Colorado Springs City Council Meeting - September 22, 2026

The City Council met Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in Council Chambers at City Hall. All nine council members were present at the start. The council approved the consent calendar unanimously, recognized community honorees, passed utility bond and rate measures, dissolved the Old Colorado City Downtown Development Authority on a 5-4 vote, and approved a Valley Hi Golf Course ground lease to First Tee Southern Colorado.

Consent Calendar

• Approved as a whole with no items pulled.
• Second-reading ordinances included: CSU utility lien procedures (Ord. 26-51); business license recodification (Ord. 26-52); sales of goods licensing (Ord. 26-53); adult use business licensing (Ord. 26-54).
• First-presentation items included: September 8 meeting minutes; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site protection memorandum of agreement; delinquent stormwater fee certification; Code of Ethics amendments; Internal Audit Charter; and acquisition of 37433 County Road 371 for the Homestake Water Project.

Recognitions & Proclamations

• Community Recognition - Joyce Salazar: Council honored Southeast Colorado Springs leader Joyce Salazar, executive director of RISE Southeast, for years of advocacy including Panorama Park and the Southeast Strong Plan. Community leaders and council members spoke in tribute.
• Creek Week 2026: Council recognized September 26 through October 4 as Creek Week. Mary Wilson of the Fountain Creek Watershed District reported 2025 Creek Week had more than 70 cleanup crews, approximately 1,500 volunteers, and removed about 16.5 tons of litter; more than 50 public events are planned for 2026. The resolution passed 9-0.
• Fire Prevention Month: Council supported October 2026 as Fire Prevention Month, with the theme "Charge into Fire Safety. Safe Charging is a Superpower." Fire Marshal Chris Cooper and staff highlighted lithium-ion battery fire risks, the more than 40 significant battery-related incidents in Colorado Springs over five years, and an October 10 smoke alarm installation event at Canterbury Mobile Home Community. The resolution passed 9-0.
• Reclaiming Civility: Council and Mayor Yemi Mobolade joined in a proclamation supporting Reclaiming Civility and announced a September 30 Pikes Peak Region Civility Pledge event. Discussion referenced the previous Project Taurus hearing and included a council exchange over the timing of the postponed Project Taurus vote.

Mayor's Business

• The mayor thanked Local 5 and the Fire Department for the fallen firefighters remembrance, and offered condolences to the families of Captain Patrick Rogaki and Brandon Miniman.

Utilities Business

• Bond Ordinances (8A/8B): Council approved Ord. 26-49 authorizing up to $225,000,000 in utility system refunding bonds (Series 2026C/2027A/2027B) to refinance Build America Bonds, and Ord. 26-50 authorizing up to $330,000,000 in tax-exempt and $140,000,000 in taxable utility system improvement revenue bonds. Both passed 9-0.
• Net Metering Rate Case (8C/8D): Council gave final approval to electric net-metering tariff changes and parallel Utilities Rules and Regulations changes. Both resolutions passed 7-2. Councilmember Henjum voted no because distributed battery storage was not yet in place; Utilities leadership noted current net-metering customers have a five-year grandfathering period and a battery storage program is targeted for early 2027.
• Electric Cost Adjustment (8E): Council approved lowering the ECA from 2.33 to 2.11 cents per kilowatt-hour effective October 1, 2026, an approximately 9% decrease. Scott Shirola attributed the decrease in part to about $7 million in benefits from Southwest Power Pool membership; a typical residential bill would decrease about $1.54 per month. The winter on-peak (5-9 p.m.) energy-wise rate also decreases 50% on October 1.

Public Comments & Testimony: Old Colorado City DDA

• Council heard extensive public comment on Ord. 26-48 to dissolve the Old Colorado City Downtown Development Authority.
• Supporters of dissolution argued many residents and property owners were unaware of the 2024 election or did not receive ballots, the DDA would impose charges on properties outside the core, and a business improvement district may be more appropriate. Jariah Walker, executive director of the Urban Renewal Authority, said the URA had funded a BID study rather than a DDA, criticized ballot issuance and turnout figures, and pledged URA help to create a BID.
• Opponents of dissolution argued voters legally approved the DDA, the certified election can no longer be challenged, DDA supporters offered to return to the ballot for a mill levy and dissolve if it failed, and a BID and DDA are not mutually exclusive. They said a DDA better suits Old Colorado City's mixed-use historic district, can support private rehabilitation and tax increment financing, and dissolution was proceeding without meaningful engagement with DDA board members.

Discussion Items: Old Colorado City DDA

• The City Attorney's Office confirmed the 2024 DDA election is beyond the statutory challenge window and that a DDA commitment to dissolve after a failed mill levy would be voluntary unless made binding through an agreement.
• Councilmember Williams presented election analysis including 831 ballots issued, 26% turnout, an estimated 55% of would-be taxed voters not receiving ballots, and three buildings accounting for 16 of 74 designated elector forms. DDA attorney Bob Gardner and other supporters disputed the analysis and defended the election process.
• Planning Director Kevin Walker, Public Works Director Richard Mulledy, and the URA executive director described existing city and URA investments and ways the city could assist Old Colorado City through a BID or other tools if the DDA were dissolved.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar: Approved unanimously.
• Recognitions: Creek Week and Fire Prevention Month resolutions passed 9-0; the Reclaiming Civility proclamation was approved jointly with the mayor.
• Utilities: Bond ordinances passed 9-0; net-metering resolutions passed 7-2; ECA decrease approved.
• Old Colorado City DDA: Ordinance 26-48 passed 5-4, dissolving the DDA. Voting yes: Casey, Crow Iverson, Rainey, Risley, Williams. Voting no: Donaldson, Gold, Henjum, Lineweber.
• Valley Hi / First Tee: Council adopted the resolution finding a community benefit in leasing part of Valley Hi Golf Course to First Tee Southern Colorado for a new building. The motion passed 7-0, with Councilmember Donaldson excused and Councilmember Gold not present.