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, January 12, 2026  
9:00 AM  
Council Chambers  
How to Watch the Meeting  
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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 Leinweber arrived at 9:16 AM.  
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  
26-003  
4.A.  
City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes December 8, 2025  
Presenter:  
Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk  
Attachments: 12-8-25 City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes Final  
Councilmember Donelson requested that City Council staff follow up on the  
information he requested from Greg Raymond, Regional President,  
Children’s Hospital, at the December 8th Work Session meeting regarding  
the age range of gender diverse patients that they provide services for.  
The minutes of the December 8, 2025 Work Session were approved by  
Consensus of City Council.  
5. Presentations for General Information  
26-016  
5.A.  
Colorado Wildfire Incident Management Team  
Presenter:  
Shannon Byerly, Liaison Officer, Colorado Wildfire Incident Management  
Team  
Scott Morrill, Liaison Officer, Colorado Wildfire Incident Management  
Team introduced several members of the Colorado Wildfire Incident  
Management Team.  
Bill Wahl, Incident Commander, Colorado Wildfire Incident Management  
Team, provided a brief overview of their annual Colorado Wildfire Incident  
Management Academy at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs  
(UCCS), from January 10-16, 2026 where Fire Service Members from  
across the United States will be in attendance.  
Wendy Fisher, Executive Director, identified the statistics of their 32nd  
annual Colorado Wildfire Incident Management Academy and expressed  
appreciation for the support of the City.  
Councilmember Henjum requested additional information regarding  
wildland firefighters. Mr. Wahl explained the difference between wildland  
firefighters, structural firefighters, and hazardous firefighters and stated that  
while their main focus is on wildland fires, they are working toward  
collaborating with all the fire agencies. Shelly Olson, Public Information  
Officer, stated they would like the public to know that there are not enough  
wildland firefighters in the region and encourages residents to be prepared  
for wildfire by mitigating areas around their homes.  
Councilmember Gold asked what the occupational hazards are for wildland  
firefighters. Mr. Morrill stated they are bringing awareness to their students  
regarding the risk of cancer to wildland firefighters.  
6. Staff and Appointee Reports  
26-013  
6.A.  
Update on Colorado Springs Police Department Recruitment and  
Training Academy  
Presenter:  
Adrian Vasquez, Chief of Police, Colorado Springs Police Department  
Heather Edwards, Director of Professional Services Bureau, Colorado  
Springs Police Department  
Attachments: Recruiting and Retention  
Adrian Vasquez, Chief of Police, Colorado Springs Police Department  
(CSPD), introduced the update on CSPD recruitment and Training  
Academy.  
Heather Edwards, Director of Professional Services Bureau, CSPD,  
provided an overview of 2025 recruiting efforts, applications, sworn hiring,  
application flow, and retention efforts. She identified the benefits, career  
paths, promotion opportunities, technology/training, turnover rates, and  
turnover reasons.  
Councilmember Donelson asked what the reason behind the increased  
number of applicants to the July academy was. Ms. Edwards stated it may  
be due to the timing of the academy as well as CSPD's stronger online  
presence.  
Councilmember Rainey asked if the applications are reviewed by people  
or are automated. Ms. Edwards stated the applicants answers are  
reviewed by their automated system and if an answer disqualifies them, the  
applicant is given the opportunity to correct their application, if needed or  
request an exception.  
Councilmember Donelson how many of the eligible applicants reside in El  
Paso County and how many academy attendees are local. Ms. Edwards  
stated approximately seventy percent of applicants are local and eighty  
percent of accepted recruits are local.  
Councilmember Donelson asked if the college requirement can be waived  
based on employment background. Chief Vasquez stated they have  
progressively lessened the college requirement, and that CSPD continually  
reviews the requirement.  
President Pro Tem Risley asked how many recruits have prior law  
enforcement experience and if they would still have to attend the academy.  
Ms. Edwards stated they usually have two or three lateral officers, generally  
from out of state, per academy, and they do have to attend the academy.  
President Pro Tem Risley asked if prior military police personnel are  
considered lateral officers. Ms. Edwards stated only if they were assigned  
to patrol.  
Councilmember Henjum asked if Chief Vasquez meets every applicant  
which has been through the background process. Chief Vasquez stated he  
does not meet with every applicant, but he does review every application  
package that is presented to the selection committee.  
Councilmember Henjum asked what the main reason is for someone not  
being offered a position once they have successfully completed the  
background investigation. Chief Vasquez stated it is generally due to the  
admittance of criminal activity which they were not caught for and CSPD's  
review of their evaluation by the staff psychologist.  
Councilmember Rainey asked if the CSPD has any long-term investment  
programs for officers. Ms. Edwards stated the City has longevity pay for  
sworn employees.  
Councilmember Henjum asked what the child and elder care resources  
benefit is. Ms. Edwards stated that resource benefit is offered to all City  
employees through Profile EAP.  
Councilmember Henjum asked how CSPD staffing compares nationally to  
other police departments. Ms. Edwards stated there is not a national  
turnover rate but cited an International Association of Chiefs of Police  
(IACP) survey from 2024 where other agencies who responded to the  
survey were staffed at an average ninety-one percent of their authorized  
strength while in 2025, CSPD was at ninety-three percent of their  
authorized strength.  
Councilmember Leinweber asked what improvements have been made  
over the past three to four years regarding the public opinion of the CSPD.  
Chief Vasquez stated they have increased community engagement efforts  
by frequently meeting with many groups throughout the region, increasing  
the number of officers in the City, and improving technology in order to  
provide better service to the City.  
Councilmember Donelson asked if there were any common characteristics  
in the new recruits who do not make it through the Police Training Officer  
(PTO) Program or their probationary period. Ms. Edwards stated they have  
not identified any certain characteristics, but often times the employee is  
struggling with officer safety, engagement, and emotional intelligence  
issues.  
Councilmember Bailey asked if there has been a higher demand for  
School Resource Officers (SRO). Chief Vasquez confirmed there has been  
and stated he would like to put a SRO in every school if the staffing was  
available.  
25-470  
6.B.  
Park System Master Plan Project: Part 1 Park System Assessment  
Presentation  
Presenter:  
Nick Kuhn and Jeremy Powell, Consultant with Kimley-Horn  
Lonna Thelen, Manager, Parks Design and Development  
Kim King, Interim Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services  
Department  
Attachments: COS_PSMP_PSA_PPTv3_20251211  
Jeremy Powell, Consultant, Kimley-Horn, provided an overview of the Park  
System Master Plan (PSMP) Project: Part 1 Park System Assessment,  
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (PRCS) vision/mission, planning  
process, schedule, purpose of the PSMP, and Park System Assessment.  
Councilmember Henjum asked how long the PRCS vision has been in  
place and if it will be reassessed. Kim King, Interim Director, Parks,  
Recreation and Cultural Services Department, stated the vision has been  
in place since 2014 and the next part of this effort will be evaluating the  
vision and long-term strategy of the PRCS.  
Nick Kuhn Consultant, Kimley-Horn, went over the guiding document,  
demographics trends, relevant themes in trends, park evaluations, level of  
service, public engagement, survey rankings, and assessment summary.  
Councilmember Leinweber asked how the information regarding non-users  
of the park system was obtained. Mr. Kuhn stated they have a Statistically  
Valid Survey (SVS) that they utilized as a random sampling of households  
which was conducted across the City on a City Council District level.  
Councilmember Bailey asked what a culturally responsible park is. Mr.  
Kuhn stated Panorama Park is an example of a culturally responsible park  
where the community was really engaged with the development of the park,  
and it is where the community is greatly involved in the process to identify  
what goes into the parks and what is renewed in the park spaces.  
Councilmember Bailey stated he is not comfortable with singling out certain  
characteristics of a community instead of using broader more inclusive  
terms in the PSMP.  
Councilmember Rainey asked if the growth and population of ethnic  
backgrounds from 2010 to 2020 is referencing a certain neighborhood  
within the or the City in general. Mr. Kuhn stated that information is referring  
to the City demographic data obtained from the 2020 Census.  
President Crow-Iverson asked if they are addressing the potential of  
vandalism in the building and designing of restrooms, drinking fountains,  
and benches within the parks so that they would not have to be shut down if  
vandalized. Mr. Kuhn confirmed those elements are an important part of the  
process.  
Councilmember Williams asked if the connectivity of the trails were  
analyzed. Mr. Kuhn confirmed the gaps within the trail system have been  
identified.  
Councilmember Henjum asked why there is a decrease in the level of  
service for miniparks. Mr. Kuhn stated this category of parks is stressed  
the most by population growth.  
Councilmember Henjum requested district-level data results from the SVS.  
Mr. Kuhn stated they will provide that information.  
Councilmember Donelson asked if the community feels there should be a  
fifty-six percent increase in funding for parks. Mr. Kuhn confirmed it does  
and there was a separate question regarding the funding source through  
additional tax dollars.  
Councilmember Donelson asked what the national percentage is for those  
that think lack of security is a barrier to park use. Mr. Kuhn stated they do  
not have benchmark data available for that at a national level for that  
specific issue.  
Councilmember Donelson asked if there was any additional data obtained  
regarding the number one barrier for park use being people experiencing  
homelessness living in the parks. Mr. Kuhn stated they are using other  
public engagement methods to drill down into this data as well as launching  
a follow-up survey to see what other actions the City could take regarding  
this barrier.  
Councilmember Donelson asked how the highest needs and importance  
rankings were determined from the SVS. Mr. Kuhn stated they were  
evaluated using a matrix ranking with two hundred being the highest score.  
Mr. Powell identified the next steps.  
Councilmember Henjum asked if the access and linkage to the park  
system is considered a priority or if the City is doing well in those areas.  
Mr. Kuhn explained that a score over seventy-five indicates it exceeds  
expectations.  
Councilmember Henjum asked what the Parks Advisory Board (PAB)  
response was to this proposed plan. Lonna Thelen, Manager, Parks  
Design and Development, PRCS, stated the PAB members had  
system-wide questions regarding how they account for recreation/aquatic  
centers moving forward, the importance of trail corridors, the  
uniqueness/complexities of the City’s diverse park system, increased  
participation, funding discussion, acquisitions of park land, the building of  
parks, the role of metropolitan districts, the long-term management of  
parks, the people experiencing homelessness concern, adding comfort  
amenities, and the future of park system.  
Councilmember Henjum requested a future discussion regarding the PAB  
reporting to City Council more formally.  
Councilmember Williams asked if they are looking at the deferred  
maintenance projects in conjunction with future projects. Mr. Kuhn  
confirmed deferred maintenance and life cycle replacement needs will be  
part of the capital projects/operation impacts evaluation against new  
projects due to growth.  
26-002  
6.C.  
Agenda Planner Review  
Presenter:  
Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk  
Attachments: Agenda Planner Review 1-12-26  
There were no comments on this item.  
7. Items for Introduction  
7.A.  
26-011  
A resolution of the City of Colorado Springs approving a limited second  
amendment to the amended and restated service plan of the Bradley  
Heights Metropolitan District Nos. 1, 2, and 3.  
Located in Council District 4  
Presenter:  
Allison Stocker, Senior Planner, City Planning Department  
Kevin Walker, Planning Director, City Planning Department  
Attachments:  
Resolution_Bradley_Heights_MD_1-3_2nd_Amendment  
Attachment_1_Bradley_Heights_Filing_No_5A_Plat  
Attachment_2_Bradley_Heights_Filing_No_5B_Plat  
Attachment_3_Bradley_Heights_MD_1-3_Subject_Alleyways  
Attachment_4_Res_205-23_Bradley_Heights_MD_Current_Service_Pl  
an  
Attachment_5_Bradley_Heights_Concept_Plan  
Bradley_Heights_MD_1-3_2nd_Amendment_WS_Pt2_Presentation  
Exhibit_1_2nd_Amendment_Bradley_Heights_MD_v2  
Exhibit_D_Description_of_Services_v2  
Kevin Walker, Planning Director, City Planning Department, presented the  
Resolution approving a Limited Second Amendment to the Amended and  
Restated Service Plan for the Bradley Heights Metropolitan District Nos. 1,  
2, and 3. He provided an overview of the location, description of services,  
and next steps.  
Councilmember Bailey asked if this request came from the metropolitan  
district’s elected representatives. Mr. Walker confirmed that the developer  
within the district, who is not a member of the Board, requested that the  
Board maintain the select private alleys which require an amendment to the  
Service Plan.  
Councilmember Donelson asked what the original plan was to maintain  
these alleys. Mr. Walker stated the original plan was for the district to  
maintain them, but it was an oversight in the District Service Plan.  
President Pro Tem Risley asked if when the metropolitan districts were  
established, they did not exactly know what the product type would be to  
include alleyways or not. Mr. Walker confirmed that most standard  
statements in metropolitan districts would have included streets and alleys,  
but this one did not.  
26-006  
7.B.  
A Resolution adopting and approving the Pikes Peak Regional  
Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan updated for 2026  
Presenter:  
Andrew Notbohm, Regional Director, Pikes Peak Regional Office of  
Emergency Management  
Attachments: OEM-HMP-2026-RES-2025-12-30-FINAL  
HMP Presentation for City Council  
Signed Resolution 02-26.pdf  
Andrew Notbohm, Regional Director, Pikes Peak Regional Office of  
Emergency Management (PPROEM), presented the Resolution adopting  
and approving the Pikes Peak Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan  
(HMP) updated for 2026. He provided an overview of the purpose of an  
HMP, five goals of HMP, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities  
(BRIC) grant, participating jurisdictions, region hazards, Hazard  
Identification Risk Assessment (HIRA), mitigation actions,  
stakeholder/public engagement, financial implications, and recommended  
action.  
Councilmember Rainey asked how often the HMP is reviewed and who is  
the approval authority. Mr. Notbohm stated it is reviewed every five years  
and needs to be approved by City Council, El Paso County, the seven  
other participating jurisdictions, the state of Colorado, and Federal  
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  
Councilmember Henjum requested additional information regarding the  
public notification system. Mr. Notbohm stated people can sign up for  
emergency alerts at PeakAlerts.org, which is an opt-in Everbridge system,  
and they also utilize the 9-1-1 Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) to send out  
information.  
Councilmember Leinweber stated he would like the PPOEM to be part of  
the discussion on mobile antennas to assist with mobile cell service in the  
event of an emergency.  
Councilmember asked if El Paso County was the recipient of the  
Adirondack Foundation (ADK) grant. Mr. Notbohm confirmed the ADK  
grant was awarded to El Paso County, but it encompasses all the  
municipalities within the County.  
Councilmember Rainey requested the Pikes Peak Area Council of  
Governments (PPACG) be briefed on the proposed HMP. Mr. Notbohm  
agreed to Councilmember Rainey’s request.  
8. Items Under Study  
There were no Items Under Study.  
9. Councilmember Reports and Open Discussion  
Councilmember Gold stated she and Councilmember Leinweber attended  
Councilmember Henjum’s Town Hall last week, conducted interviews for  
the alternate position vacancy on the Parks Advisory Board, attended the  
public hearing for the draft 2026 Annual Action Plan for Housing and  
Homelessness Response, and identified the application period for  
nominations for the 2026 Military Spouse of the Year award is currently  
open.  
Councilmember Leinweber invited everyone to the event on Tuesday,  
January 13, 2026, where Governor Polis will be speaking at the Garden of  
the Gods Visitor Center.  
Councilmember Donelson thanked Erin Powers for her work in cleaning up  
the stormwater infrastructure located near the Union Meadows Open  
Space.  
10. Executive Session  
10A. Open  
There was no Open Executive Session.  
10B. Closed  
26-014  
10B.A.  
In accord with City Charter art. III, § 3-60(d) and its incorporated  
Colorado Open Meetings Act, C.R.S. § 24-6-402(4)(b) and (e) and City  
Code § 1.5.506(B), the City Council, in Open Session, is to determine  
whether it will hold a Closed Executive Session. The issues to be  
discussed involve (i) consultation with the City Attorney for the purpose of  
receiving legal advice related to residency restrictions for sexually violent  
predators and (ii) consultation with the City Attorney for the purpose of  
receiving legal advice and determining positions relative to negotiation  
regarding a litigation settlement in excess of $250,000 in El Paso  
County District Court Case No. 24CV31928.  
The President of Council shall poll the City Councilmembers, and, upon  
consent of two-thirds of the members present, may conduct a Closed  
Executive Session. In the event any City Councilmember is participating  
electronically or telephonically in the Closed Executive Session, each  
City Councilmember participating in the Closed Executive Session shall  
affirmatively state for the record that no other member of the public not  
authorized to participate in the Closed Executive Session is present or  
able to hear the matters discussed as part of the Closed Executive  
Session. If consent to the Closed Executive Session is not given, the  
item may be discussed in Open Session or withdrawn from  
consideration.  
Presenter:  
Marc Smith, Acting City Attorney  
Attachments: 26-014 Closed Session memo - 1-12-26  
Frederick Stein, Senior Attorney, City Attorney’s Office, stated that in  
accord with City Charter art. III, § 3-60(d) and its incorporated Colorado  
Open Meetings Act, C.R.S. § 24-6-402(4)(b) and (e), the City Council, in  
Open Session, is to determine whether it will hold a Closed Executive  
Session. The issues to be discussed involve (i) consultation with the City  
Attorney for the purpose of receiving legal advice related to residency  
restrictions for sexually violent predators and (ii) consultation with the City  
Attorney for the purpose of receiving legal advice and determining  
positions relative to negotiation regarding a litigation settlement in excess  
of $250,000.  
President Crow-Iverson polled City Council regarding the desire to  
proceed with an electronic Closed Executive Session. At least two-thirds of  
City Council agreed to proceed in a Closed Executive Session.  
11. Adjourn  
There being no further business to come before City Council, Council  
adjourned at 2:35 PM.  
Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk