Colorado Springs City Council Meeting - October 13, 2026

The City Council met on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at approximately 9:00 AM. The meeting, which lasted several hours, included proclamations, appointments, a controversial vote to restore a furlough day for city employees, and a public hearing on a right‑of‑way vacation. Council members also received updates on the stalled Project Taurus application and heard citizen concerns about police accountability and transparency.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously (9‑0) after item 4BA (minutes from the September 17, 2026 special regular meeting) was pulled by Councilman Gold for discussion.

Recognitions & Proclamations

• Public Safety Sales Tax Renewal (November 2027): The Council adopted a proclamation supporting El Paso County’s continuation of the existing 0.23% public safety sales tax. Sheriff Royball highlighted regional collaboration and noted that the fund has enabled the first‑ever fully functional substation for unincorporated El Paso County. Council members expressed broad support, though Councilman Gold noted he had not yet finalized his personal ballot position.
• Arts Month (October 2026): The Council recognized October as Arts Month in the Pikes Peak region. Angela Seals, Executive Director of the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, noted that 80% of creative industries in the region are within Colorado Springs city limits and that the creative sector contributes significantly to economic vitality. The resolution passed unanimously (9‑0).
• Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October 2026): The Council recognized October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. IT staff and a representative from Murray Security Services emphasized the importance of cyber vigilance. The resolution passed unanimously (9‑0).

Appointments to Boards & Commissions

• The Council approved multiple appointments: Katie Carlio, Jennifer Cecil, and Jeremy Sherrill‑Cher Lee to the Downtown Review Board; Jim Lovell to the Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART) Citizen Advisory Committee; Lisa R. Wolf as an alternate member to the Audit Committee; and Matthew Simpson to the Stetson Hills Special Improvement Maintenance District Advisory Board. All appointments passed with no opposition.

Discussion Items & Key Outcomes

• Item 4BA – Meeting Minutes (September 17, 2026): Councilman Gold pulled the minutes citing concerns about insufficient depth and accountability regarding the Project Taurus public hearing. Councilman Hingum noted discrepancies between the summary minutes and the verbatim transcript, which he reviewed with the City Clerk. Councilman Donaldson moved to postpone approval to the next meeting to allow further review. The motion to postpone passed 5‑4.
• Item 8A – Kelker to South Plant Transmission Project Easements (Lockwood Properties): Jessica Davis, Land Resource Manager for Colorado Springs Utilities, requested authorization to pay $475,000 for three permanent easements after a settlement was reached through court‑ordered negotiations. The Council approved the payment unanimously (9‑0).
• Item 10A – City Auditorium Lease Amendment (AVA Presents LLC): The Council considered extending the rent abatement period from June 2026 to April 1, 2027. Councilman Risley proposed an amendment to prevent any future extension, but after discussion—during which Mr. Moriale, the lessee, expressed confidence in meeting the April deadline—the amendment was withdrawn. The original resolution passed unanimously (9‑0).
• Item 10B – Supplemental Appropriation to Eliminate the November 25, 2026 Furlough Day: The administration proposed using higher‑than‑expected sales tax revenue to eliminate the furlough day, allowing employees to either take the day off without pay or work and be paid. Councilman Lineweber moved to amend the resolution to make the day a paid day off for all furloughed employees, citing the significant sacrifice employees had already made (four to six lost pay days earlier in the year). After lengthy debate, the amendment passed 5‑4 (with Councilmembers Lineweber, Hingum, Gold, Williams, and Rainey in favor; Donaldson, Crow Iverson, Risley, and Casey opposed). The Council then voted 8‑1 (with only Councilman Williams opposed) to approve the amended budget appropriation, thereby making November 25 a paid day off for furloughed employees.
• Item 11A – Vacation of a Portion of Kettle Creek Road (2.42 acres): The applicant sought to vacate the existing right‑of‑way to allow redevelopment of three annexed parcels. One resident spoke in opposition, citing dangerous conditions at the nearby Old Ranch Road and Otero Avenue intersection and requesting a stoplight condition. The Council determined that the vacation criteria were met and that traffic concerns were not within the scope of this action. The ordinance passed unanimously (9‑0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jay Stoner (resident/developer) opposed the Kettle Creek Road vacation without a condition requiring a stoplight, reporting daily safety hazards at the intersection.
• Joyce Tivis criticized the city’s handling of the Meadows Park Community Center closure.
• Lonnie Moore echoed concerns about the community center and alleged that the city intended to close all centers. Councilman Risley clarified that closures are administrative decisions, not council actions.
• Kyle McGuffey (age 14) requested transparency regarding CSPD’s denial of an ALPR records request, stating he had not received proper written grounds within 72 hours as required by state law.
• Taylor Gray questioned the integrity of the meeting video for the Project Taurus hearing, alleging that audio was improperly muted. The City Clerk explained that only recess periods are edited and that disruption was not captured because speakers were muted after their time expired.
• Caleb Miller called for moving the Project Taurus vote to a date when the public can attend, forming a new CSPD accountability board (the previous LETAC was dissolved in April), and addressing the city’s use of ALPRs. He also criticized CSU’s CEO raise without a corresponding rate reduction for customers.
• Chrissy Morgan requested a public accounting of legal fees spent by the city defending a 2021 incident involving the seizure and death of her goat, noting that CSPD’s internal affairs unit sustained a complaint against an officer involved.

Other Agenda Items

• The Council set public hearing dates of November 10, 2026, for the 2027 budgets of the Briar Gate General Improvement District 2021 and the Marketplace at Austin Bluffs General Improvement District. Both motions passed unanimously.