Pueblo City Council Meeting – December 23, 2024: Energy Studies, Zoning Changes, and Year-End Business
Pueblo City Council Meeting – December 23, 2024
The Pueblo City Council convened for its regular meeting on Monday, December 23, 2024, at 7:01 PM. The meeting covered a wide range of business including a contentious debate on a feasibility study for potential municipalization of electric services, the rescission of a 2017 renewable energy pledge, approval of interim homeless shelter operations, and numerous routine resolutions and ordinances. The council also heard public comments on several topics and approved multiple zoning changes.
Consent Calendar
- All 17 resolutions (M2–M17) and 8 ordinances (N1–N8) on the consent agenda were approved unanimously (7-0), with public hearings for the ordinances set for January 13, 2025. Items included construction contracts, fund transfers, grant acceptances, appointments, and code amendments.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ken Dante urged council not to rescind the 100% renewable energy pledge (Resolution 13612), arguing it is a marketing tool for attracting businesses like Form Energy and has helped secure approximately $15 million in grants. He warned that rescinding could harm the city financially and create stranded assets.
- Ted Freeman called on council to return unspent balances from completed capital projects to the general fund and to review the half-cent sales tax fund, which he said holds over $60 million. He indicated he would be a frequent speaker in 2025 on these issues.
- Elvis Martinez questioned the use of $100,000 in ARPA funds for police vehicles (M3) and asked about the process for appointing the deputy mayor (M15). He raised concerns about a former police officer’s resignation, La Genta nonprofit’s alleged misuse of funds (referencing expired IRS 990s), and called for stricter vetting of city contractors who have been sued.
- Sandra Scher requested that slide presentations for work sessions be posted with agendas so the public can review them in advance. She also expressed interest in serving on a committee addressing homelessness and suggested incorporating the homeless shelter needs assessment into CSAC’s upcoming work.
- Margot Harriman led the council and audience in singing "O Holy Night" and offered a message about the sanctity of life during the Christmas season.
- Lydia Miragram requested access to the bathhouse at the Nature Center to prepare as-built drawings, a scope of work, and budget estimates at no cost to the city. She noted that previous soils tests and civil work were already paid for by the city and asked to review those records. She emphasized the need for restrooms for upcoming tennis tournaments.
Discussion Items
M1 – Feasibility Study for City Electric Options
A resolution to transfer $120,000 from a mayoral runoff election account and award a $300,000 contract to GDS Associates for a comprehensive energy strategy study was moved to the regular agenda by Councilor Meistry. The study would evaluate options including municipalization, a co-op model, and other paths to reduce electric rates. Councilors debated the necessity, timing, and cost.
- Supporters (Councilors Boston, Aliff, Latino, Martinez) argued the study is essential to provide voters with concrete data before a May 2025 special election on whether to exercise an August 2025 off-ramp from Black Hills Energy. They noted the last study showed potential 15-20% rate reductions and that without this information, the city cannot responsibly ask voters to take the off-ramp.
- Opponents (Councilors Meistry, Flores, Gomez) criticized the cost increase from the prior $150,000 study, questioned GDS Associates’ track record, and suggested waiting for the Colorado PUC’s decision on Black Hills’ rate case due in March 2025. Councilor Flores stated the company had no successful municipalizations for a city of Pueblo’s size.
- Vote: The resolution passed 5-2, with Councilors Meistry and Flores dissenting.
Q1 – Rescinding 100% Renewable Energy Pledge
A resolution to rescind Resolution 13612 (adopted February 13, 2017) which committed to 100% renewable energy by 2035 was debated.
- Councilor Boston (mover) and Councilor Gomez (second) supported rescission, stating the goal is not fiscally realistic and that the current administration advises it may hinder cost-effective energy decisions.
- Councilor Flores, Councilor Martinez, and public speaker Ken Dante opposed removal, citing the pledge’s role in attracting grants and green businesses, and argued it costs nothing to maintain as a guiding goal. Councilor Martinez suggested revising rather than eliminating the goal.
- Vote: The resolution passed 5-2, with Councilors Flores and Martinez dissenting.
Q2 – Steelworks Center Sponsorship
A resolution to sponsor the FACES of CF&I fundraiser for $1,500 from council contingencies was approved unanimously (7-0). Councilor Martinez noted Mayor Graham would be honored at the event.
R6 – Interim Homeless Shelter Operating Agreement
An ordinance approving a temporary operating agreement with Life Continues LLC (dba SafeSide Recovery) to run the homeless shelter (formerly operated by the Rescue Mission) through March 31, 2025, at a monthly reimbursement of $53,000. Public speaker Diane Dante suggested using the soup kitchen instead of duplicating kitchen services. Councilor Martinez commended SafeSide and asked about grant applications. The ordinance passed 7-0.
S1 & S2 – Rezoning for Homeless Shelter Operations
Two ordinances rezoned properties at 710, 724, and 728 West 4th Street from B-4 (Central Business) to S-1 (Governmental Use) to allow the city to operate or contract for homeless shelter services without requiring emergency declarations. Both passed 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- M1 (Electric Feasibility Study): Approved 5-2. A $300,000 contract with GDS Associates will proceed for a comprehensive study to inform a potential May 2025 special election on an August 2025 off-ramp from Black Hills Energy.
- Q1 (Renewable Energy Pledge Rescission): Approved 5-2. The 2017 100% renewable energy goal by 2035 is rescinded.
- Q2 (Steelworks Sponsorship): Approved 7-0. $1,500 from council contingencies to sponsor the FACES of CF&I fundraiser.
- R6 (Homeless Shelter Interim Agreement): Approved 7-0. SafeSide Recovery will operate the shelter through March 31, 2025, at $53,000/month.
- S1 & S2 (Rezoning): Approved 7-0. Three properties rezoned to S-1 to facilitate homeless shelter operations.
- All consent agenda items (M2–M17, N1–N8): Approved 7-0.
- All final reading ordinances (R1–R15): Approved 7-0, including transportation planning, data use agreement, affordable housing procedures, easement acceptance, T-hangar leases, and wildland fire mitigation grant.
- Minutes: Approved 7-0 for November 25 (amended) and December 9, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Well, it's a beautiful Christmas Eve Eve in Pueblo, Colorado tonight. I'm calling to order the regular city council meeting. Today is Monday, December 23rd, 2024. The time is 701, and we're going to begin with our invocation. Michael Atlas Akuna from Temple Emanuel will lead us. If you want, please stand, and then we'll do our Pledge of Allegiance. Well, guardian of life and liberty. May our nation always merit your protection. And Mr. Clerk, roll call. Mark Ayla. Here. Brett Boston. Here. Dennis Flores. Here. Roger Gomez. Joe Latino? Here. Regina Meistry. Here. Sarah Martinez. Here. We're all here and accounted for. Next is special recognition. We have none. And we'll move right on to the public forum. First up is Ken Dante. Hello, sir. Thank you for coming. Thank you. City Council's mayor. I'm going to talk about the rescinding of the 100% renewable pledge that the city put in place in 2017. Rescending of Q1, the 100% renewables by 2035 and the associated ordinance N7 will harm the city financially. Did you know that the city received about $15 million in grants from this energy commission over the last couple years? You're going to do away with that now because the uh person that was kind of managing that has left the city because of all this. And the city is is changing the commission's charter too. Renewable energy will be the primary source of new electric generation. It's the lowest cost option, even without any government incentives. Combined with storage, it makes our electric grid more resilient. Colorado is looking at applying this to technology for manufacturing and not for power generation. The PISAC committee chose this option because it was the second most costly. What happens when the class six wells that do the carbon capture are full? Does this mean Pueblo has another stranded asset and will lose more of its property tax? So I'm I'm saying that if we go this direction, we might just be creating more stranded assets, just like the Comanche plant. Since we haven't until 2040 to make these decisions, let's see how the electric generation sources play out before harming the property tax protection that Excel is giving to us through 2040. If you if you put an asset in place, Excel is going to claim that against that you know that uh property tax that they're paying for. Um keeping the hundred percent renewable by 2035 is a good marketing tool for business in in Pueblo. Someone should ask Petco their opinion. Um it would make it much easier to recruit a company like Form Battery, who's doing this iron air battery.
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