City Hall

107 N. Nevada Avenue

Colorado Springs, CO

80903

City of Colorado Springs

Meeting Minutes

City Council Work Session

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Monday, February 23, 2026

9:00 AM

Council Chambers

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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.

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

President Crow-Iverson called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.

9 -

Present

Councilmember Tom Bailey, President Lynette Crow-Iverson,

Councilmember Dave Donelson, Councilmember Kimberly Gold,

Councilmember Nancy Henjum, Councilmember Brandy Williams,

Councilmember David Leinweber, Councilmember Roland Rainey Jr., and

President Pro Tem Brian Risley

Councilmember Williams attended the meeting virtually.

2. Changes to Agenda

There were no Changes to Agenda.

3. Regular Meeting Comments

There were no Regular Meeting Comments.

4. Review of Previous Meeting Minutes

26-074

4.A.

City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes February 9, 2026

Presenter:

Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk

Attachments: 2-9-26 City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes Final

The minutes of the February 9, 2026 Work Session were approved by

Consensus of City Council.

5. Executive Session

5A. Open

26-072

5A.A.

Gwen Hengehold v. Brandon Hensley

Case No. 2025CV32808

Presenter:

Marc Smith, Acting City Attorney

Attachments: 2026_02_05_Council Memo

Sara Brewen, Senior Attorney, City Attorney’s Office, stated with the

recommendation of the Civil Action Investigation Committee, the City is

requesting authorization to defend the employee.

President Crow-Iverson polled City Council regarding authorizing the City

to represent the employee. Consensus of City Council agreed.

26-068

5A.B.

Peter R. Forbes v. Shivani Sharma; Jeffrey Warnock; and the City of

Colorado Springs, Case No. 25CV32913

Presenter:

Marc Smith, Acting City Attorney

Attachments: Council Memo Forbes

Sara Brewen, Senior Attorney, City Attorney’s Office, stated with the

recommendation of the Civil Action Investigation Committee, the City is

requesting authorization to defend the employee.

President Crow-Iverson polled City Council regarding authorizing the City

to represent the employee. Consensus of City Council agreed.

5B. Closed

6. Presentations for General Information

26-065

6.A.

Red Cross Presentation

Presenter:

Phil Martinez, Executive Director, American Red Cross

Phil Martinez, Executive Director, American Red Cross, provided a brief

history of Red Cross programs, projects, collaborations, SOCO team, One

Red Cross, humanitarian network, Chapter boundaries, volunteers, and

Mission Cross. He went over their preparedness programs, response,

coordination, and biomedical updates.

Councilmember Henjum asked if Candy Stripers are a part of the history of

the Red Cross. Mr. Martinez confirmed they were as well as Donut Dollies.

Councilmember Donelson asked what other fixed sites the American Red

Cross has in Colorado. Mr. Martinez stated they have a facility in Denver

and are anticipating adding a location in Aurora.

Councilmember Leinweber identified the importance of staying updated on

the changes with administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Mr.

Martinez stated CPR certification needs to be updated every two years.

Councilmember Rainey requested additional information regarding citizens

requesting free smoke detectors. Mr. Martinez stated if a citizen signs up

on their website as a volunteer, they can obtain a free smoke detector as

part of their Home Fire campaign.

Councilmember Rainey requested additional information on the events

occurring during Red Cross Month, in March. Mr. Martinez identified their

Community Mobilization strategy to mobilize the community, volunteers,

and ambassadors.

Councilmember Gold asked if citizens could donate to specific Red Cross

Chapters. Mr. Martinez confirmed they could through their website.

7. Staff and Appointee Reports

26-047

7.A.

Wasteless COS Presentation

Presenter:

Asha Kurian, Project Manager, City of Colorado Springs Support

Services

Ryan Trujillo, Deputy Chief of Staff, City of Colorado Springs

Attachments: Wasteless COS_ Council

Asha Kurian, Project Manager, City of Colorado Springs Support Services,

introduced Liz Kuhn, Outreach and Technical Assistance Unit Work Lead,

Colorado Circular Communities, Annie White, Senior Consultant Project

Manager, Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), and Rachel Zerowin,

Colorado Communications Manager, Circular Action Alliance (CCA), and

provided a overview of Wasteless COS, methodology, what is in the trash,

gap analysis, community input, strategies, and diversion goal.

Ms. Zerowin identified the next steps.

Councilmember Henjum asked if trash collectors need to sign up to

participate in the program in order to receive reimbursement. Ms. Zerowin

confirmed that CCA reimburses trash collectors who offer no cost recycling

to customers.

Councilmember Donelson asked how much funding CCA has collected.

Ms. Zerowin stated their budget is available on their website.

Councilmember Donelson asked if recycling collectors are required to

participate in the program. Ms. Zerowin stated they are not required to

participate.

Councilmember Donelson asked how the diversion rate percentage was

calculated. Ms. White stated it was based on modeling population and the

benchmark of assumption of a certain pounds per household generation

based on existing data in the current year.

Councilmember Donelson asked what other cities currently use this

program. Ms. White stated Alexandria. VA and Washington D.C. have free

food waste drop-off sites and Fort Collins, CO has a hauler licensing

program.

Councilmember Donelson asked if the thirty-seven percent participation

estimate is a conservative estimate. Ms. White stated she believes it is an

achievable estimate.

Councilmember Donelson asked how contamination of recycling can be

prevented. Ms. White identified how recycling materials are sorted at

recycling facilities to prevent contamination and rejected loads.

Councilmember Donelson asked if the City is already participating in this

program. Ms. Kurian confirmed it is.

Councilmember Leinweber stated he would like to see what is made from

the recycled materials. Ms. Kurian stated they are welcome to tour the

recycling facility to see where the materials are being processed.

Councilmember Henjum asked how much participating recycling

companies would be reimbursed. Ms. Zerowin stated they are reimbursed

a hundred percent of their costs.

26-073

7.B.

Agenda Planner Review

Presenter:

Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk

Attachments: Agenda Planner Review 2-23-26

There were no comments on this item.

8. Items for Introduction

26-048

8.A.

An Ordinance repealing and reordaining Appendix K (Wildland Urban

Interface Requirements) of Part 1 (Fire Prevention Code) of Article 4

(Fire Prevention) of Chapter 8 (Public Safety).

Presenter:

Kris Cooper, Fire Marshal

Attachments: Fire-IFC-AppendixK_ORD-2026-02-17-RL

FBA-Wilfire Resiliency Code-Letter of Support_20260212

02.26.2026 DP Letter of Support

Appendix K Presentation

Kris Cooper, Fire Marshal, Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD),

presented the Ordinance repealing and reordaining Appendix K (Wildland

Urban Interface (WUI) Requirements) of Part 1 (Fire Prevention Code) of

Article 4 (Fire Prevention) of Chapter 8 (Public Safety). He provided a brief

background of the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (CWRC), CWRC

Board, highlights, key updates, classification of risk, wildfire risk class,

local wildfire risk map, Class 1 and Class 2 provisions. Marshal Cooper

identified the fuels management zones, comparisons, financial impact,

considerations, public process, options, and CSFD recommendation.

President Crow-Iverson asked if new decks which are replacing wooden

decks being built in the WUI would need to be made of non-combustible

materials. Fire Marshal Cooper confirmed they would if they are located in

the Class 1 or Class 2 WUI area.

Councilmember Bailey asked if Homeowner Associations (HOA) or

special districts would be required to follow the provisions of the proposed

Ordinance regarding owner installed landscaping. Fire Marshal Cooper

stated they have ongoing conversations/training with those groups, and

they have written language in City Code which puts responsibility on them.

President Pro Tem Risley stated an HOA is a private contractual

relationship between the homeowner and the HOA and municipalities do

not have any legal authority to enforce a third-party requirement over them.

Councilmember Donelson asked if since other jurisdictions are not ready

the legislature may delay this. Fire Marshall Cooper stated he has heard

that there are groups requesting to delay this, but he has not heard that the

legislation is interested in delaying it.

Councilmember Donelson asked if this Ordinance should continue to move

forward even if there is a request for a delay or postponement. Fire

Marshal Cooper stated he believes it should be due to concerns over fast

moving wildfires.

President Pro Tem Risley stated he believes this requirement is another

inappropriate overreach by the state, but that the proposed Ordinance with

the proposed modifications to the map is a benefit to the community. He

asked if state code recognizes Prairie Land Urban Interface (PUI) as a

term. Fire Marshal Cooper stated it does not, so they are using the terms

Wildfire Risk Area Class 1 and Wildfire Risk Area Class 2.

Councilmember Donelson asked if this Ordinance is passed if detached

ADU’s would be prohibited in the PUI. Kevin Walker, Director, Planning

Department, stated the current ADU Ordinance prohibits detached ADU in

the WUI, but the language will need to be modified to address the Class 2

areas.

26-053

8.B.

A Resolution Approving the Amended Intergovernmental Agreement

between the City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County, Colorado

establishing the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management

Presenter:

Ryan Trujillo, Deputy Chief of Staff

Andrew Notbohm, Regional Director, Office of Emergency Management

Attachments: Amended_CIty-County_OEM_IGA 2026

Resolution-Amended-OEM_IGA Final

Slides_City Council PPROEM Merger IGA Final PR

Ryan Trujillo, Deputy Chief of Staff, introduced the Resolution approving the

amended intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the City and El

Paso County establishing the PPROEM.

Andrew Notbohm, Regional Director, Pikes Peak Regional Office of

Emergency Management (PPROEM), provided an overview of the

governance, administration, EMAP accreditation achievement, and

recommendation.

Councilmember Bailey asked why the term of the IGA is only for three

years, especially with the termination provision included in it. Mr. Trujillo

stated the IGA was a significant change in how the City partnered with the

PPROEM so they set the term for three years to allow both entities the

opportunity to make adjustments if needed, but they can look at a longer

term as they move forward.

Councilmember Rainey asked if the five military installations also have an

IGA with the PPROEM. Mr. Notbohm stated they do for response by the

fire, police, and hazardous materials departments and there is an

understanding to support each other.

Councilmember Henjum requested additional information regarding the

proposed amendments. Mr. Notbohm identified the three amendments

which include search and rescue, the removal of the hyphen in PPR-OEM,

and removing the advisory council because it was determined that it was

duplication as they were already meeting with those individuals which

comprised the council.

26-071

8.C.

A Resolution authorizing the acquisition of real property, using PPRTA

funds for the Alternative Treatment Site – Austin Bluffs and Woodmen

Project

Presenter:

Gayle Sturdivant, PE, PMP, City Engineer/Deputy Public Works Director

Kellie Billingsley, Real Estate Services Manager

Attachments: 1_Project Location

2_Draft Resolution_Alternative Treatment Site.docx

3_Alternative Treatment Site Austin Bluffs-Woodmen - Presentation

Signed Resolution 18-26.pdf

Gayle Sturdivant, City Engineer/Deputy Public Works Director, presented

the Resolution authorizing the acquisition of real property using Pikes Peak

Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) funds for the Alternative Treatment

Site - Austin Bluffs and Woodmen Project. She provided an overview of the

location map, water quality needs, projects, and procedure manual

information.

Councilmember Henjum asked why this property is so important to the

project even though it is located so far away. Ms. Sturdivant stated it is

hydraulic credit for the drainage basin.

Councilmember Rainey asked if the northwest and northeast adjacent

homeowners have been notified. Ms. Sturdivant stated they have not had

individual outreach on this project, but they feel it will have a high

community value because it will remain an open space and create water

quality improvements.

Councilmember Donelson asked if this will be a detention or retention

pond. Ms. Sturdivant explained that because this project disturbs more than

an acre of land, it requires a stormwater quality treatment, and it will be

similar to a retention pond.

Councilmember Donelson stated that the retention should be located by

Nevada Avenue to slow the water down there. Ms. Sturdivant stated they

will try to capture approximately seventy-five percent of the water there and

this water quality bank will address the remaining twenty-five percent.

Councilmember Rainey asked if any facilities will be built on this lot. Ms.

Sturdivant stated it is not their intent to build any structures other than the

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department making

improvements to the social trails to bring them into their network.

Councilmember Rainey asked if Public Works will be assisting with the trail

improvements since there is already a backlog of maintenance within the

parks system. Ms. Sturdivant stated they will definitely be coordinating with

them.

26-077

8.D.

An Ordinance Repealing Ordinance Nos. 02-10 And 21-92 Thereby

Dissolving The Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Board

Presenter:

David Leinweber, Councilmember At Large

Nancy Henjum, Councilmember District 5

Michael Montgomery, Deputy City Council Administrator

Attachments: CitizensTransAdvisoryBoard-Repeal-ORD-2026-02-18

Michael Montgomery, Deputy City Council Administrator, presented the

Ordinance dissolving The Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Board

There were no comments on this item.

9. Items Under Study

There was no Items Under Study.

10. Councilmember Reports and Open Discussion

Councilmember Williams asked if the City will be closing ten neighborhood

park bathrooms. Travis Easton, Acting Chief of Staff, confirmed they will be

due to discussions around budget issues. Councilmember Williams stated

she is not comfortable adding Fisher’s Canyon when they do not have the

funds for the maintenance of the City’s existing parks.

Councilmember Leinweber stated he was in Argentina for ten days where

City security would not allow him to check emails and there were no visible

signs of homelessness in Buenos Aires due to them not tolerating drug

use.

Councilmember Donelson stated he attended the swearing in ceremony for

twenty-four new Police Officers, Police Sargeant Olaf Cheney retired on

Friday, February 20, 2026, after thirty-five years of service to the City,

Sunday, February 22, 2026, marked 294 years since the birth of George

Washington, and the 20th anniversary of the murder of Detective Jerod

Jensen, Corado Springs, Police Department, and thanked him and his

family for their sacrifice.

Councilmember Rainey stated he hosted Dr. Huang, who is the

Designated General Counsel for Taiwan and discussed the investments of

Taiwan, recent agreements with the state of Colorado, and how the City’s

Sister City Program and Chamber of Commerce and EDC can assist with

bringing businesses to Colorado Springs.