OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Pueblo City Council Meeting: March 27, 2023 – Recognitions, Public Forum, and Key Votes

City Council — Monday, March 27, 2023
BodyPueblo, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, March 27, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Recording in progress.

0:33

Today is Monday, March 27th.

0:35

The time is 7 13, and I call this meeting to order.

0:37

Councillor Flores is going to give our invitation tonight.

0:40

So if everybody would stand in, please stay standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:47

God be in our minds as we begin our work tonight.

0:59

Be in our thoughts that we speak with charity and with wisdom.

1:04

Be in our ears that we may listen to and hear the words of others.

1:08

Be in our hearts that love and justice may guide our decisions.

1:13

Be in our hands that we may build a community where all are cared for.

1:20

God be our wisdom, our guide, our hope so that all we do, we do in love of you.

1:28

We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

1:33

I pledge allegiance to the Republic for which we stand under God and visible with liberty and justice.

1:50

Okay, roll call.

1:53

Larry Tencio.

1:55

Here.

1:55

Dennis Flores.

1:56

Here.

1:57

Heather Graham.

1:57

Here.

1:58

Regina Meistry.

1:59

Here.

1:59

Sarah Martinez?

2:00

Here.

2:00

Vicente Martinez Ortega.

2:02

Excused.

2:03

Lori Winner.

2:04

Here.

2:06

Okay.

2:08

We have four recognitions tonight.

2:10

And our first one we have is for the Pueblo Child Advocacy Center for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

2:17

Ladies want to come that we have to proclamation Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 2023.

2:48

Whereas in 2021, four million maltreatment referral reports were received in the United States, and whereas child abuse and neglect is a serious problem affecting every single segment of our community and finding solutions requires input action and collaboration from everyone.

3:03

And whereas our children are our most valuable resources and will shape the future of Pueblo.

3:08

And whereas child abuse can have a long-term psychological, emotional, and physical effects that have lasting consequences for victims of abuse.

3:16

And whereas protective factors are conditions that reduce or eliminate risk and promote the social, emotional, and development well-being of children.

3:24

And whereas effective child children abuse prevention activities succeed because of the partnerships created between child welfare professionals, education, medical, mental health, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, law enforcement agencies, and families and families.

3:40

And whereas communities must make every effort to promote programs and activities that create strong and thriving children and families.

3:48

And whereas we acknowledge that we must work together as a community to increase awareness about child abuse and contribute to promote social and emotional well-being of children and families in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment.

4:00

And whereas prevention remains the best defense for our children and families.

4:04

Now, therefore, we, the City Council, the City of Pueblo, Colorado, by the authority of vested in us, do hereby proclaim April 2023 as child abuse child abuse prevention month.

4:14

The City of Pueblo, Colorado will urge all of its citizens and citizens and community agencies, faith groups, medical facilities, elected to leaders and businesses to increase their participation in our efforts by recognizing the signs of child abuse and reporting suspected child abuse to allow for our children to live a life without fear.

4:33

And witness wherefore I hereby set my hand and cause the seal of the city, Pueblo Colorado to be affixed this first day of April 2023.

4:41

Congratulations.

4:51

Yeah.

4:51

Um I'd like to thank City Council for your continued support in our effort to eradicate child abuse in our community.

5:00

We're proud to kick off our April campaign.

5:04

It's a beautiful month to protect children.

5:07

We are asking our community members to join in this effort.

5:11

And you can join in this effort by being aware of the signs of child abuse.

5:19

But more importantly, listening to children.

5:22

So oftentimes they'll only disclose one time.

5:26

And we as a community, we must be listening.

5:29

So we ask you, not only during the month of April, but every day.

5:34

We know it's a beautiful day, every day to protect the children in our community.

5:38

And we thank you, City Council again.

5:43

And hopefully one day we won't be standing up here.

5:48

And that we can honestly say that Pueblo is free of child abuse.

5:52

Thank you.

6:03

So we have just a little merch for you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████16%
Public Safety███████████████15%
Public Works██████████10%
Zoning And Land Use██████6%
Public Health Awareness█████5%
Substance Abuse Prevention█████5%
Economic Development█████5%
Arts And Culture████4%
Public Utilities████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Pueblo City Council Meeting – March 27, 2023

The Pueblo City Council convened on Monday, March 27, 2023, at 7:13 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included four special recognitions, public forum testimony on homelessness, substance use, and neighborhood safety, and a series of resolutions and ordinances. Notable votes included approval of additional ARPA funds for Posada (4-2), adoption of the HOME-ARP allocation plan (5-1), and a lease with Professional Bull Riders (4-2). Council also discussed a proposed 10% police pay increase and enforcement of a mandatory minimum jail sentence ordinance.

Consent Calendar

  • All resolutions (M1–M7) and ordinances (N1–N5, N7–N10) were approved by a single 6-0 vote, with public hearings set for April 10, 2023. Item N6 (Lights on for Safety) was postponed to April 24, 2023 on a 6-0 vote.
  • Approval of the minutes from March 13, 2023 (6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Steve Valejos urged homeless individuals to bring their tents to City Hall to make representatives see the crisis; criticized lack of youth sports programs and called for a dedicated sales tax for quality-of-life projects.
  • Dr. Mike (representing SCARA) denied intentions for overdose prevention sites, defended harm reduction strategies, and cited a U.S. Commission report on synthetic opioids that concluded interdiction alone cannot stop the epidemic.
  • Mr. Freeman argued for redirecting the half-cent sales tax to quality-of-life projects and criticized the city’s economic development incentive system.
  • Rebecca Robles and Deborah Espinoza (indigenous women) spoke against the Columbus statue, linking it to white supremacy and missing and murdered indigenous women; they read from Lies My Teacher Told Me.
  • Dave DeCenzo supported the council salary increase (N9) but proposed a cap on the mayor’s salary; he also raised concerns about utility rates and senior citizens.
  • Pablo Moore called for a committee to study high utility rates (Comcast, Xcel, water), saying they are cutting into seniors’ fixed incomes.
  • Ron Petty (District 2) requested stop signs and streetlights on Glendale, enforcement of existing laws against homeless camps and drug activity on the east side.
  • Randolph Carrill (East Side Neighborhood Watch) asked for stop signs on Glendale, Joplin, Fountain, and Hudson, and removal of dilapidated houses used for drug activity.
  • Jacqueline Bernal (via Zoom) spoke in support of the Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association, stating that harm reduction is health care and that children accompanying parents would receive oversight.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamation: Child Abuse Prevention Month (April 2023) – Keeley Luce and Felysha Valdez from Pueblo Child Advocacy Center accepted the proclamation; they urged community to listen to children and report abuse.
  • Recognition: 2023 Student Art Calendar – Human Relations Commission honored student artists Elizabeth Herzog, Lila Lucero, Brandy Mendoza, and Adelia Hayes.
  • Proclamation: Week of the Young Child (April 1–7, 2023) – Angela Shehorn accepted; activities included Cherish the Young Child, Fun Fair, Tree of Life celebration, and the Caramel mobile child care unit.
  • Recognition: ARPA Task Force Volunteers – Mayor and Julia Cordova recognized 75 volunteers who distributed $36.7 million in ARPA funds; highlighted national recognition for library summer reading, eviction prevention, and community responder programs.
  • Public Hearing: Demolition Cost Assessments – City staff Andrew Hayes presented costs for 1608 Wabash Ave ($56,272.23) and 1103 E. 8th St ($36,609.99). Council discussed challenges of recovering costs from owners; Councilor Atencio noted that liens often exceed property value, making properties unsellable. Councilor Flores emphasized safety benefits. Discussion ensued about pursuing personal judgments against owners who own other properties.
  • Council Commentary – Mayor discussed the Lights on for Safety program (N6), the upcoming sale of vacant property liens (N8, auction starting May 16), and the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Councilor Martinez reported on the Congressional Cities Conference in D.C. and the Rawlings Library renovation. Councilor Atencio shared concerns about speculators buying liens and urged owner-occupied housing. Councilor Meistry highlighted utility rate burdens on seniors. Councilor Winner announced a police union presentation on April 24 requesting a 10% pay increase and a quartermaster system due to a shortage of 50 officers. Councilor Martinez requested a work session on the mandatory minimum jail sentence ordinance (N7) to secure commitments from law enforcement and the court to enforce it.

Key Outcomes

  • Postponed: Item N6 (Lights on for Safety ARPA grant) was postponed to April 24, 2023 (6-0) to allow for additional information on application details and census tract eligibility.
  • Passed (6-0): R1 – Subrecipient agreement with Pueblo City-County Health Department for $55,000 from opioid settlement funds for the SHURE coalition.
  • Passed (4-2): R2 – Amendment with Posada, Inc. for an additional $50,000 in ARPA funds (total $100,000) for Skyview apartment evacuees; reimbursement-based with 15% admin cap.
  • Passed (5-1): R3 – Substantial amendment to FY2021 Action Plan to accept $3,090,925 in HOME-ARP funds for homeless assistance and housing construction.
  • Passed (6-0): R4 – Amendment to Fixed Base Operator lease for Freeman Jet Center to assume fuel tank rights.
  • Passed (6-0): R5 – Assessment of $56,272.23 demolition costs for 1608 Wabash Ave.
  • Passed (6-0): R6 – Assessment of $36,609.99 demolition costs for 1103 E. 8th St.
  • Passed (6-0): R7 – Administrative correction of project number from PL2203 to PL2301.
  • Passed (6-0): R8 – Public art donation agreement with Reed Miller for a sail sculpture at Clark Street and the levy.
  • Passed (6-0): R9 – Deferred improvements agreement for sidewalk completion in Walking Stick Vista subdivision.
  • Passed (6-0): R10 – Acceptance of a 2006 Freightliner hazmat apparatus from Pueblo West Fire Department.
  • Passed (4-2): R11 – Three-year lease with Professional Bull Riders for storage at 317 N. Main Street (Pope Block); Councilor Winner expressed concern about the building’s long-term viability and suggested phasing out leases to month-to-month arrangements.
  • Next Steps: Ordinance N7 (mandatory minimum jail sentence) will be discussed at a work session on April 10. The police union will present its pay and quartermaster proposal on April 24. The city will begin auctioning vacant property liens on May 16, 2023.

Meeting Transcript

Recording in progress. Today is Monday, March 27th. The time is 7 13, and I call this meeting to order. Councillor Flores is going to give our invitation tonight. So if everybody would stand in, please stay standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. God be in our minds as we begin our work tonight. Be in our thoughts that we speak with charity and with wisdom. Be in our ears that we may listen to and hear the words of others. Be in our hearts that love and justice may guide our decisions. Be in our hands that we may build a community where all are cared for. God be our wisdom, our guide, our hope so that all we do, we do in love of you. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen. I pledge allegiance to the Republic for which we stand under God and visible with liberty and justice. Okay, roll call. Larry Tencio. Here. Dennis Flores. Here. Heather Graham. Here. Regina Meistry. Here. Sarah Martinez? Here. Vicente Martinez Ortega. Excused. Lori Winner. Here. Okay. We have four recognitions tonight. And our first one we have is for the Pueblo Child Advocacy Center for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Ladies want to come that we have to proclamation Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 2023. Whereas in 2021, four million maltreatment referral reports were received in the United States, and whereas child abuse and neglect is a serious problem affecting every single segment of our community and finding solutions requires input action and collaboration from everyone. And whereas our children are our most valuable resources and will shape the future of Pueblo. And whereas child abuse can have a long-term psychological, emotional, and physical effects that have lasting consequences for victims of abuse. And whereas protective factors are conditions that reduce or eliminate risk and promote the social, emotional, and development well-being of children. And whereas effective child children abuse prevention activities succeed because of the partnerships created between child welfare professionals, education, medical, mental health, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, law enforcement agencies, and families and families. And whereas communities must make every effort to promote programs and activities that create strong and thriving children and families. And whereas we acknowledge that we must work together as a community to increase awareness about child abuse and contribute to promote social and emotional well-being of children and families in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment. And whereas prevention remains the best defense for our children and families. Now, therefore, we, the City Council, the City of Pueblo, Colorado, by the authority of vested in us, do hereby proclaim April 2023 as child abuse child abuse prevention month. The City of Pueblo, Colorado will urge all of its citizens and citizens and community agencies, faith groups, medical facilities, elected to leaders and businesses to increase their participation in our efforts by recognizing the signs of child abuse and reporting suspected child abuse to allow for our children to live a life without fear. And witness wherefore I hereby set my hand and cause the seal of the city, Pueblo Colorado to be affixed this first day of April 2023. Congratulations. Yeah. Um I'd like to thank City Council for your continued support in our effort to eradicate child abuse in our community. We're proud to kick off our April campaign. It's a beautiful month to protect children. We are asking our community members to join in this effort. And you can join in this effort by being aware of the signs of child abuse.

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