Colorado Springs City Council Work Session – September 8, 2026

The Colorado Springs City Council held a work session on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. All nine council members were present. The meeting covered approval of previous minutes, an executive session recommendation, a major update on the Homelessness Response Action Plan, routine stormwater and ethics items, and travel authorizations. Several items were placed on the consent agenda for the September 22 regular meeting.

Consent Calendar

• 4A. Minutes of the August 24, 2026 work session were approved unanimously.
• 8A. Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for wetland mitigation site protection. Placed on consent for September 22.
• 8B. Ordinance certifying delinquent stormwater fees to the El Paso County Treasurer for collection. Placed on consent for September 22. As of July 31, 2026, there were 181 accounts totaling $116,322; by end of August, 23 had paid, leaving 158 accounts.
• 8D. Resolution adopting the updated Internal Audit Charter, effective September 22, 2026. Placed on consent for September 22.

Discussion Items

• 5A. Executive Session (Thomas Wade vs. Troy Bauer et al.): The City Attorney’s Office recommended that council acknowledge the city’s obligation to represent the officers under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act and Peace Officers Liability Act. Council members gave a unanimous thumbs-up to proceed.

• 7A. Homelessness Response Action Plan (Informational Presentation): Chief Housing and Homelessness Response Officer Aimee Cox presented the plan, which outlines 61 actions across six priorities over five years, with three time horizons. Key points:

  • The city distributed about $1 million for homelessness response in 2025, mainly for shelters and winter operations.
  • In the first year, over half the actions were completed, including expansion of the SITLI ordinance, homeless outreach team (6 to 8 officers), and $860,000 raised for winter capacity.
  • Phase two focuses on strengthening system management, data sharing, and coordination. Cox noted that the city lacks a unified data system; each department collects data differently, making reporting difficult.
  • Councilmember Lineweber asked about data systems and noted the need for real-time, cross-departmental data. Cox agreed, stating that a “data lake” is needed but staffing is limited.
  • Councilmember Henjam credited Cox’s leadership and asked about the “sleeping in vehicle” ordinance passed a year prior. Lt. Ryan Tepley reported that in five months of enforcement, 335 vehicle camps were contacted, with only 28 citations issued; none involved families with children. Citations have not overwhelmed the court system.
  • Councilmember Henjam also asked about Hope COS’s proposed year-round shelter. Cox explained that a full winter shelter is needed (currently activated only at 19°F) and that Hope COS would serve people with deeper needs, using a peer-based model with strict security – drugs and weapons are not allowed.
  • Councilmember Donaldson criticized the homelessness response plan, calling the Mayor’s August 12 press conference a “PR stunt” that formalized what departments had been doing for two years. He questioned the plan’s ability to permanently close encampments and argued that enforcement is essential, especially for those refusing services. He noted that housing cost alone does not solve homelessness; mental health and addiction are core issues.
  • Councilmember Lineweber raised the challenge of “super utilizers” with competency issues and state law limitations. He and Lt. Tepley discussed how citations often lead to fines or short jail stays, but many individuals cannot navigate the system. Prosecution Division Chief Chantel Withrow explained that state competency laws and bond requirements limit municipal action.
  • Cox stated that the city’s biggest contribution is leadership and coordination, and that a dedicated homelessness operations coordinator position was lost in a recent RIF; she requested its restoration in the 2027 budget.

• 7B. Agenda Planner Review: Councilmember Henjam asked about two items – a resolution accepting designation as approving authority for Southern Colorado Rail Yard Metro Districts (explained by Planning Director Kevin Walker as a post-annexation step) and a zone change for portions of Ute Valley Park (cleanup of zoning inconsistencies). Both were confirmed as procedural.

• 8C. Ethics Code Revisions: Associate Attorney Caitlin Moldenhauer presented proposed changes, including:

  • Increasing gift exception limit to $75 (aligned with state).
  • Clarifying that advisory opinions are only for the requester’s own contemplated actions.
  • Adding an exception allowing elected officials to vote on matters involving a 501(c)(3) board they serve on (unless they have a substantial interest). Councilmember Henjam expressed discomfort, noting it could appear as loosening ethical restraints. Moldenhauer said the change was a council request. Councilmember Casey asked about the term “participate” replaced with “direct official action.” Councilmember Crow-Iverson noted that further questions would be addressed before final consideration.

• 10A. Authorization of Out-of-State Travel:

  • Council members Gold and Rainey requested approval to attend the National League of Cities conference in November (estimated cost $3,400 each).
  • Council member Donaldson requested approval to travel to Huntsville, AL, with the Chamber/EDC trip in the fall.
  • All requests were approved by voice vote. Council member Donaldson noted he would fund travel from his own stipend or seek transfers from other members.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved for August 24, 2026.
• Executive session representation recommendation acknowledged and supported.
• Items 8A, 8B, and 8D placed on the consent agenda for the September 22 regular meeting.
• Item 8C (Ethics Code) to be brought back after council’s additional questions are addressed; no vote taken.
• Travel authorized for Councilmembers Gold, Rainey (NLC conference) and Donaldson (Huntsville trip).
• The homelessness response presentation was informational; council will continue the discussion during budget hearings.