City Council Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026

The Colorado Springs City Council convened on January 13, 2026, with all nine members present for the invocation, pledge, and routine agenda items. The meeting featured the postponement and withdrawal of specific zoning ordinances due to administrative notice errors, the unanimous approval of the Consent Calendar, and a contentious public hearing regarding zoning amendments for the Pertron development. A significant portion of the session included the reading of a joint proclamation for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, followed by public testimony and council member reactions highlighting deep divisions regarding immigration enforcement and the legacy of Dr. King. The meeting concluded with public comments addressing red light camera enforcement and surveillance technology.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance 25-101: Postponed to January 27, 2026, to meet public notice requirements after the city failed to send postcards in a timely manner.
• Ordinance 25-102: Withdrew from consideration regarding the zoning amendment at 4880 Airport Road due to improper appeal notice provided to the property owner.
• General Consent Calendar: Approved as a whole, including the appointment of Wyneta Massey to the Independent Ethics Commission and Ryan Case to the Planning Commission.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Reverend Josh Rumpel (First Congregational Church): Expressed full support for the MLK proclamation but demanded the city stand in solidarity with migrant neighbors and explicitly oppose the actions of ICE. He characterized the current federal immigration enforcement as "injustice" and "authoritarianism" that must be resisted.
• Reverend Candice Woods: Expressed strong support for the proclamation's call for justice, while strongly condemning the "violent authoritarian actions" of ICE, citing the murders of Renee Nicole Good and Keith Porter. She urged the council to protect the community from federal overreach.
• Reverend Paula Stecker (Colorado Springs Faith Table): Expressed support for honoring Dr. King's legacy but voiced deep concern over the danger ICE poses to neighbors, calling for leaders to show "moral courage" like the state of Minnesota.
• Councilmember Donaldson: Expressed full opposition to the public comments regarding ICE and stated he would not view them as offensive. He declared his full support for ICE and their activities to enforce immigration laws, characterizing the situation as an "illegal invasion" and refusing to participate in the ceremonial photograph.
• Councilmember Gold: Expressed support for the MLK proclamation, interpreting the public comments as the necessary "fiery spirit" of Dr. King. He urged citizens to use their voting power to change laws if they disagree with them, rather than opposing the enforcement of existing laws.
• Shirley Martinez (MLK Legacy Preservation Society): Arrived late and apologized for missing the initial presentation. Expressed gratitude, honored the upcoming events featuring Yolanda Renee King, and emphasized the importance of youth engagement and nonviolent dialogue.
• Steve Lightfoot: Expressed strong opposition to the city's red light cameras, claiming they are a "ticket trap" and corrupting the police department. He also made unsubstantiated claims regarding government involvement in the murder of John Lennon and the corruption of the police department.
• Derek Shatron: Expressing concern over data privacy, questioned the council about agreements with Flock Safety and their ties to Peter Thiel and others. He demanded transparency regarding data collection and accused the council of failing to protect the Constitution.

Discussion Items

Zoning Amendments (Ordinance 25-103 & Plan Modification 11B)

• City Staff Presentation: Staff presented a proposal to rezone 156.18 acres (plus 11 acres north of Woodman Road) from Plan Development Zone to Mixed Use Large Scale (MXL) within the Pertron development. Staff noted a reduction of residential acreage from 438 to 402 acres and a significant increase in commercial land use from 81.9 to 136.4 acres, including a consolidation of the school site from 22.2 to 35 acres. Traffic impacts were analyzed and addressed.
• Applicant Presentation (Andrea Barlow, NES): The applicant confirmed that 350 acres of the land use plan would be modified. They explained the shift was to increase commercial certainty for marketing purposes and consolidate the school site to the eastern boundary. Regarding safety concerns near the school, the applicant stated that access improvements are not yet ready for the current land use plan but would be included in a future modification. Public comments received earlier included concerns about traffic, commercial adjacency to residential areas, and open space loss. The applicant noted a 100-foot buffer and increased open space acreage to address neighbor concerns.
• Council Questions: Councilmember Hinjam clarified the distinction between the 156 acres being rezoned and the 350 acres under land use modification. Councilmember Lion Weber requested information on school traffic safety and potential interchanges; the applicant confirmed that access improvements would be addressed in a future plan modification.
• Procedural Clarification: Staff clarified that the Planning Commission meeting had a quorum despite a high number of absences and one recusal (due to a broker conflict), meeting the legal five-person requirement.

Key Outcomes

• Motion Passed (9-0): Postponed the public hearing for Ordinance 25-101 to January 27, 2026.
• Motion Passed (9-0): Withdrew Ordinance 25-102 from consideration.
• Action Taken: Appointed Wyneta Massey to the Independent Ethics Commission and Ryan Case to the Planning Commission.
• Proclamation Adopted: The joint proclamation for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19, 2026, was adopted ceremonially without a formal vote.
• Motion Passed (9-0): Approved Ordinance 25-103 (Zoning Map Amendment) for the Pertron development.
• Motion Passed (9-0): Approved the Major Modification of the Pertron Land Use Plan (Item 11B).
• Director Update: Mayor Yemi provided an update on the legislative tour, noting a letter sent to the Governor regarding shoplifting penalties and competency reform. Sales tax revenue for December was reported to be up 3.19%.

Note: A discrepancy exists between the transcript record and the meeting title date. The transcript explicitly states the meeting is for "Tuesday, January 13th, 2025" initially, but corrects to "Oh, 2026" immediately after, and references events occurring in "January of 2026." This summary reflects the 2026 date as corrected in the transcript.