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2026-05-12 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes (Legistar status: Revised, treated here as approved). No video is posted. The meeting began after the 2026-05-11 - City Council Work Session and adjourned at 11:30 AM.

  • Eight of nine members present: President Crow-Iverson, President Pro Tem Risley and Councilmembers Casey, Gold, Henjum, Leinweber (attending virtually), Rainey Jr. and Williams. Donelson was excused. Invocation by Police Department Chaplain Daniel McCormick.
  • Henjum had item 4B.E (ratification of Councilmember liaisons to boards and commissions) pulled from the Consent Calendar; Council agreed by consensus.
  • Consent Calendar approved 8-0-1-0 (moved by Williams, seconded by Gold): final passage of Ordinance 26-18 (Wildland Urban Interface fire code); the April 28 minutes; Resolution 38-26 (eminent domain and possession agreements for the Brookside Realignment); Resolution 39-26 (Army memorandums of agreement for the COS Creek Plan feasibility study); and first reading of the Reagan Ranch park rezoning ordinance.
  • Stefanie Boster was appointed City Attorney by Ordinance 26-17, finally passed 8-0-1-0 (Gold, Rainey Jr.), and sworn in by Mayor Yemi Mobolade.
  • Skyler Rorabaugh was confirmed as Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director by Resolution 43-26, adopted 8-0-1-0 (Henjum, Rainey Jr.), and sworn in.
  • Recognitions: a Mental Health Awareness Month proclamation read by Leinweber (no vote recorded), and three resolutions each adopted 8-0-1-0: National Public Works Week May 17 to 23 (Resolution 40-26), National Wildfire Awareness Month (Resolution 41-26) and Memorial Day, May 25 (Resolution 42-26).
  • Liaison ratification adopted 8-0-1-0 (Gold, Williams) after Henjum highlighted a changed appointment process for the El Paso County Public Health Board seat.
  • The Unified Development Code Article 5 procedural ordinance was approved on first reading 8-0-1-0 (Henjum, Rainey Jr.).
  • No Utilities Business, New Business, Public Hearing, added items or executive session.
  • One hour of citizen discussion: speakers raised Colorado Springs Utilities wastewater, the large data center, a reprimand letter sent to Gold, and Council pay; Councilmembers responded on civility.
  • 4A.A Ordinance 26-18 repealed and reordained Appendix K (Wildland Urban Interface Requirements) of the Fire Prevention Code; presented by Fire Marshal Kris Cooper; finally passed on consent. See Wildland Urban Interface Code Update.
  • 4B.B Resolution 38-26 authorized possession and use agreements and eminent domain to acquire property, permanent easements and temporary easements for the Brookside Realignment using PPRTA funds; presented by City Engineer Gayle Sturdivant and Kellie Billingsley (Real Estate Services Manager). See Brookside Realignment Eminent Domain.
  • 4B.C Resolution 39-26 authorized the Stormwater Enterprise Manager, Erin Powers, to execute memorandums of agreement with the Department of the Army (Section 203 federal activities and technical assistance) for the COS Creek Plan feasibility study. See COS Creek Plan Feasibility Grant.
  • 4B.D ZONE-26-0003: first reading of the ordinance rezoning 9.04 acres off Marksheffel Road southeast of Space Village Avenue (Council District 4) from MX-M/AP-O/APZ-1 to PK/AP-O/APZ-1 for a community park, with the hearing set for May 26; presented by Chris Sullivan and Kevin Walker. See Reagan Ranch Community Park Rezone.
  • 4B.A April 28 City Council minutes (presented by City Clerk Sarah B. Johnson) approved.
  • Consent motion: Williams, seconded by Gold, 8-0-1-0. Aye: Casey, Crow-Iverson, Gold, Henjum, Leinweber, Rainey Jr., Risley, Williams. Excused: Donelson.

Recognitions

  • Mental Health Awareness Month (file 26-200): Leinweber read the proclamation and encouraged use of the region's natural mental health resources. Speakers: the president and CEO of Early Connections Learning Centers, a Faith Table representative on the hospitality workforce, and Step Springs' Chief Operating Officer on his own experience of trauma. Williams highlighted the documentary "Raising America".
  • National Public Works Week (Resolution 40-26): read by Henjum; Public Works Director Rich Mulledy thanked staff. Moved by Gold, seconded by Williams, 8-0-1-0.
  • National Wildfire Awareness Month (Resolution 41-26): read by Williams; Cooper described wildfire risk; Leinweber praised Fire Department work with the U.S. Forest Service. Moved by Henjum, seconded by Williams, 8-0-1-0.
  • Memorial Day (Resolution 42-26): read by Casey, who honored five soldiers killed in an April 10, 2009 attack in Mosul, Iraq. Speakers from American Legion Post 5, the Pikes Peak Veterans Council and Vietnam Veterans of America; a Remembrance Service was announced for May 25 at 11:00 AM at Veterans Memorial. Moved by Rainey Jr., seconded by Gold, 8-0-1-0.

Mayor's Business: City Attorney Appointment and Parks Director Confirmation

  • 6.A Ordinance 26-17 (file 26-175) appointing Stefanie Boster as City Attorney and prescribing her duties, compensation and tenure. Presented by Mayor Mobolade, who swore her in. Henjum supported the appointment and recognized Acting City Attorney Marc Smith, leaving the City after twenty-two years. Moved by Gold, seconded by Rainey Jr., finally passed 8-0-1-0.
  • 6.B Resolution 43-26 (file 26-190) confirming Skyler Rorabaugh as Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director. Several Councilmembers spoke in support; Mayor Mobolade swore him in. Moved by Henjum, seconded by Rainey Jr., adopted 8-0-1-0.
  • 4B.E (file 26-201) ratification of Councilmember liaisons to Council-appointed boards, commissions and committees, presented by Crow-Iverson. Henjum pulled it to highlight the change in how a Councilmember is appointed to the El Paso County Public Health Board; Blongshia Lindsay (Council Legislative Services) said a Council seat remains and only the process changed. Moved by Gold, seconded by Williams, 8-0-1-0.

Unfinished Business: Development Code Procedural Process Update

  • 9.A (CODE-26-0002, citywide): ordinance amending Article 5 (Administration and Enforcement) of the Unified Development Code on procedural process. Daniel Sexton covered the history, changed sections, appeal changes, development plan changes, adjustment and variance sections and Section 7.5.704 (zoning map amendments). Rainey Jr. asked whether the intent is to save applicants money; Sexton said the changes give predictability before developers spend heavily on design. Casey spoke in support. Moved by Henjum, seconded by Rainey Jr., approved on first reading 8-0-1-0.

Citizen discussion (items not on the agenda)

  • Citizens spoke on keeping hair out of drains and the Utilities wastewater system, opposing the large data center (Project Taurus Data Center; the minutes call it Project Torres), higher Council pay, and revoking the letter of reprimand sent to Gold. See Council Reprimand Letter Dispute.
  • Henjum discussed the book "Soul of Civility" and asked Council to work with the Reclaiming Civility group. Leinweber said the reprimand letter was given to Gold privately and she put it on social media; Gold replied they spoke for about six minutes on January 21; Henjum said she was never asked to sign a letter about Donelson.

Sources