Pueblo City Council Meeting: November 28, 2022
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Pueblo City Council Meeting Summary – November 28, 2022
The Pueblo City Council met on Monday, November 28, 2022, starting at 14:30 UTC (as recorded; transcript indicates 7:24 PM local time). The meeting included a proclamation, extensive public testimony on a proposed abortion ordinance, council commentary on recent events, and approval of numerous resolutions and ordinances including the 2023 budget.
Consent Calendar
The following items were approved unanimously (7-0) without debate:
- Ratification of emergency sewer repair contracts (items M1–M3).
- Construction contract for concrete improvements on Joplin Avenue (M4).
- Architectural consulting services for El Centro del Quinto Sol recreation center renovation (M5).
- Engineering services for Adams Avenue/Jackson Street roundabout (M6).
- Amendment to engineering agreement for Northern Avenue Trail Phase 3 (M7).
- Appointment of Orlando Rodriguez II and Benjamin Caldera to the Pueblo Human Relations Commission.
- Ordinance establishing cooperation agreement with Pueblo Triple A (N3).
- Ordinance amending municipal code liens for nuisances (N4).
- Ordinance (N5) requiring abortion providers to comply with federal law was pulled for discussion and later retained on first reading (see Discussion Items).
Public Comments & Testimony
Members of the public spoke on a proposed ordinance to regulate abortion providers. Speakers included:
- Mark Lee Dixon (Right to Life of East Texas, Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative) urged council to adopt an ordinance citing federal law and played a 911 call from an abortion clinic. He stated this is a national effort and that similar ordinances have survived legal challenges.
- Marcy Little (Colorado for Life) claimed abortion is not empowering and cited a 2011 British Journal of Psychiatry study that found 81% of women experience negative mental health outcomes after abortion.
- Dr. Catherine Wheeler (OB/GYN) described second-trimester abortion procedures and warned that Dr. Leroy Carhartt, who intends to open a clinic in Pueblo, has a record of harming women. She opposed the clinic.
- Sydney Fisk (Pueblo Pro Choice) argued the ordinance is an imported national effort, not grassroots, and presented election statistics showing Pueblo voters have rejected abortion bans. She emphasized that a clinic would reduce barriers to care for local women.
- Jacqueline Montes (Pueblo Pro Choice) challenged fear‑mongering, citing CDC data that 93% of abortions are first‑trimester and that complication rates are low. She framed opposition as religiously motivated and stated the clinic would bring economic benefit.
- Steve Cornella (associate pastor, Pueblo Christian Center) spoke in support of the ordinance, stating abortion ends an innocent human life. He described personal adoption experience and said the pro‑life position is rooted in faith.
- Brooke Faulkner (Students for Life) described abortion as traumatic and noted Dr. Carhartt’s record of harming women.
- Quinn Freiberg (Forging Pueblo) urged council not to table the ordinance, claiming it only enforces federal law and would prevent late‑term abortions. He cited Martin Luther King Jr. on courage and said the church community supports the ordinance.
- During council discussion, Mr. Freeman (regular public commenter) spoke against several agenda items, arguing ARPA funds should not be used for sewer infrastructure or contingency donations to nonprofits. He opposed the council contingency fund generally.
Discussion Items
- Council & Mayor Commentary: Mayor Gradisar reported that Northern Avenue was paved and that the city won a partial summary judgment in a lawsuit challenging HB 2210 (state sales tax exemption for school construction). Several council members expressed condolences and condemnation of the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs. Councilor Martinez Ortega announced a town hall for District 4. Councilor Flores highlighted the new Pueblo Economic Dashboard.
- Ordinance N5 (Abortion Provider Compliance): The item was on first reading. Councilor Atencio moved to remove it from the agenda, citing lack of information. The motion failed for lack of a second. After debate, council agreed to keep N5 on first reading and schedule a work session on December 12, 2022, with a potential final vote later. The ordinance will not be tabled.
- Resolution Q1 (ARPA sewer funding): Approved 6-1. Staff explained that an additional $1 million in ARPA funds would complete a sewer extension near Southern Colorado Clinic, enabling development including the YMCA and a county detention facility. Councilor Flores questioned developer contributions. Mr. Freeman argued ARPA funds should not be used for sewer projects.
- Resolution Q3 (Colorado Arts and Artists Association): Approved 7-0. Councilor Atencio reduced the request from $15,000 to $7,500 from the council contingency fund for a suicide prevention play. Mr. Freeman opposed the use of contingency funds.
- Resolutions Q4 and Q5 (Crazy Faith Ministry shelter; CIBC West End Academy fashion show): Both approved 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar (M1–M7, N3, N4): Approved 7-0.
- Agenda Approval: Approved 5-2 (motion to remove N5 died; council kept it on the agenda).
- Resolution Q1 (ARPA sewer): Approved 6-1 (Councilor Flores opposed).
- Ordinance N5 (Abortion provider): Retained on first reading; work session scheduled for December 12, 2022. No final vote.
- Resolutions Q2–Q5: All approved 7-0.
- Ordinances R1–R3 (Mill levies): R1 (city) and R2/R3 (special improvement districts) each passed 5-2. (Councilors Martinez and Graham voted no on R1; R2 and R3 also had two no votes.)
- Ordinances R4–R8, R10–R12, R16–R21: All approved 7-0 or near unanimous (R12, R16–R21: 7-0; R10–R11: 7-0; R4–R8: 7-0 or 5-2? Check transcript: R4 passed 7-0; R5 7-0; R6 7-0; R7 7-0; R8 7-0; R9 7-0; R10 7-0; R11 7-0; R12 7-0; R16 7-0; R17 6-1; R18 7-0; R19 7-0; R20 7-0; R21 6-1.
- Ordinance R13 (Just Transition Director): Approved 6-1 (Councilor Tennant? Actually, vote was 6-1; note Councilor Martinez Ortega recused from some votes? He was present. The vote on R13 passed 6-1, with Councilor Graham likely voting no. Check transcript: "Pass a six one" for R13, also for R21 "Pass a six one".)
- Ordinance R14 (Pay scale for Just Transition Director): Approved 5-2.
- Ordinance R15 (Fleet training overhire): Approved 7-0.
- Ordinance R17 (Civil Service Commission compensation increase): Approved 6-1.
- Ordinance R22 (Street repair fee moratorium): Approved 7-0? Transcript shows "Pass a TAS 70" – likely 7-0. Councilor Flores expressed concern about leaving excess revenue on the table.
- Ordinance S1 (2023 Budget): Approved 4-2 (Councilor Martinez Ortega recused; Councilors Graham, Martinez, and possibly others voted no? Transcript shows "Passes 4 2" with Councilor Martinez Ortega recused, so 4-2 out of 6 voting members).
Note on Start Time
Per the meeting header, the recorded start time is 2022-11-28 14:30:00 UTC. The transcript shows the mayor called the meeting to order at 7:24 PM local time (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-7), which would correspond to 2:24 AM the next day UTC. This discrepancy is noted for accuracy; the actual proceeding began at 7:24 PM Mountain Time.
Meeting Transcript
Recording in progress. Today is Monday, November 28th. The time is 724, and I call this meeting to order. If we could have Pastor Phil Lucero from Praise Assembly of God up to give us our invitation, and if everybody will stand and please stay standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. And beyond. What a responsibility is this to have it placed in this position that the Lord. Your word tells us in James chapter three, verse 17. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, and good fruits, impartial and sincere. I pray that we all can grow in and exercise all of these character traits. Father, help us to consider in all of our decision making that character and integrity count to Father, remind us every day of what a privilege and honor it is to serve the people of Pueblo County and help us to seek your face and ask for your wisdom and understanding to do what is right to benefit our people, our community, and to honor the kingdom of heaven. Yes. Amen. Larry Tencio. Here. Heather Graham. Here. Regina Meistry. Here. Sarah Martinez? Here. Vicente Martinez Ortega. Glory winner. Here. Next up we have special recognitions, and we have one proclamation today, Human Rights Day. And Councillor Martinez Ortega is going to give this proclamation. I see you gone. Oh come on up. Yep. Come on up. They're hiding. Thanks. Proclamation Human Rights Day, December 10th, 2022. Whereas Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10th and commemorates the day on which in 1948, following the World War II and the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And whereas the declaration proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as being humans, being regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political, or other opinion, national or social origin. Property, birth, or other status. And people alike to start treating every person with the right of life, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness. And on human rights day, we acknowledge the importance of the declaration of human rights and everybody's responsibility to uphold them. The City of Pueblo encourages mutual understanding and respect for all persons so that every person or Pueblo citizen can make a difference and create a culture of belonging. Now the therefore, we the City Council of Pueblo we, the City Council, the City of Pueblo, Colorado, by the Authority Investors do hereby proclaim it December 10th, uh 2022, Human Rights Day. Thank you so much. We really appreciate it, and thank you, City Council. We very much appreciate you supporting the Pueblo Human Relations Commission. We all I also would like to reach out to my colleague, Richard Blair. This is really his brain child. He thought this was really important and brought us all along with him, and we appreciate that very much. He worked closely with Yare Nunez, and we appreciate the effort that she made in supporting us. I know that she's doing good things in this city, and we appreciate that too. So thank you so much, and thank you so much for being here. Okay, next we're gonna jump into public forum, and before we start that, I just want to ask that everybody be respectful of each other here tonight. Um, like we were last time, everybody was really well behaved, and I appreciate that.
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