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• New Colorado Springs Council sworn in

  April 16, 2013 2:18 PM

  Six out of nine strangers were sworn in to replace Colorado Springs City Council members. On Tuesday a ceremony was held at Colorado Springs City Hall to formally induct the six new council members. In April's election, all of the incumbents running for re-election were voted out of office,... more »

• Council to vote on police and fire pay raises

  March 15, 2013 8:27 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Police officers and firefighters in Colorado Springs are poised to a get pretty good raise next year. The pay increases were recommended as part of a comprehensive study by the Waters Consulting Group which was hired by the city to evaluate compensation. Mayor Steve Bach says... more »

• Split over ambulance service could cost patients Play Video

  March 7, 2013 9:14 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - The City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County have split over ambulance service breaking off a 17-year relationship. In a prepared statement to the Emergency Services Agency board Wednesday, Colorado Springs Fire Chief Rich Brown said the department intends to recommend to City Council that they... more »

• Mayor mulls in-sourcing ambulance service Play Video

  January 10, 2013 12:38 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - American Medical Response has a government-endorsed monopoly for the ambulance service in Colorado Springs and El Paso County. Their contract is up for renewal at the end of the year and Mayor Steve Bach wants to see if the city's really getting the best deal. "More... more »

• Oil fracking war heats up in Colorado Springs Play Video

  November 28, 2012 12:48 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS- Controversy continues over oil and gas fracking. After 3 hours of debate at city hall, council members voted 6-3 to move forward with plans allowing companies to buy city land and drill for oil and natural gas through a technique called fracking. The process involves using... more »

• UCCS building to house health clinics & possible med school Play Video

  June 21, 2012 6:52 PM

  Seventy gold shovels may seem like overkill for a groundbreaking ceremony, but if you ask UCCS Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak it's symbolic of the cooperation it took to get construction going on the new Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences. "This really is the beginning of the future, but it's... more »

• City Council moves forward with downtown surveillance

  April 11, 2012 7:47 PM

  Colorado Springs City Council is going through with a controversial decision to install surveillance cameras in parts of the downtown area. Colorado Springs police and trained volunteers will be monitoring for crimes. Nine cameras will be installed along Tejon Street, between Rio Grande St. and Boulder St. Another camera... more »

• New bike race proposed to City council

  February 13, 2012 6:27 PM

  A new 105-mile bike tour around Colorado Springs and surrounding areas has been proposed to Colorado Springs City Council. The organizers of the first ever Tour of Colorado Springs want support for public safety and barricading from the city. The major debate among council members is the cost estimated... more »

• City cuts payroll by 10% over past 3 years Play Video

  January 19, 2012 12:36 AM

  New numbers that list city employee salaries are out for the public's eyes to see. This year city employees are slated to make about $131,000,000. It may sound high but in fact, it's a pretty big decrease. "The decrease was about $14,000,000 from 2009 compared to 2012. Or about 10%... more »

• Councilwoman's Facebook post sparks communication debate

  January 17, 2012 11:39 PM

  Is there a communication breakdown between the mayor's office and city council in Colorado Springs? That's the implication of a Facebook post from a city council member that is causing quite a stir. Monday night Colorado Springs City Councilwoman Lisa Czelatdko posted this message to her Facebook wall. In... more »

• Update: Mayor's office releases statement

  January 17, 2012 7:16 PM

  Since our earlier attempt to speak to Mayor Steve Bach about Councilwoman Czelatdko's comments about communication problems, his office has released the following statement to us. "At no time were any council members removed from any information distribution lists in any of the departments - nor did we receive... more »

• Colorado Springs looking for volunteers for oil and gas committee

  January 4, 2012 8:44 PM

  The Colorado Springs City Council is looking for citizens to serve on the newly-formed Oil and Gas Committee. The committee will provide recommendations for above ground oil and gas exploration and operations policy; it will meet Thursdays (Jan. 26th - May 31st) from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Anyone interested... more »

• Memorial e-town hall happening tonight

  November 17, 2011 2:49 PM

  The Memorial Health System Task Force is hosting an e-town Hall Meeting tonight. It's happening from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Colorado Springs City Hall. You can attend in person, via phone or send in email. The meeting is a chance for people to ask questions about... more »

• City council stops till taps for Stormwater fees

  September 28, 2011 7:54 PM

  In a closed door meeting Tuesday, Colorado Springs City Council instructed A-1 Collections to no longer use till taps as a means of collecting on any judgments for delinquent Stormwater Enterprise fees. The city hired the collections agency to recover the unpaid money. Over the summer, the agency sought... more »

• Council to discuss stormwater in closed door meeting Tuesday

  September 26, 2011 8:06 PM

  Surveillance video from the Ace Loan and Pawn on South Academy Boulevard shows uniformed sheriff's deputies, under court order, removing cash from the registers. It's the second time the this month that the sheriff's office has conducted the till taps at three of company's four Colorado Springs stores. "They... more »

• City Council goes after $1.6 million from homeowners

  August 10, 2011 11:27 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - The Colorado Springs City Council is going after homeowners who don't pay their stormwater fees. The council voted Tuesday to include $1.6 million in unpaid stormwater fees in county property tax bills. The amount will be listed on tax bills as a fee, but if... more »

• City Committee makes stern recommendations to Council

  August 9, 2011 12:31 AM

  The City Committee gave some stern recommendations to Colorado Springs City Council for improving its financial shape. Among the recommendations; cut down the number of managers and, quote, "flatten the pyramid", use temporary staff where it's possible, and put strict controls on hiring. Chuck Fowler is heading up... more »

• City council candidates participate in debate

  March 1, 2011 11:07 PM

  Fourteen people vying for Colorado Springs city council seats take part in a forum, organized by Trails and Open Space Coalition. The council candidates got together with citizens at the Penrose Library Tuesday evening to take questions from the audience. Four people are running for council district 2.... more »

• Memorial Hospital's future is on hold

  January 24, 2011 7:40 PM

  The future of Memorial Health System in Colorado Springs is on hold after a Mayoral Task Force recommended the delay to city councilmembers Monday afternoon. Memorial Health System Board of Trustees Vice-President John Moore says two reasons go into asking for the delay. 1. Moore says recent survey... more »

• April election: Candidates for City Council

  January 13, 2011 8:53 PM

  There are already ten candidates on the ballot for Colorado Springs Mayor. But so far, not that many people are lining up to fill open City Council seats. 7 of the 9 seats are open. One reason for the lack of candidates could be the salary--the job pays $6,000 a... more »

• Springs council approves MMJ regulations

  December 15, 2010 12:57 AM

  A marathon session for Colorado Springs City Council Tuesday night resulted in a win of sorts for those in the medical marijuana industry. Council voted unanimously to approve zoning requirements surrounding medical marijuana centers. Notably, the new requirements did not include some stricter measures that opponents said would put... more »

• 2011 city budget looking brighter

  November 16, 2010 10:16 PM

  In December, Colorado Springs city councilmembers have a chance to put some happiness back into the Christmas stockings of city residents. Last Christmas, their job was to take stuff out of the stockings. The 2011 city budget has an unexpected increase of $10.3 million (mostly from increased sales tax... more »

• AMR to increase cost of ambulance rides in 2011

  October 26, 2010 7:31 PM

  Ambulance rides in Colorado Springs and much of El Paso County will cost more in 2011. El Paso County Commissioners and Colorado Springs City Council on Tuesday approved a request by American Medical Response for a 5.8973% increase in patient charges. The rate increase, effective January 1, means a... more »

• Councilman Calls for Audit of Economic Development Corp.

  September 8, 2010 7:32 PM

  Colorado Springs City Councilman Sean Paige says he wants a fresh audit of the Colorado Springs Regional Economic Development Corporation. The EDC received roughly $70,000 of taxpayer money from the City of Colorado Springs and $192,000 of rate-payer money from Colorado Springs Utilities in 2009. Paige says he wants to... more »

• Funeral held for former Councilman Dr. Ted Eastburn

  August 20, 2010 5:28 PM

  Approximately 800 people attended a memorial service Friday for Ted Eastburn, a renowned cardiologist, former Colorado Springs City Councilman, and one-time mayoral candidate. Eastburn committed suicide early Tuesday morning in the offices of Pikes Peak Cardiology at Memorial Hospital, where he worked. Shove Chapel on the Colorado College campus... more »

• Springs' Medical Marijuana still in business, for now

  May 26, 2010 12:46 AM

  Colorado Springs' City Council passed an ordinance to begin a pre-application process for Medical Marijuana businesses in the city. Tuesday's move by the council comes in anticipation of Governor Bill Ritter signing House Bill 1284 into law. The bill will begin a year-long moratorium on licensing for new medical... more »

• Issue 300 adopted

  February 23, 2010 9:19 PM

  Colorado Springs City Council has adopted Ballot Issue 300 into the city code. A resolution containing an interpreted version of the issue passed on Tuesday by a 6-3 vote with councilmen Sean Paige, Tom Gallagher and Darryl Glenn all cast votes against the measure. Voters passed 300 in November... more »

• FREX saved, at least for now

  February 23, 2010 7:50 PM

  The Front Range Express commuter bus service will continue to take riders from Colorado Springs to Denver, at least for the next year. Colorado Springs City Council members voted Tuesday to use the $1.44 million it received from the sale of nine of the buses to fund its share of... more »

• Homeless issue faces many hurdles

  January 25, 2010 6:03 PM

  Colorado Springs city councilmembers are looking into adopting a "no camping" ordinance in response to the increased number of homeless people camping along the rivers and creek beds around the city. Council members say they're worried about public health and public safety. They also want to make sure, if... more »

• Issue 300 goes back to discussion table

  January 12, 2010 11:03 PM

  Issue 300 author Douglas Bruce will meet with Colorado Springs city staffers to try to clarify the purpose of Issue 300. Voters passed Issue 300 in November 2009. It eliminates enterprise fees and phases out enterprise payments to the city in eight year's time. Several money issues have come... more »

• Council discusses 300

  January 11, 2010 7:15 PM

  If you voted for Ballot Measure 300, Anti-tax activist Douglas Bruce wants you to attend a city council meeting on Tuesday. The city will be talking about how to resolve the conflicts between the ballot measure and the city charter. Voters passed issue 300, which ends city enterprise payments,... more »

• Vice Mayor was once homeless

  December 13, 2009 6:56 PM

  Many know Larry Small as the city's vice mayor -- a strong conservative, but one with compassion for the city's gay community and its homeless. "People need to be treated and respected no matter what circumstances they're in," he said. "They all deserve that." He retired from a career as... more »

• Springs voters say yes to 300 and no to tax increase

  November 4, 2009 12:31 AM

  Springs voters said yes to 300 and no to a property tax increase. "I think there are some areas where we need to spend money -- the types of things that they need for 2C but I think they need to spell it out in the ballot," said one... more »

• Sean Paige is new Springs city councilman

  October 7, 2009 5:04 PM

  Sean Paige was is the new city councilman for District 3 in Colorado Springs. Paige will replace Jerry Heimlicher who retired at the end of September. 19 candidates applied for the position. City council interviewed 18 of them yesterday. 1 was out of town but was still considered. ... more »

• Colorado Springs City Council to name new member Wednesday

  October 6, 2009 5:13 PM

  The Colorado Springs City Council will hold a special meeting Wednesday to appoint a District 3 representative to replace Jerry Heimlicher, who resigned to move out of state. Nineteen people have applied for the vacant seat. The meeting will be held in council chambers at 2:15 pm. more »

• 14 apply for council seat

  September 23, 2009 8:49 PM

  14 people have already thrown their hat in the ring for a seat on the Colorado Springs City Council. They include business leaders, professors and a former schoolboard president. Heimlicher, who represents District 3, is resigning at the end of Sept. People have until Monday to apply for the... more »

• Apply for city council seat

  September 16, 2009 8:33 PM

  You can now apply for the soon-to-be-vacant Colorado Springs city council seat. District 3, currently served by Jerry Heimlicher who is leaving for personal reasons, includes much of the downtown area, the westside and points south. To apply send a cover letter and resume to council by Sept. 28.... more »

• Colorado Springs city employees may face more layoffs

  September 16, 2009 8:17 PM

  Between 150-200 Colorado Springs city employees are being told they could be laid off, says a spokeswoman for the city. The positions may be cut to help balance the 2010 budget. Department heads have been meeting with the employees over the past few weeks, says Sue Skiffington-Blumberg. "This way... more »

• City councilman resigns seat in Colorado Springs

  September 8, 2009 5:19 PM

  Colorado Springs city councilman Jerry Heimlicher is resigning his seat, citing personal reasons. The announcement was made at a meeting Tuesday afternoon. Heimlicher is expected to move out-of-state. First elected to city council in 2005 and re-elected earlier this year, Heimlicher has a long history of community service on... more »