Colorado Springs City Council Work Session – February 9, 2026

The City Council Work Session convened at 9:00 AM on Monday, February 9, 2026, in Council Chambers. President Lynette Crow-Iverson called the meeting to order with eight members present and one excused (Councilmember Tom Bailey). The meeting covered presentations on city horticulture and building department highlights, discussions on federal housing block grants, metropolitan district amendments, bond issuances, and surplus property disposals. The session concluded with councilmember reports and adjourned at 11:24 AM.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval (Item 4A): The minutes of the January 26, 2026 Work Session were approved by consensus of City Council.
• Upcoming Meeting Consent Calendar Change: Councilmember Henjum requested the removal of Item 4B.D from the February 10, 2026 regular meeting consent calendar; City Council agreed by consensus.

Presentations for General Information

• Overview of collaboration between City Horticulture and Horticultural Art Society (HAS) (Item 6A, 20 min):
  • Lynne Pearson, HAS Board Trustee, described HAS’s three public gardens in Monument Valley Park (Demonstration Garden, Heritage Garden, Pinetum), its 400+ members, 170 regular volunteers, and the annual plant sale that provides ~85% of revenue. The organization partners with the city for maintenance, education, and seed starting.
  • Alex Crochet, City Horticulturist, reported that in 2025 city horticulture reduced annual flower production from 60,000 to 15,000, shifting to native plants, and converted 35 annual beds to perennial beds. A plant fundraiser raised $24,000 to build an outdoor classroom. City horticulture now grows native plants at $2.87 per gallon (vs. ~$20 wholesale) and is collaborating with Colorado Springs Utilities to provide free plants to homeowners for turf conversion. Over 100 volunteers worked in greenhouses in 2025.
  • Councilmembers expressed appreciation. Councilmember Leinweber asked about historical turf conversion. Kim King (Acting Director, PRCS) noted the "Springs in Bloom Adopt a Bed" program and sustainability evolution. Eric Becker (Maintenance and Operations Manager, PRCS) stated that since 2012-2013, approximately 100 acres of passive bluegrass have been converted to more resilient native grasses across 40 projects.
• Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) Year in Review (Item 6B, 20 min):
  • Greg Dingrando, Public Information Officer, presented 2025 data: 2,811 single-family home permits (down 1% from 2024), but townhomes up 37% to 375. New commercial projects increased 31% to 398, driven by apartment construction (2,744 units permitted, up 227%). Estimated valuation of all construction reached $3.7 billion (up 8%). 4,175 apartment units were completed. Notable projects: American Furniture Warehouse ($45M), giraffe exhibit at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo ($25M), five hotels, and El Pomar Conference Center ($19M). Reroof permits dropped 34% due to no major hailstorms since 2023. The department offers lowest fees in Colorado and same-day inspections.
  • Councilmember Henjum asked about affordable housing in office-to-apartment conversion; Dingrando did not have that information. Councilmember Rainey asked about job creation; Shawna Lippert, Economic Development Officer, agreed to provide data. Councilmember Leinweber requested analysis of residential vs. commercial balance near growth areas; Kevin Walker (Planning Director) said Planning could map this via GIS.

Discussion Items

• 2026 Annual Action Plan for Federal Block Grant Funds (Item 8A, 30 min):
  • Aimee Cox, Chief Housing and Homelessness Officer, introduced the resolution for approximately $5 million in HUD funds (CDBG, HOME, ESG). The plan allocates 57% to housing, 14% to supportive services/homelessness response, 13% to public facilities, 16% to planning/administration. Projected outcomes: 36 single-family homes rehabilitated, 133 multifamily units (6 counted via HOME funds), 13 households receiving TBRA rental assistance (hoping to reach 100 with other funds), 3,000 people assisted with supportive services.
  • Councilmember Rainey asked about state-level impacts on federal funding; staff said none known. Councilmember Donelson noted funding is flat compared to 2024 and 2025. Councilmember Leinweber questioned whether TBRA is sufficient for 8,000 homeless; Cox stated it is not. Councilmember Donelson suggested Council could review future funding applications.
• Bradley Heights Metro Districts Amendment (Item 8B, 10 min):
  • Allison Stocker, Senior Planner, presented a limited second amendment to add landscaping, trails, open space, and parks maintenance to the district’s service plan (Exhibit D). No change to mill levy. Councilmember Donelson confirmed this only adds parks language; item moved to consent.
• Tuscany Plaza Metro District Bond Issuance (Item 8C, 10 min):
  • Drew Foxx, Planner II, presented a request to issue up to $4,225,243 in Limited Tax GO Bonds to reimburse developer Izzy LLC for completed public improvements (sidewalks, stormwater, etc.). The district’s maximum debt is $6M; no prior debt. Councilmember Henjum clarified stormwater vs. flood surface detention differences (public vs. private). Councilmember Rainey confirmed the issuance covers only completed improvements, not future American Furniture Warehouse work. Item moved to consent.
• Surplus Property Disposal – Project Tree (Item 8D, 20 min):
  • Troy Stover, Business Park Development Director, proposed selling 13 acres at Peak Innovation Park to a family-owned food manufacturing/distribution company (Project Tree) for $12M initial capital investment. Purchase price at or above appraised fair market value. FAA land release pending formal approval (verbal received). Construction begins spring 2027. No questions; moved to consent for February 24 regular session.
• Surplus Property Disposal – Project Manitou (Item 8E, 20 min):
  • Troy Stover presented sale of ~50 acres to a major national bottling manufacturer (confirmed as Coca-Cola) for a 500,000 sq ft facility, $475M capital investment, creating 7,200 jobs companywide. Closing end of February 2026, construction mid-March. Councilmember Henjum noted public celebration but question about keeping project name; Stover explained process. Moved to consent for February 10 regular meeting.

Councilmember Reports and Open Discussion

• Councilmember Rainey: Hosted Red Cross Executive Director Phil Martinez; Red Cross Month in March with proclamation; followed up with Spacious Skies on data dashboard; attended Space Force Northern Command activation at Peterson SFB.
• Councilmember Gold: Announced District 4 Town Hall for Southeast Strong Community Plan on February 13.
• Councilmember Leinweber: Reported on Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Board; since 2021, over $3.5M spent on fire mitigation; ~$1M planned for 2026 in areas including Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Ponder Heights, Cloud Camp Bridge, Union Meadows, Blodgett Fuel Reduction, Gold Stage Road.
• Councilmember Henjum: Met with ~40 providers, DHS, and others on February 6 regarding unhoused services; top gap identified was safe parking. Councilmember Leinweber added that Springs Rescue Mission provides parking (up to 90 spaces) but prefers people sleep inside.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved by consensus.
• Items 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E were recommended to be placed on the consent calendar for the February 10 or February 24 regular sessions.
• Item 8A (2026 Annual Action Plan) will return for a vote in two weeks.
• Staff direction: Planning Department to provide GIS analysis of residential/commercial growth balance; Economic Development to provide job creation data.
• No formal votes taken, as this was a work session; all items are for introduction and will proceed to regular Council meetings for action.