The city of Colorado Springs is seeking volunteers to serve on the new City Council Oil and Gas Committee.
The committee, which will meet weekly through May 31, will make recommendations for “above-ground oil and gas exploration and operations policy,” the city said today.
The committee, previously called a task force, was commissioned by council President Scott Hente in response to plans by Texas-based Ultra Resources to drill on Banning Lewis Ranch in east Colorado Springs.
Hente gave the committee until May to issue a report. That’s because the council issued a six-month moratorium on oil and gas exploration Nov. 29 to determine whether the city has the right regulations in place.
The committee will meet every Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. starting Jan. 26. Committee members are expected to attend the weekly meetings on a regular basis, perform research assignments as needed and go on possible field trips, the city said.
About 11 or 12 people will serve on the committee, which includes council members Angela Dougan, Bernie Herpin, Val Snider and Brandy Williams. Snider is the chairman.
“Citizen members will be asked to fully participate in all meetings but only the council members of the committee will vote on any final recommendations to the full City Council,” the city said.
People who are interested in applying to serve on the committee are asked to submit a letter of interest, a two-page résumé and a response of less than 300 words to each of the following questions:
Describe the need you see for the City of Colorado Springs to examine above ground oil and gas exploration and operation policy.
Do you represent a particular constituency or advocate a particular position?
Describe your previous experience or perspective that could be valuable to the committee.
Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Jan. 12 and should be mailed to:
Marti Devine
City Oil and Gas Committee
City Council Offices
P.O. Box 1575
Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1575
Electronic submissions should be sent to mdevine@springsgov.com.
Applications may also be delivered in person to City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Ave, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
For questions, call Snider at 385-5485 or via email at vsnider@springsgov.com .