Pueblo City Council Regular Meeting – August 28, 2023: Budget, Charter Amendment, and Community Concerns
Pueblo City Council Regular Meeting – August 28, 2023
The Pueblo City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, August 28, 2023, at 7:00 PM. The meeting included public testimony, discussion of a proposed charter amendment requiring officials to resign before running for another office, approval of the consent agenda, multiple resolutions and ordinances, and quasi‑judicial rezoning and landmark designations. All votes on action items were unanimous (7‑0).
Consent Calendar
- Approved the agenda as amended (pulling item N4 from first presentation).
- Approved minutes of August 14, 2023 regular meeting.
- Received and filed minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission (July 12, 2023).
- Approved resolutions M1–M8: construction contracts for airport runway rehabilitation ($9,730,246.03 to Pyramid Construction Inc.), ADA curb ramps ($185,236.01 to Full Tilt Construction), Whitlock Plant Outflow emergency repairs ($67,060 to Parker Excavating), chiller compression unit repairs ($56,545 to Carrier Corporation), concrete improvements amendment ($8,351 to Garcia Concrete), appointments to the Emergency Advisory Commission (Tom Corlet) and Regional Building Commission (Andy Jessic), and a rocal permit for the 29th annual Chile & Frijoles Festival.
- Passed ordinances N1–N3 and N5–N7 on first presentation: ARP grant, shop truck replacement, SCBA grant, rezoning at 718 W 4th Street, MOU with Rocky Mountain SER for Pueblo Food Project, and CDOT grant for traffic safety.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mr. Freeman criticized the council’s vote on R1 (shell building expansion) at the previous meeting, arguing that the agreement improperly authorized work before plan approval. He also distributed copies of emergency ordinances he claimed the mayor had not properly planned for.
- Kenneth Owens (legislative advocate) raised concerns about discriminatory loitering laws, stating that a man (Gabriel Perez) was held without bond on a third‑degree trespassing charge. He warned of potential litigation and argued the public defender’s office was not providing adequate representation. He urged the council to seek removal of the no‑bond status.
- Paul (last name not given) described his experience as a property owner and builder. He stated that he pays taxes, holds a homeowner’s permit, and houses eight people, but faces code enforcement citations for having a camper on his lot while homeless individuals break into his property and use drugs without consequence. He asked for reasonable enforcement and suggested allowing temporary campers during active construction. Council members expressed sympathy and noted the need for balanced enforcement.
Discussion Items
- Charter Amendment – Resign to Run (Q1): Councilor Winter introduced an ordinance to place a ballot question requiring city officials to resign before seeking nomination for another public office. City Attorney Georgia Pillai explained that a regular ordinance would miss the September 8 certification deadline, but the council could convert it to an emergency ordinance. Council debated the potential loss of quorum if four members resigned simultaneously. No vote was taken; the item remained on first presentation. Councilor Martinez Ortega suggested more time was needed to address succession issues.
- Speed Radar Program (Councilor Winter report): Winter shared research on photo radar vans used in Denver (since 1998) and other Colorado cities. Key points: vans cost $15,599 per unit; citations are $40–$80 (school zones $80); no points on license; vans are self‑funded; 95% of citations go to first‑time offenders; Denver pays operators $65,000/year. Council expressed interest and will invite a Denver representative to present.
- Firefighter Collective Bargaining Agreement (S9): Mayor presented a three‑year contract with IAFF Local 3: 7.3% wage increase in 2024, 7% in 2025, and third‑year increase tied to comparable cities; enhanced longevity pay; adoption of 48/96 shift schedule; changes to lieutenant classification and EMT requirements. Total cost: ~$1.1M in 2024. Council approved 7‑0.
- Homelessness and Code Enforcement (council comments): Several councilors addressed the frustration expressed by public speakers. Councilor Maestri called for more equitable enforcement, and Councilor Tencia urged flexibility in applying ordinances. Councilor Martinez Ortega suggested referring the builder to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a temporary structure variance.
- Other Reports: Councilor Flores noted modular buildings available from Dolores Huerta (potential warming shelter) and requested an update on the 8th Street exit project. Councilor Martinez announced a District 4 town hall (September 9, 10am–12pm, South Point residents only).
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approvals (7‑0): All consent agenda items, resolutions R1 (Multicultural Festival sponsorship, $1,500) and R2 (Assistance League holiday fashion preview, $1,000), ordinances S1–S11 (airport grants, engineering agreement, nurse navigation program, CREATE grant, water main extension, Aberdeen Bluff deposit agreement, construction manager position reclassification, firefighter CBA, Thunder Village liquor license, child abuse investigation MOU), and quasi‑judicial items T1 (rezoning to BP Business Park for Summit Bricks), T2 (rezoning to I2 for salvage yard expansion), T3 (Edward Teller House historic landmark designation).
- Q1 (resign‑to‑run charter amendment) introduced on first presentation; no vote taken. Council discussed converting to emergency ordinance to meet September 8 ballot deadline. City Attorney clarified that a special meeting could be held after publication, but council took no immediate action.
- Free K‑12 transit fare continued: Mayor announced a $65,000 transfer from PeyCog to fund free bus fares for the 2023‑2024 school year. Councilor Martinez noted a 31% increase in youth ridership since the program began.
- State Fair Parade Float Award: City received first place for its float.
- Upcoming meetings: Next regular meeting will be a work session on Tuesday (due to Labor Day holiday), with an executive session on the warming shelter comparison.
Meeting Transcript
Hopefully this isn't a long one until twelve thirty. It's not like this. Today is Monday, August twenty-eighth, the time is seven PM, and I call this meeting to order. We are going to have our invocation by Pastor Ken Wood tonight. Thank you for filling in. And if everybody will stand and please stay standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the chance to come and to participate in local government. God, and I just want to thank you for each uh person here tonight that is serving our city, all the way from the council members, Lord, for our fire, for our police, for our EMS and our city, God. We thank you for them, especially as they uh put themselves in harm's way. We pray for protection on each one, God. And uh we pray for the meeting tonight. We pray for these council members to have wisdom and discernment on the best use of our city's resources. And God, uh, we thank you for uh each citizen that's gonna voice concerns or or bring complaints. God, I pray that we would have ears to listen. And uh God, I pray that every decision that's made would be made for the benefit of our community, God. We we just ask for your help in this in Jesus' name. Amen. Okay, roll call. Uh Vicente Martinez Ortega. Here. Sarah Martinez here. Larry Tencia. Here. Heather Graham is here. Dennis Flores. Here. Regina Mace Maestri. Lori Winter. Okay, and starting off uh public forum, we're gonna have Mr. Freeman. Oh ready. Caught me unaware. Okay, is it on? All right. All right. The first thing I want to talk about is basically something you guys gave up last city council meeting. When you voted for those who voted for R one. And I'm gonna read basically a little bit about R one that you voted for. It says to facilitate the further construction and management of the property, the city is willing to convey title to the to the property to PDF. The city encumbers and appropriates monies for the half-cent sales tax fund in the amount of six and a half million dollars for use and expenditures by PDF for the additional construction of improvements for the shell building. PDF shall use the plans and specifications prepared by Nakai Associates, which is sort of interesting because uh they obviously did some work before we you guys even voted for this uh this the shell build you know the expansion to the shell building for the construction and the additional improvements to the property. Said plans and specifications, this is important, and specifications shall be filed with the city, and work shall not be performed until and unless the same are approved by the city. And of course, as of August 14th, those plans had not been approved. So there's two things you voted for that were inappropriate. The next item. Solely for the cost and expenses of design and construction, including expenses incurred by PDF on the project contemplated by this agreement. Contemplated prior to the execution of this agreement. If any, and all which are in accordance with the plans and specifications prepared by Nakai and associates.
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