Good morning.

Welcome to Colorado Springs City Council meeting, regular meeting for Tuesday, January 27th, 2026.

Will the clerk please call the roll councilmember Bailey?

Here.

Councilmember Crow Iverson.

Here.

Councilmember Donaldson.

Here.

Councilmember Gold.

Here I am.

Councilmember Henjam.

Present.

Councilmember Linewever.

Here.

Councilmember Rainey.

Here.

Councilmember Risley.

Here.

Councilmember Williams.

Here.

All nine present.

So please stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Today we are joined by retired pastor of Rustic Hills Baptist Church, Pastor Stan Lightbook.

Good morning.

Pledge of prayer.

Pray.

Sorry.

Well, it's good morning.

It's good to be with you again and open these proceedings by asking God to guide and direct your work.

Let's pray together.

Father, we are living in tumultuous times.

There's unrest in the streets, there's turmoil around the world.

There's often anxiety among those who have the responsibility to lead and protect us.

I pray this morning that you will quiet the hearts of our city council, that they will be able to focus on the tasks at hand, that they will, through their leadership and decisions, provide for us a life characterized by tranquility and harmony, free from chaos and upheaval.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the followers of Jesus to pray for those in authority that the people would be able to lead quiet and peaceable lives, lives of peace and stability, and we ask for that this morning.

We also ask specifically about this meeting that you will direct these proceedings in a manner that will provide for the welfare of our home, that our council will bear in mind the best interests of the people, and we will in turn honor them for serving us and you in this capacity.

And we ask these things in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Please join us for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag 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.

Wishing to address the council, is there anyone who wishes to pull off anything from the consent calendar?

Yes, I would like to pull off item four BA off the consent calendar.

Okay, thank you.

February 9th.

Okay.

I need a motion and a second.

I have a motion from Councilman Risley.

My screen changed over.

I can't see it.

I can't see my second.

Councilman Rainey.

Um, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Moving forward to recognitions.

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

City Council appointments to boards, commissions.

So this morning we have appointments for boards and commissions starting with the lodgers and automal rental tax LART advisory committee.

A vacancy on the LART Advisory Committee.

Um came available due to the resignation of an ex-officio member, Councilman's Council Member Nancy Henjam and myself interviewed Doug Price and recommended him to the destination marketing ex officio position on the LART Advisory Committee.

Councilman Hingem, do you have any?

Uh all of that is true, and uh very heartily support him in his last year and his role as CEO of visit COS to um serve on the LARC committee.

Thank you.

Moving on to Parks Recreation and Culture Services Advisory Board.

A call for applications were issued for an alternate member of the board.

Interviews were conducted on January 7th and 15th in 2026 by Council Liaison's um David Lineweber and Kimberly Gold, along with Kim King, the acting parks director, recreation of culture sources, and Steve Harris, Chair of the Board.

The interview panel recommends appointments of Stephanie Pocheska, Joseph Johnson, Chelsea Binsel Crumbaugh, Vanessa Zink, Councilmember Lineweber and Gold.

Do you have any comments?

Councilman Lineweber.

Yeah, I just want to say we um we had a tremendous amount of people that applied.

I think over 60 people applied.

We had to whittle it down to 22.

And then we ended up windling down to eight.

And all eight candidates that interviewed were just outstanding.

And so this was really a difficult choice just to get it to four.

So what I'm telling you is that these four are all stars.

So I'm really, really excited.

And uh so I think it was we made a really great selection.

I would second that wholeheartedly.

And um, we also do have one of our new alternates here in the audience.

I didn't know if he wanted to uh speak today.

That's a no or yes.

Thank you for thank you for being here.

Um, and thank you for serving.

We also had um review at the Peggs Peak Regional Building Department.

Do we call PPRBD board review?

Council liaison's Brian Risley recommend the full up term appointment of Zachary Taylor, who previously filled an unexpired term to the PPR BD board review.

Um, Councilman Rosley, do you have any comments?

I don't.

Is Mr.

Taylor here with us today?

I don't see him.

I just want to thank all of our volunteers, not only for PPRBD, but for all the other boards and committees and commissions that uh serve our city and our community.

If there are no additional comments, I have a uh motion from Councilman Gold and a second from Councilman Bailey.

Let's vote again.

Here we go.

Motion passes down to zero.

Moving on to mayor's business, item 6A, um chief of staff, Travis Easton.

Do you have any mayor's business this morning?

Acting chief of staff.

Um I just wanted to thank the council members that were able to come out to the forge groundbreaking last week.

It was great to see you guys and great to hear from companies that want to call Colorado Springs home.

And uh just a heads up that we will have a powers open house this Wednesday as well to talk about the bridge work coming up.

So that is all.

Thank you.

Moving on to side item seven.

Will the um clerk please write read um item seven, called op consent calendar?

Will the clerk please read item four BA into the record?

City Council regular meeting then is January 13, 2026.

Will the individual who pulled out the item consent calendar?

You will now have three minutes to address counsel as to why you would like this pulled off.

Now, yeah, okay.

Do you want my whole comments now?

Or you have three minutes of comments.

So let's take it.

Good morning, City Council.

I wanted to take time to address the events during and following the city council meeting on January 13th, 2026.

Myself and several colleagues within the city, constituents of of yours spoke in affirmation of the joints proclamation from Martin Luther King Jr.

Day.

In our comments, we invited our city leaders to live into the proclamation by denouncing immigration and customs enforcement.

In light of this past Saturday's events in Minneapolis.

I believe those comments to be even more prescient and important.

Uh walking out and refusing to participate in the commemorative picture.

This is a matter of accurate public record, and I call on this to be reflected in the minutes.

I do so because it matters.

Your actions, Councilman Donaldson spoke loudly.

And so do the actions of Council President Crow Iverson, Councilmembers Bailey, Line Weber, Rainey, Risley, and Williams.

You have reprimanded Councilwoman Golds for displaying a lack of decorum when she accurately described the events of that day.

Councilman Donaldson displayed a grand lack of decorum by walking out after citizen comments.

He calls our words offensive and said publicly that he didn't even like sitting here listening to it before slamming his book down and walking out.

Then that evening, we both said publicly that we would assuredly sit and have a meeting with anyone.

And I've yet to receive a response from you, so maybe you can respond today.

I'm not only a faith leader in the city, but I also live in your districts.

You're my representative, and I so far do not feel represented.

Now that I bring that to your attention, Council President Crow Iverson, does that's blatant disregard and disrespect of members of your community not warrant a reprimand to reprimand Councilman Gold and not Councilman Donaldson is abundantly hypocritical.

And the five other council members who signed on to that reprimand.

Do you not see that as well?

I'm disappointed.

I'm frustrated.

So just do better, be better.

Represents your people.

Councilman Donaldson, I hope to meet soon.

We can work together.

Do the rest of the council.

The invitation is open to you as well, because we can make sure together that this city, our city is safe for everyone.

Thank you.

Will the clerk please read outline the process for city council meeting minutes?

We do summary minutes.

Historically, that's what's done across the state and in the city.

We have done summary minutes where we simply summarize in short sentences what happened.

And we I believe my staffer and I believe we accurately capture what was said in a short synopsis.

So minutes can be changed.

At this time, I don't have a motion or a second to change those meeting minutes.

So moving on to item 4BC.

Oh, in this one and then we'll move on to 4B.

Okay.

So I need a we we need a vote to approve these minutes.

So let's vote.

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

And then motion passes on an eight to one vote.

So moving on to item 4BC.

Um, will the clerk please read item 4 BC into the record?

A resolution of the city of Colorado Springs approving a limited second amendment to the amended and restated service plan of the Bradley Heights Metropolitan Districts numbers one, two, and three.

Kevin.

You're requesting to postpone.

Nope.

You pulled it off the consent.

Yeah, I'd like to have that postponed uh for additional information to be presented to council.

On February 9th.

February 9th.

Um I need a motion.

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

Are you speaking on this?

Okay.

Um, Councilman Gold.

Um, thank you for playing that off of consent.

I look forward to the additional information per specifically because it pertains to District 4.

So thank you.

Let's vote.

My apologies.

Motion passes nine to zero.

Moving on to item eight, utilities business.

Is there any utilities business this morning?

No new business.

Thank you.

Moving on to 13, we will now have one hour of citizens discussion for items not on today's agenda per city council rules.

The citizens will have three minutes to share their comments.

I have a list of those who have signed up to speak.

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

Um this morning we will start with.

I thought we did this after David Ebnik.

Thank you.

Okay, give me a second.

Did I fall asleep?

Bear with me.

Just one bear with me.

All right.

All right.

So as a citizen, look at me.

Not my clothing, not my accessories, not even my age, just me as a person.

I'm a living thing, right?

Look at every person in this room sitting or standing.

They're all living things with hearts, minds, souls, hopes, dreams, and feelings.

How about this?

Is this a living thing?

No.

Or how about this?

Or this?

How about this?

If you spend more than an hour of your day focusing on any of these items, raise your hand.

Anyways, it's just how can we um care more about the opinions about these inanimate objects more than more than most citizens in the city or country?

What good is hoarding them if they or focusing on them if they lost small amounts of time on the planet while humans and environments, animals and culture last five to ten times longer, yet are struggling because of some habits like these?

A business and a community can't exist without people, not a person, people, plural, multiple people that surround us and work harder every day than a lot of people in power, um, quite a few people in power, but um they're all of varying nationalities, ages, genders, orientations, abilities, and faiths, yet they all feel, think, and breathe like every other human.

So why should these objects be the top opinion?

In conclusion, I think we should you should uh think more about the citizens and regular people's opinions and lives rather than just the businesses and the money.

And then I'd like to recommend to everyone here or listening to send letters or emails to City Hall if you're open if you have any concerns or mutual feelings about this discussion.

Make your voice heard.

Thank you.

Next, we have signed up Angela Stevens.

Good morning.

Um thank you, sir, for what you said.

You were in the room, I was in the room, and City Council was in the room.

So they know how that rolled out, whether it's in the minutes or not, because we all observe that.

But today, um I am here.

Uh present president uh Crow Iverson and City Council members.

I'm Angela Stevens, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, known as the NAACP.

I am here to offer comments on the denial of the proclamation for Black History Month.

As a community, we as a community are repeatedly forced to endure attempts to erase the contributions of black and brown people of these United States.

Why is that?

When this country was built on the backs of black people, from removing black contributions from the history books to teaching even less black history today than when we were all in school.

When our community pulls together to help display some of the best of the Colorado Springs community, Colorado Springs City Council government would like its citizens to believe that you are acting in a fair and impartial manner, but as a private citizen of Colorado, of Colorado Springs and the president of the local NACP, we see you as a body playing it safe.

You are not here to serve the citizens of Colorado Springs, but to advance your own political agendas.

I still have not heard a good reason the city council has declined the Black History Proclamation.

The Black and Brown community of Colorado Springs invests in this community every day.

I ask you, are we only relevant when it comes to spending our money?

Why would you not want to pass Black History Proclamation or any ethnic recognition for portions of our community as it is its people working diligently to ensure that this community thrives and supports its people?

Thank you.

Councilman Gold.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, thank you, President Stevens, for your remarks.

Um, I do want to offer um the audience in person and online some some education.

Um I'm often reminded that I'm the new kid on the block here on council, so um I understand that I have a whole lot to learn.

Um, and in that process of learning is learning how you do proclamations, resolutions.

So, one um we do resolutions here for uh observances, and if we do a proclamation, it's typically a joint proclamation like the one we did with the mayor for MLK.

Um, I did want to do either or for uh Black History Month.

Um, my the process to my understanding is via email.

Um, it is sent out to council, and then council has a certain period of time to uh verbally or excuse me, in writing, say that they would like to support that, and you must have five council members to support in order to get it on the agenda.

On January 13th at 4 p.m., an email was sent out to the entire body with the attached proclamation/slash resolution with a request to reply by January 16th by close of business.

Unfortunately, um I have not heard any follow-up after that.

So, unfortunately, we don't have that this month from council.

Um, however, I do would like to offer to you that Mayor Yemi will be doing a Black History Month proclamation.

So the executive branch will be honoring this observance.

So thank you.

Councilman Williams.

Thank you.

Um unfortunately, this is tends to be late-breaking news with the communication, and I think as Travis Euston steps into his role.

Just so if there's a way that we can help convey additional information to you, if you wouldn't mind sharing.

So there was a call for action put out.

Um, it crossed my network.

So being part of that pipeline, I would definitely um show to support the the calling of the proclamation and our community that came together to make sure this was heard.

So for other things that come up in the future, would you mind if we you know join that to share the story?

Please come out.

Several council members have my direct contact, but that is not how I receive this explanation.

All right, thank you.

Councilman Gold.

Sorry.

I'm sorry, I did forget to mention one point of clarification.

Are our cameras not working today?

Typically, there's a camera with the spotlight on whoever's speaking, whether it's from the public or council.

So the cameras are working and the feed is being broadcast.

The distinction is when we have a teams meeting, it displays in the room, but all the cameras are working just so everything on Facebook and broadcast is the same as always, you're just not seeing the speaker in the room because we're not on teams.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Um, so I did also want to share that in the spirit of um trying to get things on the calendar faster.

I have been working with legislative services to compile a list of the observances that are particularly near and dear to my heart that I'd like to ask my fellow council members to support.

Um, I'm happy to share that list publicly.

I'm sure that there's some observances that I'm missing.

So if you um would like to, you know, submit that by you know official communications or social media communications.

I'm I'm certainly happy to share that because I think there's um a lot of rich culture here in Colorado Springs from our military culture to our BIPOC uh populations that should be honored and celebrated.

Peace be unto you all.

I'm Pastor Heather McDuffie, uh, local church pastor and region leader at Interfaith Alliance of Colorado.

Considering uh the recent um information from councilwoman Gold, um, I just think that it would be um an optic issue uh for the city that uh Black History Month is at least acknowledged in some particular way, and I respectfully request that uh that kind of proclamation be recognized for 2027, that we um get ahead of that.

Um, because for generations, Black History Month has served a public acknowledgement of the contributions, resilience, creativity, and leadership of black Americans, contributions that have shaped this city and our shared civic life, and in moments of uncertainty and heightened anxiety within our broader community and our nation, this symbolic act carries particular weight, especially from our leaders.

And while a pro proclamation is not law, it has the power to affirm belonging and dignity and shared responsibility.

I personally, as a pastor in this area, I tend to the emotional and spiritual climate of our community, and many of our folks, our neighbors, especially those from historically marginalized communities are experiencing fear and exhaustion and concern about whether they are seen and valued and protected.

And so this symbolic act by civic leaders like you, it matters in moments like this.

They say that our city is paying attention and that it chooses to lead with care, but the absence of a proclamation also speaks loudly.

The absence says that your European Americans do not care about a significant portion of our community.

It says that we don't care about local Tuskegee officer James Randall, that we don't care about Reverend Milton Proby, that we don't care about Fannie Mae Duncan, that we don't care about councilwoman Kimberly Gold, and that we don't care about Mayor Yemi Moblade.

And I refuse to believe that you serve on this dais without care.

I believe that your service is one of deep, deep care.

And in anxious times, your public affirmation is an act of care.

Learning about someone else's history doesn't erase my own.

And celebrating someone else's successes doesn't like make me less successful.

Witnessing someone's joy has never made me sad.

We are not experiencing a worthiness drought.

And what do white people have to lose in this moment?

Absolutely nothing but our egos.

After all, Jesus said, whoever wants to save their life will lose it.

But whoever loses their life for me will find it.

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul?

I believe that our souls are on the line today, friends, and a proclamation recognize recognizes that we will indeed grow our souls beyond perceived self-interest.

So at least attend the the things that Kimberly um invites you to show up for the community in February.

Again, peace be with you in all your work.

Thank you for your consideration.

Next up, we have Taylor Gray.

Thank you.

Uh I don't have anything prepared, so not as eloquent.

Uh I came here, woke up, took my day off uh to look you in the eyes, and call you spineless and pathetic.

Um, but I guess I'm gonna go to current events.

Like, did you guys just didn't vote to make the records correct?

Like, do you understand that the people's problem is that there's not proper records being taken?

Like you should be the one voting to pro if you're proud of what you did, then you should be the one voting to put that on the records.

But don't worry, we saw the video.

You're seeing the world is looking, the city is looking.

I'm 42 years old, born and raised here.

I am an introvert, and I didn't even know where the door to this building was.

And I took today off to come here and speak to you.

Why where all are your spines?

Like, we need everyone to stand up.

This is not political.

This is you have your moral, your your moral leaders here, your priests.

Like this is an emergency.

Our democracy is under attack, and you guys are playing political games.

Look, I don't care if you're red or blue.

Humans matter.

And I don't know if you've heard us.

We've been out there for months, years now.

It's been a year and a half since my neighbor was taken from me by ice.

We're not talking about a Minnesota.

I'm talking about on filmmore.

I'm talking about taken out.

And I to go down to the police, and and what they can't report it.

No records.

Just like this.

Please, clerk.

It is pathetic.

You guys, I need you to stand up.

You guys were all voted here.

I don't.

The world is looking.

The city's looking.

People know your name, Dave, not in a good way.

And I'm not shaming you look.

You're standing up for maybe what you believe in.

But you know, what happened over the weekend?

Do you feel really freaking pathetic?

Like we can we need to be proactive.

I need all of you to be proactive.

Don't let people bring this to you.

You guys take care of it.

You are our leaders.

Every single one of you, I need you to stand up and put aside your political junk and protect the people that you're here to serve.

This is the base.

I was just up in Denver walking through the streets at eight o'clock at night, shut down downtown.

You guys, we're in the streets.

I don't know if you can hear us through these walls, but they're out there screaming.

They're out there begging you to stand up and do something.

You're our leaders.

You're our leaders.

I this is a call to action.

I don't want blue.

I don't want red.

I don't want anything.

This is a moral concern.

This is not political.

This is moral.

Okay.

Human lives.

We all deserve a place.

Even you, Dave.

I if that's your opinion, if you respect what ICE is doing, I respect you feeling that way.

We need a pool of people, but I do not respect you not listening.

Councilman Donaldson.

Yeah, thanks, Madam President.

I'll I just like to point out that while there are minutes to our meetings, there's also a video video recording of the entire thing.

And in many of the email responses I sent to citizens who emailed me, some uh opposing what I did, some supporting what I did.

I included the link so they could watch it for themselves and not just read the report in the Gazette or what they a clip that they see online, but watch the whole thing.

Some will think what I did was wrong, some think what I did was uh uh reflected their their beliefs about enforcing immigration law in America.

And the other thing is I listened to everybody that spoke.

I listened to all three of I did.

You can watch the video.

And then I I after they spoke, Council President said, any council members have anything to say?

I said I disagreed, and I left the room before the photograph.

But I did listen to everyone.

Thank you, madam president.

Next we have Seth Harris.

Thank you.

Uh my name is Seth Palmer Harris.

I'm speaking today to address my concerns regarding the priorities of a majority of this council.

A question I try to ask my friends before they act is does this feel good or does this do good?

We are too often seduced into doing things that immediately provide some fleeting satisfaction rather than recognizing what it takes to make real, material, positive change in the lives of the people around us.

We react impulsively, we beat our chests.

We try to carve out meaningless victories against our perceived political rivals rather than find the common ground necessary to do real and good work.

The job of a city council is to work in service to the people.

That should always be the focus.

And I will say to their credit, that I have never had any reason to doubt the commitment of three of the members of this council to that end.

Counselors Henjam, Gold, and Donaldson, though they may not agree on much, do manage to find common ground in their service to the people of Colorado Springs.

And though I was saddened to see Counselor Donaldson's reaction to those faith leaders present here two weeks ago, I did not doubt that his reaction was genuine.

I did not doubt that he's trying, at least, to do good, no matter how much he's missing the mark.

But when the other six members of this council see fit to spend their time reprimanding Counselor Gold for having the audacity to state in simple words that did not hint at antagonism, what she witnessed in the chamber two weeks ago, I have to hope it felt good.

It sure didn't do any good.

The city that I love has real pressing issues.

We must find sustainable solutions to the affordability crisis and to homelessness.

We must double down on our commitment to the city's parks and to ensuring that this city thrives without jeopardizing the natural beauty that surrounds us.

We must explore innovative possibilities for public transit for the care of our veterans and for public safety.

Tackling those issues meaningfully is what doing good looks like.

However good it may feel to reprimand someone you consider to be a rival for imagined breaches of decorum that can only ever be a distraction from the real work of this job.

I know you're not paid enough.

I know a lot is asked of you.

If it's too much, no one is demanding that you carry on.

This city deserves a council that is unerringly committed to doing good for the people.

I hope that all of you can find your way there.

If not, I hope we can find others who can, whether through normal elections or through recall.

Thank you.

Next up is Sean Walls.

How's it going, guys?

Um, well, luckily I'm not here to talk about the proclamation specifically, but what I am here to talk about is patterns, not a single incident.

Um Colorado Springs has a long recognized history, has long recognized Black History Month as an official proclamation.

And that practice mattered because recognition is how cities signal belonging.

This year that norm was broken, and in the and then that same year, funding for Juneteenth was cut, making it nearly impossible to hold events in our own community without residents personally bankrolling it ourselves.

Those are not incidents, those are policy choices.

And then, laid on top of that, a black woman, council member is formally reprimanded for speaking plainly about what the public witnessed with our own eyes.

That reprimand doesn't exist in a vacuum because if we're going to talk about decorum, then we need to talk honestly about decorum.

Councilmember Dave Donaldson has repeatedly used this dais as a place to facilitate, or not to facilitate city business, but as a personal belief microphone.

He makes sweeping ideological statements, he grantstands, he editorializes, he storms out of meetings, he does all this without consequence.

This is not neutral enforcement of decorum, that is selectful enforcement.

When decorum rules are only invoked against certain voices, especially when those voices are black and dissenting, then decorum stops being about professionalism and starts being about power.

And let's be honest, Donaldson does not hide who he is.

He uses his platform loudly, he breaks decorum openly, he lets everyone know exactly where he stands, not so much where his district stands on issues, such as ICE killing a person every three days every three days in this country and choosing to use MLK Day to stand storm out and defiantly pompously embigoted self-adulation support of Americans being shot in the street.

In one way, I want to ask exactly who do you think you are.

But I believe that you but then I remember that you show us that you think you're King David of the City Council.

It's a strange in a strange way.

I appreciate that clarity, because at least we know who we're dealing with.

What is what is far more dangerous are the ones who don't storm out, the ones who do not raise their voices, the ones who hide their attentions behind uh a veil of righteousness, politeness and procedures, the ones who weaponize rules while pretending to protect civility.

Colorado Springs has a long history of leaders like Leon Young, who understood that real leadership does not require silencing others to feel powerful.

It does not require punishment to maintain control.

It does not fear dissent.

So when we see patterns with recognition being withdrawn, funding being pulled, and elected voices being disciplined, people notice.

Trust erose, and civic engagement declines.

And then communities will organize to protect themselves.

Next up we have Mary Coleman.

Hi, Council.

Hi, Brandy.

Um, I've been a volunteer and a leader in this community.

Oh, the button.

It's on.

Thank you.

I'm new, uh, but I'm not new.

I've actually served in this community for many, many years, professionally built on a passion of making us better together.

I don't normally come to this meeting.

I believe and trust that you all do good work.

And then I saw the recent meeting where Councilman Donaldson walked out, and then to learn that Councilwoman Gold was reprimanded for her behavior somehow.

I found that shocking.

I found that disappointing.

And I wanted to come here today to look you all in your face and tell you that that's how I felt.

Thank you so much.

Next up, we have Deanna Cam.

Councilman Bailey.

Thank you.

Deanna Cam.

Councilman Bailey.

She's not people be here.

Allegedly, the whole point of this discussion is that some people feel that their opinions are not being heard.

And that some people are afraid to hear other opinions.

And I just like to suggest that the people up here hear opinions every single day.

We hear opinions sometimes very civilly and sometimes very profanely, um aggressively, intimidatingly, threateningly.

We hear these opinions and we listen to them, and we do our best to make choices that are best for the rest of the city.

The people who elected us in the city, at least the people who voted in the city, because we know that people don't come out to vote for local elections.

And that's a shame.

And we've got a group of high school students here in a civics class, who I hope, if you walk out of here with nothing else, vote, participate, be involved in the conversation.

Now up here, we are very limited or should be, as professionals, as colleagues whose job is to work together to solve the problems of this country of this city.

Our the hour that we spend here in public comment, the hours that we spend here during public hearings, that's not the time that we're accomplishing anything.

The work gets done in other meetings behind the scenes.

This, when people worry about whether they can see themselves on TV, that's not the productive time for things to happen.

Conversations need to happen.

And my comment was predicated on the fact that we had a very eloquent speaker.

Stand up here and tell us that it's important to listen to other people.

And then she left.

Don't worry.

No, Madam President, I'll let you have this.

Sir, you had your three minutes.

We're moving on to the next speaker, please.

Oh, yeah, right.

Um, hi, my name is Dina.

Um, I'm here following the um murder in Minneapolis, mini murderers in Minneapolis, and I'm asking City Council.

I sent you all an email as well.

So, to adopt a resolution like was adopted in Aurora.

So the Aurora City Council adopted opposing unlawful and overreaching federal immigration enforcement actions and infirming constitutional due process protections.

This was adopted earlier this month in respect because of the cosplaying Proud Boys running out and murdering people in the streets.

Color Springs has always valued limited government and the rule of law.

Those principles require us to speak clearly when any federal agency, regardless of administration, oversteps its legal boundaries.

This resolution does not black lawful immigration enforcement.

It simply affirms that our city will not participate in actions that violate due process, exceed statutory authority, or expose the city to legal and financial liability.

Across the country, courts have repeatedly found that ICE has engaged in practices that violate constitutional protections.

For example, federal judges have ruled against ICE for detaining U.S.

citizens without cause, including cases where individuals were held for days or weeks despite clear proof of citizenship.

An ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good in her vehicle and CPBCB officers murdered Alex Pready.

These are not isolated stories.

They reflect a systematic issues that courts, inspectors, generals, and bipartisan oversight bodies have documented for years.

When ICE asks local governments to hold people without a judicial warrant that places cities like ours in jeopardy.

Multiple jurisdictions have been sued and have paid out settlements because honoring unconstitutional detainer requests violates the Fourth Amendment.

Colorado Springs taxpayers should not be forced to shoulder that cost.

This resolution simply states that Colorado Springs will follow the Constitution first.

We will require judicial warrants before depriving anyone of liberty, and that we will not allow federal agency to pressure our city into unlawful actions.

It protects our police officers from being drawn into federal mistakes.

It protects our residents from wrongful detention, and it protects this council from future liability.

Supporting a resolution is not an endorsement of any national immigration policy.

It's an endorsement of limited government due process and local control.

Values that have long defined this community.

And affirm that Collier Springs stands firmly on the side of constitutional governance and against the gun, the Proud Boys, the racist, Call of Duty cosplayers.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Sean Maddox.

Hello.

I am here also to encourage you to uh consider the resolution that was emailed to you.

I would like to take a moment to talk to you about how the current government overreach of ICE and DHS is affecting our community.

I'm a confirmer with Colorado Rapid Response.

Uh when someone calls in a tip that might be ICE activity, we go out to video that.

We know from seeing the events in Minnesota how incredibly important it is that all of this is documented.

Um then we also can provide information for family members that might be there and support.

So I've been on quite a few of the calls, and thankfully none of them have been ICE.

But what I have seen is this.

It's shocking to me.

Um people are so scared.

You know, you go on the door and you tell them this is not ICE, and they are just in tears and terrified.

Is that what we want members of our community to be?

Do we want them hiding in back rooms and terrified?

Because you know what that has a lot of connection to.

Um it's heartbreaking and it's infuriating, and it also reflects poorly on the Colorado Springs police department.

Because I've been to calls where I have had Colorado Springs police officers.

I walk up to them, they immediately show their ID, and they say, hey, we are not with ICE.

We promised you we are not with ICE.

So they are not able to effectively do their job because people are sitting in the back room terrified, and they're not gonna want to call the police when there's crimes.

They're not gonna want to go to the hospital when there's an issue.

This is a consistent wait rage, uh consistent waging terror on our on every community in the United States.

Um, and for my last little comment, real quick, uh, the absolute ridiculous censure of council member Gould.

She behaved in a very professional manner and was just expressing her opinion, and I'm sure the opinion of some of her constituents.

It was not a good look for counsel, especially considering that she was referring to the behavior of a council member who could not regulate their emotions to behave in a professional and mature manner.

One would think as an elder member of this council, they would have the ability to self-regulate and be a good example to future leaders like those sitting in the first two rows.

Thanks.

Next up, we have Don Killinger.

Hello, how are you all doing today?

I'm afraid right now.

I'm an old white man.

And I'm supposed to have something called white male privilege.

I'm also bilingual.

And for the past two years, I've been working with legal immigrant asylum seekers who are here in this community seeking a better life for themselves and most of all for their children.

A life free from fear, a life where they can earn a living and not be harassed by government agents, which was often the case in the countries they left, leaving everything behind.

And in most cases, walking, taking buses, and riding on top of trains.

The reason I'm afraid is that I'm also a confirmer with CERC and corn.

I am called on signal chats to go and report on suspected ICE incidents.

The reason I'm afraid right now is because everything I've been told and taught about what I should be doing to keep myself safe is no longer true.

I have been told that I can legally take videos and pictures and record activities as an observer, as long as I do not obstruct or interfere with an arrest.

Not interfering, but simply recording and reporting back.

Over the past three weeks, Renee Good and Alex Pretti were murdered by federal agents for doing what I have been doing.

And I tell you, I am afraid.

And because of that, I ask you to think about something.

And Colorado is in Sauron's eye because we have put Tina Peters in jail on state charges that he cannot pardon her for.

And I hope that you are, all of you in this room.

And I'll quote Gandalf.

None of us who live in times like this wish that we were here.

But that's not our choice.

Our choice is to do what we can with what we have from where we are.

And I am, and I will.

Thank you.

Next up is Erica Carper.

Carpenter.

Carpenter's here.

Carpenter's here.

Hello.

I'm Erica.

I'm a resident of Colorado Springs, also a volunteer with the Colorado Rapid Response Network and a voter.

I vote every time.

The Trump administration released an article just celebrating 365 wins in 365 days.

Well, I don't have time to cover all of them.

One of the things they mentioned was making government work for the people.

But I'm just a little confused because on September 12th, Severio Viegas Gonzalez, a father of two who had just dropped off his children at school, was shot and killed by ICE agents.

They claimed that he had attempted to ram them with his car.

Video footage later disproved this.

October 4th, Mirmar Martinez, a 30-year-old teacher and U.S.

citizen was shot five times after allegedly ramming a border patrol agent vehicle.

Evidence later demonstrated that it was actually the border patrol agent that sideswiped her.

The officer later sent a text message stating, I fired five rounds and she had seven holes.

Put that in your books, boys.

In December, a border patrol agent shot and killed a 31-year-old Mexican citizen while trying to detain him.

Keith Porter, a 43-year-old U.S.

citizen, was shot by an off-duty ICE agent in Los Angeles on Year's Eve.

He was shooting his rifle into the air to celebrate the new year, a tradition he and his family had been doing for years.

There have been at least nine cases of federal agents firing into vehicles in the last four months, but it's been going on for longer than that.

July 31st, 2025, an ICE agent fired three shots into the vehicle into a vehicle in Black Forest.

This occurred in a residential area, not only putting the driver and passenger at risk, but the families who lived in the surrounding neighborhood.

ICE made a statement alleging that the driver attempted to once again ram the vehicle into them.

No evidence was ever provided to substantiate these claims, despite the fact that ICE agents wear body cams, and we all saw the murder of Renee Good.

I've had a car ram into me before.

I was crossing Palmer Park on my bike a few years ago.

A car seemed to be slowing down for me, but didn't stop until it sideswiped me, running me over, running pushing me over and running over my headphones.

Um I'm not trained in defensive tactics.

I haven't completed the floodsea training, but my first instinct was to move away from the vehicle, not attack it.

But that's just me.

Well, I grieve the deaths of Renee Good, Alex Prady, Silverio Viegas Gonzalez, Keith Porter, the 32 people that died while in ICE custody last year, and the many others who have died alone in pain and terror and under circumstances that defy logic, justice, and human decency.

They were not their first and will certainly not be the last if you don't take action.

Action like the resolution passed in Aurora.

Dave, a few weeks ago you said that you fully support ICE and their actions, and that it was so offensive to you to hear them criticize that you just had to leave the meeting.

Well, this is what offends me.

The fact that you are waiting for a tragedy that affects you, waiting to be reactive instead of proactive, waiting for the sacrifice of a human being that you feel like you can identify with before you make change.

That offends me deeply.

That concludes our public comment for today.

Um, Councilman Henscham.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I want to share and reflect back what I've heard from all of you who spoke to us today.

Um, this is the item of citizens' comment for items not on the agenda.

And we do this every formal council meeting.

It's the last item on the agenda.

And I don't know how many were here.

I didn't count.

Um, at least 10 or 15 uh who spoke and many more in the in the chambers.

And because it isn't really a dialogue and a conversation, I think it's important uh that you know what I heard you say.

So I heard that uh it's important that we focus on people, that humans matter, that relationships are important.

I heard that it's important to use your voice, to use our voice, to use our collective voices to serve what's good.

I heard almost in every single uh person who spoke a fundamental underlying desire, which is I think true for all of us, regardless of what our perspective is, that we want and need to be seen, heard, and respected.

Regardless of what those opinions are.

I heard that loud and clear.

Um, I heard recognition of multiple and various um populations that make up our city of all kinds of diversity.

Um I heard a lot of anger and frustration about what's happening in the world.

Um, in our country, particularly in Minneapolis, here in our city.

I heard that there is a moral concern that we should all share.

Um I heard the desire for us to look for common ground for doing good and for serving the people as your local elected body.

And I would say here, just a little editorial, I didn't hear this particularly, but um city council, your county commission, and your school boards are the front line of our democracy.

And you are here today speaking to the front line of the democracy that everybody here, including everyone on this dais, I do believe deeply cares about.

Um I heard about patterns of behaviors and looking at patterns that you're seeing.

Um an erosion of trust.

And I heard, I think, in especially in the last few, uh, real fear, real fear about what's happening, about people being murdered, about lack of due process of law.

Um, again, the concern for democracy.

Um, I heard a request for a resolution, much like Aurora did.

Um, this is actually, you know, what is happening uh with immigration with our the ice with lease that it is a local concern.

Um it's something our city should be concerned about.

I personally would support such a resolution.

Um, and I go on record as saying that.

Um I have some very good friends who live in Minneapolis.

We probably all do and are hearing stories about what's going on on the ground there.

These friends of mine um were sharing that uh very close friends of theirs uh were just peacefully witnessing what was happening, and um just honestly, you know, white folks like like them, um, just watching, being witness, and they were taken and detained by ICE for eight hours.

No um no name tag with masks held, their phones were taken away, and they were released, and they never got their phone back.

That is un American.

That is tyranny.

It's bascism.

And I would say the definition of tyranny is cruel, unreasonable, and arbitrary use of power or control.

I think we're seeing that in our country.

Um, and I appreciate all of you coming here today.

And had there been other people here to speak on behalf of ICE, I would have shared what I heard them say as well, but they are we're not here this morning.

Um so thank you for coming.

I hear you.

Um, I appreciate you being engaged in your local government, and keep coming.

Thank you.

Councilman Gold.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, you know, I'm a political newcomer.

When I um got elected, somebody in our community gave me some advice, and that advice was hey Kimberley, your new office is at City Hall, but City Hall is not your home.

The Southeast is.

Thank you, everybody.

Again, that concludes um public comments um and our meeting.

I do want to thank the Air Academy students who braved the weather and this meeting today.

Hopefully, you'll come back when we have more items on the agenda that pertain to zoning and the things we do up here.

Um so thank you again for coming out, and that concludes our meeting.

That's why they hide behind that.