by John Hazlehurst Published: February 12,2010
Tags: City Council, Colorado Springs Utilities, payment in lieu of taxes
Council has yet to consider codification Voters may have believed that by approving Issue 300 they had put an end to payment in lieu of taxes, or PILT, from utilities to the city’s general fund, but that might not be the case. A draft codifying Issue 300, deferred from the City Council’s regular meeting this week rescheduled for [...] [...]
by John Hazlehurst Published: January 22,2010
Tags: candidates, City Council, election
Here we are, 15 months from the 2011 City Council elections, and the maneuvering has already begun. According to the usual unreliable sources, some of our self-appointed leaders are trying to construct a slate of “appropriate” candidates who, fueled with money and credentials, will sweep into office and replace our present demoralized, delegitimized, and disrespected elected [...] [...]
by John Hazlehurst Published: November 30,2009
Tags: Board of County Commissioners, City Council, Pioneers Museum
At a joint meeting this morning, the El Paso County Board of Commissioners presented the Colorado Springs City Council with a preliminary “partnership proposal” aimed at keeping the Pioneers Museum open during 2010. The proposal contains three “initiatives.” - The city would continue to manage the museum. - The city would return ownership of the building and the [...] [...]
by John Hazlehurst Published: November 13,2009
Tags: City Council, John Hazlehurst
During Monday’s “budget markup session,” City Council members couldn’t stop using three apparently interchangeable phrases. They promised to concentrate upon providing “essential city services,” “vital city functions” and “core city services.” In the view of every one of our nine elected officials, public safety comes first. And after public safety comes yet more public safety, and if [...] [...]
by John Hazlehurst Published: November 10,2009
Tags: budget cuts, City Council
During a lengthy and sometimes contentious budget markup session yesterday, City Council gave tentative approval to multiple cost-cutting and revenue generating proposals aimed at balancing next year’s budget. The measures included: Turning off thousands of streetlights, and letting others go dark for estimated savings of $1.3 million. Eliminating the vendor fee that compensates merchants for the expense incurred [...] [...]
by John Hazlehurst Published: November 4,2009
Tags: budget, City Council, Darryl Glenn, Larry small
Vice Mayor Larry Small and Councilman Darryl Glenn are often on the opposite side of issues that come before City Council, but they've found some common ground. [...]
by Becky Hurley Published: October 23,2009
Tags: Bobby Hill Designs, City Council, hotel, John McSween, mining exchange building, Perry Sanders, tax sharing, Trestle Building
It’s taken four years and three different ownership groups, but the Mining Exchange building and its neighbors, the Freedom Telegraph, Independence and Municipal Utilities buildings, are ready to be transformed into a 150-room “boutique” hotel and conference center. That is, as long as the city leaders approve key sales tax-sharing provisions. [...]
by Staff Writer Published: October 23,2009
Tags: 2c, City Council, furloughs, layoffs, USOC
In the event that Colorado Springs voters fail to approve a proposed mill levy increase during the Nov. 3 election, the city will have to make many painful choices. Will council implement furloughs and layoffs, close the Pioneers Museum and city recreation centers, and put the city park system on “life support”? We don’t know. But it seems [...] [...]
by John Hazlehurst Published: October 7,2009
Tags: City Council, Sean Paige
City Council this afternoon chose Sean Paige, former editorial page editor of The Gazette, to replace District 3 Councilman Jerry Heimlicher. [...]
by Staff Writer Published: October 7,2009
Tags: City Council, Sean Paige
City Council chose former Colorado Springs Gazette opinion editor Sean Paige to fill the vacant District 3 Council seat. The council voted 5-3 for Paige, who bested another finalist Phil Lane, a former Pepsi distributor. Paige will replace Jerry Heimlicher, who was re-elected in April and resigned last month. [...]
