City Council Work Session – April 13, 2026

The Colorado Springs City Council held a work session on April 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. The meeting included the swearing-in of Kenneth Casey to fill the unexpired District 2 term, executive sessions on litigation and legal advice, and presentations from Safe Passage, the Acacia Park Bandshell restoration project, and year-end LART updates from the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region and the Colorado Springs Sports Corp. The council also considered the dissolution of the Evergreen Ridge Metropolitan District and amendments to the Unified Development Code.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the March 23, 2026 work session were approved by consensus.
• The resolution consenting to the dissolution of the Evergreen Ridge Metropolitan District was referred to the consent calendar with apparent consensus.

Oath of Office

• Kenneth Casey was sworn in to serve the unexpired term of City Council District 2 until the April 6, 2027 General Municipal Election. Chief Municipal Judge HayDen Kane administered the oath. Councilmember Casey expressed gratitude to his family, fellow councilmembers, and District 2 residents.

Presentations for General Information

Safe Passage

• Mo Basenberg, Executive Director, and CSPD Commander Daniel Thompson presented an overview of Safe Passage, the only co-located child advocacy center in Colorado. In 2025, Safe Passage served 791 primary child victims, 731 caregivers, and 858 non-victims (including mental health therapy clients). A new in-house mental health program grew on-site therapy from 2 children in 2024 to 44 in 2025. 547 children received medical consultations from UCHealth forensic nurses.
• Basenberg stated that El Paso County leads the state in child abuse/neglect reports, a trend lasting over ten years. Funding is diversified (state support, private foundations, grants, fundraising), but the organization faces budget challenges due to facility depreciation.
• Council discussion addressed intake procedures, the impact of city budget cuts on CSPD overtime expenditures, and the tension between parental rights and child safety. Basenberg and Thompson emphasized that threats often come from within families and urged community members to report concerns. Councilmembers expressed strong support for Safe Passage’s work.

Restoration of Acacia Park Bandshell

• Trevor Dierdorff, President of the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs, Michelle Winchell, Director of Creative Economy for Downtown, and Kim King, Acting Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services, presented a plan to renovate the historic bandshell in Acacia Park. The proposed design includes a widened stage, a canopy (not attached to the historic structure), a green room, public restrooms in the adjacent hub building, a 2,000 sq ft dance floor, and a 9,000 sq ft sloped lawn. The project aims to activate the park at least 100 days per year.
• Dierdorff stated that cost estimates are pending contractor bids, with funding expected from state and federal grants and local philanthropists. Councilmembers voiced support. Councilmember Williams noted the project is in District 3 and praised the partnership. Councilmember Henjum asked about Rotary’s mission; Dierdorff cited polio eradication and community development as key pillars.

Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR) - 2025 Year-End LART Update

• Angela Seals, President and CEO, reported 2025 results under the $472,000 annual Lodgers and Auto Rental Tax (LART) contract. The Cultural Office fulfilled 16 required KPIs and 11 additional initiatives. PeakRadar.com supported 2,533 local events; 74% of its users were tourists, generating an estimated 5,000 hotel room nights. A marketing campaign achieved 14 million impressions. Arts October reached 4.6 million people. This was an informational presentation; no questions were asked.

Colorado Springs Sports Corp - 2025 Year-End LART Update

• Davis Tutt, Director of Sports Tourism & Olympic Engagement, and Megan Leatham, President and CEO, presented the 2025 impact. Key events included US Figure Skating Championships, USA Weightlifting Nationals, NCAA Division II Men’s & Women’s Soccer Championships, and the Department of Defense Warrior Games. The sports economy contributes approximately $280 million annually to the Pikes Peak region, with Sports Corp generating over $100 million in direct economic activity. Despite a 12% decrease in athletes, spectator numbers and hotel room nights increased.
• Councilmember Leinweber asked about defending the Olympic City brand after rumors of National Governing Body (NGB) departures. Leatham clarified that over five years only one NGB (USA Pentathlon with one employee) was lost, while the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes relocated to Colorado Springs. Tutt noted a lack of state-level sports commission funding and insufficient venues for large tournaments. Leatham mentioned ongoing work on the Rocky Mountain Sports Ranch and efforts to bring professional baseball back. Councilmember Donelson expressed support and highlighted the role of military partnerships.

Items for Introduction

Evergreen Ridge Metropolitan District Dissolution

• Kevin Walker, Planning Director, presented the resolution to dissolve the district. The district holds no debt, has no financial obligations, and the developer will manage common areas through a homeowners’ association (HOA). Councilmember Donelson confirmed that the developer opted to proceed without a metro district. The item was referred to the consent calendar.

Unified Development Code (UDC) Article 5 Amendments

• Daniel Sexton, LUR/DRE Planning Manager, introduced an ordinance amending procedural processes. The amendments clarify that recommendations from lower decision-making bodies (e.g., Planning Commission) are not appealable; allow conditional use approvals independent of development plans; and establish one-year expiration periods for adjustments and variances if no building permit is obtained. The ordinance also makes use-specific dimensional standards (e.g., a 250-foot separation for gas stations) eligible for variance.
• Councilmember Donelson asked whether the changes reduce citizen appeal rights or decision-making information. Sexton affirmed that appeal rights remain unchanged and review criteria are not altered. Councilmember Casey noted that allowing variances before full design can save applicants significant costs. The item will be brought forward for formal action later in April.

Executive Sessions

• Open Sessions: Council authorized city representation in two lawsuits: Christopher D. Grant v. Larry Downard et al. (Case No. 2026CV87) and Kristy Morgan v. City of Colorado Springs et al. (Case No. 25-cv-03529), based on Civil Action Investigation Committee recommendations. Council polled and gave consensus for both.
• Closed Session: Council voted (with at least two-thirds approval) to hold a closed executive session for legal advice regarding the Colorado Voting Rights Act.

Councilmember Reports and Open Discussion

• Item 10.A Withdrawn: The out-of-state travel authorization request was withdrawn by the requesting councilmember.
• Officer Recognition: Councilmember Donelson recognized Colorado Springs Police Officer Augustus Joseph Perreira Jr., who was killed in the line of duty on April 12, 1980. He also read Council Rule 3.2.A.2 and requested that councilmembers announce reasons for excused absences.
• PPORA Rebranding: Councilmember Leinweber reported that the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance (PPORA) held a leadership conference on April 10, 2026, and will change its name to Pikes Peak Outdoors.

Key Outcomes

• Kenneth Casey was sworn in as District 2 councilmember.
• Council authorized representation in two civil lawsuits.
• Council approved a closed executive session on the Colorado Voting Rights Act.
• The Evergreen Ridge Metropolitan District dissolution resolution was placed on the consent calendar.
• The UDC amendments were discussed and will be introduced for formal consideration later in April.
• Councilmembers recognized a fallen officer and reported on regional outdoor recreation developments.
• The meeting adjourned at 2:12 PM.