Colorado Springs City Council Meeting – July 28, 2026

The Colorado Springs City Council held a regular meeting on July 28, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. The council addressed a consent calendar, recognitions, mayor’s business, unfinished business, new business, and public comment. Key actions included the confirmation of a presiding municipal court judge, approval of an ethics code revision, removal of 17 parcels from the Old Colorado City DDA, annexation of two parcels, a $458,000 supplemental appropriation for security services in the South Nevada corridor, and unanimous adoption of the Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan. Votes and key decisions are detailed below.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance No. 26-29 and 26-30 (Urban Forest code revisions) – presented by City Forester Matthew Puckett.
• Ordinance No. 26-34 (Kettle Creek Addition No. 1 Annexation, 19.88 acres) and Ordinance No. 26-35 (related zoning map amendment) – presented by Chris Sullivan and Kevin Walker.
• Minutes of July 14, 2026 (Item 4B.A) – approved after a correction noted by Councilman Williams that the Gardner Law Office did not represent the OCC DDA on that date.
• Due to a technical issue, the consent calendar was voted on later in the meeting; motion passed 9-0.

Recognitions & Appointments

• Item 5A: Council appointed Deputy Chief Douglas Trainer and Deputy Chief Justin White to the El Paso Teller County 911 Authority Board (voting members). Motion passed 9-0.

Mayor’s Business

• Item 6A: Confirmation of Judge Kristen Hoffecker as Presiding Municipal Court Judge. Mayor’s Chief of Staff Wayne Williams presented her background. Remarks honored outgoing Judge Hayden Kane for over 20 years of service. Motion passed 9-0.

Unfinished Business

• Item 9A – Ordinance No. 26-28 (Ethics Code revision): Councilman Brian Risley presented no changes. Councilman Henjum noted a lack of de minimis exception language and voted no, requesting future consideration. Motion passed 7-2 (Henjum and one other opposed).
• Item 9B – Ordinance No. 26-31 (OCC DDA boundary correction): Removed 17 erroneously included parcels. Councilman Rainey voted no, citing broader concerns about DDA structure and fee collection. Motion passed 8-1.
• Item 9C – Ordinance No. 26-32 (PTAA Addition No. 1 Annexation, 14.12 acres): Councilman Risley recused himself due to his firm’s role as architect. Councilman Rainey inquired about left-turn access; staff confirmed only right-out onto Marksheffel Road. Motion passed 8-0-1 (Risley recused).
• Item 9D – Ordinance No. 26-33 (Ratification of zoning for PTAA Charter School): Same recusal. Motion passed 8-0-1.

New Business

• Item 10A – Supplemental Appropriation to Retail Marijuana Tax Fund ($458,000): Jariah Walker (Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority) presented a security contract with Fidelis for the South Nevada corridor. Discussion included loss of businesses (e.g., Starbucks) due to safety concerns, use of drones and de-escalation, and metrics. Some council members expressed concern about private security versus sworn officers. Motion passed 7-2.
• Item 10B – Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan and Community Strategy: Kevin Walker (Planning) presented the plan, developed over four years with extensive community engagement. The plan includes city investment guidance and a community strategy for nonprofits. Councilman Lineweber asked about measurable outcomes; staff will provide annual reports. Public comment from Renee Gonzalez (RISE Southeast) and later from Joyce Salazar and Ace Cordera (Youth Advisory Council). Motion passed 9-0.

Public Comments & Testimony (not on agenda)

• Steve Dant: Requested noise enforcement (excessive vehicle decibels), suggested signage and technology similar to red-light cameras.
• Steve Lightfoot: Spoke about conspiracy theories related to John Lennon’s murder.
• Michelle Wisembled Dane: Urged data center regulation (closed-loop cooling, renewable energy, grid contributions). Provided a foundation for ethical data centers.
• Allie Smith: Opposed Project Taurus data center, citing pollution, water use, and lack of trust. Requested a moratorium and a council living wage ballot measure.
• Rep. Amy Paschal (State House District 18): Urged local data center criteria (closed-loop cooling, noise limits, environmental requirements). Noted no state regulations and said a state bill may be introduced.
• Caleb Miller: Criticized council for not living up to Christian values, citing a CEO raise, car camping criminalization, and private security funding. Called for increased COPE matching fund.
• Ted Brassfield: Advocated for a moratorium on data centers until codes are updated (water, noise, wildfire risk, infrasound).
• Jacqueline Ostrom: Supported a moratorium, noted wildland-urban interface fire danger, and requested infrasound regulations.

Additional Public Comments (after adjournment)

• Joyce Salazar (RISE Southeast): Thanked council for unanimous adoption of the Southeast Strong plan.
• Ace Cordera (Youth Advisory Council): Shared personal story and hopes for Southeast community spaces and reduced stigma.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments to 911 Authority Board: Approved 9-0.
• Judge Hoffecker confirmation: Approved 9-0.
• Ethics Code revision (No. 26-28): Passed 7-2.
• OCC DDA boundary correction (No. 26-31): Passed 8-1.
• PTAA Annexation (No. 26-32): Passed 8-0-1 (Risley recused).
• PTAA Zoning Ratification (No. 26-33): Passed 8-0-1 (Risley recused).
• South Nevada Security Funding (No. 26-261): Passed 7-2.
• Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan (Resolution): Unanimously adopted 9-0.
• Consent calendar: Approved 9-0 after procedural vote.
• Council directed staff to explore noise enforcement technology and data center regulations; a moratorium was suggested but not voted on.