Colorado Springs City Council Regular Meeting – August 25, 2026
Colorado Springs City Council Regular Meeting – August 25, 2026
The Colorado Springs City Council convened at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers on August 25, 2026, with all members present except Councilmember Lineweber (excused). The meeting included consent calendar approvals, a public hearing on net metering rate changes, a vote to dissolve the Old Colorado City Downtown Development Authority, and two zoning map amendments.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the August 11, 2026 City Council meeting.
- Appointments to the Briargate Center Business Improvement District Board (first reading, public hearing set for September 8, 2026).
- Service Plan for the Kettle Creek Metropolitan District.
- Zoning map amendments, right-of-way vacations, and concept plan approvals related to Banning Lewis Ranch Village B2 and Village C (multiple items, first readings).
- All consent items approved by voice vote.
Recognitions
- City Council appointments to boards and commissions: Airport Advisory Commission (Mike Humbert elevated from alternate to voting member, John Eastman reappointed), Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Community Advisory Committee (Gregory Charter appointed), County City Drainage Board (Tim Martin appointed). Approved 8-0.
Mayor's Business
- Mayor announced SOCO Startup Week events and a special announcement at Weidner Field on Thursday.
Utilities Business
- Items 8A and 8B (City Code Amendments – Claims and Workers' Compensation): Two ordinances transferring management of claims and workers' compensation funds from the City CFO to the Utilities CFO. An amendment changed 'and' to 'or' in §1-5-503. Both passed 8-0.
- Item 8C – Public Hearing on July 2026 Net Metering Rate Case: CSU Chief Financial Officer Tristan Gearhart and Pricing and Rates Manager Scott Shirola presented proposals to address a $4.5 million annual cost shift from net metering customers. Options included a grid access fee (Option 1) or a demand charge (Option 2), with a five-year grandfathering period for existing customers. Public testimony from over 30 speakers overwhelmingly opposed the changes, citing broken trust, economic harm to solar businesses, and inadequate grandfathering. Councilmember Henjum moved to delay new rates until a distributed battery storage program was approved; the motion failed (3-5). Council then directed utilities to prepare final decisions and orders based on the proposed tariffs (6-2). Final adoption is scheduled for September 22, 2026.
Unfinished Business
- Item 9A – Dissolution of Old Colorado City Downtown Development Authority: Public comment was sharply divided, with business owners and residents urging preservation of the voter-approved DDA, while property owners outside the historic core cited lack of notification and flawed boundaries. After debate, the motion to dissolve the DDA passed 5-4. Councilmember Williams and Rainey made the motion.
Public Hearings
- Item 11A – Rezone at 5325 Mark Dabling Boulevard (5.41 acres): Change from MX-N/SS-O to MX-M/SS-O. Staff and applicant presented. No public comment. Approved 8-0.
- Item 11B – Rezone on Buckingham Drive (7.79 acres): Change from BP/cr (Business Park with conditions) to LI/cr (Light Industrial with conditions). Discussion focused on compatibility with adjacent residences. Councilmember Donaldson moved to amend the conditions to prohibit data centers; the amendment passed 5-3. The amended motion to approve the rezone passed 7-0-1 (Lineweber absent).
Citizen Discussion
- Three speakers addressed council on topics not on the agenda: AJ Neinhauser criticized the city's homelessness and crime response; Taylor Gray raised concerns about uneven treatment of city districts and drug money allocation; 14-year-old Kyle McGuffey questioned the scheduling of the Project Taurus appeal and urged transparency on surveillance technology.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar and board appointments approved.
- Utilities code amendments approved.
- Net metering rate proposal approved in concept (6-2); final adoption set for September 22.
- Old Colorado City DDA dissolved (5-4).
- Mark Dabling Boulevard rezone approved.
- Buckingham Drive rezone approved with additional condition prohibiting data centers.
- Citizen comments received and noted.
Meeting Transcript
Hello, I'm Fire Marshal Chris Cooper. And hi, I'm Mayor Yenny. When it comes to preparing for wildfire, ready means sign up for emergency alerts and get your family's go bag ready. We have emergency alerts in more than 130 languages. Visit peakalerts.org to learn more. You ready? Feeling ready? Chris, I'm all set. Let's go. Hello, I'm Fire Marshal Chris Cooper. And hi, I'm Mayor Yenny. When it comes to preparing for wildfire, ready means sign up for emergency alerts and get your families go bag ready. Set means there's an extreme threat. It's time to load the car. Go means evacuate now. Ready? Set, go. I'm Amora Glenn. This is Springs TV in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Olympic City, USA. Set, go. When it comes to preparing for wildfire, remember ready means prepare early. Pack a go kit and sign up for emergency alerts. Set means there's an extreme threat. Monitor fire conditions and load essentials into your car. Go means evacuate now. Listen to first responders and don't return until officials say it's safe. Good morning. Welcome to Colorado Springs City Council meeting for August 25th, 2026. Will the clerk please call the roll? Councilmember Casey. Here. Councilmember Crow Everson. Here. Councilmember Donaldson. Here. Councilmember Gold. Here I am. Councilmember Hendron. Present in person. Councilmember Lion Weber. On his way, excused. Councilmember Raining. Here. Councilmember Risley. Here. Councilmember Williams. Here. A present one in route. Please stand for the invocation. We have the pleasure today.
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