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VIDEO: Bach hopes council reconsiders pay raise proposal

January 23rd, 2013, 1:20 pm by

Mayor Steve Bach said Wednesday he hopes the City Council will reverse its decision Tuesday to refer to the April ballot a proposed charter change to increase council compensation.

The council voted 5-4 to refer the measure to the ballot.

But the proposal, which calls for increasing council pay from $6,250 a year to $48,000, effective in 2015, still requires a second reading at the Feb. 12 council meeting.

“I cannot support” the ballot proposal, Bach said during his monthly press conference.

“It’s simply because I think that’s a piecemeal approach to, frankly, reinventing our City Council. I do think we should have a serious discussion about council compensation. They do work very hard. I think they should be compensated fairly, and I’m not sure that’s the case right now. But I think that needs to be tied to council’s long-term role and responsibilities,” he said.

Bach reiterated his pledge to work with council on an expedited charter review “and hopefully come to a consensus on those matters which we should ask the voters to consider.”

Click here to listen to the mayor’s comments.

 

Posted in: City Administration • City Council • Elections • Politics • • • | 7 Comments »

Bach accuses council president of ‘power play’

January 16th, 2013, 6:56 pm by

Mayor Steve Bach said he was “surprised” to learn about a last-minute proposal to change the governance of Colorado Springs Utilities.

The proposed charter change by Chairman Scott Hente and board member Jan Martin calls for replacing the council with a seven-member independent board that would be elected as early as June. Board members would serve four-year terms and be limited to three consecutive terms. The proposal also calls for a supermajority vote of Colorado Springs voters to sell Utilities or any of its assets.

The Gazette asked the mayor to weigh in on the proposal, and here’s what he said in a statement:

“Scott Hente and Jan Martin stated at the Utility Board meeting today that they will bring to City Council next Tuesday a ballot measure for the April Municipal Election, asking voters to approve a change in governance for Colorado Springs Utilities, our largest and most important owned asset.  Mr. Hente and Ms. Martin surprised the other members of the Utility Board and me in making this proposal today at the last minute before the City Council statutory deadline for placing items on the April ballot.  They are suggesting that a new 7-member elected Board control CSU in the future.  While this idea may be worth debate, the community should complete a thorough discussion of all alternatives before this most important decision is made.  This is yet another last minute, piecemeal, proposed change to the City Charter on the eve of Mr. Hente being term limited and leaving City Council.   I’m disappointed that Mr. Hente would attempt this power play as he leaves office, and hope the City Council will turn this back next Tuesday and the other piecemeal Charter changes it is entertaining – which represent bad policy and are not in the best interests of our fellow citizens.”

 

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • City Administration • City Council • Elections • Politics • Utilities • • • • • | 21 Comments »

Czelatdko criticizes Bach, colleagues in private email

January 15th, 2013, 10:01 am by

In a private email to supporters, City Councilwoman Lisa Czelatdko criticizes Mayor Steve Bach for what she calls the “promotion, support, and abuse of authoritarian leadership.”

“As an elected official, I have seen how this has hurt the performance of the current sitting leadership,” Czelatdko said in the email, which was obtained by The Gazette from a source.

Czelatdko also criticizes some of her colleagues, though she doesn’t list them by name.

“Certain Council Members have shown complacency, inconsistency, stagnation, and selfishness. I apologize that we have not done a better job in serving you,” she wrote.

In an interview, Czelatdko expressed surprise that the email had been leaked. She said she sent the email to supporters who she personally identifies as leaders.

“To tell you the truth, with who I sent it to, I did not think for a second it would get to the press,” she said.

However, Czelatdko said she stood by what she wrote and knows that anything she sends on email can get out.

Czelatdko requested that the email be published in its entirety if it was published at all.

Request granted.

Here is the full, unedited text of the email:

With the upcoming City Council elections, please use your influence and money choosing leaders that are willing to work with others, teach others, and be committed to the common goal of improving the City and the region. Do not allow favoritism or familiarity to overshadow fairness and those wanting to serve with political integrity.

Steve bach did not attend events our State’s Governor came down for. He did Not attend the Southern Economic forum. He did Not attend the UCCS Lane academic center groundbreaking. He did Not attend the UCCS sequestration discussions. He did Not attend the State of the region discussions. He has cancelled regional mayor meetings. He does not attend Council or CSU meetings. Colorado Springs is seeing the promotion, support, and abuse of authoritarian leadership. As an elected official, I have seen how this has hurt  the performance of the current sitting leadership.

Certain Council Members have shown complacency, inconsistency, stagnation, and selfishness. I apologize that we have not done a better job in serving you.

Despite the livability and low property taxes bringing people to Colorado Springs, the challenges for local government continue to grow. Its more important than ever to build coalitions among City, County, and State leadership, private businesses, and neighboring municipalities to come up with strategies to solve problems, get citizens involved, stopping the overlapping or duplication of services, and provide the best services to all citizens.  Thats our job as your elected representatives.

Lastly, please remember that City Council is meant to be a deliberative Republic body.  The people voted a Council Mayor form of government to have a separation and a limit of powers.  What is being achieved is short term aims like benchmarking, outsourcing, and reducing waste. Long term, we are seeing the spoiling of collective partnerships, a division of leadership, groups and PACs exchanging support to dissuade, and citizens losing confidence in their elected officials.

Your support for Council is critical for change. Real, lasting, satisfying change. For the last 21 months, its been a privilege being your elected official, thank you very much.

Respectfully,

Lisa L. Czelatdko (sa-lot-ko)

 

Posted in: City Administration • City Council • Elections • Politics • • • | 20 Comments »

Mayoral aide contradicts Bach on LART proposal

January 14th, 2013, 10:59 am by

Donna Nelson

Does Mayor Steve Bach want to appoint the LART committee or not?

The mayor’s office appears to be putting out contradictory information.

Here’s the background:

Members of the mayor’s team have been meeting with City Council President Pro Tem Jan Martin and council Administrator Aimee Cox on how to streamline the work of the Lodging and Automobile Rental Tax advisory committee.

Why?

Under the existing structure, the city could end up with three different recommendations on how revenues collected from hotel room and rental car taxes are spent. The convention and visitors bureau typically gets about 2/3 of the money, and the rest goes to special events, such as the annual balloon festival and the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.

The council-appointed committee makes a recommendation. City staff also makes a recommendation. Both recommendations go to the mayor, who could propose something completely different.

On Thursday, Donna Nelson, the mayor’s economic vitality specialist, said the “whole purpose” of the discussions with council “was to have a new committee that would be appointed by the mayor.”

Nelson and the city’s events coordinator have been representing Bach in meetings with Martin and Cox.

On Saturday, Bach spokeswoman Cindy Aubrey contacted The Gazette, saying the administration wanted to make a “point of clarification” regarding the LART committee.

The mayor’s office sought to clarify the mayor’s position after a “Question of the Day” about the LART funds appeared in the editorial pages of Saturday’s Gazette.

The question followed a Friday story about Bach’s proposal, which explicitly states that a resolution outlining the makeup of the LART committee would be amended “to provide the Mayor with appointment authority over a reorganized LART committee.”

But Aubrey offered a different stance Saturday.

“To be clear, Mayor Bach does not want to take over appointing the members of the LART Advisory Committee. The Mayor’s Office and City Council are committed to finding a solution which will expedite the process for approving funding for community events,” she said in an email.
“Both the City Council and the Mayor’s Office understand it was never the intent of the Executive Branch to usurp the authority of Council. Work continues and the item will be scheduled for a future agenda.”
Nelson chalked it up as a “simple misunderstanding.”

“I have been meeting with Councilwoman Jan Martin about LART for several months.  I have proposed solutions to try and simplify the process and things seemed to be moving forward.  My understanding from Jan was that she approved of our direction – but that she needed to confer with the rest of Council.  I think this was a simple misunderstanding.   Mayor Bach recognizes this is in Council’s purview and will defer to them,” Nelson said in an email.

 

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • City Administration • City Council • City employees • • • • • • | 3 Comments »

Forte to Bach: Hold your questions for study

January 7th, 2013, 11:50 am by

Jerry Forte

Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Jerry Forte wants Mayor Steve Bach to reserve any more questions about the Martin Drake Power Plant for a decommissioning study.

“From both a limited staff perspective and to best honor the study initiative, it would be best if any further questions were vetted as part of the study,” Forte said Saturday in an email to the mayor.

“Adding your voice to the scope and depth of the study would be very helpful in reaching a decision that is best for and can be supported by the community at large, both today and into the future,” Forte said.

The email included answers to a long list of questions that Bach had posed to Forte about the Drake power plant and other Utilities power facilities on Dec. 17.

Bach gave Forte a Christmas Eve deadline to answer the questions. Forte told the mayor he needed more time and delivered his responses to Bach via email on Saturday.

Utilities posted the answers on its website “so that our customers can see the information and stay up to date on energy issues that are affecting the community,” spokesman Dave Grossman said Monday.

Forte told the mayor that answering his questions required “certain assumptions” for current and potential environmental regulations and risk mitigation/generation ownership practices, among others.

“As you know, the utility business is very complex. There are many variables to consider in developing a balanced portfolio that meets the values and rate expectations of Colorado Springs Utilities customers. City Councils/Utilities Boards over the years have consistently directed Colorado Springs Utilities to focus on competitive rates while complying with all regulations and customer expectations. Boards have also valued local control of assets as the best means for self determining our community’s future,” Forte said.
“Colorado Springs Utilities’ competitive rates, national benchmark reliability and customer satisfaction, are the highest indicators of the resultant benefits our community has realized. An excellent track record of performance has also assisted in keeping and attracting large electric users, which directly translates to local jobs.”

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • City Administration • City Council • City employees • Utilities • • • • • | 13 Comments »

City hires new chief information officer

January 4th, 2013, 12:32 pm by

The city announced the hiring of a new chief information officer Friday.

Joe Palmer will join the city Jan. 21, pending City Council confirmation.

Palmer will be paid $128,000 annually.

The city said Palmer was selected “after a comprehensive five-month recruitment and interview process” with more than 120 applicants nationwide.

“Joe has 15 years of progressively responsible experience in information technology and accounting, including nearly five years as a chief information officer,” the city said in a news release. “He specializes in strategic planning and process optimization and has experience leading multiple large-scale transformational initiative and projects that deliver critical business outcomes.  Most recently Joe served as chief information officer for Jefferson County where he oversaw a staff of 78 and budgets of up to $15.5 million for nearly 5 years.”

Palmer has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Middle Tennessee State University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Colorado, the city said. Palmer also holds a Project Management Professional certification and is “affiliated with numerous professional associations and has earned multiple awards for his work,” the city said.

Here’s more information about Palmer’s  responsibilities as described in the job posting:

The Chief Information Officer is a highly responsible (at-will) executive position reporting to the Chief of Staff/Chief Administrative Officer. The CIO will provide vision and leadership by championing key technology initiatives that will transform the way the City does business and lead efforts toward practical, effective, and efficient technology and information solutions for the City organization and the citizens of Colorado Springs. This department, with a 2012 budget of over $13 million, is staffed by seventy-one full-time equivalent employees (fifty-five positions currently filled) and nine contract staff.

This position is responsible for all of the City’s technological needs including the maintenance and support of technical network and application infrastructures, enterprise and department specific applications (e.g., email in a Microsoft Exchange environment, PeopleSoft financial and human resources ERP, customer web interface programs and applications, and an award winning eGovernment website), region-wide Radio and ESRI GIS systems, comprehensive data telecommunications network, and a City-operated Cisco telephone system. Currently, the City is primarily a Microsoft shop with minimal open source utilization.

Posted in: City Administration • City Council • City employees • • | 6 Comments »

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 »

Forte won’t meet Bach’s Christmas Eve deadline

December 21st, 2012, 6:16 pm by

Jerry Forte

Mayor Steve Bach will have to wait until next year to get responses from Colorado Springs Utilities to a long list of questions about the Martin Drake Power Plant downtown.

Bach had given Utilities CEO Jerry Forte a Christmas Eve deadline to answer 18 questions about the power plant, which city officials are talking about decommissioning.

But Friday, Forte sent Bach an email stating he is working on responses but won’t be able to meet his deadline.

“Because of the number and complexity of the questions, I will not be able to complete this effort by the date you requested. I plan on having something to you during the first week in January,” Forte said in the email.

“Please let me know if you would like to meet in the interim.”

 

Posted in: City Administration • City employees • Utilities • • • | 6 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 »

Holidays may delay no-solicitation zone discussions

December 19th, 2012, 5:16 pm by

What should Colorado Springs do next in light of a judge’s injunction on the no-solicitation zone?

The Gazette asked Mayor Steve Bach and City Council members to answer the question Wednesday.

Only City Councilman Bernie Herpin responded.

“Before I can comment on the status of the lawsuit and implementation of the no solicitation ordinance, I would need to hear from our City Attorney.  However, we do have an ‘aggressive solicitation’ ordinance on the books that would cover most of the more aggressive panhandling anywhere in the city.  It, like all our laws, becomes a matter of enforcement,” Herpin said in an email.

“I, also, do not understand the comments from the judge about our lack of discussion on other issues with the content of the no solicitation ordinance,” Herpin added. “I recall that we talked extensively about no charity solicitation, specifically about the Salvation Army bell ringers; street performers; sandwich boards; Girl Scouts; and other impacts of the ordinance besides just panhandling.”

City Attorney Chris Melcher weighed in Wednesday afternoon, saying the city had already issued a statement on the matter.

“The release stated that the city would carefully review the written opinion when released next week, consult with legal counsel, and make a decision after a thoughtful review and discussion,” Melcher said in an email.

Melcher also said that Herpin was “absolutely correct” that “there were substantial and detailed discussions in public council sessions that discussed solicitation by charitable organizations,” including the Salvation Army and the Girl Scouts, and solicitation by musicians and other street performers.

“Until we have the judge’s written decision, we cannot be sure what the court meant by those comments or whether the court was simply mistaken in its review of the record,” Melcher said. “The entire City Council proceedings on the ordinance were entered into the record by the city at the hearing, and the record before the court will reflect those discussions. ”

Melcher said it’s unlikely city leaders will be able to discuss “possible next steps” until the next council meeting Jan. 7 because of the holidays.

 

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