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Candidate urges council to shelve pay raise proposal

January 17th, 2013, 11:13 am by

Deborah Hendrix

District 4 City Council candidate Deborah Hendrix says it’s premature for a pay raise for council when its roles and responsibilities are in flux.

“A change in the governance of (Colorado Springs Utilities) and other measures may decrease the amount of day-to-day operations that the council handles,” Hendrix said Wednesday night in an email to council.

“Also, consider the effect of council moving from a group of citizen politicians to a group of professional politicians. That will change the dynamics of who runs for council and could lead to a situation where the salary becomes more important than serving the community,” she said.

Hendrix also questions whether the city can afford a bump in pay for council members, who are currently paid $6,250 a year.

“If we can find $437,000, why not utilize those funds for firefighters, police officers, or improved transportation?  I know that with these things the citizens would be well pleased,” she said.

Hendrix said she will personally vote against a pay increase if council puts the question on the ballot in April.

The council will decide Tuesday whether to refer that proposal and four others to the ballot in April.

Here is the full, unedited text of Hendrix’s email to council:

Good Morning Councilors:

First, I want to thank you for your service to the City of Colorado Springs.  I appreciate the work you have done and certainly look forward to working with those of you that will remain on Council after the election in April.

My name is Deborah Hendrix and I have been a resident in this City for the past 21 years and currently I am running for District 4 – City Council seat.

My purpose for writing to each of you is in regard to one of the upcoming amendments you will decide to put on the ballot on next Tuesday at the City Council meeting.  I by no means have all the answers and know all the discussions and dialogues that have occurred regarding this issue, so I offer my humble opinion and hope that you will take that into consideration as you make your final decision.

I realize many of the changes over the last two years with the executive/legislative structure have certainly caused some issues regarding who has authority and responsibility over a number of measures that might have been very clear under the past form of government.  So I applaud the work you have done to try and be clear and concise in your voting of policies, laws and procedures.

The one ballot issue, ie. Council Compensation.

Council Compensation – While paying City Council members a wage which is commensurate with the work that currently engages them seems very appropriate, with the new roles and responsibilities of City Council in flux, the increase in pay may be premature.  A change in the governance of CSU and other measures may decrease the amount of day-to-day operations that the Council handles.

Also, consider the effect of Council moving from a group of citizen politicians to a group of professional politicians.  That will change the dynamics of who runs for council and could lead to a situation where the salary becomes more important than serving the community.

Also, can the City at this time afford to allocate $437K within the already tight budget?  If we can find $437K, why not utilize those funds for firefighters, police officers, or improved transportation?  I know that with these things the citizens would be well pleased.

If this measure makes it to the ballot, I as a citizen would not support it and would be highly disappointed that the Council did not consider the short-term (financial/roles) and long-term (change in type of citizens for council) effects of such a major shift.

Thank you for taking the time to read my email.  I would welcome an opportunity to discuss this issue.  Thank you again for your service.

Deborah…

 

Posted in: Budget • City Council • Elections • Meetings • Utilities • • • | 8 Comments »

Westside Community Center partnership wins award

January 14th, 2013, 1:00 pm by

A partnership between the city and Woodman Valley Chapel’s Center for Strategic Ministry is getting an award.

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs’ Center for Study of Government and the Individual is awarding the Civic Innovator of the Year award Jan. 29 to the Westside Community Center LLC.

“The prolonged economic downturn has put local governments in a bind. How are they to meet an increasing demand for social services with decreasing revenues resulting from a slumping economy? Colorado Springs three years ago began meeting that challenge by forming public-private partnerships at the city’s pools and community centers, of which The Westside Community Center LLC — a partnership between the city of Colorado Springs and the Woodmen Valley Chapel’s Center for Strategic Ministry — is the stellar example,” according to Peak Freedom Forum, which is hosting the awards ceremony during its Food for Thought Luncheon.

The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road. Cost is $30 per person. For more information or to register, click here.

Former City Councilman Sean Paige, who is on the Board of Directors of Peak Freedom Forum, said the award recognizes local individuals or organizations that harness private sector initiative to help address problems that might otherwise fall on government.

“I’m particularly excited about this year’s recipient, the private/public partnership operating the Westside Community Center, because I helped champion such new models while serving on City Council. When confronting major budget cuts, and with city pools and community centers on the chopping block, we on council put out the call for private sector assistance. And the response was amazing. The Westside Center is only one of the success stories that resulted, which we’ll talk more about on Jan. 29th, but we could only give out one such award this year and we felt that this partnership was most deserving,” he said in an email.

 

 

 

 

Posted in: Budget • Civic Participation • Recreation and Cultural Services • • • | 1 Comment »

Bruce calls salary increase for council members ‘beyond audacious’ but is open to paying them more

December 28th, 2012, 12:46 pm by

Douglas Bruce says he would publicly oppose a proposed ballot measure in April to give City Council members a salary increase.

“For whatever that is worth,” said Bruce, an anti-tax activist who was convicted of tax evasion and other crimes last year.

But Bruce said he’s open to the idea of paying council members more than the $6,250 a year they get now.

Yes, you heard that right.

Bruce, who has clashed with council members in the past, thinks the council should get more money.

Bruce said he objected each time a proposal to increase council members’ salaries was brought to voters, primarily because Colorado Springs was paying a city manager under the old council-manager form of government.

But the switch to a council-mayor form of government “ostensibly” created some savings because the mayor is paid $96,000 and the city no longer has a city manager.

“Since we’re saving some money, I don’t have an objection to paying the council because there’s a savings in one area of administration or leadership and some of that can go to paying people who are undercompensated,” Bruce said.

“But, having said that, to sextuple their salary is absurd. I mean, that’s beyond audacious. It’s not even borderline greed. It’s wallowing in greed,” he said.

Bruce said he did some calculations and figures that council members should be spending about 20 hours a month in meetings “if they didn’t engage in these silly marathon spectacles about solicitation on the sidewalk and what do we do about homeless people and all these problems that they’re manufacturing.”

Council members have two informal and two formal council meetings each month, and they meet once a month as the Utilities Board.

Council members also serve on various boards, committees and commissions, but Bruce said that’s unnecessary.

“They don’t need to serve on all these boards and committees. They need to simplify city government. That’s why we have a mayor. The mayor is supposed to be the administrator,” he said.

Bruce also thinks council meetings need to be run more efficiently. He said council meetings should last no longer than four hours each.

“They have these meetings that are much longer than they need to be, plus of course they waste a lot of time on ceremonies,” he said. “They have these meetings and they have people twirling their batons or singing America the Beautiful.”

Bruce proposes paying council members $15,000 a year, or $62.50 an hour for 20 hours of meetings each month.

“That’s more than your average plumber or electrician or somebody that actually does something useful,” he said, adding that a 140 percent increase “would be enough.”

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • Budget • City Administration • City Council • Elections • Meetings • Politics • Utilities • • | 40 Comments »

Mayor continues to press CDOT for highway funding

December 20th, 2012, 4:41 pm by

Mayor Steve Bach

Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region aren’t getting their fair share of funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation.

So says Mayor Steve Bach, who has been sounding the alarm since he was took office.

On Thursday, he sent the following letter to CDOT Executive Director Don Hunt and Colorado Springs businessman Les Gruen, who serves on the state Transportation Commission:

December 20, 2012

Mr. Les Gruen                                                                       Mr. Don Hunt

Transportation Commissioner                                         Executive Director

Colorado State Transportation Commission                 Colorado Department of Transportation

6 S Tejon, Suite 550                                                             4201 East Arkansas Avenue, Room 262

Colorado Springs, CO  80903                                           Denver, Colorado  80222

 

Gentlemen:

Thank you for our conference call conversation last Friday, December 14th.  To confirm, we have four (4) State highway-related, urgent public safety matters here where your help is needed.  Specifically:

1)       Cimarron Interchange with I 25.  This is a very dangerous, winding section of I-25 with recurring traffic accidents.  The local jurisdictions, through the PPACG, have provided $4M in Metro Funds for the advanced purchase of ROW prior to any CDOT funding of the interchange.  CDOT has now provided $7M for preliminary design of the interchange.  An additional $95M is needed from CDOT to complete construction.

2)       Fillmore Interchange with I 25.  Traffic during rush hour backs up onto the through lanes both Northbound and Southbound.  The City has committed nearly $7M to the planning, design, and construction of the relocation of Chestnut Street, which is required for the completion of a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI).  The estimated CDOT cost to complete the DDI is an additional $11M.

3)       Old Ranch Road Bridges at Powers Boulevard.  We’ve had multiple fatalities at this currently on grade intersection.  The City has agreed to fund this project in its entirety using PPRTA funds.  The estimated cost is $8M.  CDOT staff has discussed funding this project in advance of the PPRTA schedule with a four year payback from the City.

4)       Stewart Avenue Interchange with Powers Boulevard.  Traffic during rush hour backs up onto the through lanes both Northbound and Southbound.  The City performed capacity analysis of the existing Powers/Airport intersection and found that adequate capacity for the short-term future (10 years) could be provided with the addition of a through lane in each direction on Powers Boulevard south of Platte Avenue.  CDOT staff has agreed with this concept and is planning to fund this improvement with $10M committed FASTER funds.

Please let us know as soon as possible the approximate start dates for these projects.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

 

Steve Bach

Mayor

 

Cc: Members, Pikes Peak Region Mayors Caucus

Members, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Board of Directors

Members, Colorado Springs City Council

 

Attachment:  Distribution List

Distribution List for Mayor Bach 12.20.12 letter to Messrs. Les Gruen and Don Hunt

 

Members, Pikes Peak Region Mayors Caucus

Mayor Blair Bartling – Town of Calhan

Mayor Bruce Brown – City of Cripple Creek

Mayor Travis Easton – Town of Monument

Mayor Buck Hakes – City of Victor

Mayor Jeri Howells – City of Fountain

Commission Chair Jim Ignatious – Teller County Commissioners

Commission Chair Amy Lathen – El Paso County Commissioners

Mayor Nikki McDonald – Town of Palmer Lake

Mayor Marc Snyder – City of Manitou Springs

Mayor Dave Turley – City of Woodland Park

Mayor Lorrie Worthey – Town of Green Mountain Falls

 

Members, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Board of Directors

Chair Commissioner Sallie Clark

First Vice Chair Commissioner Dennis Hisey

Second Vice Chair Councilmember Scott Hente

Secretary Trustee Tyler Stevens

Treasurer Commissioner Jim Ignatious

 

Members, City of Colorado Springs City Council

Councilor Merv Bennett

Councilor Lisa Czelatdko

Councilor Angela Dougan

President Scott Hente

Councilor Bernie Herpin

Councilor Tim Leigh

President Pro Tem Jan Martin

Councilor Val Snider

Councilor Brandy Williams

Posted in: Budget • City Administration • Transportation • • • | 3 Comments »

Bach to flip switch on last darkened streetlight

December 10th, 2012, 9:55 am by

Can somebody call Diane Sawyer?

Three years ago, Colorado Springs was thrust into the media spotlight when city officials decided turned off nearly 8,000 streetlights, among other drastic cost-cutting measures, because of budget constraints.

After tonight, all the darkened streetlights will be back on.

The development is unlikely to generate as much publicity, but Mayor Steve Bach is inviting the media to watch him “flip the switch” on the last darkened streetlight at 5 p.m. Monday.

The streetlight is on the northwest corner of Academy Boulevard and Constitution Avenue, according to the mayor’s office.

“Restoring the remaining 3,500 streetlights is one of the key community benefits in the city’s 2013 budget,” Bach said in a statement.

“With additional savings from 2012, we are glad to be able to restore this service to the citizens before the New Year,” he said.

Here’s some background from the city:

In 2009, the city turned off about 8,000 streetlights to save money.  All residential streetlights were flipped back on in 2010. After tonight, all remaining arterial lights will be back on.

“Budget savings from 2012, including salary savings from not filling vacant positions, helped fund the $150,000 needed to turn the lights back on,” the city said. “The electric cost to keep the remaining 3,500 lights on will be approximately $100,000 annually.”

While all the streetlights are supposed to be back on, the city cautioned that some may still be dark “due to copper wire theft or other maintenance issues.”

 

 

 

Posted in: Budget • Utilities • • • | 8 Comments »

Which groups are pocketing YOUR ratepayer dollars?

November 20th, 2012, 11:42 am by

Should city-owned Colorado Springs Utilities be handing out ratepayer money to groups such as the NAACP and the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance?

The utility budgeted about $774,000 to hand out to various organizations and charities in 2013, raising the ire of some Utilities Board members.

“The greater question pointed out by these gifts and the gift-giving process leads to the overall structure of the board and the built-in conflict of interest presented by being both a city councilor and a utility company board member,” Councilman Tim Leigh recently wrote in his electronic newsletter.

“As a utility company board member I understand and condone the giving.  I encourage it.  As a company, the million dollar give-away is chump change used to curry small-time political favor.  I understand the process,” he said.

“But as a city councilor looking out for Fred the Plumber and his good wife Ethel and their 3 kids living in a poorly insulated, small duplex on the east side, I’m compelled to call-out the unfairness of arbitrary gifts of rate payer dollars. ”

Click here to see the list of groups that are poised to receive ratepayer money and the amount.

The Gazette asked Springs Utilities to provide more information about the “Community Focus Fund” program.

Here is their response:

As a citizen-owned utility, we are committed to giving back to the community we serve.  Our community investments programs include investments in community organizations that retain, grow, and recruit businesses in our region;  grants through the Community Focus Fund program; support of designated City Sponsored events; sponsorships of local non-profit events and memberships in local community associations.

Community investment provides financial support for activities and events in the community or in communities impacted by Springs Utilities operations.  Utilities Board policy requires us to demonstrate strong corporate responsibility and be responsive to community needs and values.  Community investment is limited to financial contributions which are budgeted as annual operating expense derived from operating revenues.  We are able to invest no more than 1/4 of one percent of budgeted operations revenues in support of the community.  Our budgeted amount is actually about 1/10 of one percent. The small increase in the 2013 budget covers increased costs in city-sponsored events and realignment of funding to meet community needs.

Community investments were first formalized in 1997 with the chartering of the Community Focus Fund by City Council. The Community Focus Fund was established as a community outreach program to support employee volunteerism and provide financial support to local nonprofit organizations and schools.  The program is managed by an employee steering committee of about 20 employees from throughout the organization who make volunteer project and funding decisions based on the program’s charter and guidelines. Funding and volunteering is focused on affordable housing assistance, community, education, environment, safety & health, senior citizens, youth.  Funds are also used to purchase supplies and equipment for employee volunteer projects.

Sponsorship funding is determined by a management team to support organizations and events that have a strong alignment with Springs Utilities’ business objectives such as workplace diversity, conservation and the environment, safety, renewable energy, science education or in support of events where Springs Utilities employees have made significant volunteer commitments to organizations as members of the board of directors.

Funds are also used to fulfill requests from City Council to underwrite the cost of barricades for designated city sponsored events such as the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, parades, etc.

In addition, our primary focus is supporting employee volunteerism.  Year after year, we donate thousands of personal hours to local charities and nonprofit agencies to help make our community a better place.  In 2011, our volunteer hours topped 25,000.

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • Budget • City employees • Politics • Utilities • • • • | 45 Comments »

Cop facing felony charges received $22,000 severance

November 9th, 2012, 11:52 am by

Sydney Huffman

Nineteen Colorado Springs city employees have received a combined $605,000 in severance payouts under the Bach administration.

They include:

Sydney Huffman, a former Colorado Springs police officer accused of fabricating claims that led to jail time and back-to-back trials against a former Manitou Springs policeman who used to date Huffman.

The city gave Huffman a severance payout of $21,956.

“As is often the case, you need to make decisions in the best interest of the organization as a whole and agree to mutually part company,” Laura Neumann, the mayor’s chief of staff, said in a recent interview.

“It was decided by both parties that it was the best solution to a situation,” she said.

Neumann and HR Director Mike Sullivan said they couldn’t provide any other information.

“We’re not able to under the terms of that agreement. We’re just not able to,” Sullivan said.

Huffman and another police officer cost the city $480,000 to settle a claim filed by Huffman’s ex-boyfriend.

In the suit, Jarrott Martinez accused Huffman of coercing Colorado Springs investigators into pursuing four warrants for his arrest — including one issued after Martinez was acquitted in two trials and a district attorney dropped charges in another case. The warrants alleged Martinez committed burglary, domestic violence and sexual assault, among other allegations.

When asked why the city would pay Huffman when she was part of a $480,000 settlement, Sullivan said there was more to the story.

“We are not able to get into those discussions nor should you. We will jeopardize the terms of that agreement that we’ve got here with that employee,” Sullivan said.

Police Chief Pete Carey declined to comment.

“I spoke with Chief Carey, and he advised that a legal, contractual agreement prohibits the city from commenting on this matter,” police spokeswoman Barbara Miller said in an email.

The Gazette obtained the severance payouts under a Colorado Open Records Request. The severance payouts do not include the amount of money that employees received in vacation or sick leave payouts.

Another former city employee who got a severance payout was Jason Lippert, an hourly employee who worked in the mayor’s office.

Lippert, who was paid $25 an hour, or $2,000 every two weeks, is a former fellow at El Pomar Foundation. He who was jokingly referred to as “the assistant to the assistant.”

“He would fit into the category of, we mutually decided to part ways,” Neumann said.

“Some hourly employees … particularly those who were privy to very sensitive information, confidential information, you reach agreements with some of those individuals,” she said.

The city included former Fire Chief Steve Cox in the list of employees who received severance payouts. But Neumann said Cox’s pay wasn’t a severance but more of a retainer to provide consulting services.

Here is the entire list of employees who have received severance payouts under the Bach administration:

CORA request separation packages since June 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in: Budget • City Administration • City employees • Colorado Open Records Act • • • • • • • | 13 Comments »

Hente invites Bach to see budget process firsthand

October 16th, 2012, 4:22 pm by

On Friday, Mayor Steve Bach sent Scott Hente two separate letters offering recommendations to make the Colorado Springs Utilities budget process better.

The two letters basically said the same thing, but one was addressed to Hente as the City Council president and the other as the chairman of the Utilities Board.

Hente responded to the mayor’s letters Monday.

Hente sent only one letter.

Here is the full text of that letter:

October 16, 2012

 

Honorable Mayor Steve Bach

City Administration Building

Suite 601, MC 610

 

Dear Steve,

Thank you for your recent letters regarding the Colorado Springs Utilities budget and process. I, along with my colleagues, appreciate your input.

Colorado Springs Utilities has always been committed to discussing its budget in an open forum and provides much of the information you suggested, including placing   all materials and videos of past Utilities Board meetings online for public viewing. In addition, every December the Board adopts, by vote, (and publishes) a planning calendar for the upcoming year which outlines expected reports and decisions required at each meeting. This ensures that the Board receives regular presentations on the budget and financial conditions, and provides a public record to our ratepayers so that they know, with sufficient notification, when they can comment on the budget. Last year was no different.

For example, in July of each year, staff presents the Financial Planning and Budgeting overview for the upcoming five years. The report presented at the July 18, 2012 Utilities Board meeting included the 2013 – 2017 projections by year on debt, days cash on hand, customer energy and water sales/consumption, planned capital projects, and programs and other projections. This report, as is the case for all reports and presentations dealing with the budget, was made in an open forum and was subject to public comment.

It is also important to note that Colorado Springs Utilities is not a municipal government and operates under a different planning and budgetary process. Unlike a municipal government budget, Colorado Springs Utilities’ budget is developed and presented in a specific accounting format that identifies the costs for providing services. This detailed format is used to develop an Annual Operating Plan (AOP) that is an integral part of the planning and budgeting process. The AOP provides financial data based on analysis of the current budget and a forecasted five-year financial plan. Once the AOP and budget is adopted, the Board holds the organization accountable through the CEO Performance Plan and Scorecard.

One other aspect that is significantly different is that the Utility budget is specifically tied to the utility rates that are regulated by the Colorado Springs City Council. The City Council, acting within its authority under both the State Constitution and the City Charter, has certain obligations with respect to public notification and the process in setting the rates.  The calendar approved by the Utility Board for each year ensures that the law is being followed with regards to the dates associated with the rate settings.

The draft of the Colorado Springs Utilities 2013 Annual Operating Plan and Budget was provided to Utilities Board members for preliminary review last week and posted on the Colorado Springs Utilities web site for public viewing.

Colorado Springs Utilities leadership will present the proposed 2013 AOP to the Utilities Board on Wednesday, October 17. No action will be taken at this meeting as City Council will be requested to consider and approve the annual budget, the appropriation of monies, and the identification of the annual sources of funds during the November Formal Council meetings. If approved, the Annual Operating Plan will become effective on January 1, 2013. The public is encouraged to attend and comment throughout this process.

The Utilities Board members have had several opportunities to participate in the 2013 budget process, including a public workshop on September 14. While not every Board member was able to attend the workshop, Jerry Forte and members of his executive team met with them individually to discuss the 2013 budget and approval process.

Thank you again for your comments and input. I hope you will consider attending the upcoming Utilities Board meeting and the subsequent Formal City Council meetings to see firsthand how the process works.  I’m confident you will walk away impressed with the operations and management of Colorado Springs Utilities.

Respectfully,

Scott Hente, President

Colorado Springs City Council

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • Budget • City Administration • City Council • Meetings • Politics • Utilities • • • • | 1 Comment »

Public invited to comment on 2013 budget Thursday

October 16th, 2012, 3:46 pm by

The city of Colorado Springs is holding an e-town hall meeting Thursday to give the public an opportunity to weigh in on the proposed 2013 budget.

The meeting will be from 5-7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Ave.

The City Council will take “comments, ideas and other input from citizens,” the city said in a press release. “Input submitted electronically will be read aloud as time allows.”

Mayor Steve Bach is also scheduled to attend the meeting.

Residents can participate in the meeting several ways, including by attending in person or watching it live on cable channel 18 or online at springsgov.com.

They can also phone in ideas and comments by calling 385-5961 or by email to 2013springsbudget@springsgov.com.

The city is using social media, too. The public can post comments or ideas on the city’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/springsgov or tweet them to @springsgov. The hashtag will be #2013COSbudget.

For more information, contact the Budget Office at 385-5970 or go to www.SpringsGov.com/budget.

Posted in: Budget • City Administration • City Council • Civic Participation • Meetings • • • • | 1 Comment »

Marijuana sales get higher in Springs in September

October 11th, 2012, 4:09 pm by

Duuuuude!

The city of Colorado Springs’ sales tax collections from medical marijuana businesses totaled a record high of $112,132 in September, an increase of 51.7 percent from a year ago, according to figures released Thursday.

The collections for September account for nearly $4.5 million in sales.

Year-to-date collections account for nearly $28 million in sales.

 

Posted in: Budget • | 7 Comments »

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