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2026-08-25 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes (Legistar status Revised; treated as approved, and approved as amended on September 8, 2026).

  • President Crow-Iverson called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM; adjourned at 6:32 PM. Leinweber arrived about 9:20 AM and left about 5:35 PM, so he was excused from the consent vote and every vote listed below. Rainey stepped out from about 2:00 to 3:00 PM.
  • Consent Calendar passed 8-0-1 (motion by Risley, seconded by Casey). It approved the August 11 minutes, Resolution 72-26 approving a service plan for the Kettle Creek Metropolitan District, and set first readings for the Briargate Center BID board ordinance and for the Banning Lewis Ranch Village B2 and C rezonings and right-of-way vacations (public hearing date September 8).
  • Board and commission appointments (Airport Advisory Commission, PPACG Community Advisory Committee, City County Drainage Board) approved 8-0-1 on a motion by Gold, seconded by Casey.
  • Claims management and workers' compensation ordinances (26-46, 26-47) approved on first reading 8-0-1.
  • Colorado Springs Utilities net metering rate case heard as a quasi-judicial hearing: about 36 residents spoke in opposition; no formal vote, but straw polls rejected an amendment tying the new rates to a battery program (3 for, 5 against) and supported Utilities' proposal (6 for, 2 against).
  • Old Colorado City DDA dissolution ordinance (26-48) approved on first reading 5-4 after 5 residents spoke in support and about 20 in opposition.
  • Zone change at 5325 Mark Dabling Boulevard to MX-M finally passed 8-0-1.
  • Buckingham Drive rezoning (Ordinance 26-38): data centers prohibited as a condition of record by a 5-3-1 vote, then the ordinance finally passed 7-1-1.
  • Citizen discussion included three speakers on Project Taurus and one on police license plate reader records.

Net Metering Rate Case

  • Chris Bidlack opened the hearing, read the rate-setting standards and the Council's quasi-judicial role, and polled members; all nine disclosed receiving many emails and holding meetings with constituents and Utilities.
  • Tristan Gearhart and Scott Shirola presented the filing: Energy Wise net metering standard option (Option 1) and net metering demand option (Option 2). Option 1 prices cited: off-peak $0.07 per kilowatt hour, peak $0.29 in summer and $0.14 in winter, plus a $1 per day grid access charge; Option 2 is $0.13 per kilowatt hour at all times with a demand charge. Gearhart said Utilities starts from a $4.5 million deficit, rates are about 15 percent below other Front Range utilities, and customers who roll credits month to month are protected through 2032. Shirola said an outlier customer could see an increase of about $30 per month. Natalie Lovell, City Auditor, had no concerns about the methodology or accuracy.
  • Speakers: about 36 residents opposed the rate case.
  • Henjum suggested review by the Utilities Policy Advisory Committee (Donelson replied it reviews policy, not rates), asked about the $38 bill figure and argued a battery program is needed alongside net metering. She asked to amend the tariffs so the new options do not take effect until Council approves a distributed energy storage program with an availability date no later than the rate effective date. Poll on her amendment: 3 in favor, 5 opposed. Poll on Utilities' proposed net metering changes: 6 in favor, 2 opposed. Adoption came later (see the issue page).

Old Colorado City DDA Dissolution

  • Emily Evans introduced Ordinance 26-48. Bob Gardner (for the DDA) and Stepan (DDA board chair) spoke against dissolution, citing the voters' mandate, the mill levy and timeline.
  • Public comment: five residents in support of dissolution, about twenty in opposition.
  • Jariah Walker of the Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority explained the DDA versus BID differences; Trevor Gloss said state statute has no mechanism to shrink the DDA boundaries other than dissolution, and the mill levy would need Council approval before going to registered electors.
  • Donelson and Gold said they would vote no; Williams and Rainey argued a BID fits Old Colorado City better and asked the Urban Renewal Authority to help.
  • Motion by Williams, seconded by Rainey, approved on first reading 5-4. Aye: Casey, Crow-Iverson, Rainey Jr., Risley, Williams. No: Donelson, Gold, Henjum, Leinweber.

Buckingham Drive Industrial Rezone

  • Ordinance 26-38, 7.79 acres from BP/cr to LI/cr. Molly O'Brien presented; Ben Swanson spoke for the applicant. Donelson learned from Kevin Walker that both zones allowed data centers. Casey questioned light industrial next to residential uses; Swanson said the market wants the zone for heavy equipment and construction services and a roughly 50-foot buffer exists.
  • Donelson moved to prohibit data centers as a condition of record (seconded by Gold): passed 5-3-1 (Aye: Casey, Donelson, Gold, Henjum, Rainey Jr.; No: Crow-Iverson, Risley, Williams; Leinweber excused).
  • Motion by Risley, seconded by Rainey, to finally pass as amended: 7-1-1 (No: Donelson).

Mark Dabling Boulevard Mixed-Use Rezone

  • Ordinance 26-37, 5.41 acres at 5325 Mark Dabling Boulevard from MX-N/SS-O to MX-M/SS-O. Donelson asked about data centers; Walker said neither zone permits them. Motion by Henjum, seconded by Risley; finally passed 8-0-1.

Kettle Creek Metropolitan District Service Plan

  • Resolution 72-26 approved the service plan on the Consent Calendar for land north of Old Ranch Road, east of Voyager Parkway and south of Federal Drive (Council District 2).

Banning Lewis Ranch Village B2 Zoning and Banning Lewis Ranch Village C Zoning

  • First readings on consent to set the September 8 public hearings: Ordinances 26-40 through 26-45.

Claims Management Code Amendments

  • John Hunter presented; Senior Attorney Tim Scheiderer noted a one-word change in Section 1.5.503(A) (the minutes record "and" to "or"). Motions by Donelson, seconded by Rainey; both ordinances approved on first reading 8-0-1.

Other business

  • Mayor's business (Wayne Williams): Southern Colorado Startup Week, the Legislative Barbecue at the State Fair on August 28, and an announcement at Weidner Field on August 27.
  • Citizen discussion: one speaker disputed the Mayor's crime reporting; one spoke against Project Taurus and about apartments in Briargate; Kyle McGuffey objected to the hearing date for the Project Taurus appeal and raised transparency concerns about police license plate reader records (Project Taurus Data Center).

Sources