2026-06-09 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes (Legistar status: Final). No video is posted.

All nine members present: President Crow-Iverson, President Pro Tem Risley, and Councilmembers Casey, Donelson, Gold, Henjum, Leinweber, Rainey Jr. and Williams. Called to order at 9:00 AM; adjourned at 11:09 AM.
Williams had item 4B.E (the Briargate/Voyager rezoning) pulled from the Consent Calendar; Council agreed by consensus.
Consent Calendar approved 9-0-0-0 (moved by Gold, seconded by Donelson): Ordinances 26-21 and 26-22 finally passed, each a supplemental appropriation of up to $162,000 to the Trails, Open Space and Parks Fund to finish buying about 40 acres of the West CMSP Extension (Parcels 1 and 2) for public open space and trails; May 26 minutes; Resolution 55-26 (Colorado Springs Utilities property acquisition for the Kelker to South Plant Transmission Project); first readings of the stormwater ordinances 26-24 and 26-25; and first reading of the Marconi Heights rezoning (ordinance 26-27, 5.24 acres, hearing set for July 14).
Briargate/Voyager rezoning at 1625 Springcrest Road approved on first reading 8-1 to set a July 14 hearing (Williams no).
Child care center code changes (Ordinance 26-23) finally passed 8-1 (Donelson no).
Four recognition resolutions and the board and commission appointments were each approved 9-0.
Citizen discussion: speakers opposed Project Taurus and large data centers and the pay raise for the Colorado Springs Utilities chief executive; one asked how small businesses can bid on a $20 million fund.

Presenters included Kim King (Acting Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services) for the two open space appropriations, Travas Deal for the Utilities acquisition, Erin Powers and Richard Mulledy for the stormwater ordinances (see Stormwater Quality Code Update) and Allison Stocker and Kevin Walker for the Marconi Heights rezoning, which would change 5.24 acres at 4535 Marconi Heights (Council District 1) to Public Facilities with the Hillside Overlay. Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk, presented the minutes.
Motion by Gold, seconded by Donelson, passed 9-0-0-0 (Casey, Crow-Iverson, Donelson, Gold, Henjum, Leinweber, Rainey Jr., Risley, Williams).

Resolution recognizing June 15, 2026 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day (presented by Leinweber; Silver Key spoke): moved by Gold, seconded by Rainey Jr., 9-0-0-0.
Resolution recognizing June 24, 2026 as Bike to Work Day (Leinweber): Gold, Rainey Jr., 9-0-0-0.
Resolution recognizing June 17, July 11 and July 14 to 18 as Western Wear Days (Risley): Gold, Williams, 9-0-0-0.
Resolution recognizing June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth Freedom Day (Rainey): Gold, Rainey Jr., 9-0-0-0.
Council appointments to boards, commissions and committees (presented by Crow-Iverson; the attachments cover the Downtown Development Authority, the Downtown Business Improvement District, the Fire Board of Appeals, the PPACG Community Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission): moved by Henjum, seconded by Rainey Jr., 9-0-0-0.

Chief of Staff Wayne Williams reported on City supervisor training at El Pomar, continuing work on airport and other issues, a May 29 roundtable with landowners near the military bases, and talks with the Pikes Peak Library District on partnerships.

Item 4B.E, ZONE-25-0023 (related file LUPL-25-0010): about 7.93 acres at 1625 Springcrest Road (Council District 2) from BP/CR/HR-O/AF-O to MX-M/AF-O, first reading only to set the July 14 public hearing. Presenters were Stocker and Walker.
Williams pulled it because she was not comfortable moving it to a hearing. Donelson said presentations and public hearings should happen at first reading; City Attorney Stefanie Boster explained the Unified Development Code moved presentation and hearing to second reading for this category of ordinance, and Walker said Council adopted that change in 2023 and a discussion can be scheduled if Council wants to revisit it.
Motion by Risley, seconded by Rainey Jr., to approve on first reading and set the July 14 hearing: passed 8-1-0-0. Aye: Casey, Crow-Iverson, Donelson, Gold, Henjum, Leinweber, Rainey Jr., Risley. No: Williams. (Council denied the rezoning at the hearing on 2026-07-14 - City Council.)

Item 9.A, CODE-25-0006, Ordinance 26-23: amendments to Articles 3, 4 and 6 of the Unified Development Code on permitted locations and standards for adult and child day care centers. Stocker presented the goal, stakeholder involvement, community input, definitions, licensing, non-residential zones, accessory use, colocation, residential zones, existing child care in residential zones, use-specific standards, residential conversions, Planning Commission notes and next steps.
Donelson asked whether anything changed since first reading; Stocker said no. Donelson said he would vote no again because large day cares do not fit residential neighborhoods.
Motion by Risley, seconded by Gold, to finally pass: 8-1-0-0. No: Donelson.

Ali Lange spoke against Project Taurus and other large data centers (Project Taurus Data Center) and asked that Council receive a living wage. Caleb Miller and Taylor Gray also spoke against the large data center and the raise for Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Travas Deal; Nick Raven asked for a Council living wage.
Raul Acosta, owner of a small tree service and fire mitigation business, asked how small businesses can bid on the $20 million Great Opportunity fund.
LeRad Niles spoke about his experiences with people experiencing homelessness. Another speaker made an unrelated remark about a celebrity death.
No Executive Session; no Public Hearing, New Business or Utilities Business.