or at least third parties aren't liable.

Uh, ICE is going door to door tracking us all for the billionaire dream.

Uh, side note, uh, local police.

Hold on, hold on.

I'm gonna find this.

The job and labor's board in the presidential system.

They've changed it.

The phrase, this is very important.

I need to make sure you guys know about this.

I wrote it in here.

Can I take my time back?

I'm sorry.

Peter Thiel, Garrett Langley, Alex Carp, Mayor Mike Johnston, this city council failed to protect the Constitution a recess.