As a concerned citizen of Colorado Springs, I’m fascinated by city politics and the goings-on of Colorado Springs City Council and the Mayor. Every two weeks the city council has two meetings – Monday: City Council Work Session and Tuesday: City Council meeting at City Hall Meetings Room.
The work session is the opportunity for the city council to discuss agenda topics in an open public forum. The public can attend the session, but we don’t get to interact with the council unless invited to do so (unless facial expressions or snorts of disgust count). There’s usually no voting, but councilmembers do voice their concerns and how they “might” vote on an item.
The city council meeting is the time for the public to speak, the council to vote on agenda items and for general merriment to ensue! Councilmembers think they are a hoot a minute but fall short of any comedic relief. Instead Councilmembers drone on for hours on an item, act like they are going to vote independently (and with your best interests in mind), and then vote like lemmings.
Highlights from Monday’s City Council Work Session, January 27, 2020:
- Local Residential Real Estate Market Update and 2020 Forecast: Harry Salzman of Salzman Real Estate Services gave an in-depth analysis of the city’s real estate future.
Highlights include:
- Ranked 9th out of top 100 cities for home value growth – we grew at 7.4%.
- Ranked 7th out of top 10 in housing markets positioned for growth.
- Ranked 5th out of top 20 for the Hottest Midwest Housing Market.
- We are also staying in our homes longer, from 7 years to 13.
- If you make $50,000 annually you can only afford 3.7% of the available houses on the market.
- If you make $100,000 you increase that number to 48.3%.
- 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Annual Action Plan for the use of Federal Block Grant Funds: The council received a presentation on the grants provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The most interesting tidbit from this presentation was the ADU Subsidy Program for homeowners to build and rent to low-income individuals – did not know that program existed.
- Discussion on the new state marijuana laws concerning consumption clubs: Don Knight invited three folks to address the council: Dirk Draper, CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC; Dr. Kenneth Finn, pain medicine specialist; and Darin Smith, Coronado High School Principal. Each of the speakers described how bad marijuana was for our city from the military’s stance on recreational drug use; how it affects our pregnant ladies, teens, public health and crime; and what our high schoolers are doing with the stuff. We received an education about marijuana use but could have saved the discussion time on another topic, since it was clear from the councilmembers that Mayor Suthers was going to veto all changes to current city laws. Councilmembers said we would need six of them to agree to veto the mayor. At the end of the discussion we were no closer to a decision, but Jeff Greene called for a recess so everyone could calm down from their heated discussions!
- Southwest Downtown Business Improvement District received up to $50 million in bonds to build an apartment building and hotel next to the Olympic museum with a bridge from America the Beautiful Park that looks like you’re moving from the engine room on the Enterprise to the bridge.
Highlights from Tuesday’s City Council meeting, January 28, 2020:
- Consent Calendar: Quick primer on the consent calendar – it is items already discussed during previous meetings and ready for a vote by councilmembers. Unless a councilmember or an audience member takes it off the calendar for more discussion, they vote on all the agenda items at one time. Everything was approved and we moved on! Below is a list of items:
- Rezoned 10.24 acres located at 5640 E Bijou Street from planned to light industrial.
- Rezoned 3.89 acres located at 11005 Voyager Parkway from agricultural to planned business center.
- Rezoned 2.09 acres located at 11005 Voyager Parkway from office complex to planned business center.
- Supplemental appropriation to the General Fund of $6,984,844, including $167,394 from the Lodgers and Auto Rental Tax (LART) for the retention of 2018 fiscal year revenue above the 2018 fiscal year revenue and spending limitations (TABOR cap), approved by voters in November 2019 coordinated election and spent for parks, sports and cultural facilities, and trail improvements.
- Supplemental appropriation to the Memorial Health System Enterprise Fund of $1,384,091 to transfer the UC Health Margin Share Proceeds to the Colorado Springs Health Foundation.
- Supplemental appropriation to the General Fund of $329,828 for partial construction costs of the Tutt Blvd Bridge over Cottonwood Creek.
- Vacated a public right-of-way of 10 feet of E. Vermijo Ave. between S. Weber St. and S. Wahsatch Ave.
- Rezoned 1.1 acres located on the east side of 21st Street from multi-family residential to planned unit development.
- Citizen Discussion: An opportunity for anyone to stand up and speak for three minutes on any topic and I mean ANY topic. Eight folks got up to speak on topics ranging from solar and wind alternative energy sources to a landlord who won’t do anything about a cockroach infestation, the need for affordable housing to code enforcement corruption and ending with a prayer to inspire the councilmembers to do the right thing.
- Mayor’s Business: Mayor Suthers nominated three deserving individuals to two boards and the vote was 8-0 to approve the decision. Councilmember Avila was absent.
Then the council approved the issuance of $1.8 million in debt through bond purchase for the Wildgrass at Rockrimmon Metropolitan District – anybody work or live there?
If you would like to read the City Council Meeting agenda or any of the documents presented to the council, please follow the this link.
