Summary
City Council Work Session meeting summary
Colorado SpringsMay 11, 20263 min read
At a glance
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Council approved prior work session minutes, agreed to a consent-calendar change, received presentations on housing, neighborhood programs and Pikes Peak State College, and introduced multiple ordinances and resolutions on parks/open space acquisitions, urban forest code, building-code amendments, childcare land-use, HOME‑ARP funding, and ethics.
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Topics discussed
Budget & TaxPublic SafetyEducationEnvironmentalHousing
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What this means
Council agreed to the April 27 work session minutes and removed one item from the next day’s consent calendar. Staff presented plans to buy two 40‑acre parcels near Cheyenne Mountain State Park using TOPS funds (each acquisition may need up to $162,000 more), to update the city’s urban forest code, to adopt regional building‑code changes about single exits/stairways, and to amend the HOME‑ARP housing allocation for HUD. For residents, these actions mean potential new public open space and trail access, upcoming changes to tree rules and enforcement, possible impacts on new building design related to stair/exiting rules, and a housing funding adjustment intended to better target rental assistance and homelessness response.
Key decisions
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- Approved the April 27, 2026 City Council Work Session minutes by consensus.
- Consensus to remove item 4B.E from the May 12, 2026 City Council meeting Consent Calendar.
- Introduced resolutions to acquire roughly 40 acres each (West CMSP Parcel 1 and Parcel 2) as additions to Cheyenne Mountain State Park and introduced ordinances requesting supplemental TOPS appropriations up to $162,000 for each acquisition.
- Introduced ordinances to repeal the existing Urban Forest article and create a new Urban Forest article in city code, including enforcement provisions; staff noted current understaffing and agreed to provide additional information (e.g., ash borer impacts).
- Introduced an ordinance adopting Pikes Peak Regional Building Code standards for single exits and stairways (aligning with HB1273-related changes); staff discussed optional provisions and construction cost implications.
- Introduced an ordinance to amend Unified Development Code provisions for adult and child day care centers (changes apply to commercial day care centers, not home daycares).
- Introduced a resolution to amend the HOME‑ARP Allocation Plan for submission to HUD (one-time adjustment to better position funding to be spent by 2030).
- Introduced an ordinance amending multiple sections of the City Code of Ethics, including proposed language on vehicle use; Council requested specific wording changes and further clarifications.
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Meeting information
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City Council Work Session
May 11, 2026, 12:00 AMCouncil Chambersscheduled
Agenda
- How to Watch the Meeting
- Coloradosprings.gov/springstv | Facebook Live: Colorado Springs City Council Facebook Page @coscity Council | SPRINGS TV - Comcast Channel 18 / 880 (HD) - Stratus IQ Channel 76 / 99 (Streaming)
- Estimated agenda item times are provided for planning purposes and do not constitute notice of a specific time for any item. Items may take more or less time than estimated. City Council may amend the order of items.
- Call to Order and Roll Call
- Changes to Agenda
- Regular Meeting Comments
- Review of Previous Meeting Minutes
- City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 Presenter: Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk
- Executive Session
- Open
- Closed
- Presentations for General Information
- Pikes Peak Housing Network’s State of Housing Report Presenter: Jill Gaebler, Executive Director, Pikes Peak Housing Network
- Hey Neighbor Presentation Presenter: Kelly Bull, Executive Director Lelia Gibson-Green, Community Coordinator for districts 4 and 6 Marilyn Dawson, Community Coordinator for districts 1 and 2. Amy Miller, Neighborhood University Program Coordinator
- Pikes Peak State College Presentation Presenter: Lance Bolton, President, Pikes Peak State College Donna Nelson, Chief Advancement Officer, Pikes Peak State College
- Staff and Appointee Reports
- Agenda Planner Review Presenter: Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk
- Items for Introduction
- A Resolution Authorizing the Acquisition of Approximately Forty (40) Acres (West CMSP Parcel 1) as an Addition to the Cheyenne Mountain State Park through the Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) Program Presenter: Kim King, Acting Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department Lonna Thelen, Design and Development Manager, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department David Deitemeyer, Senior Program Administrator, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
- Ordinance No. 26-21 Requesting a Supplemental Appropriation to the Trails, Open Space and Parks Fund up to $162,000 to Complete the Acquisition of Approximately 40 Acres of Property Identified as the Parcel 1 West CMSP Extension for the Purpose of Public Open Space and Trails Presenter: Kim King, Acting Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department Lonna Thelen, Design and Development Manager, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department David Deitemeyer, Senior Program Administrator, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
- A Resolution Authorizing the Acquisition of Approximately Forty (40) Acres (West CMSP Parcel 2), as an Addition to the Cheyenne Mountain State Park Through the Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) Program Presenter: Kim King, Acting Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department Lonna Thelen, Design and Development Manager, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department David Deitemeyer, Senior Program Administrator, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
- Ordinance No. 26-22 Requesting a Supplemental Appropriation to the Trails, Open Space and Parks Fund up to $162,000 to Complete the Acquisition of Approximately 40 Acres of Property Identified as the Parcel 2 West CSMP Extension for the Purpose of Public Open Space and Trails Presenter: Kim King, Acting Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department Lonna Thelen, Design and Development Manager, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department David Deitemeyer, Senior Program Administrator, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
- An Ordinance Amending Article 1 (Administration) And Repealing Article 4 (Urban Forest) Of Chapter 4 (Parks, Recreation And Cultural Services) Of The Code Of The City Of Colorado Springs 2001, As Amended, Pertaining To Urban Forest Presenter: Matthew Puckett, City Forester
- An Ordinance Creating A New Article 9 (Urban Forest) Of Chapter 3 (Public Property And Public Works) Of The Code Of The City Of Colorado Springs 2001, As Amended, Pertaining To Urban Forest, And Providing Penalties For Violation Thereof Presenter: Matthew Puckett, City Forester
- An Ordinance Amending Section 1404 (Code Adopted by Reference) of Part 14 (Building Codes) of Article 4 (Development Standards and Incentives) of Chapter 7 (Unified Development Code) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to the adoption of the Pikes Peak Regional Building Code standards for Single Exits and Stairways. (Legislative) Located in Council Districts Citywide Presenter: Roger Lovell, Building Official, Pikes Peak Regional Building Department Daniel Sexton, LUR/DRE Planning Manager, City Planning Department Kevin Walker, Planning Director, City Planning Department
- Ordinance No. 26-23 amending Article 3 Use Regulations, Article 4 Development Standards and Incentives, and Article 6 Definitions and Rules of Constructions of Chapter 7 (the “Unified Development Code”) of the Code of the City Of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, as related to permitted locations and standards for each Adult or Child Day Care Centers. (Legislative) Presenter: Allison Stocker, Senior Planner, City Planning Department Kevin Walker, Planning Director, City Planning Department
- A Resolution approving an amendment to the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan for submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Presenter: Aimee Cox, Chief Housing and Homelessness Response Officer, Housing and Homelessness Response Department
- An Ordinance Amending Multiple Sections Of Article 3 (Code Of Ethics) Of Chapter 1 (Administration, Personnel And Finance) Of The Code Of The City Of Colorado Springs 2001, As Amended, Pertaining To The Code Of Ethics Presenter: Brian Risley, President Pro Tem, Councilmember At Large Carly Hoff, Senior Legislative Analyst
- Items Under Study
- Councilmember Reports and Open Discussion
- Adjourn
- Councilmember Gold and Councilmember Leinweber attended the meeting virtually.
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