OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Pueblo City Council Regular Meeting - June 24, 2024

City Council — Monday, June 24, 2024
BodyPueblo, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, June 24, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:33:46

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Recording in progress.

0:32

Good evening.

0:33

It's another beautiful and hot night in Pueblo, Colorado.

0:41

Today is Monday, June twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-four, and I'm going to call to order this regular City Council meeting.

0:50

Oh six, and we're going to begin with our invocation with Pastor Steve Chavez.

0:58

If you choose, stand with us while we have the invocation, then we'll do the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:13

It looks like they're running for Mr.

1:14

Pueblo.

1:15

We ought to all give them a hand.

1:17

What do you say?

1:19

Good to have them here.

1:22

Tonight we get to do something very important, and that is talk to Jesus Christ.

1:26

And we want to welcome his presence.

1:28

And I would invite you to bow your head with me if you will.

1:31

Father, we come to you in the name of that great name Jesus.

1:36

And tonight, O God, in this room and in this meeting, Father, we pray for your presence.

1:41

Lord, I thank you for our city.

1:44

I thank you, Lord, for all of the beautiful people that live here and come through here.

1:48

But oh God, you know the pain that we live with, and you know the struggle, oh God, that sometimes happens here.

1:54

And Father, we would ask today, O Lord, that you would give just supernatural wisdom and help on how to help our own community.

2:02

Lord, we pray by the power of the Holy Spirit that God, you would do great things, Lord, in our streets, and some of the rough parts of town, oh God, we just pray your special presence there.

2:14

I pray, oh God, for that young generation that is being raised in this community.

2:19

God, may they grow up to be beautiful people that live in a beautiful town.

2:23

So tonight, O God, we pray for wisdom.

2:26

We pray for knowledge.

2:27

We pray for understanding.

2:29

Bless our council.

2:34

And oh God, would you help us tonight?

2:37

It's in the mighty name of Jesus that we pray, and everybody say Amen.

3:02

Thank you again, Pastor Chavez and Madam Clerk, Rocall.

3:07

Mark A.

3:08

Here.

3:08

Brett Boston.

3:09

Here.

3:09

Dennis Flores.

3:10

Here.

3:10

Roger Gomez.

3:12

Joe Latino.

3:12

Here.

3:13

Regina Maestry.

3:14

Here.

3:14

Sarah Martinez?

3:15

Here.

3:18

And we now move to the oath of office.

3:21

We have a new city council starting tonight.

3:25

And it's my understanding it's going to take about an hour to get all the pictures and everything done.

3:31

He he informed me of that earlier, so we'll see how this goes.

3:35

But anyway.

4:03

Congratulations, Counselor.

4:11

Any family that wants to come up is welcome to come up for a picture really quick.

6:32

Okay, we now have a special recognition.

6:34

It's a proclamation it's a mayor proclamation for Cecilia CeC Wood Day.

6:40

Uh Miss Pueblo County Scholarship Pageant Director.

6:49

Come on down.

6:53

I think we need to bring all the Queens and have you all come down around this area too.

6:59

Come on down.

7:03

Yeah.

7:06

And and Boston and Boston up here.

7:18

Oh, and the little queens too.

7:30

Okay, is this all the Queens?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████17%
Public Safety█████████████████17%
Animal Welfare█████████9%
Community Engagement████████8%
Energy Management███████7%
Grant Funding█████5%
Public Works█████5%
Public Health Awareness█████5%
Youth Programs████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Pueblo City Council Regular Meeting - June 24, 2024

The Pueblo City Council met on June 24, 2024, at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting opened with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call (all seven members present), the swearing-in of new at-large Councilor Brett Boston, and a proclamation declaring June 24, 2024, as "Cecilia 'C.C.' Wood Day." Public forum featured six speakers addressing crime, utility rates, transparency, and community goals. Council approved the consent agenda, passed sponsorship resolutions (one with a 6-1 vote), and adopted multiple ordinances. One appointment resolution was postponed to July 8.

Consent Calendar

  • All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously (7-0):
    • M1: Resolution amending the construction contract amount for HARP Phase IV Boathouse and Channel Extension from $14,244,873 to $14,246,653.
    • M2: Resolution awarding a $49,470 consulting services agreement to Terracon Consultants, Inc. for HARP special inspection and materials testing.
    • M3: Resolution authorizing a revocable permit to the HARP Foundation for the Rollin’ 4th of July Fireworks Celebration on Alan Hamel Avenue and Main Street.
    • M4: Resolution confirming appointments of Amanda Marascola and David Kochis to the Housing Authority Board.
    • M6: Resolution confirming appointment of Robert Esser to the Retail & Medical Marijuana Licensing Authority.
    • N1–N5: Ordinances for first presentation accepting grants, intergovernmental agreements, and calling a special municipal election on November 5, 2024, were passed and public hearings set for July 8, 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Kathy Nichols (via Zoom): Expressed concerns about rampant crime, lack of consensus on council, perceived dishonesty, inappropriate pre-swearing participation by Councilor Boston, and a desire for decorum and transparency. She urged council to focus on substantive issues rather than boathouses and shopping carts.
  • Dave DeSenso: Proposed a 30-year goal to make Pueblo a place for families to stay, suggesting attracting an artificial intelligence data center (e.g., for Tesla, Walmart, Google). Highlighted potential sales tax revenue from a $4 billion build and annual equipment replacements. Noted PEDCO limitations.
  • Elvis Martinez: Echoed earlier concerns about crime (citing a recent murder related to a stolen car) and criticized council decisions made without sufficient work sessions. Questioned whether appointments were partisan and praised council members who did not support a candidate with eight years of service. Called for term limits on elected officials.
  • Marty Harvey: Encouraged the city to promote flag display and community pride, noting poor Memorial Day turnout. Suggested volunteers help residents display flags.
  • Kim Dante: Opposed Black Hills Energy’s rate request, stating they are already the most expensive utility in Colorado. Argued high rates contribute to homelessness and economic harm. Urged council to intervene at the PUC, consider municipalization, or pursue community choice energy.
  • Velma Campbell (local public health doctor): Predicted Black Hills would raise rates after their 2020 commitment expired. Requested council formally comment to the PUC opposing any increase, terminate the monopoly franchise, increase the usage fee from 3% to 5%, and place low-income assistance funds under independent administration.

Discussion Items

  • M5 – Appointment to Board of Health: Councilor Aliff requested postponement to allow the Board of Health to consider expanding its membership to include a city council seat. The mayor supported the appointment of Abel Chavez but agreed to wait. Council voted 7-0 to postpone to July 8.
  • Q1 – Pueblo Dancing with the Starz sponsorship: Unanimously approved (7-0).
  • Q2 – Spay/Neuter vouchers for homeless pet owners: Unanimously approved (7-0). Councilor Gomez noted future need for larger spay/neuter funding.
  • Q3 – Summer Youth Kickback Events: Approved 6-1; Councilor Gomez did not support, questioning the recipient organization’s prior $200,000 kitchen funding. Other members supported the program for youth.
  • Q4 – Noche de Fiesta sponsorship: Unanimously approved (7-0).
  • R3 – Miniature goats hornless requirement: Ordinance to remove the requirement that miniature goats be dehorned. A citizen (Sandra Smith) testified in favor, citing pain and risk of surgery. Councilor Martinez noted it as an example of community-driven policy. Unanimously approved (7-0).
  • R4 – Title change for sight obstructions: Amended chapter title to clarify scope. Councilor Flores raised enforcement questions; staff clarified the ordinance only changes the title, not enforcement. Unanimously approved (7-0).
  • R6 – Mutual aid agreement with Crowley County: Approved (7-0).
  • R7 – Federal Home Investment Partnerships Program cooperation agreement: Approved (7-0). Councilor Flores inquired about funding for a fourplex renovation; staff directed the constituent to planning and development.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda approved 7-0.
  • M5 (Board of Health appointment) postponed to July 8, 2024, pending board expansion discussion.
  • Q3 sponsorship approved 6-1 (one nay from Councilor Gomez).
  • R3 (miniature goats hornless), R4 (title amendment), R6 (mutual aid), R7 (HOME program) all passed 7-0.
  • R5 (shopping cart ordinance) continued to the July 8 meeting per the agenda amendment.
  • Council received a grant update: 53 of 99 grants awarded in 2023, totaling $27 million.
  • Mayor announced a tour of City Park tennis facility on July 2 at 8:00 AM (open meeting).
  • Councilor Gomez emphasized police staffing shortages and vowed to continue pursuing a noise-activated camera ordinance.

Meeting Transcript

Recording in progress. Good evening. It's another beautiful and hot night in Pueblo, Colorado. Today is Monday, June twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-four, and I'm going to call to order this regular City Council meeting. Oh six, and we're going to begin with our invocation with Pastor Steve Chavez. If you choose, stand with us while we have the invocation, then we'll do the Pledge of Allegiance. It looks like they're running for Mr. Pueblo. We ought to all give them a hand. What do you say? Good to have them here. Tonight we get to do something very important, and that is talk to Jesus Christ. And we want to welcome his presence. And I would invite you to bow your head with me if you will. Father, we come to you in the name of that great name Jesus. And tonight, O God, in this room and in this meeting, Father, we pray for your presence. Lord, I thank you for our city. I thank you, Lord, for all of the beautiful people that live here and come through here. But oh God, you know the pain that we live with, and you know the struggle, oh God, that sometimes happens here. And Father, we would ask today, O Lord, that you would give just supernatural wisdom and help on how to help our own community. Lord, we pray by the power of the Holy Spirit that God, you would do great things, Lord, in our streets, and some of the rough parts of town, oh God, we just pray your special presence there. I pray, oh God, for that young generation that is being raised in this community. God, may they grow up to be beautiful people that live in a beautiful town. So tonight, O God, we pray for wisdom. We pray for knowledge. We pray for understanding. Bless our council. And oh God, would you help us tonight? It's in the mighty name of Jesus that we pray, and everybody say Amen. Thank you again, Pastor Chavez and Madam Clerk, Rocall. Mark A. Here. Brett Boston. Here. Dennis Flores. Here. Roger Gomez. Joe Latino. Here. Regina Maestry. Here. Sarah Martinez? Here. And we now move to the oath of office. We have a new city council starting tonight. And it's my understanding it's going to take about an hour to get all the pictures and everything done. He he informed me of that earlier, so we'll see how this goes. But anyway. Congratulations, Counselor. Any family that wants to come up is welcome to come up for a picture really quick.

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