OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Pueblo City Council Meeting - April 24, 2023

City Council — Monday, April 24, 2023
BodyPueblo, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 24, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:08:25

Transcript — Verbatim
0:33

Today is Monday, April 24th, the time of 731.

0:36

I call this meeting to order.

0:38

If we could have Pastor Jim Yuri from Praise Assembly to the front, and if everybody would stand and please stay standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:52

Heavenly Father, thank you for this day.

0:54

Lord, just pray that uh you would bless this uh session, Lord, at its Pueblo City Council.

1:00

Lord, I pray that you would just be with each city count council member, God, and uh give them wisdom as they make decisions.

1:08

Lord bless the the folks in here, Heavenly Father, God is the they bring um issues for our community forward, God.

1:16

Lord, just pray for all of our city, our city leaders that your blessing would fall on us in Jesus' name.

1:22

Amen.

1:36

Liberty and Justice.

1:41

Roll call?

1:44

Larry Tancio?

1:45

Here.

1:46

Dennis Flores.

1:47

Here.

1:47

Heather Graham.

1:48

Regina Maestri.

1:49

Here, Sarah Martinez, here.

1:51

Vicente Martinez Ortega.

1:54

Laurie Winter.

1:57

Okay, and starting off public forum tonight, we have Becky Cash.

2:17

Good evening.

2:19

My name is Deborah Martinez Martinez, and I am with the El Movimiento Sigue.

2:26

We are encouraging the take take it down of the Columbus statue.

2:32

And what we're doing tonight is we're trying to help people become educated about uh Christopher Columbus.

2:38

Uh Christopher Columbus is something that's taught in schools, and every single thing you've ever learned about Christopher Columbus is in error.

2:46

And that's why we go through the laborious tax task of using this textbook by James Lowen.

2:54

And each of you have one of these, except for the almost new members, uh the four of you that are relatively new, and we just realized that we had not given you these, so we will get these to you within the week.

3:08

Um, I'm going to start on page 25, and what we've gone through thus far an introduction that talks about um what people did reach uh the new world first, who came before Columbus, uh, why are the texts wrong, and why do they the new text continue to be wrong?

3:33

Um the part I'm going to read today is about West Africans um reaching this continent along with Irish explorers.

3:44

We can explore the Eurocentrism of our textbooks if we examine what they say about some other explorers in Table 1.

3:52

On purpose or by accident, people may have come to America from the West Coast of Ireland around 600 AD, and from the West Coast of Africa around 1300 A.D.

4:06

Let's compare the evidence for each of these voyages.

4:10

Moderately good evidence suggests that West Africans reached the Caribbean and Brazil in the 1300s.

4:17

When Columbus reached Haiti, the Arawaks gave him some peer points, spear points made of guanine.

4:25

The Indians said they got them from black traders who came from the south and the east.

4:49

From contacts in West Africa, the Portuguese collected considerable evidence that African traders were visiting Brazil and Central America in the mid-1400s.

5:00

This is not in our textbooks.

5:01

The first Europeans to reach Panama, Balboa and Company reported seeing black slaves in a native town.

5:09

The Indians said they captured them from a nearby nearby black community.

5:14

Oral history from Afro-Mexicans tells us of pre-Columbian crossings from West Africa.

5:20

In all then, data from previous sources combined to suggest that voyages from Africa probably took place, although we can't be certain.

5:29

This author also gives you the first person sources where he got this information from.

5:42

Irish legends talk about an abbot and 17 monks who journeyed to the promised land.

5:50

And in the 9th or 10th century.

5:53

The journey took place centuries earlier.

5:57

It lasted seven years, according to the narrated accounts.

6:01

They declare different narratives that say they celebrated Mass on the back of a whale.

6:09

They visited a pillar of crystal, probably an iceberg, and visited an island of fire, probably volcanoes.

6:18

You don't dismiss fables in looking at anthropology.

6:24

You use them and look for informations that have been outside of the box.

6:29

When the Norse first reached Ireland, Irish monks, Irish monks were living there.

6:37

Excuse me, when Norse sagas tell us when the Norse first reached Iceland, Irish monks were living there.

6:46

Its volcanoes could have been the islands of fire.

6:50

How do U.S.

6:52

history books treat these two possible sets of voyagers?

6:55

Five of them admit the possibility an Irish monk may have crossed the Atlantic around 530 AD.

7:04

Some people, and this is a quote, an account.

7:08

Some people believe that Irish missionaries may have sailed to the Americas hundreds of years before the first voyages of Columbus.

7:15

According to Irish legends, Irish monks sailed the Atlantic in order to bring Christianity.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████18%
Grant Funding██████████████14%
Zoning And Land Use██████████10%
Historic Preservation█████████9%
Substance Abuse Prevention███████7%
Public Safety█████5%
Urban Renewal████4%
Public Works████4%
Public Transportation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Pueblo City Council Meeting - April 24, 2023

The Pueblo City Council convened on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 7:31 PM (following a work session) for a regular business meeting. Key topics included public forum presentations on the Columbus statue and government form, council commentary on the jail annexation and 1A fund allocations, approval of multiple resolutions and ordinances ranging from sponsorships and grant agreements to zoning changes and special counsel hiring.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved all resolutions on the consent agenda (M1-M6, N1-N6) by a 7-0 vote, including transfers for ADA curb ramps, waiving transportation fees for students, revocable permits for community events, and setting public hearings for ordinances.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Deborah Martinez (El Movimiento Sigue) spoke against the Christopher Columbus statue, distributing a textbook by James Loewen and arguing that historical accounts of Columbus are erroneous. She highlighted Eurocentrism in textbooks and urged the removal of the statue.
  • Becky Cash (second speaker) presented additional historical arguments regarding pre-Columbian explorers and challenged the treatment of West African voyages in textbooks.
  • Elvis Martinez expressed strong support for a mayoral form of government, opposing a return to city manager rule. He noted that only 39.31% of registered voters participated in the May 2020 ballot measure and urged Council to table items N8 and N9. He also questioned whether arrests were made in an assault on a homeless person (video incident) and supported pallet shelter housing as a partial solution to homelessness.
  • Laura Stevens (Bella Vista Nord resident) praised the resurfacing of Ridge Road but complained about illegal dumping on a 17-acre parcel at Ridge and Eagle Ridge. She requested city sales tax funds (up 13%) be used to develop a park donated over 10 years ago, noting that only about 75% of Pueblo residents are within a 10-minute walk of a park.
  • Patricia Scheiner did not speak (accompanied Ms. Stevens).

Discussion Items

  • Council Commentary & Jail Annexation (N6): Councilor Winter raised concerns about the annexation of 69.9 acres for the Pueblo County Detention Center and the Joe Martinez Boulevard extension, noting that the county’s 1A funds (55 million) were originally intended to include 11 million for the HARP extension and boathouse project. She argued that inflation has increased the road cost from 18-20 million to 40 million, jeopardizing city projects. Councilor Flores countered that 80% of jail inmates and employees are from Pueblo and the old jail is unsafe. Councilor Martinez Ortega stated he would not pull N6 because he respects that voters rejected the jail three times, but he opposes the project.
  • Q4: Steel Works Center E-Bike Grant: Council debated funding $8,000 from contingencies vs. fund balance. After discussion, the resolution passed 7-0, with a plan to reimburse contingencies later via ordinance. The grant would bring 100 e-bikes to low-income individuals, veterans, and students.
  • N7: Special Counsel for City Clerk: Council approved (5-2) an engagement letter with Rich Cornfield PC to represent the city clerk in matters related to petitions to amend the city charter (changing to city manager government). The city attorney noted the legal issues are unique and require specialized election law expertise. Approximately $4,000 has been spent so far.
  • R2: Crossroads Turning Points ARPA Grant: Public hearing included comments from Charles Davis (CEO) supporting the $750,000 grant for a 20-bed Circle program (10 beds for Pueblo County, 10 state-wide). Michelle Gray opposed, arguing beds should all go to Pueblo and questioning cost-effectiveness. Council approved 6-1.
  • R10: Use Tax Exemption Amendment: Council passed 5-2 an ordinance clarifying that the use tax exemption for non-residents and new residents applies only to individuals, not businesses.
  • R12: Cooperative Care Mobile Shower Program: Council approved $40,000 in ARPA funds for the program, with discussion about the organization’s possible religious affiliation. The city attorney stated the funding is limited to a non-sectarian purpose (mobile showers and ADA improvements), so it qualifies.

Key Outcomes

  • Passed (7-0): Consent agenda, Q1-Q5 (sponsorships), R1 (rezoning for parking), R3 (airport advertising funds), R4 (police mental health grant), R5 (CDBG/HOME action plan), R6 (street vacation fees), R7 (county parking agreement), R8 (public art donation), R9 (Team Up to Cleanup agreement), R11 (temporary law department position), R12 (Cooperative Care grant).
  • Passed (6-1): R2 (Crossroads Turning Points grant).
  • Passed (5-2): N7 (special counsel); R10 (use tax amendment).
  • Tabled/Not Acted: Items N8 and N9 (ordinances calling a special election on city charter amendment) were not pulled for separate discussion, but Councilor Martinez Ortega urged tabling them. No action taken.
  • Referred/Future Action: Council discussed a potential work session with county commissioners on 1A fund allocations and the jail annexation. The city clerk and council president will develop a written policy on public forum procedures to avoid confusion.

Meeting Transcript

Today is Monday, April 24th, the time of 731. I call this meeting to order. If we could have Pastor Jim Yuri from Praise Assembly to the front, and if everybody would stand and please stay standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Lord, just pray that uh you would bless this uh session, Lord, at its Pueblo City Council. Lord, I pray that you would just be with each city count council member, God, and uh give them wisdom as they make decisions. Lord bless the the folks in here, Heavenly Father, God is the they bring um issues for our community forward, God. Lord, just pray for all of our city, our city leaders that your blessing would fall on us in Jesus' name. Amen. Liberty and Justice. Roll call? Larry Tancio? Here. Dennis Flores. Here. Heather Graham. Regina Maestri. Here, Sarah Martinez, here. Vicente Martinez Ortega. Laurie Winter. Okay, and starting off public forum tonight, we have Becky Cash. Good evening. My name is Deborah Martinez Martinez, and I am with the El Movimiento Sigue. We are encouraging the take take it down of the Columbus statue. And what we're doing tonight is we're trying to help people become educated about uh Christopher Columbus. Uh Christopher Columbus is something that's taught in schools, and every single thing you've ever learned about Christopher Columbus is in error. And that's why we go through the laborious tax task of using this textbook by James Lowen. And each of you have one of these, except for the almost new members, uh the four of you that are relatively new, and we just realized that we had not given you these, so we will get these to you within the week. Um, I'm going to start on page 25, and what we've gone through thus far an introduction that talks about um what people did reach uh the new world first, who came before Columbus, uh, why are the texts wrong, and why do they the new text continue to be wrong? Um the part I'm going to read today is about West Africans um reaching this continent along with Irish explorers. We can explore the Eurocentrism of our textbooks if we examine what they say about some other explorers in Table 1. On purpose or by accident, people may have come to America from the West Coast of Ireland around 600 AD, and from the West Coast of Africa around 1300 A.D. Let's compare the evidence for each of these voyages. Moderately good evidence suggests that West Africans reached the Caribbean and Brazil in the 1300s. When Columbus reached Haiti, the Arawaks gave him some peer points, spear points made of guanine. The Indians said they got them from black traders who came from the south and the east. From contacts in West Africa, the Portuguese collected considerable evidence that African traders were visiting Brazil and Central America in the mid-1400s. This is not in our textbooks. The first Europeans to reach Panama, Balboa and Company reported seeing black slaves in a native town. The Indians said they captured them from a nearby nearby black community. Oral history from Afro-Mexicans tells us of pre-Columbian crossings from West Africa. In all then, data from previous sources combined to suggest that voyages from Africa probably took place, although we can't be certain. This author also gives you the first person sources where he got this information from. Irish legends talk about an abbot and 17 monks who journeyed to the promised land. And in the 9th or 10th century. The journey took place centuries earlier. It lasted seven years, according to the narrated accounts. They declare different narratives that say they celebrated Mass on the back of a whale. They visited a pillar of crystal, probably an iceberg, and visited an island of fire, probably volcanoes. You don't dismiss fables in looking at anthropology.

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