In an effort to educate and inform you, we have chosen six city of Colorado Springs issues we feel need an in-depth explanation. Hopefully we can breakdown the issues in such a way that they are easy to understand. Some issues are more straight forward while others have more moving parts. So here we go! We will start by giving you our three top concerns within each topic. Look for future detailed reporting as we spread our new startup wings. If you would like to comment on any of these issues, please go to the Contact Us tab and send us a quick email. We would love to hear from you and look forward to the community engagement.

Bike Lanes:

  1. The ridership number from the 2017 American Community Survey (B08006) table is 0.6%.  How many months do people ride a year?  How many emails went from City Council directly to bicycle advocacy groups?
  2.  Is this really a cover for the path to road dieting?
  3. The Mayor wants a Gold rating from the League of American Bicyclist. Why?  That is an increase from 0.6 to 5.2%.  Is the new number possible? 

Parking Fees:

  1. Was there enough thought put into the rollout?
  2. How does the new policy support a “vibrant downtown”?
  3. Where does the money go?

Colorado Springs Utilities:

  1. The need for at least 3 members the board to have a real working knowledge of what this business does.
  2. What was the final cost the Southern Water Delivery System?
  3. How do they responsibly replace aging infrastructure in a timely and cost-effective manner for all the citizens in Colorado Springs?

Short-Term Rentals / Accessory Dwelling Units:

  1. What is the impact on affordable housing?  Is Pagosa Springs a possible model?
  2. Are the tax implications rates to all?
  3. Are there any effects on utility rates?

Public Improvement Fees (PIFs):

  1. What is the oversight by the city and state?
  2. Is the city of Colorado Springs collecting the sales tax on PIFs?
  3. What is the city doing with the sales tax revenue and how often do they audit businesses for compliance?

Special Districts:

  1. This truly is taxation without representation.  We gained our independence on July 4, 1776.  Do these districts in fact create monarchs?
  2. Waving term limits and Tabor regulations.
  3. Financial information of a “shadow government” should be readily available to members of the specific district and the public.

Author

  • Tim Hoiles

    Tim is a Colorado native, who graduated from Fountain Valley High School and attended Coe College. He was the Publisher, of Pampa Daily News Pampa, Texas 1974-1978, and Publisher of Victor Valley Daily Press Victorville, California, 1978-1990. Tim was also a member of the Freedom Newspapers board, which became Freedom Communications, Inc. from 1970-2004. He has served various non-profits in Pampa, Victorville, and Colorado Springs. He strongly believes in The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Constitution, and the ability of the moral and ethical free human spirit to live a working life without hurting others. He is married to Lorie and has puppies that keep their day hopping. Tim has a wide range of passions he shares on The Maverick Observer, a nonprofit he started in 2020 to provide conflict-of-interest-free news.

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Tim Hoiles
Tim Hoiles
Tim is a Colorado native, who graduated from Fountain Valley High School and attended Coe College. He was the Publisher, of Pampa Daily News Pampa, Texas 1974-1978, and Publisher of Victor Valley Daily Press Victorville, California, 1978-1990. Tim was also a member of the Freedom Newspapers board, which became Freedom Communications, Inc. from 1970-2004. He has served various non-profits in Pampa, Victorville, and Colorado Springs. He strongly believes in The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Constitution, and the ability of the moral and ethical free human spirit to live a working life without hurting others. He is married to Lorie and has puppies that keep their day hopping. Tim has a wide range of passions he shares on The Maverick Observer, a nonprofit he started in 2020 to provide conflict-of-interest-free news.

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