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Archive for the 'Housing and Building Association' Tag

Councilwoman suffering Notyetupdatedherwebsiteitis

January 17th, 2013, 10:31 am by

Dear City Councilwoman Brandy Williams: Time to update your campaign website.

Williams, who is running for re-election against former state Sen. Keith King and former county Commissioner Jim Bensberg in the race for District 3, lists the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs among her endorsers.

But Williams failed to secure the HBA’s endorsement this year.

Granted, Williams includes the HBA among the organizations supporting her on her old campaign website.

But one of her competitors — King — landed in hot water this week when he listed county Commissioner Sallie Clark as a member of his advisory council.

It’s true that Clark served on King’s advisory council. But she did so when he was in the Legislature.

“Sorry for the confusion, Sallie Clark,” King’s campaign manager, Daniel Cole, said on Facebook.

“Keith’s page is currently undergoing a transition from a Legislative website to a new Council website, which has been built for a couple days, but which has lain dormant as we worked out networking issues.”

Clark, who is friends with all the candidates, asked that her name be removed.

 

Posted in: City Council • Elections • Politics • • • • • • | 8 Comments »

HBA asked candidates whether they would decommission Martin Drake Power Plant

January 16th, 2013, 9:35 am by

As part of its endorsement process, the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs posed a long list of questions to City Council candidates, ranging from whether the downtown power plant should be decommissioned to how they would assess Mayor Steve Bach’s first two years in office.

Here is the questionnaire:

Please write a short paragraph about why you are running and your philosophical agenda for the City of Colorado Springs:

Please provide a summary of your professional background your qualifications for serving on the Colorado Springs City Council and as a member of the Board of Directors of Colorado Springs Utilities.

Please answer the following series of questions.  Please submit electronically with the questionnaire.  The questionnaire will be distributed to the members of our PAC interview committee prior to your interview.

Do you favor the current form of government as approved by the voters in 2010 to have a strong mayor form of government?  Explain your position.

Will you support any charter amendments to change the form of government by rolling back or adding to the powers of the Mayor or Council? Please explain.

Does the Mayor have too much or too little power under the new form of government?

How would you change the balance of power between the Mayor and City Council.

What is your assessment of the first two years of the term of Mayor Bach?

Do you support changes in the employee pension plans?

– For police and fire

– For civilian employees

If there are not sufficient revenues to meet the expenses of the City, what is your approach:

– Increase revenue?  How?

– Decrease expenses?  How?

At what level should the City maintain its unrestricted reserve fund balance?

It is estimated that the backlog of storm water drainage improvements is around $500 million?

– As a member of Council, what would be your proposal to deal with this?

Did you support or oppose the extension of PPRTA?  Explain your position.

Are the funds received from PPRTA adequate to meet the needs of the City?

– If not, how would you fund the deficiencies?

What are your views on public transportation, including our bus system, FREX, light rail and a downtown trolley?

– Explain your proposal for funding those items you support.

As a member of Council, you will also be a member of the Board of Directors for Colorado Springs Utilities.

– Do you favor a change in the governance of Utilities, and if so to what?

What are your views about the following Utility issues:

– Implementation of the Neumann technology at the Martin Drake or Nixon power plants.

– Should Martin Drake be decommissioned?  Explain your position.

– Do you favor selling or leasing any of the four utilities?  Explain your position.

If you favor selling or leasing, how would you use the proceeds from the sale or lease.

Do you support Southern Delivery System?  Explain your answer.

Should Utilities sell water to the City at a reduced rate for watering of public parks?

Is the City getting its fair share of funds from CDOT?

– If not, what is your proposal to make sure the City gets its fair share?

Did you support or oppose the lease of Memorial Hospital to University of Colorado Health System?

– Would you have preferred the sale or lease to an entity composed of the leadership of the hospital?

– Explain your positions.

Please provide a closing statement with any additional information you would like to provide to our interview committee.

Please include a copy of your professional resume with this questionnaire. 

 

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • City Council • Elections • Utilities • • • • • • • | 6 Comments »

HBA endorses only two incumbents in council races

January 15th, 2013, 6:00 pm by

The deadline for filing papers to run for City Council is still three weeks away.

But the political action committee of the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs has already finalized its endorsements.

“By this time, with the amount of time candidates have had to consider running, we figure that people that have that kind of passion for office already have been out there long enough to have a good sense of the field. So to us, it’s not too early,” said William Mutch, the HBA’s director of government affairs and public policy.

The endorsements were made before all the candidates are known because it’s a “longstanding tradition” of the HBA to get “involved effectively,” Mutch said.

The HBA endorsed only two incumbents — Angela Dougan and Tim Leigh.

The HBA endorsed Keith King over incumbent Brandy Williams in District 3 and Al Loma over Bernie Herpin in District 5.

The fifth incumbent — Lisa Czelatdko — is apparently not seeking re-election.

Ed Bircham, who is running for council District 6 and wasn’t endorsed by the HBA, said he didn’t receive a questionnaire or an invitation to interview with the organization.

“I don’t know why they made up their minds so fast without giving me the opportunity,” Bircham said.

Still, Bircham said he didn’t want to be “indebted” to any group. In fact, he said he’s going to fund his own campaign.

“I’m going to fund it myself so I’m not indebted to special interest groups,” he said.

The HBA PAC is headed by Ralph Braden, vice president at Nor’wood Development Group, one of Colorado Springs’ biggest real estate companies.

Braden, who is on the HBA’s executive committee, declined to comment.

Here are the HBA’s endorsements:

District 1: Incumbent Tim Leigh

District 2: Incumbent Angela Dougan

District 3: Keith King

District 4: Deborah Hendrix

District 5: Al Loma

District 6: David Moore

 

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

Poll: Majority ‘uncomfortable’ with homebuilder running Planning Department

April 16th, 2012, 9:53 am by

An overwhelming majority of Side Streets readers say they’re “uncomfortable” with the past president of the Housing and Building Association running the city’s Planning Department.

According to an online poll, 81 percent of respondents said Kyle Campbell, of Classic Consulting Engineers, “knows who pays his salary” and “can’t help but favor the industry.”

The other 19 percent said Campbell “is a man of integrity and will not favor the industry or mistreat neighborhoods.”

If you haven’t voted in the poll, click here.

The mayor’s office announced last week that Campbell will serve as interim planning director. He will be paid $175 an hour.

According to the announcement:

“With over 20 years of private sector experience as a planning/engineering consultant in Colorado Springs, Kyle will bring practical business experience to his 6 month contract efforts.

“He will work with (Director of Public Works/ City Engineer Helen Migchelbrink and Transportation Manager Kathleen Krager) in transforming the publics’ experience with the City in the processing of plans and permits.  As a strong believer in excellent customer service, Mr. Campbell will bring that mindset to the city as he evaluates procedures and processes with the ultimate goal of removing barriers to residents and businesses as they navigate complex government regulations.”

 

Posted in: City Administration • City employees • People • Transportation • • • • | 2 Comments »

HBA: ‘We’re voting against Richard Skorman’

May 10th, 2011, 8:38 am by

HBA President Kyle Campbell

In a new YouTube video, the Colorado Springs Housing and Building Association is encouraging its members to vote for Steve Bach for mayor over Richard Skorman.

“The industry is supporting Steve Bach for a number of very good business reasons,” Kyle Campbell, HBA president, says in the video.

“But predominantly we’re voting against Richard Skorman and his message against development and homebuilding in this community,” says Campbell, who works at Classic Homes.

Click here to watch the video.

The development and homebuilding industry has been responsible for a lot of growth and prosperity in the last several decades, Campbell says.

But in his most recent TV ads and at debates, Skorman has shown his “true colors against this industry,” Campbell says.

“Please take this time to get the word out to everyone you know,” he says.

Posted in: Elections • • • • | 19 Comments »

Bahr, Gallagher and Gilmore throw support behind Bach

April 27th, 2011, 9:32 am by

Steve Bach

Mayoral hopeful Richard Skorman really hit a nerve.

Skorman, who has been calling opponent Steve Bach a “developer” during debates and in his latest TV ad, is being criticized from various corners.

Today, former mayoral candidates Brian Bahr, Tom Gallagher and Buddy Gilmore — who weren’t planning to endorse either Bach or Skorman — broke their silence.

The three men issued a joint statement calling “Skorman’s recent attack on the real estate industry” divisive.

“Although both candidates in this runoff election have laid out their plans for the future of Colorado Springs, only one candidate remaining in this race has consistently presented a plan that upholds the conservative, limited government values we believe in,” according to the statement.

“That candidate is Steve Bach.”

In a telephone interview, Gilmore said he was “disappointed” in Skorman’s TV ad.

“He was really attacking a whole industry,” Gilmore said.

“You can sit there and demonize developers, but they’ve done a lot of good for the city, too.”

The statement from Bahr, Gallagher and Gilmore was sent via email by Sarah Jack, who works for the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs.

Here’s the full text of the statement:

During the last three weeks since the April 5th election the three of us have worked to get our lives back to some sort of sense of normalcy – re-establishing ourselves in the private sector, and more importantly, re-establishing our lives with our families. During this time, we have spoken with many of our friends and supporters. Many of them urged each of us to stay involved, and to publically endorse a candidate. We have resisted the urge to do so – until now.

Mr. Skorman’s recent attack on the real estate industry that provides tens of thousands of jobs in our community, an industry he has eagerly accepted contributions from in the past and from which he actively sought endorsements during this campaign, was divisive and caught our attention.

We believe that the best days for Colorado Springs are ahead of us.  To achieve the city’s full potential will require all of us to unite behind common values and goals.

Our concern in this election is two-fold: First, the next mayor must have a solid plan for the future success of Colorado Springs.  Second, that candidate’s plan must be one that reflects the conservative values that support a limited government focused on providing quality, essential services.

Although both candidates in this runoff election have laid out their plans for the future of Colorado Springs, only one candidate remaining in this race has consistently presented a plan that upholds the conservative, limited government values we believe in. That candidate is Steve Bach.

This election is certainly one of the most important ever for Colorado Springs. We collectively encourage our friends and supporters to join us in upholding the conservative, limited government principles that have made Colorado Springs a great place to live. These principles will be essential to the future success of this city we love.

Posted in: Elections • • • • • • • | 25 Comments »

Springs ‘bowing to unions and special interest groups,’ Collins says

April 19th, 2011, 9:39 pm by

Helen Collins, who was part of a slate of at-large City Council candidates recruited by anti-tax activist Douglas Bruce, says Colorado Springs may pay dearly because a 527 political organization with union ties was involved in the April 5 municipal election.

The political organization, registered under the name Save Colorado Springs Now, was funded primarily by the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs and the political arm of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. Other donors included the Colorado Springs Police Protective Association.

The group campaigned against Bruce and two other members of the slate, Ed Bircham and Richard Bruce.

“Debbie Wamsley, the registered agent for the 527, used to be the head of the AFL-CIO in Denver,” Collins said in an email.

“The new City Council members will now feel they are obligated to their donors who want to do nothing but spend, spend, spend, just like the Federal government,” she wrote. “I hope the new City Council proves me wrong.”

Springs citizens “need to wake up and ask for transparency,” Collins said.

“Your article points to how much Colorado Springs citizens and city government are bowing to unions and special interest groups,” she said.

Posted in: City Council • Elections • • • • • • • • | 13 Comments »

Anti-Bruce political organization funded primarily by HBA, chamber

April 19th, 2011, 6:47 am by

The self-proclaimed Reform Team

The Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs and the political arm of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce were the major donors of a 527 political organization that worked to prevent Douglas Bruce and two allies from ending up on the City Council.

The political organization, which calls itself Save Colorado Springs Now, received $35,000 from the HBA and $20,000 from the chamber’s political action committee, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.

The group campaigned against Bruce, Ed Bircham and Richard Bruce, who ran as a slate of at-large council candidates along with Helen Collins and Gretchen Kasameyer.

The self-proclaimed Reform Team promised to, among other things, derail the Southern Delivery System, a 62-mile pipeline that Colorado Springs Utilities is building to pump water from Pueblo Reservoir to Colorado Springs.

“With Bruce, Bircham & Bruce, we’re pretty much sunk,” the group said in one of its campaign flyers.

While campaigning against Bruce and Co., the group threw its support behind incumbent Jan Martin, Merv Bennett and Tim Leigh. All three won election.

The group, whose registered agent used to be the chief of staff at the union-friendly Colorado AFL-CIO, raised nearly $94,000 total.

Other big contributors included:

Core Services, Inc., $10,000

Hill Development Corp.,  $7,500

GE Johnson Construction Co., $5,000

Chuck Murphy of Murphy Construction,  $2,500

Phillip Lane,  $2,500

M.L. Lane,  $2,500

Katherine Loo,  $2,500

Colorado Springs Police Protective Association, $1,000

The group spent nearly $77,000.

Expenses included:

Denver-based Rocky Mountain Voter Outreach received more than $48,000 for canvassing

Ikon Public Affairs, also based in Denver, received $28,000 for mailing, phone calls and printing.

Posted in: Elections • • • • • • • • • | 9 Comments »

Tax hike endorsements from business groups up in the air

September 3rd, 2009, 11:50 am by

coins

The politically influential Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce is mulling whether or not to endorse a measure on the November ballot that would increase property taxes.

But one thing is certain: the chamber won’t oppose it, Stephannie Finley, the chamber’s president of governmental affairs and public policy, said today.

“That piece is not an option,” she said.

“The real question isn’t: Should we do something? Because we have to do something,” she said. “But the question is: What’s the right answer? That’s what we’re trying to determine: Is this ballot (measure) the right answer?”

The board of the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs hasn’t taken a position on the ballot measure either, said board President Ralph Braden.

“We’ve got a board meeting coming up in a couple of weeks, and one of our agenda items is to discuss whether to take a position and, if so, what that position is,” said Braden, a vice president of Nor’wood Development Group.

“I honestly wouldn’t even want to predict where our board will come down,” he added.

Calls to officials at the Colorado Springs Regional Economic Development Corporation and the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors were not immediately returned.

Voters are being asked to raise the property tax mill levy by 10 mills, starting with six mills in the first year. If approved by voters, city officials say it would generate an estimated $27.6 million in additional revenue next year.

The City Council recently approved a resolution that would eliminate the Business Personal Property Tax if the measure passes to try to get the support of businesses.

Still, Councilwoman Jan Martin, who proposed the property tax increase, said she’s not anticipating the endorsement of any of the four business groups.

“We would take whatever endorsements people are willing to give,” she said. “But, you know, there’s a real dilemma for the local business community. No one likes new taxes, particularly during a tough time like this. But the other side of that same coin is what happens to the business climate if all the cuts that are projected actually begin to occur, so it’s a real dilemma for the local business community.”

Finley agreed. She served on the city’s Sustainable Funding Committee, which spent more than a year examining the city’s business structure.

“We see the real need in the city,” Finley said. “We’re not naïve to the fact that there have been dramatic budget cuts. Honestly, how can you be a region of 600,000 people – the most populace in the state and the second largest city – and have the future of your bus system in question? How can you go as a family to the parks and not able to get into bathrooms and, next summer, maybe even have them fenced in?”

Finley said the chamber, which has 1,500 members, is having “an honest and very, very thoughtful debate” about the ballot measure. She said she expects the board to take a formal position within the next seven days.

“We definitely see the need,” she said. “The worst thing in the world that could happen is for the city to implode because we can’t provide the core services.”

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