OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Pueblo City Council Regular Meeting - July 28, 2025

City Council — Monday, July 28, 2025
BodyPueblo, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, July 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:34:08

Transcript — Verbatim
1:30

So have we begun?

1:33

We've only just begun.

1:36

We're on air.

1:41

Well, it's another sweltering wonderful day in Pueblo, Colorado.

1:45

I call to order the regular city council meeting.

1:48

Today is Monday, July 28, 2025.

1:54

First up on the agenda is our invocation.

1:57

Please stand with us if you want, and then we'll do the Pledge of Allegiance immediately following.

2:03

And I welcome A.J.

2:04

Colletti from the Cowboy Church.

2:09

If you at all please bow with me.

2:12

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day.

2:14

We thank you for the wonderful things that you have done for us throughout the day today.

2:18

We just want to ask that as you call this meeting to order that everybody's opinions and concerns gets voiced correctly, peacefully, and with the idea that it needs to be done for the improvement, the prosperity, the flourishing, and the safety of our city.

2:37

May we all keep that in mind as we voice those opinions.

2:40

And we just want to ask that we watch over every one of us here.

2:44

Help us to do everything in your name.

2:46

We love you.

2:47

We know that you love us.

2:48

And your son's most heavenly most precious and most beautiful name.

2:51

Amen.

3:11

Thank you.

3:18

Mark Ayleff.

3:19

Here.

3:19

Brett Boston.

3:21

Here.

3:21

Dennis Flores?

3:22

Here.

3:23

Roger Gomez.

3:24

Joe Latino?

3:25

Here.

3:25

Regina Meistry?

3:26

Here.

3:27

Sarah Martinez.

3:31

And everybody is here and accounted for.

3:33

We don't have any special recognitions.

3:35

We'll now move into public forum.

3:38

We had nine people sign or uh ten people sign up for public forum.

3:43

We normally take six and go for five minutes.

3:46

If there's no objection from City Council, we'll let all ten speak for three minutes apiece.

3:52

That's okay with everybody.

3:54

No objection?

3:56

All right, we'll call up Dave Dicenzo.

4:07

Hello, Dave.

4:08

Thank you for coming.

4:19

So um I've asked to talk about the nuclear plan that is going around that involves changing the coal-fired plants, uh, comanche two and three, uh uh one and two and then three to nuclear power.

4:36

And that's all well and good, but those are good working plants, and I don't know of any nuclear power station that uh has come online, especially especially if it's the first of its kind, which is kind of what I'm hearing it is.

5:00

I think it's great to have batteries and other sources of energy, but the batteries and all that stuff can go in with the existing power plants, which I assume the power from this plant will go to Denver.

5:09

It is owned by XL.

5:11

So I I am not seeing the benefit yet for the city.

5:20

So I think we need to do a green, I personally think we need to do a green field somewhere else.

5:26

It's not a brown field, and it could be right next to Comanche 2 and 3.

5:29

I'm sure they plan for Comanche 4, right?

5:32

So that's would be where it should go.

5:36

And it could be, it could arrive in six years, maybe, and it'd still be able to use the grid that's there.

5:43

So uh so yeah, that's my uh concern.

5:47

It would be great to see a project plan that showed when Comanche 1 and 2 shut down that actually showed it, not what Excel is promising and showed when uh Comanche 3 will shut down so that we know, and then okay.

6:04

Now, what's the commit replacement for Panche 1 and 2?

6:07

When is that going to show up?

6:09

How many months of shutdown will there be where we can't get power for the mill?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████16%
Ethics And Conduct████████████████16%
Public Safety██████████10%
Economic Development█████████9%
Nonprofit Funding████████8%
Public Engagement██████6%
Racial Equity██████6%
Community Engagement█████5%
Zoning And Land Use█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Pueblo City Council Regular Meeting - July 28, 2025

The Pueblo City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included public comment on ten topics, consideration of ballot measures for the November 2025 election, approval of council contingency sponsorships, passage of routine ordinances, and a contentious debate culminating in a censure resolution against Council Member Roger Gomez. The council also addressed a related ethics complaint.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from the July 14, 2025 regular meeting.
  • Approved consent agenda items L1 (Planning and Zoning Commission minutes), M1–M8 (appointments and revocable permits), and multiple ordinances (N3–N5, N6, N7, N10–N12, N15, N16) setting public hearings for August 11, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dave DeSenzo expressed concerns about a proposed nuclear conversion of Comanche coal plants, asking for a clear project timeline and replacement power for the mill.
  • Ted Freeman urged better coordination between city and county for economic development and advocated for a standalone Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Pueblo.
  • Laura (last name not given) displayed photos of injuries from a 2019 traffic stop, alleged police misconduct and false reports, and stated a federal lawsuit has been filed against the city, police department, and county.
  • Sam criticized the use of three uniformed police officers to guard council meetings, arguing they should be patrolling the city instead.
  • Elvis Martinez requested infrastructure improvements for flooding on Western Ninth and Danver Street, called for more storm drain cleaning, and raised concerns about a recent homeowner arrest during a property defense incident.
  • Emily Gradezar requested that council adopt a formal code of ethics and conduct, citing the city's core values and the lack of enforcement mechanisms.
  • Vicky Gatlin described squatters taking over her home while she was away, burning her garage, and threatening her. She asked for city support and neighborhood safety.
  • John Farley (priest) asked what public systems (dashboards, scorecards, oversight boards) are in place to track progress on jobs, safety, pollution, and local investment tied to Atlas Holdings' purchase of the mill.
  • George Cancilla praised the inaugural River Festival and City Park activity, reiterated that the bathhouse is still functional and should be renovated (not torn down), and offered his group, Friends of City Park, to do the work at no cost.
  • Mr. Hernandez (during public forum for T1) called for accountability regarding Council Member Gomez's remarks, referencing a previous conviction of a friend of Gomez.

Discussion Items

  • N1 – Half-Cent Sales Tax Extension & Criteria Amendment (First Presentation): Councilor Flores pulled the item. The ordinance would extend the 0.5% sales tax for five years and expand criteria to include economic catalysts, placemaking, and preventing leakage. The mayor explained the 15% cap was intentionally omitted to allow council flexibility; Councilor Meister and Councilor Gomez objected, calling it a "money grab." Council voted 5-2 (Gomez and Latino opposed) to move to public hearing on August 11.
  • N2 – One Percent Sales Tax Increase (First Presentation): Councilor Flores pulled the item, expressing concern about voter appetite for a combined 1.5% increase. Debate centered on dedicating funds to infrastructure vs. general fund. Council voted 5-2 (Gomez and Latino opposed) to set public hearing for August 11.
  • Q1 – Latinas First Foundation Sponsorship ($1,500): Councilor Martinez sponsored. Public comment questioned out-of-town organization. Passed 6-1 (Gomez opposed).
  • Q2 – Assistance League of Pueblo ($2,500): Sponsored by Councilor Meister. Passed 7-0.
  • Q3 – Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society ($10,000): Councilor Flores moved to split $5,000 from council contingencies and $5,000 from mayor's contingencies; passed 7-0.
  • Q4 – Colorado State Fair Fiesta Committee ($1,000): Passed 7-0.
  • Q5 – NeighborWorks Southern Colorado ($2,000): Passed 7-0.
  • R1–R12 – Final Reading Ordinances: All passed 7-0, including FAA grant ($692,237), behavioral health grant ($301,000), DOLA homeowner rehabilitation grant ($100,000), roof repair contracts, election coordination, and others.
  • S1 – Driveway Access Distance Amendment: Passed 7-0.
  • S2 – Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) Ordinance: Staff presented the compliance with HB 24-1152. Councilor Meister raised concerns about HOA override, parking, and cost. Councilor Martinez supported as a housing tool. Council voted 6-1 (Martinez opposed) to postpone to August 25 for further information.
  • S3 – Rezone at Ridge Drive/Eagleridge Blvd (R2 to B2): Staff and applicant testified for a professional office building. One resident opposed due to traffic. Passed 7-0.
  • T1 – Censure Resolution for Council Member Roger Gomez: Councilor Martinez made the motion, arguing based on the incident report from the library staff and video of Gomez's July 14 comments. Four public speakers supported censure (including library staff member Lev), one opposed (Dave DeSenzo). Council debate included Councilor Latino's call for more evidence, Councilor Meister defending Gomez's right to ask questions, and Councilor Martinez reading the library incident report. Council voted 5-1-1 to censure (Aliff no, Boston yes, Flores yes, Latino yes, Meistry yes, Martinez yes; Gomez recused). The resolution also requested President Aliff remove Gomez as Work Session Chairman.
  • T2 – Ethics Complaint Against Council Member Gomez: The complaint was received and accepted as communication (6-0, Gomez recused). A motion to dismiss carried 4-2 (Aliff, Boston, Flores, Meistry yes; Latino, Martinez no). Gomez recused.

Key Outcomes

  • N1 and N2 moved to public hearing on August 11, 2025, with 5-2 votes.
  • Council contingency sponsorships approved: Latinas First ($1,500), Assistance League ($2,500), Historical Aircraft Society ($5,000 after amendment), State Fair Fiesta ($1,000), NeighborWorks ($2,000).
  • All final reading ordinances (R1–R12) passed 7-0.
  • S1 (driveway distance) passed 7-0.
  • S2 (ADUs) postponed to August 25, 2025 (6-1).
  • S3 (rezone) passed 7-0.
  • T1 (censure) passed 5-1-1 (Gomez recused). Council President Aliff opposed; all other voting members supported.
  • T2 (ethics complaint) dismissed 4-2.

Meeting Transcript

So have we begun? We've only just begun. We're on air. Well, it's another sweltering wonderful day in Pueblo, Colorado. I call to order the regular city council meeting. Today is Monday, July 28, 2025. First up on the agenda is our invocation. Please stand with us if you want, and then we'll do the Pledge of Allegiance immediately following. And I welcome A.J. Colletti from the Cowboy Church. If you at all please bow with me. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the wonderful things that you have done for us throughout the day today. We just want to ask that as you call this meeting to order that everybody's opinions and concerns gets voiced correctly, peacefully, and with the idea that it needs to be done for the improvement, the prosperity, the flourishing, and the safety of our city. May we all keep that in mind as we voice those opinions. And we just want to ask that we watch over every one of us here. Help us to do everything in your name. We love you. We know that you love us. And your son's most heavenly most precious and most beautiful name. Amen. Thank you. Mark Ayleff. Here. Brett Boston. Here. Dennis Flores? Here. Roger Gomez. Joe Latino? Here. Regina Meistry? Here. Sarah Martinez. And everybody is here and accounted for. We don't have any special recognitions. We'll now move into public forum. We had nine people sign or uh ten people sign up for public forum. We normally take six and go for five minutes. If there's no objection from City Council, we'll let all ten speak for three minutes apiece. That's okay with everybody. No objection? All right, we'll call up Dave Dicenzo. Hello, Dave. Thank you for coming. So um I've asked to talk about the nuclear plan that is going around that involves changing the coal-fired plants, uh, comanche two and three, uh uh one and two and then three to nuclear power. And that's all well and good, but those are good working plants, and I don't know of any nuclear power station that uh has come online, especially especially if it's the first of its kind, which is kind of what I'm hearing it is. I think it's great to have batteries and other sources of energy, but the batteries and all that stuff can go in with the existing power plants, which I assume the power from this plant will go to Denver. It is owned by XL. So I I am not seeing the benefit yet for the city.

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