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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 Set to Vote on Fracking in City Limits Play Video

  March 12, 2013 12:22 PM

  To drill or not to drill, that is the question facing Colorado Springs City Council Tuesday. Council members are voting on new regulations that would allow oil and gas drilling within city limits. In particular, the concern is over hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking. The process is already permitted... 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 »

• 2013 City Council debate attracts dozens of residents Play Video

  March 6, 2013 1:22 AM

  Several new faces are hoping to land a seat on the Colorado Springs City Council come April.Candidates from the six districts came together Tuesday evening to gain your vote. There were some familiar faces on stage including council members Tim Leigh, Angela Dougan, Bernie Herpin and Brandy Williams. ... more »

• Solicitation ban allowed under 20 foot rule exemption Play Video

  February 14, 2013 2:18 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Every door of every home and business in Colorado Springs now serves as a legal yard stick. On Wednesday, US District Court Judge Marsha Krieger affirmed the city's 20 foot solicitation boundary from the entryways of private buildings and residences within the city limits. The restriction... more »

• Meeting over Pueblo Humane Society contract scheduled for Thursday

  January 30, 2013 6:24 PM

  Negotiations continue between the City and County of Pueblo and the Humane Society of the Pike's Peak Region. They have operated the Humane Society and animal control in Pueblo for the past decade through a contract with the City and County. Their budget this year from the city was cut... more »

• Neighbors meet about Bessemer revitalization

  January 26, 2013 5:55 PM

  Around a hundred people came out to show their pride in their neighborhood. Members of the City held a meeting to talk about the revitalization of Bessemer in Pueblo. City Council member Sandy Daff will soon be working at NeighborWorks to focus on Bessemer. They wanted to let people know... more »

• Your vote could change utilities future Play Video

  January 21, 2013 7:45 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Big changes could be store for Colorado Springs Utilities. City Council is expected to vote on a ballot measure Tuesday that would turnover control of the public utility to a independently elected board of directors. The ballot proposal calls for a 7 member board to be... more »

• City fracking ban unlikely

  January 16, 2013 1:04 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Energy companies may soon be drilling for oil and natural gas near Colorado Springs neighborhoods. City Council held a work session Tuesday hear from members of the state oil and gas commission about new environmental restrictions on drilling. Oil companies have expressed interest in drilling wells... more »

• Commerce City mulls daytime curfew for teenagers

  January 13, 2013 2:56 PM

  COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) - Commerce City officials are mulling a proposal to implement a daytime curfew for teenagers in an effort to stop students from ditching school. The Denver Post reports school-resource officers have proposed a plan in which the city's curfew would be extended to weekdays between 9... more »

• Council tightens fire code; tables TOPS Play Video

  January 9, 2013 12:41 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - On a 6-2 vote Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council passed stricter fire codes for any new homes built in the foothills of Colorado Springs. Smoke alarms, sprinkler systems and fire resistant Class A roofing materials are now required. Wooded siding and shake shingles are prohibited... more »

• Convicted felon in double homicide running for City Council Play Video

  January 2, 2013 11:28 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS- The murders of two innocent boys more than a decade ago angered the entire community. Now, Gary Flakes, one of the men involved in that double homicide announced he's running for a seat on City Council. Flakes, 32, said Wednesday he's running for District 4. ... more »

• City council wants a raise

  December 28, 2012 9:05 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Members of the Colorado City Council may ask voters next April for a substantial raise. News 5 obtained a copy of a draft ballot issued that would amend the City Charter to increase the pay of council members by the equivalent of 44 percent of the mayor's... more »

• ACLU files lawsuit against city over panhandling ban Play Video

  November 28, 2012 8:24 PM

  The city of Colorado Springs has a new lawsuit on its hands as the American Civil Liberties Union is challenging the new 'downtown no solicitation zone'. They say it is unconstitutional and violates free speech. If nothing happens panhandlers, Salvation Army bell ringers, even street performers won't be asking... 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 »

• Thoughts on transportation future arent appealing to all Play Video

  October 31, 2012 7:57 PM

  Public transportation is a constantly evolving discussion in Colorado Springs. It was the first topic as Mayor Steve Bach and members of City Council sat down to chat Wednesday morning. It was one of the Mayor's 'Counsel' Meetings; where they don't vote on anything, but the Mayor and council members... more »

• Stormwater showdown: Mayor and utility at odds over paying for improvements Play Video

  June 13, 2012 9:04 PM

  It was a storm that exposed the weaknesses of an aging stormwater system. Dozens of cars were stuck and submerged in several feet of water and hail near the Citadel Mall last week, the result of storm drains overwhelmed by the deluge. The city has a $500 million backlog... more »

• Mayor Bach hires new City Clerk

  May 19, 2012 11:45 AM

  Mayor Steve Bach has hired a new City Clerk for Colorado Springs; Sarah Johnson should join city staff Monday June 4th, following City Council approval May 22nd. According to a release from the Mayor's communications office, Johnson has 18 years of elections experience. Most recently Johnson worked for seven... more »

• Pueblo Council member resigns

  April 19, 2012 7:00 PM

  Pueblo City Council Member Judy Weaver has submitted her resignation, effective immediately. Weaver has been on the Council since 2006. She represents District 1. City Manager Jerry Pacheco states, "Judy is a very intelligent, hard working individual who has given selflessly of herself while serving on the Council.... 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 »

• Fountain pet store gets to keep selling dogs and cats

  January 25, 2012 5:13 PM

  A 30-year Fountain business owner gets to keep selling dogs and cats; which he says is about half of his business. Back in May, city council voted to ban the sale of dogs and cats in Fountain. David Neverette, owner of Valley Pet Store, has been fighting that decision... more »

• Carey named Colorado Springs permanent police chief Play Video

  January 24, 2012 4:00 PM

  Interim police chief Peter Cary is now the permanent chief of police for Colorado Springs. Mayor Steve Bach offered the resolution to make Carey permanent chief at today's city council meeting. After words of praise from the mayor and councilman Bernie Herpin and councilwoman Jan Martin, the vote... 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 »

• Council approves University of Colorado Hospital bid to manage Memorial

  January 10, 2012 5:27 PM

  The Colorado Springs City Council has voted unanimously to approve the bid submitted by University of Colorado Hospitals to manage health care at Memorial Hospital. With approval, City Council will negotiate a lease, and then the issue will be put to the voters. Council woman Jan Martin had said... more »

• Council woman takes oath at Pueblo tavern

  December 30, 2011 5:24 PM

  In the past 15 years, no one has been sworn into Pueblo City Council outside city hall or council chambers. That changed earlier this afternoon. Council woman Sandy Daff took the oath of office at the Klamm's Shell, a longtime tavern and restaurant on the south side. Under Pueblo's... more »

• Council overrides several mayoral vetoes Play Video

  December 15, 2011 7:29 PM

  An emergency meeting of City Council was held in Colorado Springs Thursday afternoon to vote on seven of Mayor Steve Bach's vetoes to the 2012 budget. In all, Council voted down 5 of the 7 vetoes. The biggest was a $175,000 price tag to repair and maintain city tennis courts.... more »

• Mayor Bach makes budget vetoes

  December 15, 2011 12:30 AM

  After another round of budget approvals by City Council, Mayor Steve Bach is vetoing some programs. His cuts total over $312,000. The biggest item on the veto line is a proposal to add $175,000 to the budget for maintenance and repairs to the city's tennis courts. The Mayor said... more »

• Memorial bidders pitch proposals to public

  December 7, 2011 8:07 PM

  Each of the five parties vying for for control of Memorial Health System, including Memorial itself, gave their pitch to the public at a special e-town hall meeting held at City Hall Wednesday. Memorial is offering $5 million in cash plus a profit sharing agreement rather than a lease.... more »

• Memorial Health System e-Town Hall set for today

  December 7, 2011 11:57 AM

  The public is invited to participate in an e-Town Hall meeting about the future of Memorial Health System as city leaders weigh proposals for potential ownership. Four prospective buyers have already stepped forward to purchase city-owned hospital including Centura Health, the University of Colorado Health System, HCA - Health ONE... more »

• North End community wants more safeguards at intersection Play Video

  November 9, 2011 12:24 AM

  A street corner near downtown Colorado Springs is at the center of a neighborhood movement to protect pedestrians. At the heart of it is a Girl Scout troop who goes to school at Steele Elementary. They say the corner of Espanola and Nevada right next to their school is too... 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 »

• Fountain political signs attack council members

  September 26, 2011 12:47 AM

  Some bad blood is brewing in the City of Fountain over political signs heading in to city elections. The signs refer to city council members Lois Landgraf and Harold Thompson as "bums". Another sign shows Landgrafs name next to a toilet with the words "flush it". Landgraff, who is... more »

• Boulder council limits marijuana advertising

  September 21, 2011 11:42 AM

  BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - The Boulder City Council wants to limit advertising for medical marijuana dispensaries to people who have a medical need. The ordinance passed Tuesday is designed to bar advertising to youths or recreational users. The Boulder Daily Camera says council members are concerned about the tone of... more »

• Deadline for hospital vote approaching

  August 2, 2011 6:56 PM

  Few hospitals run like Memorial Health System anymore. Three decades ago as many as half of the nation's hospitals were government owned, but today less than 10 percent share that model. A change in ownership requires voter approval and Colorado Springs City Council will need to move quickly if... more »

• Councilman disappointed, hopeful over downtown mural

  July 27, 2011 8:55 PM

  Back in May the Colorado Springs City Council voted to install several signs promoting the city as the "Proud Home of the United States Olympic Committee". The work on a large downtown mural was scheduled to be done before the U.S. Women's Open. That's come and gone, but the mural... more »

• Glenwood Springs sends Xcel back to drawing board

  July 23, 2011 3:04 PM

  GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - The Glenwood Springs City Council has voted to overturn the city planning commission's after-the-fact approval of electric towers that Xcel Energy Inc. installed. At issue are four towers Xcel put up in October as part of a transmission line upgrade project. City leaders say... more »

• Mass. city to pay wedded gay workers to offset tax

  July 10, 2011 5:22 PM

  CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - The city of Cambridge, Mass., is now paying a stipend to same sex married public employees to defray the cost of a federal tax that city officials call unfair. The city council has decided to pay quarterly stipends to the 22 public employees who pay... more »

• Council passes 1 of 14 medical marijuana fees

  June 28, 2011 11:32 PM

  After much discussion and even more questions, the Colorado Springs City Council has only decided to move on 1 of the 14 proposed fees for medical marijuana businesses. Councilman Tim Leigh and most everyone else on council tell us the proposed fees seem like they could be too high, as... more »

• Council approves $2,200 mmj application fee

  June 28, 2011 8:18 PM

  The Colorado Springs City Council has approved a motion to charge applicants $2,200 for a medical marijuana business application. The fee will include a city background check in addition to the background check already done by the stare. Originally council was expected to vote on a large fee structure... more »

• City Council mulling medical marijuana fees

  June 28, 2011 7:14 PM

  The Colorado Springs City Council is currently hearing public comment on proposed fees for medical marijuana shops and their owners. Councilman Tim Leigh has proposed that council only vote to approve an application fee and then sort out the rest on a later date. We'll have a live update tonight... more »

• Pueblo city council passes property ordinance

  June 14, 2011 2:34 AM

  Pueblo city councilmembers voted 4-3 to pass an ordinance aimed at vacant and rental properties. The ordinance does not include owner-occupied properties. After two hours of public comment Monday night, the council voted to pass an adaptation of the international property maintenance code. People against the ordinance say the... more »

• Incline taking final steps to legitimacy

  March 29, 2011 6:38 PM

  After several months of meetings and planning sessions the Manitou Springs Incline could be one step closer to becoming a legitimate trail tonight. The Manitou Springs City Council is holding a special session to discuss and possibly vote on a plan to make the trail legal. The city is... more »

• Ballot Issue 1A confusing to some

  March 20, 2011 7:07 PM

  You may have already received your mail-in ballot. Along with choosing a Mayor and City Council, Colorado Springs ballots have two questions. One of them caught a local woman off-guard. "I opened it up and read it," says Mary Taggart, a concerned voter; but she had to read Issue... more »

• Thousands of inactive voters won't receive April ballot

  March 6, 2011 7:16 PM

  Colorado Springs is less than a month away from electing it's next Mayor -- and picking the first person to do it as a full-time job in a strong mayor system. Mail-in ballots go out this week, but there's a lot of talk about the thousands of voters that won't... 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 »

• Bruce on City Council bid: "It's where the action is."

  January 26, 2011 6:49 PM

  Douglas Bruce, a proponent of November's "strong mayor" issue, says the newly-created executive position paying $96,000 will not be all it was cracked up to be and that City Council "is where the action is." Bruce formally announced his candidacy for an at-large council seat Tuesday, putting an end... 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 »

• Private meeting raises questions

  January 24, 2011 7:21 PM

  A private meeting over the weekend is raising some concern in Colorado Springs. A group of business leaders called The City Committee met with candidates for Colorado Springs' mayoral and city council positions. While some community leaders were invited to the Penrose House and Broadmoor, the general public and... 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 »

• Neighborhoods can keep street lights off

  December 4, 2010 11:48 PM

  Earlier this year, the City of Colorado Springs turned off many of the street lights around town. It became a symbol of the cities budget problems and enraged citizens. "I was very disappointed." says Colorado Springs resident Etta McLanhan, "I felt like they weren't taking into consideration the safety issues... more »

• Pueblo council passes budget, disagrees on spending measure

  November 23, 2010 1:58 PM

  Pueblo City Council has approved $76.8 million dollar budget for 2011. City Manager Jerry Pacheco says in order to balance the budget, the city had to reduce personnel costs. This means 26 vacant full time positions will remain un-filled in the coming year. In related business, council members were at... more »

• Springs councilman considering dropping T.S.A. from airport

  November 21, 2010 8:34 PM

  Heading into the holiday weekend, airline travelers are concerned about security. Photos in the Denver Post this week showed some invasive screening. Also the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, John Pistole, told a Sunday morning news talk show that enhanced security pat-downs, that have received criticism, are here... 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 »

• Civic leader Fay Kastelic dead at 92

  August 24, 2010 1:38 PM

  Former Pueblo City Council Member Fay Kastelic has died at the age of 92. She moved to Pueblo in 1946 and never lost her Texas drawl, but always considered Pueblo her home. At one public meeting in the 90s she quipped, "I've always said the best thing to come... more »

• Colorado Springs: medical marijuana won't be on ballot

  August 24, 2010 8:15 AM

  The Colorado Springs City Council has decided against asking voters in November to weigh in on what to do about the 176 medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. Councilman Darryl Glenn suggested Monday that voters should be asked whether to ban the centers, but his proposal didn't get enough... 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 »

• Service for Dr. Eastburn scheduled for Friday

  August 18, 2010 1:01 PM

  Services to celebrate the life of Dr. Ted Eastburn will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Shove Chapel at Colorado College. Eastburn was a highly respected and well-connected member of the Colorado Springs community. His body was discovered at 7:45 Tuesday morning in his office at Memorial Hospital.... more »

• Denver OKs immigration checks on city work

  August 10, 2010 12:01 PM

  Denver will now require that contractors on city construction projects check the immigration status of their employees. The city council gave final approval to the measure Monday night. It requires companies use the federal E-Verify program to check whether workers are in the country legally. The program works... more »

• Denver weighs immigration checks for city work

  August 3, 2010 2:27 PM

  Denver is considering requiring companies to check the immigration status of its employees for city construction contracts. The City Council gave initial approval to the proposal on a 9-4 vote on Monday. A final vote is expected next week. The proposal would require companies to use the federal... more »

• Pueblo council split on immigration reform vote

  July 28, 2010 5:40 PM

  On Monday, Pueblo city council has passed a resolution urging Colorado lawmakers to support comprehensive federal immigration reform. The resolution passed 5 to 2, with council members Vera Ortegon and Judy Weaver voting against it. The resolution reads as follows: The Pueblo City Council urges our United States Senators for... more »

• Pueblo sets tough restrictions on marijuana centers

  July 28, 2010 5:24 PM

  It's official. Medical marijuana centers are now allowed in Pueblo. However, tough new zoning restrictions prohibit them from setting up shop throughout most of the city. A map of Pueblo displays areas shaded in orange, where medical marijuana centers can be located. The available sites are few and far between.... more »

• CA Salary Scandal Follow-up: How Much Do Your Leaders Earn?

  July 27, 2010 7:21 PM

  Members of the Bell, Calif. city council voted Monday night to cut their own pay by 90 percent after a Los Angeles Times investigation revealed council members earned nearly $100,000 for their part-time work and the city manager earned a salary of $787,637. Bell, with roughly the same population... more »