OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Colorado Springs City Council Meeting – May 26, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, May 26, 2026
BodyColorado Springs, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 6:15:39
Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Good morning again and welcome to the regular City Council of Colorado Springs meeting for Tuesday, May 28th, 2026.

0:13

We are now in session.

0:14

Will the clerk please call the roll?

0:19

Councilmember Casey.

0:20

Here.

0:21

Councilmember Crow Iverson.

0:22

Here.

0:23

Councilmember Donaldson.

0:24

Here.

0:24

Councilmember Gold.

0:25

Here I am.

0:26

Councilmember Hindum.

0:28

Present.

0:28

Councilmember Lion Weber.

0:30

Here.

0:30

Councilmember Rainey.

0:32

Here.

0:32

Councilmember Risley.

0:33

Here.

0:34

Councilmember Williams.

0:35

Here.

0:35

All nine present.

0:38

So please stand for the invocation and the pledge of allegiance.

0:42

And today we are joined by Pastor Hartstock from the first Presbyterian Church.

0:47

Good morning.

1:05

It's free people.

1:07

Today I pray that we pray for one of those expressions of freedom.

1:12

Our freely elected City Council of Colorado Springs.

1:17

Scripture calls us to pray for our leaders.

1:19

Therefore, today I thank you, Lord, and pray with thankfulness for each and every one of our city council members.

1:26

I pray for the president.

1:28

Linda Lynette Crow Iverson.

1:36

For Councilman Dave Donaldson.

1:40

For Councilman Ken Casey.

1:44

For Councilwoman Brandy Williams.

1:47

For Councilwoman Kimberly Gold.

1:51

For Councilwoman Nancy Hindum.

1:55

For Councilman Roland Rainey Jr.

1:58

And Councilman David Weinwitter.

2:01

Thank you, Lord.

2:02

You raise up leaders and you have raised up the these city council members to help our city, our Olympic City.

2:10

Lord, guide them, lead them, give them the wisdom to know the right and choose it.

2:18

And I and we thank you that you have called each one of these council members to serve our beautiful city.

2:27

In the name of Jesus Christ.

2:28

Amen.

2:29

Amen.

2:32

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it says one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

2:51

We will now consider the consent calendar.

2:53

These items will be acted on as a whole, unless a specific item is called for discussion by a council member or a citizen wishing to address city council.

3:03

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

3:10

Yes.

3:10

The minutes, please.

3:12

And I couldn't push the button just so you know my screen doesn't allow me to push the button to be my screen is also not up, but Councilman Hindum.

3:21

Thank you.

3:21

I just wanted to pull off the minutes from uh last meeting and um in particular it was in the um the I don't have those minutes up.

3:33

It was in the section on um the appointment of Stephanie umstrom, thank you.

3:42

Welcome Stephanie to the dais, our new city attorney.

3:45

Um acknowledgement I that I was supportive of the um of the vote, and I was but I specifically um made mention of Mark Smith, who was uh leaving service of the city for 22 years, and I just would like that to be reflected in the record, please.

4:01

Thank you very much.

4:03

That's all I have, if there are no others, I have a motion from Councilman Gold and a second from Councilman Rainey.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous████████████████████20%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████19%
Economic Development██████████████14%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Procedural██████6%
Transportation Safety██████6%
Homelessness██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Historic Preservation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Colorado Springs City Council Meeting – May 26, 2026

The Colorado Springs City Council convened on May 26, 2026, at 9:20 AM in Council Chambers, adjourning at 4:55 PM. The meeting covered a consent calendar, recognitions, mayor's business, utilities business, reconsideration of a street vacation, and multiple new business items including housing, annexation, building codes, childcare zoning, and the Elevate Downtown Plan.

Consent Calendar

  • Ordinance 26-19: Rezoning 9.04 acres off Marksheffel Road to Public Park (Reagan Ranch Community Park). Unanimously passed.
  • Ordinance 26-20: Amendments to Article 5 of the Unified Development Code (UDC) regarding procedural processes. Unanimously passed.
  • Resolution 44-26 & Ordinance 26-21: Acquisition of approximately 40 acres (West CMSP Parcel 1) via TOPS program and supplemental appropriation of $162,000. Adopted/approved.
  • Resolution 45-26 & Ordinance 26-22: Same for West CMSP Parcel 2. Adopted/approved.
  • Resolution 46-26: Authorizing CSU augmentation service contract with Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station. Adopted.
  • Resolution 47-26: Authorizing abandonment of water rights associated with Sugar Loaf Reservoir. Adopted.
  • Resolution 48-26: IGA for aquatic nuisance species mitigation at Twin Lakes and Turquoise Lake. Adopted.
  • Resolution 49-26: Setting a July 14, 2026 hearing date for Kettle Creek Addition No. 1 Annexation (19.88 acres). Adopted.
  • All consent items passed 9-0-0-0 (9 ayes).

Recognitions

  • Preservation Month (May 2026): Resolution adopted 9-0. Tim Boddington (Preservation Historic Alliance) spoke on historic preservation successes.
  • Boards, Commissions, and Committees Appointments: Approved 9-0, including Historic Preservation Board, PPRTA Citizens Advisory Committee, and PPACG Community Advisory Committee.

Mayor's Business

  • Chief of Staff Wayne Williams reported the second city furlough day occurred May 25, 2026; year-to-date sales tax revenue increased 4.1% (vs. 1.4% projection); the 2027 budget is being developed conservatively.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • HOME-ARP Amendment (10A): Beth Roalstad (CEO, Homeward Pikes Peak) and Artie Lehl (Executive Director, Colorado Springs Housing Authority) spoke in support of the amendment to fund tenant-based rental assistance for households losing emergency housing vouchers.
  • Child Care Zoning (10D): Supporters included SherryLynn Boyles (Joint Initiatives for Youth & Families), Liz Dennison (Early Connections Learning Centers), Samuel Clark (Pikes Peak Real Estate Foundation), MJ Benenati (Chamber & EDC), Jackie Lujan (Lighthouse Early Care and Education), Creed Spillane (Quantum Residential Group), and Jill Gaebler (Pikes Peak Housing Network). Opponents included Diane Bridges (Historic Neighborhoods Partnership), Dutch Schultz (Old North End Board), and Mike Anderson (HNP), who requested conditional use instead of permitted use for large commercial daycares in residential zones.
  • Elevate Downtown Plan (10E/10F): Diane Bridges (HNP) thanked the partnership for engagement. Samuel Clark (DDA Chair), Colin Christie (Downtown Partnership Vice Chair), and Eric Brenner (Red Gravy owner) urged approval, citing the plan’s comprehensive vision.
  • Citizen Discussion (Topic not on agenda): Charles Barber (hair in drains), Renee Gonzalez (support council compensation raise), Kyle McGuffey (opposed Project Torres data center and FLOCK red light cameras), Caleb Miller (requested CSU CEO Travas Deal resignation, raise COPE fund match, raise council pay), Peter Hernandez (opposed Project Torres, supported council compensation), Roger Fortin (thanked community for Honor Flight support), Taylor Gray (raised data privacy concerns), Steven Lightfoot (sang about Stephen King and John Lennon).

Discussion Items

  • Utilities Business (8A): Resolution approving IGA with Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District for regional water service agreements. Councilmember Casey recused. Passed 8-0-1 after discussion on water reuse and infrastructure.
  • Unfinished Business (9A) – Reconsideration of East Boulder Street Vacation (0.92 acres): Extensive debate on safety improvements, school zones, parking, and bond funding for Palmer High School. Councilmember Risley recused. Motion to approve with conditions (public egress, D11 collaboration, return of right-of-way if property disposed) passed 6-2-1 (Councilmembers Donelson and Gold opposed).
  • New Business (10A) – HOME-ARP Amendment: Shifted $1.9 million to tenant-based rental assistance and supportive services for 70–80 households losing emergency housing vouchers. Approved 9-0.
  • New Business (10B) – PTAA Addition No. 1 Annexation (14.12 acres): Set July 14, 2026 hearing date. Procedural redo due to ownership issues. Councilmember Risley recused. Passed 8-0-1.
  • New Business (10C) – Single Exit and Stairway Ordinance: State-mandated update to building code. Fire Marshal and Building Official testified in opposition. Council decided not to make a motion; item failed for lack of motion.
  • New Business (10D) – Child Care Zoning Amendments: Changed adult/child day care centers to permitted use in many zones with restrictions (not on residential streets). Three amendments by Councilmember Donelson (parking ratio, remove large centers, change to conditional use) failed for lack of second. Approved on first reading 8-1 (Donelson opposed).
  • New Business (10E/10F) – Elevate Downtown Neighborhood Plan and Plan of Development: Updated 2016 plan. Approved 8-1 (Donelson opposed). Councilmember Rainey expressed concerns about some language but supported the overall vision.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar and Recognitions: All passed unanimously (9-0).
  • Utilities IGA (8A): Adopted 8-0-1 (Casey recused).
  • Boulder Street Vacation (9A): Approved 6-2-1 (Donelson, Gold no; Risley recused) with three conditions.
  • HOME-ARP Amendment (10A): Adopted 9-0.
  • PTAA Annexation Hearing Date (10B): Set 8-0-1 (Risley recused).
  • Single Exit/Stairway Ordinance (10C): Failed for lack of motion.
  • Child Care Zoning (10D): Approved on first reading 8-1 (Donelson no).
  • Elevate Downtown Plan (10E/10F): Approved 8-1 (Donelson no).
  • No public hearing or executive session occurred.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning again and welcome to the regular City Council of Colorado Springs meeting for Tuesday, May 28th, 2026. We are now in session. Will the clerk please call the roll? Councilmember Casey. Here. Councilmember Crow Iverson. Here. Councilmember Donaldson. Here. Councilmember Gold. Here I am. Councilmember Hindum. Present. Councilmember Lion Weber. Here. Councilmember Rainey. Here. Councilmember Risley. Here. Councilmember Williams. Here. All nine present. So please stand for the invocation and the pledge of allegiance. And today we are joined by Pastor Hartstock from the first Presbyterian Church. Good morning. It's free people. Today I pray that we pray for one of those expressions of freedom. Our freely elected City Council of Colorado Springs. Scripture calls us to pray for our leaders. Therefore, today I thank you, Lord, and pray with thankfulness for each and every one of our city council members. I pray for the president. Linda Lynette Crow Iverson. For Councilman Dave Donaldson. For Councilman Ken Casey. For Councilwoman Brandy Williams. For Councilwoman Kimberly Gold. For Councilwoman Nancy Hindum. For Councilman Roland Rainey Jr. And Councilman David Weinwitter. Thank you, Lord. You raise up leaders and you have raised up the these city council members to help our city, our Olympic City. Lord, guide them, lead them, give them the wisdom to know the right and choose it. And I and we thank you that you have called each one of these council members to serve our beautiful city. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it says one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We will now consider the consent calendar. These items will be acted on as a whole, unless a specific item is called for discussion by a council member or a citizen wishing to address city council. Is there anyone who would like to pull an item off of the consent calendar?

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