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City didn’t ink contract with muralist before painting started

July 13th, 2011, 3:56 pm by

Photo by Daniel J. Chacon

Colorado Springs Councilwoman Angela Dougan vehemently opposed a proposal to spend taxpayer money on a rooftop mural touting the city as the home of Olympic champions.

She was overruled 8-1, but that hasn’t stopped Dougan from asking questions — a lot of questions — about the project.

On Monday afternoon, Dougan sent Mayor Steve Bach an email asking for help in getting answers to questions from her constituents.

The email landed in city spokesman John Leavitt’s inbox, and Leavitt answered almost all the questions by 10:32 a.m. the next day.

Among the questions: Did the city have a contract, apparently with the muralist, that spelled out all the details?

“No,” Leavitt responded.

“We used our sole-source system for professional services to allow for a quicker response.  We have a ‘not to exceed’ estimate from (Vladimir Jones) for the mural,” he wrote.

Dougan also wanted to know whether the city had the ability to say the mural didn’t meet expectations and not pay for the work.

“We believe the work has and will meet our standards,” Leavitt responded.

“We have no contractual ability to not pay.”

Say what?

“Are you saying that we have no contract, but we’re still obligated to pay for the work?” The Gazette asked Leavitt today in an email.

“We received permission from the contracting office to use Kim Polomka (through Vladimir Jones) as a single source professional service because of the unique nature of his business (outdoor murals).  We did not negotiate a contract per se, we accepted a ‘not to exceed’ estimate from VJ for completing the mural.  Informally, we have emphasized our desire to have the mural completed as soon as possible, unfortunately recent weather patterns have prevented the artist from completing the mural to date,” Leavitt wrote.

“We are pleased with the progress to date and are confident in the design oversight being provided.  We look forward to a completed mural that declares our pride in having the U.S. Olympic Committee headquartered in our City,” he wrote.

“We would hope you would share that vision,” Leavitt added.

Here’s the entire Q & A between Dougan and Leavitt:

How much is the actual cost of the painter? The painter, Mr. Kim Polomka, will bill us no more than $19,000 for materials and labor to complete the mural.

How much for Vladimir Jones? VJ will bill us no more than $2,500 to oversee production.

(Vladimir Jones has decided to waive that fee in an effort to allay some of the controversy surrounding the project.)

Do we pay if painter does not adhere to design or will he fix at no cost? Graffetti? (sic)  VJ is making sure the painter adheres to their design.  Any subsequent fixes will be the responsibility of the City.

Time line on finishing? The latest estimate is to finish by the end of next week.

Did we go out to bid on this and what were the other bids? We did not go out to bid because of the super-short time frame.  The USOC offered to pay for the design but basically insisted we use their contractors.  Given the fact they had final say on the design, we felt it was expedient to accept their offer and get the work done as soon as possible.

What type of paint is being used to help with longevity of sign? I don’t know what type of paint is being used, but it has been chosen by Mr. Polomka, who is an outdoor muralist by trade.

Have we received the private money for the welcome signs in the 33,000 fund? No, all the private funds are being funneled directly to the Partnership for Community Design.

Have we paid anyone yet? No, no one has been paid yet, although we have receive invoices for the temporary signage produced for us by a local sign shop.

Do we have a contract with all the details? No, we used our sole-source system for professional services to allow for a quicker response.  We have a “not to exceed” estimate from VJ for the mural.

What did the USOC actually donate? The USOC donated design costs for the mural, the billboards and the soon-to-be completed Greener Corners recycling bin signs.

What is the proportions of the actual artwork and the proportion of the roof that has been painted? I am checking with the vendor and will give you a response as soon as possible.

(In a later email, Leavitt said the roof is 400 feet by 48 feet and that the mural is intended to cover the entire area.)

Where there any promises made that this mural could be done by July 4th and in turn higher cost for the painter? No, we received approval from Council to move forward on June 14.  There was one week of roof repair and priming that was done.  The subsequent delays are all weather related.

Who decided to pay for sign greeters out of general fund tax payer dollars? I proposed the idea to Mr. Cox, the chief of staff, and he provided the go ahead.

Do we have the ability to say “does not meet standards” with end product and not pay? We believe the work has and will meet our standards.  We have no contractual ability to not pay.

Do we know actual life expectancy in writing? No, the artist cannot guarantee the lifetime of the rooftop mural, but other murals he has done has lasted for years.  We believe it will last for about a year.

Posted in: Budget • City Administration • City Council • • • • • | 27 Comments »

Did Terri Velasquez get a 30-day notice of termination?

July 11th, 2011, 2:16 pm by

Terri Velasquez was placed on a 30-day paid administrative leave June 25.

But was it actually a 30-day paid notice of termination?

Maybe.

City officials won’t talk specifics, saying it’s a personnel matter.

An open-records request for documents pertaining to Velasquez’s leave didn’t turn up any clues either.

“Regarding your recent CORA request (of July 6, 2011), we reiterate our position this is a personnel matter and will not comment further,” city spokesman John Leavitt said in an email.

“Ms. Velasquez was placed on a 30-day paid administrative leave on July 25, 2011.  There are no other public records at this time.”

But in a telephone message last week, Ann Crossey, the city’s human resources director, said she couldn’t talk about Velasquez.

But she referred a reporter to page 169 in the Civilian Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.

That page deals with, among other things, severance pay.

“A paid 30-day notice of termination and the possibility of severance pay and/or benefits up to six months, for an eligible manager terminated without cause is authorized at the Mayor or Appointee’s discretion,” the manual states. “Any action taken under this program will be reported quarterly to City Council.”

Posted in: City employees • Colorado Open Records Act • • • | 4 Comments »

Letters on taxpayer-funded USOC mural ‘severely out of proportion’

July 8th, 2011, 9:51 am by

Here's what the mural looks like so far

A massive mural promoting Colorado Springs as home to Olympic dreams has turned out to be a bit of a squeeze play.

The taxpayer-funded project on the roof of a downtown warehouse is big, but apparently not big enough, to properly promote the United States Olympic Committee.

So, it appears the painter working on the project has downsized some of the letters.

“The letters are severely out of proportion to each other,” said another local painter who asked to remain anonymous.

“Look at how skinny the ‘T’ is compared to the original artwork. Even some members of City Council should be able to spot that sour note! They ought to insist he do it over, and correct it, before he gets paid,” the painter said.

Here's what it's supposed to look like

City spokesman John Leavitt said the mural, which the City Council commissioned with the hope of having it completed before the U.S. Women’s Open, shouldn’t be judged just yet.

“The mural is a work in progress and shouldn’t be judged until it is completed,” Leavitt said in an email. “All work is being supervised by the designer, and they are comfortable with the progress.”

The mural is located on the east side of Interstate 25 between Bijou and Cimarron.

Posted in: City Council • • | 27 Comments »

Mayor’s chief of staff puts city director on paid leave

June 30th, 2011, 9:47 am by

UPDATE: Terri Velasquez has worked for the city since 1987, not 1997. I apologize for the error.

Terri Velasquez, who is the city’s financial and administrative services director, has been placed on paid administrative leave by Steve Cox, the mayor’s chief of staff.

But city officials won’t say why.

“We are not sharing any details at this time as this is a personnel matter,” city spokesman John Leavitt said in an email.

Velasquez was placed on paid leave “as of Monday at five,” said Stephannie Finley, who is working with Mayor Steve Bach for a month.

According to the city’s website, Velasquez is a Colorado Springs native who has worked for the city since 1987.

As financial and administrative services director, she oversaw the Information Technology Department and the divisions of revenue and collections, procurement services and financial services, as well as the Parking System Enterprise.

“Ms. Velasquez holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Colorado and a Masters of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Colorado,” according to the city’s website. “She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Public Finance Officer.”

Posted in: City Administration • City employees • • • • • | 22 Comments »

City announces road closures for U.S. Women’s Open

June 29th, 2011, 2:08 pm by

The city today announced road closures during the U.S. Women’s Open.

“Due to the number of spectators and visitors in the area, the City of Colorado Springs will close the following roads for the durations indicated,” city spokesman John Leavitt said in a news release.

“Motorists are advised to consider their travel plans and devise alternate routes until roads open again,” he said.

Here’s the information provided by the city:

Local Roads around The Broadmoor

Cheyenne Mtn. Blvd. is currently closed and will remain closed from Mirada Rd. to Penrose Blvd. through 6 p.m. on Friday, July 15.

Mirada Rd. is currently closed and will remain closed from Pourtales Rd. to Marland Rd. through 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 10.

El Pomar Rd., from Park Ave. to Penrose Blvd., will be closed from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 2; and daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday, July 4 through Sunday, July 10.

Access to Lake Ave. from the neighborhoods to the north and south will be restricted to Berthe Cir. and Old Broadmoor Rd. from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Monday, July 4 through Sunday, July 10.

Roads and Intersections near the Vineyards Parking Area

Access from Hwy 85-87 to the I-25 underpass south of Bob Johnson Dr. will be closed and Colorado Springs Police officers will be directing bus traffic from the east side to the west side of the underpass, from the Vineyards Parking Area from 6 a.m. on Monday, July 4 through 5 p.m., Sunday, July 10.

Traffic at the Janitell/Circle intersection will be monitored and at times directed by police officers, daily from 6 a.m. through 5 p.m., from Monday, July 4 through Sunday, July 10, due to the heavy bus traffic for transportation to and from the Women’s Open.

Posted in: Transit • • | Post a Comment »

Quote of the Day

June 29th, 2011, 10:19 am by

“Under No. 1 is the ‘State of the City’ report to the citizens, not the council, not the chamber. I don’t know how a speech at the Broadmoor fulfills that. Where does the public have access and when?”

— Colorado Springs resident Walter Lawson, who questioned whether Mayor Steve Bach‘s State of the City address on Thursday at the Broadmoor will fulfill the City Charter requirement for the mayor to provide an annual State of the City report “to the citizens” of Colorado Springs.

City spokesman John Leavitt said he didn’t think Bach intended to fulfill that charter requirement with Thursday’s event, which costs $40 for non-chamber members.

“Obviously, there’s lots of parts of the new charter that we’re still working out, and one of them is going to be how is the mayor going to fulfill that promise to provide an annual report and what medium is that going to take,” Leavitt said.

The charter also requires the mayor to submit “a report on the financial condition of the city” before June 30.

The mayor fulfilled that requirement on Monday when his staff presented a mid-year financial report at the City Council meeting. The agenda item didn’t expressly state that the mayor was fulfilling the charter requirement with the report. Lawson said the mayor’s office should have done a better job making that clear.

“They didn’t make the point,” Lawson said. “Maybe it comes down to that they missed a chance to point out that they are fulfilling the accountability requirements that are designated as responsibilities of the mayor. They could have trumpeted that a little bit on their own behalf and let us know they’re doing the job.”

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

Governor gets CDOT to approve USOC signs at Bach’s urging

June 27th, 2011, 10:30 am by

Colorado Springs has received permission from the state Department of Transportation to install temporary signage promoting the city as the home of the U.S. Olympic Committee on the entryway signs along Interstate 25.

When Mayor Steve Bach learned June 13 that CDOT had rejected the city’s request, he told the City Council he was meeting with Gov. John Hickenlooper the next day.

“Is there a possibility he could override that decision?” Bach asked the June 13 council meeting, generating a few laughs.

“I’ll be there at 10:30. If you can give me some background, I’ll carry that message.”

He did indeed.

After the meeting, Hickenlooper or someone from his office called CDOT and asked that it work with the city of Colorado Springs to allow the temporary signs, city spokesman John Leavitt said.

At the urging of Councilwoman Lisa Czelatdko, the city decided to install temporary signs along I-25 promoting the city as the home of the U.S. Olympic Committee before the U.S. Women’s Open, which starts July 4, and other big events this summer.

“We’ve got the green light from CDOT,” Leavitt said.

There’s just one catch.

The Partnership for Community Design, not the city, owns the entryway signs, so the city is waiting for the partnership’s OK to install temporary signs on the entryway signs.

The north entryway sign currently has a temporary sign stating that Colorado Springs is the home of the U.S. Women’s Open. The city wants to replace that sign and also install one on the entryway feature coming from the south.

“The partnership is currently considering that request,” Leavitt said. “They own the sign, so we need their permission.”

In other USOC-related news:

Work is underway to paint a mural that looks more like a billboard on the roof of a downtown building facing I-25.

“That mural is moving along, and we hope to have that done by this time next week,” Leavitt said.

Lamar Advertising has donated two billboards for the city to promote itself as the home of the USOC. The city wanted to use the design from the mural, which features Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo, for the billboards. But Leavitt said the USOC “kind of balked” at that request.

“I think that they felt that that design was specially designed with that urban building in mind,” he said.

The USOC is working with Vladimir Jones, which designed the mural, to develop an “approved design” for the billboards as well as recycling bins throughout downtown.

“We definitely trust that they’re going to find something that’s going to be attractive and pretty and impactful and all of that,” Leavitt said.

Posted in: City Administration • Politics • • • • • • | 4 Comments »

Bach cans policy requiring visitors to sign in at administration building

June 8th, 2011, 9:58 am by

While he was campaigning to be mayor, Steve Bach promised to bring more transparency to city government if he was elected.

So far, so good.

On Tuesday, the day Bach was sworn in, the city eliminated a policy requiring the public to sign in at a security desk in the lobby of the City Administration Building downtown.

“During the transition, we’ve had discussions about being more open to the public, and based on the last year or so of experience with our security screening process, we probably had more negatives than we had positives related to people feeling welcome into the CAB,” Assistant City Manager Nancy Johnson said today.

The sign-in policy was instituted either late 2008 or early 2009 by former City Manager Penelope Culbreth-Graft.

City spokesman John Leavitt said there had been concerns about “angry people” going to the CAB to confront employees of the much-maligned Stormwater Enterprise customer call center.

“The thought was that if you just provided a little bit of a net there, that people would maybe be discouraged from any kind of a violent confrontation or something,” he said.

Although the safety of city employees and visitors at the CAB is always a concern, Leavitt said history has shown very few negative instances.

“Before Ms. Culbreth-Graft instituted that policy, we had a free and open entry policy for years,” he said. “There we a few occasions when had little problems, but we corrected them or addressed them on an individual basis as opposed to a general policy.”

Leavitt noted that the seven-story building at 30. S. Nevada Ave. still has security.

“We do still have guards that are available to us and will continue to patrol the buildings,” he said.

Under the policy, city employees were also required to show their badges.

At 6:37 a.m. Tuesday, city employees received the following email:

“Effective immediately we will no longer require employees to show their  ID’s upon entering (or wearing them while in the facility) and visitors will no longer need to sign-in when visiting the CAB.”

Posted in: City Administration • City employees • • • • • • | 5 Comments »

Springs celebrates National Preservation Month with fun activities

May 2nd, 2011, 1:21 pm by

John Leavitt of the city’s Public Communications Office just issued the following press release:

The City of Colorado Springs Historic Preservation Board would like citizens to consider the importance of preserving our local history by protecting buildings within the Historic Preservation Zone in downtown Colorado Springs.

May is National Preservation Month and the board has prepared activities for citizens to develop an appreciation for local history:

City Council adopted a National Preservation Month proclamation at its Formal meeting on April 26, 2011.

An online scavenger hunt (accessible at www.springsgov.com/historic will test citizens’ knowledge of downtown historic buildings by trying to identify buildings by viewing small photos.  Citizens who turn in forms will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card for use in downtown Colorado Springs.

On May 12, 2011, Matt Mayberry will give a “behind the scenes” tour of the Pioneers Museum.  Space is limited for the 5:30 p.m. tours so RSVP early to: Erin McCauley at 385-5369 or emccauley@springsgov.com.

On May 21, 2011, Will DeBoer will give tours of Evergreen Cemetery at 11 a.m.  Please RSVP by contacting Erin McCauley at 385-5369 or emccauley@springsgov.com.

More information and celebration details can be found at www.springsgov.com/historic.

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • Civic Participation • Meetings • Recreation and Cultural Services • • • • | Post a Comment »

Quote of the Day

November 19th, 2010, 4:12 pm by

“They haven’t lost a giraffe now, have they?”

— city spokesman John Leavitt, when asked today whether he knew anything about reports of a giraffe rescue at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

According to initial reports, a female giraffe fell down an embankment. At this point, it’s unclear whether the animal is injured.

Earlier this year, four North American river otters escaped from the zoo. One of the others, Kitchi, has never been found.

Posted in: Etc. • • | Post a Comment »

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