2026-08-10 - City Council Work Session

Summary

Built from the official minutes (Legistar status Final). The session ran from 9:00 AM to 11:29 AM.

All nine members present, Henjum virtually; President Crow-Iverson presided.
Agenda changes for the next day's meeting: Deputy Chief of Staff Travis Easton asked that the Kettle Creek service plan (4B.D.) come off the August 11 Consent Calendar, and Donelson said he would ask to postpone the two claims ordinances (items 8.A. and 8.B.) to August 25. Council agreed by consensus.
Minutes of the July 27, 2026 work session approved by consensus (the agenda title reads July 27, 2027).
Executive session (open portion): the City Attorney asked, on the recommendation of the Civil Action Investigation Committee, for authorization to defend a police officer in a federal civil suit; Council agreed by consensus.
Presentations: Downtown Partnership update on the Clean and Safe pilot program, and an overview of the City Parking Enterprise. No votes were taken.
The two claims ordinances were presented as items under study; Council asked that such items not be scheduled back-to-back without a pressing reason.
Councilmember reports covered Constitution Avenue, the Air Force Academy and Space Force leadership changes, street racing enforcement and local events.

Stefanie Boster, City Attorney, presented file 26-308 (Lyn-Darr v. Pannunzio and others, Case No. 26-cv-02187, naming Pueblo County officials and the City of Colorado Springs) and asked for authorization to defend the officer. President Crow-Iverson polled Council; the consensus was to authorize it. No closed sessions were held.

Chelsea Gondeck, CEO of the Downtown Partnership, and Pat Rigdon, Director of Downtown Environment, presented results of the nineteen-month pilot (ending December 2026): supplemental security, ambassadors, outreach, budget, successes, challenges and business views. The business survey drew seventy responses.
Key numbers: the City provided 700,000 dollars of the 1.8 million dollar cost; the Business Improvement District allocates 400,000 dollars to cleaning and landscaping; launch costs were about thirty percent of the program but are expected to fall to four percent; the management fee is four percent. Steve Wyant of Homeward Pikes Peak counted 221 people experiencing homelessness downtown (about 100 consistently there); Rigdon said twenty-five to thirty sleep in doorways.
Donelson asked about arrests for sleeping in doorways; the City Attorney would research the maximum penalty. Henjum asked about mental health diversion; Aimee Cox described coordination with police, fire and providers and a planned behavioral health summit. Rainey asked what happens when the pilot ends; Gondeck said Business Improvement District resources would fund it.

Parking System Enterprise manager Alyssa Alt and Public Works Director Rich Mulledy gave an overview: mission, budget, occupancy, 2026 capital projects and marketing. Revenue fell after the chargeable hours were changed; garages run about eighty percent full; a new garage would cost about 40 million dollars; no price or hours changes are planned this year.

John Hunter of Colorado Springs Utilities presented the claims management and workers' compensation ordinances (files 26-295 and 26-296), summarizing the current structure and proposed amendments. Donelson and Rainey asked that they not be back-to-back with the regular meeting; Hunter agreed, and the items were postponed at the August 11 meeting.

The Agenda Planner review (8-13-26) drew no comments.
Rainey reported on Municipal Court Administrator interviews, regional advisory committee openings and a Public Safety Working Group briefing at lunch. Casey described an enforcement operation against illegal street racing with a police task force and State Patrol aircraft. Henjum said a newspaper column on Constitution Avenue was inaccurate and that Council is not voting on opening the avenue in September. Leinweber mentioned a wildfire mitigation tour and interviews for the next VisitCOS chief executive. Gold announced a town hall on August 20 from 5:30 to 8:00 PM at Deerfield Hills.