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2026-04-28 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes (Legistar status: Final). No video is posted. The meeting began at 9:00 AM and adjourned at 12:14 PM.

  • All nine members present: President Crow-Iverson, President Pro Tem Risley and Councilmembers Casey, Donelson, Gold, Henjum, Leinweber (attending virtually), Rainey Jr. and Williams. Invocation by Pastor Josiah Dangers of Woodmen Valley Church; students from Sierra and Harrison High Schools led the Pledge.
  • Item 10.C, the Unified Development Code Article 5 procedural ordinance, was postponed to May 12 at the request of Planning Director Kevin Walker because the City Attorney's Office recommended changes; Donelson moved, Gold seconded, postponement passed 9-0-0-0. See Development Code Procedural Process Update.
  • Consent Calendar approved 9-0-0-0 (moved by Gold, seconded by Henjum): the April 14 minutes and a resolution consenting to the dissolution of the Evergreen Ridge Metropolitan District (Resolution 33-26, Council District 3, presented by Allison Stocker and Walker).
  • Small Business Week (May 3 to 9) resolution adopted 9-0-0-0; Council appointments and removals to boards, commissions and committees approved 9-0-0-0.
  • Ordinance appointing Stefanie Boster as City Attorney approved on first reading 9-0-0-0. See City Attorney Appointment.
  • Utilities: resolution authorizing commercial recreation on Utilities-controlled watershed and reservoirs adopted 8-0-0-1 (Leinweber recused as an owner of a commercial outfitter business); natural gas rates from the March 2026 rate case set 9-0-0-0.
  • Ordinance 26-16 dissolving the Law Enforcement Transparency and Advisory Commission finally passed 9-0-0-0 after three speakers opposed it.
  • Resolution accepting the donation of about 100 acres known as the Pikeview Quarry adopted 9-0-0-0; the City planned to close on the property on May 15, 2026.
  • Wildland Urban Interface fire code ordinance (Appendix K) approved on first reading 8-0-0-1 (Leinweber absent for the vote).
  • Minutes of the April 6 special meeting approved 8-0-0-1 (Casey recused); a settlement of 750,000 dollars for a claim arising from an April 24, 2022 arrest was approved 7-2.
  • Two public hearings: the Creekside at Flying Horse rezoning and land use plan passed 8-0-0-1 each (Casey recused); the Airport Road rezoning passed 7-1-0-1 with a right-of-way dedication condition.
  • One hour of citizen discussion on items not on the agenda; no added items and no executive session.
  • 10.C (CODE-26-0002, Ordinance amending multiple sections of Article 5 of the Unified Development Code, citywide): Daniel Sexton and Walker were listed presenters. Donelson asked why it was postponed; Walker said changes recommended by the City Attorney's Office. Postponed to May 12. See Development Code Procedural Process Update.
  • 4B.A (file 26-174) City Council minutes of April 14, 2026, presented by City Clerk Sarah B. Johnson: approved on consent.
  • 4B.B (file 26-137) Resolution consenting to dissolution of the Evergreen Ridge Metropolitan District, adopted on consent as Resolution 33-26 (attachments: the district board's dissolution resolution, cover memo, the 2023 approved service plan and development plan, boundary map).
  • Consent motion: Gold, seconded by Henjum, passed 9-0-0-0 (Casey, Crow-Iverson, Donelson, Gold, Henjum, Leinweber, Rainey Jr., Risley, Williams). Nothing was called off the Consent Calendar.

Recognitions and appointments

  • 5.A (file 26-184) Small Business Week resolution (Resolution 34-26), read by Risley. Brandon Eldrige of the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center described small business contributions and events; representatives of Amnet Colorado Springs, B Side Capital and Soapbox Marketing thanked Council. Moved by Henjum, seconded by Rainey Jr., 9-0-0-0.
  • 5.B (file 26-183) Appointments and removals to boards, commissions and committees, presented by Crow-Iverson with a separate City Planning Commission list; several Councilmembers praised the nominees. Moved by Gold, seconded by Rainey Jr., 9-0-0-0.

Mayor's Business: City Attorney Appointment

  • 6.A (file 26-175) Ordinance appointing Stefanie Boster as City Attorney and prescribing her duties, compensation and tenure. Presented by Travis Easton, Acting Chief of Staff, for Mayor Mobolade; no comments. Moved by Donelson, seconded by Risley, approved on first reading 9-0-0-0.

Utilities Business

  • 8.A (file 26-157) Resolution authorizing commercial recreation on Utilities-controlled watershed areas and reservoirs (Resolution 35-26). See Watershed Commercial Recreation Authorization. Leinweber recused; Abigail Ortega presented; moved by Henjum, seconded by Gold, 8-0-0-1.
  • 8.B (file 26-156) Resolution setting natural gas rates for the March 2026 rate case (Resolution 36-26). See Natural Gas Rate Case. Presented by Chris Bidlack; moved by Donelson, seconded by Rainey Jr., 9-0-0-0.

Unfinished Business: Law Enforcement Transparency Commission Dissolution

  • 9.A (file 26-121) Ordinance 26-16 repealing Ordinance Nos. 20-44 and 22-33 and dissolving the Law Enforcement Transparency and Advisory Commission (LETAC), introduced by Rainey. Travis Easton read a letter of appreciation for LETAC from the Mayor and Police Chief Adrian Vasquez. Three speakers (Taylor Gray, Brandon Rincon and Memphis Curry, the latter two for the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression) opposed the dissolution. Donelson said that depending on a citizen's actions, officers are authorized to use lethal force. Rainey said he would connect LETAC members with the Mayor and Chief Vasquez to continue communication. Moved by Donelson, seconded by Rainey Jr., finally passed 9-0-0-0.

New Business

  • 10.A (file 26-109) Resolution accepting the donation of about 100 acres known as the Pikeview Quarry (Resolution 37-26). See Pikeview Quarry Donation. Adopted 9-0-0-0 on a motion by Henjum, seconded by Rainey Jr.
  • 10.B (file 26-048) Ordinance repealing and reordaining Appendix K (Wildland Urban Interface Requirements) of the Fire Prevention Code. See Wildland Urban Interface Code Update. Fire Marshal Kris Cooper presented; Henjum asked about existing homes that do not meet the provisions (thousands do; Cooper said the Fire Department meets with homeowner associations to educate residents); Rainey asked about HOA concerns (they have been supportive) and insurance impact (Cooper did not have that information). Risley supported the ordinance and said the state mandate will raise construction costs and house prices. Moved by Donelson, seconded by Rainey Jr., approved on first reading 8-0-0-1; Leinweber was absent.
  • 10.D (file 26-164) Minutes of the April 6, 2026 special meeting, presented by Johnson. Casey recused because the meeting's purpose was appointing a District 2 Councilmember. The minutes also record the April 13 work session minutes being approved by consensus. Moved by Williams, seconded by Gold, 8-0-0-1.
  • 10.E (file 26-187) Settlement in a claim arising from an arrest by officers on April 24, 2022. See Police Arrest Claim Settlement. Marc Smith, Acting City Attorney, presented; Crow-Iverson polled Council on authorizing the City to represent the officers and consensus agreed. Moved by Risley, seconded by Rainey Jr., approving the settlement of 750,000 dollars, passed 7-2.

Public Hearings

  • 11.A (ZONE-25-0038, Ordinance 26-14) and 11.B (LUPL-25-0023): rezoning about 44.72 acres northwest of New Life Drive and Interquest Parkway from PDZ/AF-O to R-Flex Medium/AF-O and the Creekside at Flying Horse Land Use Plan. See Creekside at Flying Horse Rezone. Casey recused (he chaired the Planning Commission when it heard the items). Both passed 8-0-0-1.
  • 11.C (ZONE-24-0020, Ordinance 26-15): rezoning about 2.17 acres at 4880 Airport Road from R1-6/AP-O to R-5/AP-O. See Airport Road Multi-Family Rezone. Casey recused. Passed 7-1-0-1 (Donelson no) with a condition to dedicate about 20 feet to the Airport Road right-of-way.

Citizen discussion (items not on the agenda)

  • Shaun Mee thanked Rainey and objected to the towing of his son's vehicle by the City and the fees. Brittany Smith spoke about crime in her neighborhood. Bruce Barron asked for portable toilets in neighborhood parks. Damon Cox asked that the Nixon coal power plant close by 2029 and be replaced with renewable energy such as solar. Nick Raven said Council should receive higher wages. Bradley White urged water conservation and permitting gray water within city limits. John Smith spoke about the Constitution, state law and local law. Taylor Gray spoke about the Society of Satanism and asked who is liable if citizen data is given to the wrong people. Steve Lightfoot made a claim about the deaths of public figures that the record does not support.

Sources