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Archive for the 'Doug Price' Tag

‘We may be open for business, but good luck getting here’

July 16th, 2012, 8:57 am by

City Councilwoman Lisa Czelatdko says it “seems ridiculous” that Colorado Springs doesn’t have many transportation options for visitors even though it’s the second largest city in the state.

“No public transportation even from our own airport into town,” Czelatdko said Monday in an email to Mayor Steve Bach.

“We may be open for business, but good luck getting yourself here,” she wrote.

“If there really is an interest in economic development, local transportation will at least need to be improved upon. I hope (the Bach administration) is considering with upcoming budget,” she added.

Czelatdko’s email — which also went to Chief of Staff Laura Neuman, Doug Price, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau, and her council colleagues — was triggered by an email that a man sent to City Council.

“My wife and me are going to go to Colorado Springs, the flight arrives to Denver’s airport and we’d  like to know how we can go to Colorado Springs, by bus, trains, and so on,” Tomás Ruiz wrote.

“We’d be very grateful if you can help us  with this information.”

City Councilman Bernie Herpin responded to Ruiz’s email.

Here’s Herpin’s email response:

Thank you for visiting our community.  While we do have an airport, some folks do choose to fly into Denver.  There are no trains or direct buses that connect to Colorado Springs from the Denver airport; however, there are private shuttles that do serve our community:

http://flydenver.com/gtdetail?TYPE=COMMUTERSHUTTLES&URI=tcm:8-1398

http://www.coloradoshuttle.com/

You can also rent a car.

With over 55 attractions in and around Colorado Springs, you are sure to have a great time.  Because this is the “wide open West”, you may want to consider renting a car to get around.  Here is a website that will provide information and a free guide to our attractions:  www.visitcos.com

I hope you enjoy your visit and please let us know if you need additional info.

Sincerely,

Bernie Herpin

Czelatdko replied to Herpin and cc’d the mayor, Neumann, Price and her colleagues.

Here’s the full text of her email:

Doesn’t this seem ridiculous us being the second largest city in the state and really no transportation options for visitors to come visit our City. No public transportation even from our own airport into town. We may be open for business, but good luck getting yourself here. If there really is an interest in economic development, local transportation will at least need to be improved upon. I hope admin is considering with upcoming budget.

Posted in: Budget • City Administration • City Council • People • Transit • Transportation • • • • • • | 21 Comments »

McMillion, FREX and Live it Up! on council agenda

May 21st, 2012, 9:53 am by

After canceling the last two regularly scheduled meetings, the City Council is back in full swing this week.

Among the items on Monday’s agenda:

Doug Price, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, will present an update on the city’s branding strategy. That’s right, Colorado Springs, we’re still Living it Up!

The new human resources director, Mike Sullivan, will go over proposed changes to the Civilian and Sworn Personnel Policies and Procedures Manuals.

They include reducing workers’ compensation benefits for police and firefighters from 2,080 hours of injury leave at 100 percent to 1,220 hours at 85 percent. For civilian employees, the proposed change would reduce workers’ compensation benefits from 2,080 hours of injury leave at 100 percent to 960 hours at 85 percent.

The Transit Services Division will sum up the public comments that it received on a proposal to discontinue local funding for the FrontRange Express, or FREX, and raise the Metro Mobility ADA Paratransit fare from $3.00 to $3.50.

The Oil and Gas Committee, which included Councilman Val Snider, the chairman, and Councilwomen Angela Dougan and Brandy Williams, will bring the rest of council up to speed on its work. The committee was formed to provide recommendations to council for oil and gas exploration and operations.

Finally, the council plans to meet behind closed doors to discuss the $1.15 million separation agreement for former Memorial Health System CEO Dr. Larry McEvoy. According to the agenda, the council will receive “advice and negotiation consultation with the City Attorney regarding Memorial Health System” and “advice and consultation with the City Attorney regarding potential litigation matters that are subject to negotiations, developing strategy for negotiations and instructing negotiators.

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • Budget • City Council • City employees • Meetings • People • • • • • • • • • • • • | 5 Comments »