Pueblo City Council Regular Meeting - March 23, 2026
Pueblo City Council Regular Meeting - March 23, 2026
The Pueblo City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 5:30 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included a proclamation, public forum with seven speakers, council member commentary, and action on a wide range of resolutions and ordinances. The council approved most items, including a resolution supporting a state affordable housing bill, several revocable permits, and a new city clerk appointment. Notable votes included a 6-1 approval of a permit for a march and rally, and a 6-1 approval of a risk management services contract.
Consent Calendar
- Approved resolutions M1-M3, M5-M10 and ordinances N1-N7 as a single block. Items included an emergency sewer repair contract ($224,305.40 with Parker Excavating), a flood study consulting agreement ($83,400 with Matrix Design Group), a demolition contract amendment ($65,000 for 519 W. 11th St.), joint appointment of Dr. Robert Barr to the Fountain Creek Watershed District Board, appointments to the Fire Board of Appeals and ADA Advisory Committee, and revocable permits for Stok'd Pizza (gate overhang), Steel City Music Showcase (music festival, April 10-12), Sloth Event LLC dba Colorado eBike Shop (e-bike ride, April 11), and Colorado Workers for Innovations & New Solutions (march and rally, March 28). Also approved a greenhouse project fund transfer and contract amendment ($58,913.95 to Fortis General Contracting).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Aubrey Adams (Director, Every Brain Matters) urged the city to address root causes of addiction and mental illness, specifically citing the impacts of marijuana legalization. She requested that the city consider opting out of retail marijuana or implementing a THC potency cap, and asked for an ordinance keeping youth events away from marijuana-promoting locations. She noted that a study in Lancet Psychiatry found 47% of individuals with cannabis-induced psychosis later develop schizophrenia.
- Stephanie Riggs claimed that a program she originally submitted to council in May 2015 was being implemented without credit, stating she had sent cease and desist letters.
- Sally Moore (Air Without Ice) spoke about the airport, suggesting the city designate a specific area on airport grounds for public assembly and maintain a flight log of ICE flights for transparency. She argued that proactive planning for protests would build trust.
- Rick Wrangler (speaking as an individual, not on behalf of Human Relations Commission) called for nonviolence and respect for the UN Declaration of Human Rights, urging Pueblo Public Schools to teach the importance of the United Nations.
- George Concilia (Friends of City Park nonprofit) expressed concern about rumors that the city's parks and recreation department would eliminate tennis and pickleball programming. He said the city-run tennis program served nearly 500 kids last year at a cost of approximately $7,500, and formally offered up to $10,000 from his nonprofit to fund the program. He noted the city's purchase of the Dittmer building and argued it reflects poorly if the city cannot fund its own programs.
- Julie Suskowski Roten Valdez (registered nurse and attorney, provides affordable housing) shared a story about the Arabian knight and the wren, emphasizing that "one does what one can."
- Elvis Martinez (via Zoom) advocated for several potential ballot measures: campaign finance limits, a "resign to run" requirement, an eight-year lifetime limit on council service, letting city board members choose their own successors, and eliminating the runoff election for mayor to save costs. He also criticized spending on the State of the City event ($9,883.76) and a council retreat ($1,546.21), noting a 23% management charge on food.
Discussion Items
- Mayor Graham's Commentary – Responding to George Concilia, the Mayor stated that the administration had considered reducing part-time programs, but per council direction, all pools, swim lessons, youth sports, and other programs (including tennis lessons) will remain open. The cost of tennis lessons was stated as $18,000 per year, not $7,500.
- Councilor Gomez's Request for Litigation Report – Councilor Roger Gomez formally requested that the city attorney provide a comprehensive list of all pending litigation against the city, a complete accounting of settlements since January 1, 2023, and a regular reporting mechanism. He cited the city charter and fiduciary duties.
- Councilor Ruiz Gomez – Addressed mental health and substance use, referencing a community needs assessment that identified mental health and substance use services as top priorities. She thanked the mayor for keeping summer programs active.
- Councilor Aliff – Expressed concern about the lack of inpatient mental health care in Pueblo, calling it a tragedy that jails are filled with the mentally ill. He stated that addressing mental health could help eradicate homelessness.
- Ordinance S8 (Temporary Kennel/Cattery Emergency) – Councilor Aliff presented the ordinance, which would allow exceeding the limit of four dogs or four cats during a declared emergency. He stated it is for emergency situations only, such as extreme weather, and would involve licensed rescue organizations, not city funding. Elvis Martinez raised questions about liability, documentation, and animal health.
Key Outcomes
- M4 (Annexation of 24.311 acres at W. 24th St. & N. Pueblo Blvd.) – Approved 7-0. The resolution preliminarily determines the petition is valid, tables final action for up to 180 days, and refers to Planning and Zoning Commission.
- M11 (Revocable permit for march and rally on March 28, 2026) – Approved 6-1. The permit allows Colorado Workers for Innovations & New Solutions to use Union Avenue and Sister Cities Plaza for a peaceful, nonviolent public march and rally as part of the nationwide "No King's" day of action.
- M12 (Parks Greenhouse Project fund transfer and contract amendment) – Approved 6-1. Transfers $37,592.60 from CI accounts and $44,692.35 from LT accounts to fund the greenhouse project, and approves a $58,913.95 contract amendment to Fortis General Contracting for fencing and motor replacement.
- Q1 (Appointment of Clyde Bishop as City Clerk) – Approved 7-0. Bishop has 26 years of city service, including 22 years as a police officer and 2 years in the clerk's office. The search attracted 26 applicants; 5 were interviewed.
- Q2 (Resolution supporting HB26-1313 on affordable housing fund) – Approved 6-1. The resolution supports a state bill that would adjust the formula for affordable housing requirements, reducing Pueblo's required annual increase from over 1,200 deed-restricted units to approximately 120 units. The city has received over $17 million from Proposition 123 since November 2022.
- Q3 (Care and Share sponsorship – $1,000) – Approved 7-0.
- Q4 (Garcia Foundation sponsorship – $1,000) – Approved 7-0.
- R1 (Rezoning of 4289 N. Elizabeth from B-4 and R-6 to B-P) – Approved 7-0. The site is a contractor's yard for Colorado Front Range Roofing; Planning and Zoning recommended approval 6-0.
- R2 (Vacating drainage easement at 4000 N. 27th Ln) – Approved 7-0. The easement reduction facilitates a battery storage development project; Planning and Zoning recommended approval 7-0.
- S1 (Airport Terminal Remodel design agreement with Dibble & Associates) – Approved 7-0.
- S4 (First Amendment to DOLA use covenant for Pueblo Shelter) – Approved 7-0. Corrects the bed count from 100 to 92 (the actual fire-rated occupancy) and updates ownership to reflect the city.
- S5 (Operating agreement with Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo for $50,000) – Approved 7-0. The funds were budgeted in November 2025 for fifth-day programming. Elvis Martinez opposed, citing concerns about double-dipping with CSAC funds.
- S6 (Geothermal grant amendment for fire stations 6, 8, and 11) – Approved 7-0. Extends the grant close-out schedule with no change in funds.
- S8 (Temporary kennel and cattery emergency ordinance) – Approved 7-0. Allows the mayor to declare an emergency suspending the limit of four dogs or four cats, enabling rescue organizations to take in more animals during crises.
- S9 (Risk management services agreement with HUB International) – Approved 6-1. Extends the contract for specialized insurance and claims services.
- Items Tabled/Continued: S2 (Wildfire Resiliency Code) and S7 (Settlement Agreement with Pueblo Economic Development Corporation) were tabled indefinitely. S3 (Programmatic Agreement with SHPO) was continued to the April 27, 2026 regular meeting.
- Executive Session – The council moved into executive session to discuss Airport Properties Inc. v. City of Pueblo (1:26-cv-00260) and related matters, for negotiations and legal advice.
Meeting Transcript
Recording in progress, thank you all for coming. It's another beautiful day in Pueblo, Colorado, and I call to order the regular city council meeting. Today is Monday, March 23rd, 2026. First item of business is the invocation. I invite up Pastor Josh Richardson of the Pueblo Christian Center to lead us in the invocation. Please stand if you choose to. Thank you, sir. Thank you for allowing me to be here. I'd like to begin just reading from Psalm 127, verse 1. It says, unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Lord, tonight I thank you for Pueblo. I thank you for our city. Lord, and I ask that you would watch over our city. And Lord, I ask for your grace and presence over the people of Pueblo, Colorado. Lord, your grace and strength over those who serve in every capacity of our city. For our first responders, our firemen, our police officers, our emergency medical personnel. And Lord, I ask your wisdom over our city council and for our mayor. Lord, lead Pueblo and help us to be a city on a hill that stands strong as a shining light. I ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and Republicans for one nation under God in the visible liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Pastor Richardson. We now move to uh roll call, Mr. Clerk. Mark Gailiff here. Brett Boston. Here. Roger Gomez. Joe Latino here. Ted Hernandez. Here. Diane Dante here. Selena Ruiz Gomez. Here. Everybody's here and accounted for. We now move to special recognition. We have a proclamation presentation for a week of the young child, April 11th to 17th, 2026. Angela from Children's First, Pueblo Early Childhood Council, come on. Come on, we'll go right out there. Front and center. So this is a proclamation for the week of the young child, April 11th through 17th, 2026. Whereas the demand for quality child care continues to escalate as the number of single parents and married couples who participate in the workforce also increases. And statistics indicate that the percentage of mothers with preschool age children who will join the workforce is increasingly substantial. And whereas each day in our community, thousands of working and or college student parents place their infants and young children, our nation's most precious resource in the hands of child care and early childhood education providers. And whereas early childhood care and education professionals render an invaluable service to families throughout the world and are as such responsible for our children's futures, contributing to children's positive, lifelong personal, academic, and vocational achievements. And whereas the Pueblo members of the National Association for the Education of Young Children celebrate this occasion with special activities, honoring and acknowledging the vast importance of the services early childhood care and education professionals provide and stressing the need to give our children quality child care and early childhood education opportunities. Now, therefore, we, the City Council of the City of Pueblo, Colorado, and the Board of County Commissioners of Pueblo, Colorado, by the authority vested in us to hereby proclaim the week of April 11th through the 17th, 2026 as the week of the young child in the city and county of Pueblo, Colorado, and urge the citizens of this community to join us in expressing our appreciation to all early childhood professionals for their commitment to the care and education of our young children and in honoring these fine professionals everywhere. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and cause the seals of the city and county of Pueblo, Colorado to be a fix this 23rd day of March 2026.
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