Local Politics
  1. Home
  2. US
  3. Colorado
  4. Colorado Springs
  5. Meetings

2026-08-24 - City Council Work Session

Summary

Built from the official minutes (Legistar status Final). A regular City Council meeting was also held later that day, see 2026-08-24 - City Council.

  • Present: 8 members (Casey, President Crow-Iverson, Donelson, Gold, Henjum, Rainey, President Pro Tem Risley, Williams); Leinweber excused. Gold and Henjum attended virtually. Adjourned at 10:36 AM. No votes were taken.
  • No changes to the agenda and no Regular Meeting Comments. The minutes of the August 10, 2026 work session were approved by consensus.
  • Two mid-year Lodgers and Auto Rental Tax (LART) contract updates: Visit COS and the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR).
  • Introduced the resolution dissolving the City Council Engagement Program, the three business licensing ordinances (26-52, 26-53, 26-54), and the GOCO grant resolution for the COS Creek Plan feasibility study.
  • No Items Under Study. Councilmember reports from Casey (Pikes Peak Library District appointments) and Rainey (Economic Development Officer interviews).

LART Tourism Contract Update

  • Doug Price, President and CEO of Visit COS, was the listed presenter; April Perez (Director of Finance) gave the overview of vendor collections through May 2026, revenue per available room (RevPAR), trade shows, group room nights booked and estimated economic impact. Melissa Williams (Director of Marketing) covered website key performance indicators and social media.
  • Donelson asked what a domestic tour is (mostly motor coach operators; the American Bus Association is the biggest partner), why YouTube views rose (a focus on YouTube Shorts), the main message (inviting people to explore Colorado Springs), why the American Bus Association did not come this year and whether hoteliers have a RevPAR goal (Perez will provide both answers). Staff confirmed tourism is doing well but said summer metrics are not available and fires in the state hurt domestic tourism and outdoor attractions.
  • Henjum asked how Visit COS is handling artificial intelligence and measuring website clicks. Casey asked whether 2025 comparisons cover the same period (yes). Gold asked about other platforms (TikTok is used but not contracted). Visit COS is working on a music tourism strategy with Mission to Market.
  • Angela Seals, Executive Director of COPPeR, covered the cultural promotion and tourism program, Art at COS, and granting services. Rainey asked about hotel nights and rental cars booked (being calculated with Visit COS). Donelson asked about Google Ad Grant dollars (free ad space for approved partners) and said cultural tourists spend 17 percent more than other tourists, per Seals. Casey asked about listing events on PeakRadar.com (free).

Council Engagement Program Dissolution

  • Blongshia Lindsay presented Resolution 75-26 repealing Resolution 30-14. The citizen-led program has had no involvement since December 2021 and had no Council liaison. Donelson confirmed citizens can still serve on other Boards and Commissions. Gold gave a brief history; Henjum asked about the City's collaboration with the El Pomar Foundation (its Get On Board event).

Business License Code Rewrite

  • Lee McRae, License Enforcement Officer, presented Ordinances 26-52 (Article 1, business license provisions), 26-53 (Article 3, sales of goods and services) and 26-54 (Article 4, adult use businesses), with the City Clerk's Office and City Attorney's Office. Donelson asked about license longevity (varies by type) and said his questions had already been answered in a prior meeting.

COS Creek Plan Feasibility Grant

  • Resolution 73-26 for the GOCO grant agreement: no General Fund or City dollars; Wayne Williams introduced it, Erin Powers answered Risley. Henjum supportive.

Councilmember reports

  • Casey: the Pikes Peak Library District Joint Appointment Committee met August 13 and elected Commissioner Carrie Geitner chair and Casey vice chair; applications for a vacancy and a seat expiring in December 2026 open September 2 through October; a District 2 coffee on August 29.
  • Rainey: interviews for the Economic Development Officer position had strong candidates; thanked Banning Lewis Ranch residents; spoke at Reclaiming Civility Pledge planning on August 21.

Sources