Latest news with #ColoradoSpringsCityCouncil
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City Council decides not to issue Pride Month proclamation
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs City Council is not issuing a formal proclamation for Pride Month. While Pride Month proclamations had been issued in previous years, the City Council has decided not to issue a formal one for Pride Month in 2025. When asked why, the City Council gave various reasons. >>Pikes Peak Pride returns to Downtown Colorado Springs 'As a non-partisan legislative body, we believe our role is not to engage in identity-based or political gestures, but to focus on governance that benefits all residents. We want to be clear: we welcome everyone to Colorado Springs. We support the rights of every individual to live safely, freely, and with dignity. We extend our best wishes for a safe, respectful, and successful event, and we remain committed to ensuring our city is a place where all people feel valued and secure. Our decision is rooted in a desire to avoid divisive or performative politics. Instead, we aim to serve every citizen equally, without favor or pandering, and focus on the issues that unite us—such as public safety, infrastructure, economic vitality, and quality of life.' City Council Leadership The City Council noted that although they are not issuing a proclamation, they supported Pikes Peak Pride with money from the LART fund. 'We are sad to learn of the City Council's decision not to proclaim for Pride Month this year, as they've done for the last several years,' Pikes Peak Pride said. 'We're thankful to Mayor Yemi and his office for coming to the Pride Festival and issuing a Mayoral Proclamation again this year. We believe that repeals to diversity, equity, and inclusion from the federal level down are hurting minority groups across the board. Pikes Peak Pride exists to represent and provide visibility for our LGBTQIA+ community, and we thank those who show up and speak up for Pride Week. We see you. We hear you.' The Pride crosswalk will also not be installed. 'Due to accessibility and safety concerns, the City is not allowing crosswalks to be modified for any events,' said a City of Colorado Springs spokesperson. 'The City is providing outdoor space at the Pioneers Museum, where Pride is being held, for decoration by event organizers.' Pikes Peak Pride will celebrate Pride Month, love, identity, and community in Downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15. The Pride Parade is also set to occur on Sunday at 11 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New high-rise ‘One Vela' approved by City Council
(COLORADO SPRINGS)– A fight that could permanently change the skyline of Colorado Springs appears to be over for the time being. On Monday, April 7, City Council denied an appeal of a project to build a new high-rise downtown, which is clearing the way for the proposed project to move forward. The building will be located at the corner of Sahwatch and Costilla Streets, about a block away from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. If built, it would become the highest building in Colorado Springs, standing at twenty-seven stories, which is almost a third higher than the current tallest building, The Wells Fargo Tower, at sixteen stories. Now, many community members are worried the new building will disrupt their mountain views. 'I believe this adds to our skyline, to our majestic skyline,' said Councilman Randy Helms during Monday's meeting. The only person who voted for the appeal was Councilman Dave Donelson. 'Let's have change, but let's cap that at the tallest building because we do have such beautiful surroundings,' said Donelson. After hours of community testimony, and allowing all sides to debate, in a six-to-one vote, the Colorado Springs City Council denied the appeal for the One Vela project. 'We have elevation sickness, that is a real thing. It affects locals and natives who still get elevation sickness. Now you're throwing in a 315-foot building and an elevator going straight up… are these medical things even being brought up,' said one concerned community member who spoke at the meeting. She was just one of dozens that packed the room on Monday to voice their opposition to the new building. 'Our key points have repeatedly been we view our skyline as a community shared value. We believe that citizens have a right to a voice regarding the downtown building heights,' said another community member. Councilman Donelson was the only one on the city council to approve the deal, one of his concerns being that the issue should be on the ballot to allow citizens to decide. 'I think it's wrong if we think our citizens would put a limit and don't let them vote on it. I think it's wrong to do that,' said Councilman Donelson. He also did not want the current City Council members to make the decision with many of them only in office for another 10 days. After last Tuesday's election, only two current members will remain on the City Council–Donelson and Nancy Henjum. 'I don't think council should do this on the way out, on the way out of the door for this council,' said Councilman Donelson. The vote clearly showed that the current members did not feel the same way. 'I absolutely disagree with that. I've been working on this issue for however long we've been working on these kinds of issues,' said Councilman Helms. The new apartment building, One Vela, will add four hundred new homes to help the housing shortage, and according to their website, will add thousands of local jobs and millions in tax revenue for the city. 'After weighing all the different values, the different comments, I've got to tell you I believe this is right for our city,' said Councilman Helms. One Vela estimates the building will create $26.4 million in local income, $2.9 million in tax and other revenue for local governments, and 306 jobs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City Council to discuss appeal of ONE VeLa proposal
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Colorado Springs City Council will be discussing the appeal of the ONE VeLa proposal in downtown Colorado Springs. At 1 p.m. on Monday, April 7, the City Council will host a Special City Council Meeting, where it will host a public hearing regarding the appeal of the ONE VeLa proposal, which was previously approved in December. The project proposed a 27-story building, which would be located at the corner of Sahwatch and Costilla Streets, near the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum. The high-rise would also help address Colorado Springs' housing shortage with the addition of 400 new housing units. If built, the skyscraper would be the tallest in the city. Plans for the skyscraper have caused worry among some community members, who have opposed the building due to the building being too tall and environmental concerns such as skyline impacts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
EPSO, City Council discuss inmate mental health
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — On Monday, Feb. 24, Colorado Springs City Council heard from El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal and other detention officials on the topic of incarcerated members of the community who are homeless, suffering from addiction, or mentally ill. According to Roybal, those in the incarcerated population who require mental health and substance use services are offered the option of medication and support, and Roybal said he stands behind the work his agency does to ensure those who are incarcerated are treated fairly. 'I am confident and proud to say, upon release, those who are incarcerated leave the El Paso County Jail healthier and with more resources than they had upon entering our facility,' said Sheriff Roybal during the presentation before City Council on Monday. City Councilmembers were allowed to ask question of Roybal, and EPSO said council was informed about the the collaborative relationships EPSO maintains with community partners, and the multiple ways EPSO works to ensure those who are incarcerated receive optimal care while in custody and upon their release. 'My staff has done an outstanding job at building programs allowing for rapid diagnosis, treatment, and prevention for those suffering from mental health issues, homelessness, and drug addictions within our community,' said Rpybal. 'The average stay for an incarcerated individual in El Paso County is 32 days, which means we are charged with caring for our neighbors, family members, and local workforce as they will eventually return to our community. Our detention staff does a fantastic job caring for those in our custody. I am extremely grateful for their dedication and hard work.' According to EPSO, on average in 2024: 60% of the incarcerated population reported having a mental health-related concern. 26% of the incarcerated population reported being homeless. 37% of the incarcerated population received psychotropic medication treatment. In addition to the 37% receiving psychotropic medication treatment, 10% were recommended to receive psychotropic medication treatment but refused. In 2024, EPSO said its Jail Based Behavior Providers also led 480 Substance Disorder Group Meetings with 3,037 participants: 3,047 incarcerated individuals had a comprehensive treatment plan prepared upon release. 808 incarcerated individuals received NARCAN upon release as a preventative measure. EPSO said it currently partners with multiple mental health providers, including Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, El Paso County Public Health, Diversus Health, Common Spirit Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation, and more to provide inmates with support and care. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Colorado Springs begins accepting recreational marijuana licenses despite legal fight
The will-they, won't-they recreational marijuana saga in Colorado Springs entered new territory this week. The big picture: A district court judge ruled Monday that the city's recent attempt to ask voters to repeal recreational marijuana sales is unconstitutional, per a statement from Citizens for Responsible Marijuana Regulation. The latest: Vanessa Zink, a spokesperson for Colorado Springs, in a statement said the city is "exploring all procedural options available," but she didn't specify plans to move forward. Why it matters: Elected officials in Colorado's second-largest city are directly challenging voters, who chose to allow recreational marijuana sales 11 years after state legalization. State of play: Colorado Springs started accepting applications for recreational licenses Monday, Zink tells us. Applications are limited to those already operating medical marijuana dispensaries, per the Colorado Sun. Recreational sales could begin as early as April 10. Flashback: Last month, the Colorado Springs City Council added a ballot measure to April's municipal election asking residents whether to repeal the measure passed by voters last fall to allow recreational marijuana sales in the city. Councilmember Dave Donelson said voters may have been confused by the November measure's wording and a competing effort to ban recreational sales, per 9News. The council's decision to add the new measure prompted two residents to file a lawsuit. Context: The judge said the attempted April measure violated the Colorado Constitution because the state's recreational sales law requires local measures seeking to prohibit such sales to appear before voters in even-numbered years, according to the Sun. What they're saying: "We hope city council members received the judge's message that they do not have absolute authority over their residents," Adam Gillard, a plaintiff in the case, said in a statement.
