City Council - Regular Meeting

Well, good evening everyone. Thank you for coming. It's another beautiful day in Pueblo, Colorado. Today is Monday, September 14th, 2026, and I now call to order the regular city council meeting. First up on our agenda is the invocation. I invite up Jason Eberhard of the Life Church to lead us in the invocation. If you choose, please stand with us, and immediately following, we will do the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you.

Thank you. It's an honor to open up in prayer today. Would you join me? Father, we thank you for this city and for the people who call it home. We thank you for the privilege of living in a community where we can gather together, where our voices can be heard, and where men and women can step forward and serve our neighbors. Tonight, I pray for every member of the city council and for those who are entrusted in leadership. Give them wisdom in their decisions, courage to do what's right, humility to listen, compassion for the people and the families affected by their decisions and their work. I pray for our city, for our families, our children, our schools, and our businesses. Help us be a city that values what's good, seeks what's just, and cares for those hurting and treat each other with dignity, especially when we disagree. Father, give these leaders wisdom beyond themselves and guide this conversation tonight and the decisions made. Help each of us do our part to make this city a better place for generations to come. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Thank you, Pastor. Mr. Clerk, roll call.

Mark Aliff. Here. Brett Boston. Here. Roger Gomez. Yeah. Joe Latino. Here. Ted Hernandez. Here. Diane Dante.

Here.

Selena Ruiz Gomez. Here.

And everyone is here and accounted for. Hallelujah. We now move to special recognitions. We have a proclamation presentation for Creek Week. Creek Week, September 26th through October 4th, 2026. Susan Finzel, the Pueblo Outreach Coordinator, are you here? Is anybody here from the Watershed District? Me and Diane. So Diane, you want to go out in front and read the proclamation?

Proclamation, Creek Week, September 26, October 4, 2026. Whereas the city and county of Pueblo is fortunate to have extensive and diverse natural resources such as forests, grasslands, riparian areas, lakes, creeks, and a variety of open spaces, and whereas the watershed draining to fountain creek includes wetlands natural habitat existing trails and recreational facilities and is a unique and valuable resource an asset to the residents and visitors to pueblo and southern colorado and whereas the found creek watershed district partners with the city of pueblo pueblo county and the neighboring communities of fountain Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Massachusetts Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, and Green Mountain Falls, along with numerous organizations and businesses to coordinate the 13th annual Creek Week cleanup. Whereas, we know that activities and stewardship projects such as Creek Week will reduce pollution in our waterways, preserve wildlife habitat, provide for a safer drinking water supply, offer cleaner water for agriculture use, and maintain property values, and whereas we support Creek Week and the related activities, encourage businesses, churches, schools, nonprofits, outdoor clubs, neighborhood associations, youth groups, service clubs, and families to volunteer to form a Creek Crew and clean up designated sites along Fountain Creek to protect the watershed in our communities. during this nine-day cleanup. Now, therefore, we, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Pueblo, Colorado, and the City Council of the City of Pueblo, Colorado, by the authority vested in us, do hereby proclaim September 26 to October 4, 2026 as Creek Week in the City and County of Pueblo, and encourage the protection, preservation, restoration, and maintenance of Fountain Creek Watershed. In witness there, in witness whereof, we have here to set our hands and cause the seals of the City and the County of Pueblo, Colorado to be affixed this 14th day of September, 2026. Mark Aleph, President, City Council. Zach Swearinger, Chairman, Board of County Commissioners.

Thank you so much.

You're welcome.

I really appreciate it. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Dente. I'm Susan Finzel, the Outreach and Education Coordinator for the Fountain Creek Watershed District. This is our 13th year of hosting Creek Week, which is the largest cleanup in a waterway in the state of Colorado based on the area it covers, the amount of volunteers, over 1,000, and the number of tons removed. So we're really proud of that. And I want to recognize some city sponsors and others who have really helped make this happen. The City of Stormwater Utility, is Kirk here? or anyone from Stormwater, Steven Meyer, Director of City Parks and Recreation, Keep Pueblo Beautiful. We also have a great sponsorship with the Pueblo Conservancy District and many numerous sponsors that provide gifts and coupons and stuff for all the volunteers for doing such a great job and provide lunch. We will be out there. Kicking it off on Saturday, September 26th at Runyon Lake and working north along the trail. Anyone is invited to come. I'll have kayakers on the lake cleaning hard to reach spaces and people on foot and free lunch for everybody afterwards at 11.30. If you're interested and you have a group that wants to do community service, and give back to our community, I invite you to come to Runyon Lake Saturday, September 26th, 9 o'clock. I'll have all the supplies, gloves, bags, grabbers, and buckets. And any other group can work between September 26th and October 4th, any day in there. So pick a date, pick a time, and pick it up. Thanks so much. Yes. Can you call up Steven? Right. Okay. So Steven, can you come up? And where is it?

Yes.

I'm the sign holder.

Thank you. We now move into public forum. First up is Donovan Rincon. Hello, Donovan. Right there. And then just hit the little button on the microphone there when it turns green. There you go. Am I on time? Yes.

First thoughts. You can have a seat there. Yes. Thank you for coming. Thank you for having me.

It's a great honor and in the highest respect. Pull that mic down towards you.

It is a great honor and in high respects toward God and our community and government to be able to speak. I come before the city council today to speak on upcoming government technology. This is high-end, very intelligent technology. And just to be brief, it is mind-reading technology and flying saucer capability. I don't know if it's exactly appropriate to speak in front of the public, but I wish to make it known that I was communicated by members of our government via satellite. It's a very simple science to explain. It's just like using the electromagnetic spectrum to transfer an audio signal, just like a phone, but without a phone. and they came into contact with me and told me that I'm a high priority individual and that I'm a part of the government test. I know this sounds strange, but I do have factual evidence that I am able to cognitively communicate with other beings like insects or other people. Recently I was reading the Bible and there was a little worm on it and I received an audio signal over the words that he was reading. I really couldn't believe it at first, but then I knew I needed to get factual evidence. I'm a criminologist from Colorado State University, Pueblo, and we learned about elite crime and white collar crime and upcoming technologies. So I said, I need you to prove this. And this is a little worm. I know it sounds strange, but I said, if you could hear me, turn to your right. So he moves his head to his right, this little worm on my book, after he says he's learning to read the Bible. I said, now turn your head to the left. And he turns his head to the left. I said, now I need to test this in three, since it's a scientific methodology, science methodology. And I can show you this if you'd like to see it, because it is substantial evidence. I told him to go to the blue part on the map, if you could hear me and understand me. And he crawls on and I say, touch the blue, if you can hear me. And he touches the blue. And he said that we shouldn't be killing insects because they're learning to read and write and they're highly intelligent beings. I know that he may be a part of a computer system that is being controlled, but that is what happened. I've been in contact with these satellite audio signals for a couple years now. My dad is a member of the Federal Bureau. He was a correctional officer. I have very high military members in my family, and I'd also like to express concerns for invisible weapons and technologies. I know that these are technologies working from satellites because I look up at the stars, and you could see Starlink satellites, and I feel some sort of beam of energy. I say, hey, can you turn that off? and they said yes, and then they turn it down. So it's real-time action and factual information that I'm receiving this. And I'd even put this on an oath of God. I'm a very spiritual person, and I read the Bible every day. I believe in God so sincerely. He actually brought me forth and told me, you know, he said, To be brief, Satan in front of me said, you need to start being honest about these happenings in your life. You need to express this in your government. So that's what I'd like to express, is that mind reading technology is going on. And they said it's a secret government project. But I'd like to make it known to you guys and some people of the public that we could handle this responsibly. They also said that, you know, just emphasize on my intelligent level that I could explain this to you guys on how it works scientifically and that it's going on. And I believe that we should make legislature about this because some of these technologies are being taken too far. Our minds are very sensitive to waves and reception. We have radio signals, cellular signals, Wi-Fi all in the air at the same time. And I think it's getting a little bit too far in that we need to make legislation over these happenings. and that I also reported this to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, these invisible weapons and technologies, and they said that they would help. So that is what I'd like to speak about today. I know it's super intense and very important information, and just from my experience that we need to handle this in a very mature manner because these technologies are so important that they could be good in a great manner and also bad in a great manner. Also that they expressed to me when I was speaking toward people in the Federal Bureau, and I know this because they show me badges through optical teasers to the laser system, so they're able to program an image in front of your mind. I know it's very advanced technology, but our government is advanced to what the public is able to hear. And they said that they are working on invisible weapons and that they are in conflict with people that are in the Federal Bureau with them. that aren't doing well and that are committing crimes and using these weapons against people in the public. And this is very honest. I wish I could take a polygraph test just to make sure that you guys believe me. And I think that that is something that we could implement in our law and society today to make sure that we have the truth. Do you have anything about this? Also, that there are clone systems like human beings like you and I that are identical to life that aren't really alive, but they're just human makeups able to speak and talk and walk, and that is an expression that I'd like to concern as well. I know that this is very important, so I just pray for your wisdom. Thank you, Donovan. Thank you. Should I take a seat?

Ross Long. Ross? Hello.

Hello there.

Thank you for coming.

My name is Ross Long, and I'd like to say good evening, good afternoon to everybody. My subject today is about the flock cameras or otherwise known as the ALPR license plate reader cameras. Just to let you know up front, my attitude on it is I'm a big Fourth Amendment advocate. I don't like the idea of just the government generally surveilling people as these cameras do. However, 11 days ago, I was sitting in my house and I heard my mailbox being opened at a time that I'd never experienced before. I look outside and I see several mailboxes on my block had been opened. So I figured that maybe that we have a mail thief. And I go to some of my neighbors who have security cameras. And one neighbor had some really fuzzy footage of what looked like a man in a white shirt. long pants. We did get a good timestamp on that, but we really couldn't get a decent description. We did find out where he was walking, and he was walking up 18th Street. You're familiar with the railroad overpass on 18th Street. Hopefully everybody knows that. There's two flock cameras there. Well, I go make a report to the police. They're not too excited about it. Instead of calling it a crime, they're calling it a suspicious activity. They tell me that these flock cameras are only for traffic to get license plates. And they're not. They get much more. They get images from the sidewalks. And I figured that there would be a really good image of the would-be mail thief on those but so far i haven't heard back from them and i doubt if i will in another three weeks according to flock they automatically delete all the images so after that there'll be no hope for for getting that um it seems unfortunate that uh you know the There won't be more zeal about mail thieves, because that's a federal offense. It's at least a misdemeanor, and it could be a federal felony. But for Pueblo and the Pueblo police, there's no money in it. I mean, there's money in it to catch somebody, you know, bolting through a stop sign or something. Then they can go back and give them a ticket. But there's no money in mail thieves. So I would hope they have a better attitude and help me a little more and perhaps can get an image. Maybe I would recognize the person. I need to... say to you, the flock salespeople, they will say, oh, all these great crimes we've solved. Well, we solved many more crimes through data location on our cell phones, through personal security cameras. uh... i say that these flock cameras really aren't needed maybe more uh... patrols if we want to do traffic and uh... in this town well send more cops out on the street is is my attitude uh... every one of you folks including every every police officer in town took an oath to the constitution that also means the the fourth amendment and uh... These issues are going through the courts. We might find in a couple of years it'll be taken up by the Supreme Court and knocked down. They won't be allowed anymore. I would just hope that you not expand this system. I mean, it certainly didn't work for me. And I'm almost positive that there's several images on those flock cameras that could show my male thief, but nobody wants to deal with that. So that's where we're at. I hope you'll keep thinking about this and make the right decisions. So that's what I have to say. Thank you.

Thank you. Elvis Martinez. Hello, thank you for coming.

Okay, hopefully I don't get called out of order right away. So tonight, go Chiefs. Okay, the last city council meeting was a S show. Lack of decorum, and I would say several people should apologize when it's their turn to speak on how their actions or inactions were three weeks ago. I hope that Project Falcon still wants to come to Pueblo. And if you guys are listening, I'm all for you. The people of Pueblo by far supports Project Falcon despite a few naysayers and Woody from Toy Story. I would support Project Falcon 100% along with most of the Puebloans. Week after week, All of us see the leader, Woody, having public meltdowns here in chambers, on Facebook, especially with an edited video posted last week on Facebook. Get it together, Woody, and stop pushing your own personal agenda for transparency reasons and to inform the entire public here and watching at home. Mr. Joe Arrigo donated $1,000 to Positive Pueblo last year, aka Keepa Mayor, and also donated $500 to Brett Boston at Large. Facts. Yet, they haven't said that on the record. Was that to buy their vote? I don't know. Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want. To move on, did Joe Arrigo buy their vote for taxpayers' money to be possibly used? Don't know. Last year, I put in a Quora about the PBR building, and the city attorney emailed Dandy Rose on 1-14-25 about the city agreeing to purchase the PBR building, which it wasn't even in front of city council at that time. And on the same exact day, just a little bit after 6 p.m., and I have the records, I posted them on Facebook, emailed Dandy Rose and others in that email about the DaVinci Museum. Hmm, I wonder, are those connected? Yes, they are. Yet, didn't email any city council member on that thread of emails. So when did Dandy Rose donate to the DaVinci Museum? Was it before or after the taxpayers purchased the PBR building? I could bet a penny that it was after. Get your stuff together, Woody. And then also, when will West 29th get paved roughly between Cheyenne and Denver Boulevard, which is atrocious if you guys driven on that in the last month after the Pueblo Water was pumping out water from Baltimore. And I did call the mayor's office and spoke to Alyssa. And thank you, Alyssa, for talking to Public Works about that and putting up the cones, although that's a temporary job. And I drove in that area today, and it's patched kind of, sort of, on some of the potholes, not all of them. And then it has been 64 days since Brian Hund was brutally murdered in broad daylight, yet no arrest. The family wants answers. I know for a fact that PD knows this individual's name and won't arrest him. Why is that? And I have a minute 40 left. I didn't have this plan, but according to the chief and the mayor, I was wearing this mask. All of you guys could identify me. And I was assaulted by the chief and then the two other officers right back over here. I'm like, we were wearing masks in here for over a year because of COVID. A mask is a mask. I don't see no sign saying that we can't wear masks. So that means if you guys have a trick or treat here, anywhere in the building for kids, no masks for the kids. I'm being sarcastic on that. So no masks. I'm like, you guys can't identify me? Really? I'm not saying you guys as in you that I'm speaking to, but mayor and chief. And I will be talking to my lawyer tomorrow about this. It's not a threat. It's a damn promise. And once again, I said it to him earlier prior to the meeting, resign, Chief Knoller.

Thank you. Luke, would you come on down? Hello. Thank you for coming. Just hit that button there. That one's on. You're good.

This one's on. Yeah. Do I need to state my name or something first?

No.

Pueblo, what are we doing? Mayor Heather Graham, when we elected this strong mayoral form of government, what do we call the first part of that, the strong part? Where's the strongness except retaliation against the citizens of Pueblo? That's all you do. I talked to 200 people in this community, business people. Retaliation, retaliation, retaliation. You went after me with code enforcement, and I have the info. And when I sent you the audio recording, I've called you 20 times in two and a half years. When you see me with Randy Thurston having coffee, Randy wanted to tell me about his mayoral race and his ideas. You walked into Starbucks, and your exact words were like, well, hello, boys. You got mad that I was talking to your opponent. I've known Randy just as long as I've known you. And the retaliation is real, and you don't understand. You have lost your support. You think that I've got all the support. You don't have that support. People are sick and tired of seeing our community decline. The homelessness is being shipped in here. And when I sent you that audio recording two weeks ago, about an individual blowing the whistle that you told that individual that you said, I sent code enforcement after Luke to silence him, and it didn't work, and he didn't want to silence. I sent you that audio. You called me. It's a 15-minute audio. You called me in five minutes. You heard that first part and said, oh, shit, he's going to post this. And you called me. You retaliated against me because I spoke out to better this community. We needed a new sheriff. The two people that can fix these issues in this community are the sheriff and the mayor. Nobody else can fix these issues. You guys can make choices, but the mayor can say, Get these homeless people that aren't from here out of here. Do I agree in taking care of the Pueblo homeless if you're from here? Absolutely. Because it could happen to any one of our kids. They are busing our people down here from other communities. Sending them in vehicles. One, two at a time. And that's not an issue. If you, all these people that get online that complain, ah, what's the big deal? They're running out of the stores. I got so much slack and I hog tied that guy and I posted it. What's not your business? Yeah, it's my community. Unless you own real estate in this community, you have rental properties, you have commercial buildings downtown, then shut up. And I mean that. All these people completely, they got their two cents to put in there, but it ain't your businesses that are being destroyed. It ain't your windows that are being broke. It ain't your downtown that's being destroyed. Yeah, there's great parts of our community. The north side, walking sticks, south side, there's great parts. But I feel bad for the people that live in Bessemer and the east side that have to live in that mess. You know these people are being bust in here, and you know what it's my fault It's my fault that our communities decline because I got asked to run for mayor four years ago And I said hell no I don't want to do that job, and I should have done it because we wouldn't be living like this I wouldn't put up with it. I would get a team of people to talk to these people one-on-one Give them a cigarette entice them to get back to their home, and we would get them back. And now we have to live through this. You were the change that we thought that was here. We believed in you, and you started out great, and then you retaliated against people. You retaliated against people. You called me the other night when I made that post, and you hung up on me. We talked for about two minutes. You knew I was going to ask you about retaliation, and you hung up on me. Heather, I'm literally riding in the backhoe with my child, And he loves tractors. And I'm telling you, hey, keep talking to me until I get to where I go. It's a little noisy. I'm holding my son and I'm driving. And you literally have the audacity to be like, well, that's not too safe, is it? That's not too safe. What do you get called? DHS? Call them. I don't give a damn. Everybody's scared of you, but I'm not. I don't care. Send every agency you have, Heather. You are destroying our community. You are doing nothing about the homeless. I found out who was bringing the homeless in here. And I text you. Let's go to this individual's house at 5 a.m. in Aurora. Let's sit in front of his house. Let's videotape when he leaves and when he picks up in Aurora and videos. Well, you didn't want to do that. Our community is declining from the homeless destroying our community. You didn't even want to do that. You said, text me when you're done. I'll meet you for coffee. I got to show you guys what the hell is going on? This guy's coming here almost daily, six out of seven days. bringing people in a white interceptor police vehicle with a spotlight on it. And you won't even go. I'm sick and tired of our community people getting retaliated against. Retaliated against, it's got to stop. People are sick and tired of it. Clean the community up, concentrate on public safety. Our community will prosper if we concentrate on public safety.

Sally Moore. Hello, Sally. Hi. Thank you for coming.

I need to use this. Thank you. Oh, it wasn't ready. Perfect. Thank you. Thank you so much. Hi, I am here tonight as co-founder of Air Without Ice, and I will be speaking on item N2 on tonight's agenda, the city's lease agreement contract with Key Lime. According to USASpending.gov, CSI Aviation has received almost $2 billion from contracts with DHS to provide flights for ice enforcement and removal operations in 2026. CSI then contracts with airlines and charter services to fulfill that obligation. In October of 25, Cliff Honeycutt, the CEO of Key Lime Air, verified that they had a contract with CSI after Key Lime aircraft were photographed loading shackled detainees in Washington and Louisiana. Here is one of those photos. With this in mind, there are some changes that we would like incorporated into both the ordinance and lease agreement contract. The changes are identical in both documents, so I will go over a modified version of the ordinance. The changes are highlighted. In the second paragraph of the ordinance, this one here, Key Lime, doing business as Denver Air Connection, is identified as a business of commercial air transportation. The third paragraph, the highlighted one, has been added and simply acknowledges that Key Lime is also engaged in the business of transporting ICE detainees. Finally, in the fifth paragraph, we've added highlighted verbiage that separates the two business endeavors excluding Key Lime's ICE air flights from this lease agreement. These changes do not affect the ability of Key Lime to use Pueblo Memorial Airport in any way. They only ensure that any ICE-related flights, their pilots, or any of the staff that Key Lime might bring here are not able to take advantage of the special privileges outlined in the lease agreement. I didn't bring copies of this for everybody, but I will email them to you. Beyond these changes, I would like to point to page 5 of the contract. In section 4.3, the term hold room is listed. ICE defines a hold room as a secure area used for the temporary confinement of detainees and maintains around 177 unofficial hold rooms nationwide, where reports and court documents highlight overcrowding and other abuses that are contrary to even the agency's policies. In 2003, a DHS hold room was located at the Pueblo Airport, and as far as we know, it was closed and relocated in 2008 to an ice field office in Fremont County. Mayor Graham, what is it that is meant by hold room here? If it is not an area for the temporary confinement of people, please use a different word to identify what is being provided to Key Lime Air. Finding a hold room in a lease agreement between this city and an established ice air carrier is horrifying. And that is it. Thank you very much. And like I said, I will send my suggested changes to you guys through email.

Thank you. We now move to council member and mayor commentary. Mayor Graham.

I don't have anything, President.

Mayor Graham. Councilor Latino.

Yes, I have a few things. First of all, I would like to welcome the folks from Pueblo Memorial Airport that have put together their feelings as to what's going on in something that could be a valuable asset to this community and how they're being treated and asked to vacate their hangers so that the city can get more money that it doesn't have because we've had some spending that we shouldn't have had to begin with, and now we're trying to take it out on these folks here. I don't want to lose them. This airport and our tenants are valuable assets to this community. They put together a format, and if I have the opportunity, can I have one of them read that? No. No. So I'm going to say this. To the president of council and fellow council members, from council member, me, Joe Latino, introduction of an ordinance to delegate limited airport lease authority to the director of aviation, consolidate the airport advisory bodies and open airport records and meetings to the public, which is not being done. Am I right? Okay. I move that council introduce and set forth the first reading that a tax ordinance is amending chapter one of title three of the Pueblo Municipal Code. Why now? Pueblo Memorial Airport loses revenue every single month. A hangar sits vacant while a lease waits on a council agenda that no longer has to see it In November 2024, the voters removed the by ordinance only requirement from Charter 63-9. Today, this council can delegate what it should delegate and keep what it should keep. Kansas City has run, Kansas City, 10 times the size of Pueblo, has run its aviation department this way for years. File number 24-240-768. Denver and Colorado Springs do the same. Pueblo is the outlier. What this ordinance does, in three sentences, it gives the director of aviation authority to sign month to month and one year hanger and tie down leases. At rates council has already set on templates, the city attorney has already approved to applicants a public waiting list as already qualified. It keeps every hanger, multiple year deals, FBOs, exclusive rights, sales, capital commitments, low-rent leases with this council, and it opens the airport advisory committee, the airport's finances, the federal aviation or FAA correspondence, and the meeting proceedings to the aviators, mechanics, tenants, and taxpayers who never get to see any of it today. When council does not give up, When council does not give up, the ceiling is two years total, one year plus one year renewal with a cumulative three-year cap so the same tenant can unroll the same premises indefinitely. The floor is 85% of the adopted rates and charges scheduled with a written jurisdiction and annual disclosure. FBO's exclusive rights, sales, capital commitments, Any capital commitments, any lease below the floor, and any lease over the ceiling, all still come here. Council can revoke or modify the delegation at any time by ordinance, and council must review the whole delegation within three years. The director gets an annual report, every lease, every deviation, every appeal, every vacancy timeline. The airport advisory committee gets tired tiered review authority so aviation professionals see their harder deals before you do. A compliance officer verifies each lease against the FAA grant assurances before it is signed. We got more. You want me to read more? We got another 10 or 15 minutes. I think I've said enough at this point. I think that everybody should read this and should understand what's going on at that airport. It's something that this community needs. It's something that would be a total asset to this community that, like a lot of the other things in this community, have been thrown under the bus. And I just came from a city that's 10 times the size of Pueblo, where you can walk down the streets at night. And you don't see police and people are playing games and there's music and things going on. Ten times the size of this city. Because we got law enforcement, basically a chief of police, who should resign. Who should resign. And if I have anything to say about it, I'll be gone.

You're out of line when you call for resignation of the police chief. I'm out of line. I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Okay.

Anyway. I think we need to listen to what the airport aviation organization and those tenants have said. I don't want to lose them. I don't think the city wants to lose them. So, I mean, I can read this. Do we get the message, or do you want me to read the whole thing? We get it. You get the message? Thank you. Thank all of you for what you do. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. I don't want to lose you, and I don't think this council wants to lose you. You're part of what makes Pueblo great, and we need to make Pueblo great again. It's the home of heroes, not the home of derelicts. And from the place I came from, which is 10 times the size of this city, you don't see a whole lot of derelicts on the street. And you see police officers. And you see a police chief. But you don't see it here. We had vandalism at Christ the King Church into the thousands, and at St. Anne's and Dogpatch into the thousands. Devocation of statues in both places. Both places, and no police showed up. Sad. It's sad. Thank you.

Thank you.

I just want to talk a little bit. I was fortunate or honored to actually attend the Military Appreciation Day at the Colorado State Fair. I was a little disappointed. They had enough food for 200 people and there were like 30 people there. I think that September 11th was just last Friday. And we talk about how we never want to forget. I think one of the things that we forget, people that we forget about all the time are veterans, from their health care services to their mental health services. And I think that the debt of gratitude that we owe them, I think we are, as a society, we're falling far short of what we should be required to give to those individuals who served our country. To see 30 people at the Colorado State Fair, when I think there was 880,000 people who went through the doors this year, to see 30 people at a military appreciation day was pretty sad. I think we can do better as a community. The State Fair is in Pueblo for a reason, because this is where most of the county people, the agriculturists, and the livestock people live. They all come here to our beautiful city, and I think it's unfortunate that we don't do enough as a community to shed a positive light on Pueblo. I talked about this a little bit last week. The former projects there across from the old abandoned grocery store on Prairie, where I think there's maybe a dozen left over that have been sitting and continue to house homeless people because they can get through a half-made fence to tear all the wire out, destroy the property, vandalize it, live there. I'm just waiting for the next big fire right there, right next to the low-income housing that we just built. We have a lot of work to do, and I just don't think that we're doing the work. And it's not on one person. It's not on seven people. It's not on a police department or a fire department. Not just on those people, ourselves, the mayor, the police department, the fire department. It's on all of us as a community to start to pick up and care for where we call home. Thank you, President.

Thank you. Councilor Ruiz Gomez.

Thank you, Mr. President. Good evening, Pablo. Thank you for coming and tuning in. I just want to begin by taking a moment to talk about an event I attended on September 5, which was the Suicide Prevention Memorial Walk. This might be a little bit of an uncomfortable conversation, but I feel like after attending that with Counselor Latino, The two of us were able to make the proclamation for Suicide Prevention Day. And as we heard all the stories of folks who have been lost on behalf of the problem of suicide, one of the things that I just want to make the community known is of the 988 phone number. This is a very important number to keep in your phone, and this is a number that you can contact at any point in time if you're having issues and struggling with this particular problem. There are folks standing by 24-7 to help you out. This is something that is a very good resource for our community, especially one that is, as we've learned, is struggling immensely with this particular problem. So I just wanted to just take a moment to inform the community of that particular resource. It's just like how they described it. It's like dialing 911. This is 988. And help is just a dial away. And they do have folks who help folks in Spanish if that's needed. I want to thank Spark the Change and all of the folks who held that event for doing such a great job in making that event happen for the growing number of folks who attended. Moving on to the issue that was brought up this evening around the ALPR cameras. We are just still in continued conversation around this. I had a little bit of a gathering Saturday where I was able to talk to folks around this issue, and I know that we are all learning and figuring out the best way to decide how Pueblo would like to... determine what the how we want to respond with this issue of ALPR I know that we've had conversations and I know chief Miller has been in the community talking about this to the community as well there is a date for a meeting on the 24th of September where he'll be addressing the community so we welcome you East High School at 6 p.m. so we are all just openly and actively talking about this issue and figuring out the best strategy for Pueblo I want to thank all the community members who came out to talk to me about this this past weekend. And let's see, with response to N2, which is the Denver Airline contract, this is something that is fairly new. And I appreciate the folks coming and talking about this. And one of the things is I would like to assess with the council, prior to this vote coming up to second reading, if this is something that we want to refer for a work session next week. moving forward. So I'll be having that conversation. And we'll be figuring out if that's something that we need to deliberate on in work session. And we'll figure out how to facilitate making that happen. This is just on the agenda and new for everyone since Thursday. And finally in, thank you, counselor. I just want to also take a minute to give a warm welcome to the Pueblo Police Department Class 78, who were sworn in today into the Pueblo Police Department. They wrapped up their training at our police academy. And I just want to thank you for your commitment and look forward to your work and just a great welcome and thank you for your choice to serve our community. And this is a big step in bringing in the resources and the folks we need to start answering some of these questions that have been brought in with making our community stronger and safer. And Councillor Latino has asked me to graciously say, please mention the Cannon Game for South and East is October 2nd, 7 p.m. at Dutch Clark Stadium. So hopefully we get all of our football fans out to support our youth at the Cannon Game on that evening.

Thank you.

And with that, Mr. President, I will yield my time.

Thank you. Councillor Gomez.

Yeah, I've got a couple things, but I'm going to try to keep it brief. There was some discussion in reference to, and I know I've been trying to get it. The last time I tried to get demolition lists was about a year and a half ago, and I finally just gave up. But it came to my attention that we needed to look at some kind of list or something that we were working chronologically to solve the problem with the reinstatement of these homes and whether they're going to be abated or whether they're going to be knocked down. So I went out and... Just kind of had all the excuses, and I ended up talking to a very fine person at the city, Melissa Cook, who finally got me the information. The demolition list, now you can understand the passion that Mr. Latino has and I have when we come up with the two old grumpy guys as the odd couple. There's a reason. He's in District 2. I'm in District 4. We have the most ghetto areas in our areas than any other place. When I saw the numbers from the demolition list, now I know why it was being kept from us. Out of 300 homes, 153 of them have to be considered to be demolished on the east side. 100, nearly 100 in Bessemer. That's 253 out of the 300. And it's 300 plus because in the other two districts, I think, They're lucky to walk away with 11 or 40 in the other one. So we deal with this. That happens a lot in our district. So I understand Joe's passion. I really do. But I'm not going to sit here and make excuses for what's going on because I've made the statement every time we add another home to a demolition list, it's usually in one of those two districts. Every time we do that, we end up maybe expanding to another ghetto area. If anyone wants to take a tour with me around my district, I can show you four that are popping up right now in Bessemer. And I know these incredibly great people. I'm not going to play class warfare with this thing. They're wonderful people that are living in the Riverwalk area and the nice areas of University Station and Fontana Hills. Some of the biggest proponents are people that want to take care of these areas. But they're not getting the attention they deserve because it's always hiding something. The only way you can fix problems is if you bring it out and you look at it honestly and then you address it and you fix it. But you don't get it done by hiding it. A lot of the things that Mr. Wood said tonight were right on the money. And I'm not going to try to just jump on his bandwagon and look for a... I don't care about that. I'm just telling you, I've said it before. Joe and I don't drive through our areas. We live through the same kind of things. But I know there are people out there of means that care about us, that care about us. So I don't want to play that. There are incredible people that I would love to be able to have you sit down. When I live on the corner of Ormond and Mason, I just feel free to come to my house. Well, it's not always wishing me well, I can tell you that. And there's issues that we have, and we talk about it. But the thing that they have most is that they're being ignored. We don't care. We want to keep on feeding. I'm going to share you what they're telling me. You know, we don't live at the Riverwalk. Fine. Okay? We don't live, everything is going downtown. We're not got money for the boathouse. I got all those complaints. But there are good people that have no control of it. There's things that are being made, deals that are being made in the background. There are old players from the past. When I was around here with McGinnis, when I was his district director, and all finding ways to attack taxpayers' money some way and getting their hands on it. And those angles are coming back today. We have people that are trying to get inside the money of taxpayers and finding a way to wriggle it out and take care of things they already have. So I'm just saying from my point of view, from the district that I have, I hope you understand. I have a district. On one is $450,000 homes. On the other is $85,000, $80,000, $90,000 homes and everything else in between. Try to represent that and try to do it honestly. We are not going to BS people and say, it's not just what was me. I'm telling you, I've got great people around me from the county that are some of the greatest people, but their voices are not being heard because we keep on blocking, tackling for the wrong things. I'll give you an instance that was very, very... heartening to me is that when I'm being told as a city council and I work my butt off to get elected to represent my district and when I'm being told basically the reason we can't supply you with the demolition list is we can't trust the council not to have it fall into the wrong hands like the list of homeless that may have to take those addresses and find a way to break in and set up. You don't tell that to a city councilor. That's his responsibility. It's to his district. It's got a fiduciary responsibility. Now, you don't think I got offended by that? Damn straight I did. And I'm trying to let everybody know, this council is serious. This council is just as strong as a strong mayor. But please don't ever try to insult this council body again. Another thing I want to point out, two weeks ago or a week ago, I specifically asked the attorney that was presenting with the mayor, and I specifically asked that person, did you or have you ever represented PEDCO or PDF And it was Mr. Dave Lytle. And then he said, no, I have it. Well, I checked with Petco. That's not true. He was actually released from Petco after representing them in this lawsuit that was coming against the city. But he sat there and took it. Why do people think they can just lie to this council, like we're not going to check? So he lied to me. I'm tired of people lying to this council. I'm tired of being lied to by the people, the proponents of the museum. We check our stuff. We do our homework. I mean, I got time on my hands. I'm retired, and I put a lot of my time into checking this stuff out. And I share it with my fellow councilors. We may be different parties. We may be different ideologies. But pretty much when we come to vote, we're pretty close. So please stop doing that. I'm not saying anybody here is doing that, but please know we recognize it. That's all I have to say. Thank you.

Councilor Boston.

Thank you, Mr. President. You know, most nights when I sit up here, I try to... state of professionalism and try to set the example, but there's a couple of things that I've heard tonight. I just want to address a few of those things. Councilman Gomez, the way you addressed that question to Mr. Lytle was, have you ever represented PDF? You never once mentioned the term PEDCO. So I'd just like to correct that. When it comes to the airport, there's been a lot of issues at the airport. Some of the people in the audience, I have talked to you many times about issues at the airport. A lot of the issues you brought to our attention have since been handled or are still in the process of being handled. whether that is your previous leaseholder who has been through a lot of legal battles and is no longer there, whether that was concerns about some of the new restrictions that are being implied, which have now been postponed so that shareholders can come to the table and a new committee can be put in place. And so we are aware of a lot of the issues that were happening at the airport for a long time with a lack of oversight that are working to be changed. So I hope you can see the work that we're trying to do to move in the right direction. We're not finished yet, and it is still a work in progress. AND WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THESE LOWER INCOME AREAS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE SOME GOOD THINGS, I THINK, WHETHER THAT'S GETTING RID OF THE CONVERGENCE BUILDING AT NO COST TO THE CITY, WHETHER THAT'S THE BUILD BACK BESSAMER INITIATIVE AND WHETHER THAT'S TRYING TO KNOCK DOWN SOME OF THESE REALLY BAD HOUSES IN CERTAIN AREAS AND TRYING TO LOOK FOR PLANS AND WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD TO HELP BETTER THE COMMUNITY. I THINK, YOU KNOW, Yes, never is anything ever perfect. Never is anything ever fast when it comes to government. But just know the job up here is not easy. The job that any of the staff members, the first responders have is not easy. But these are people that choose to go out of their way and serve the community selflessly and try to make an impact. And we know there's always more work to be done. But we do ask that you have some grace going forward in a lot of these situations. We are trying. We do hear a lot of the concerns. BUT NOTHING'S EVER EASY WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THESE ISSUES. SO JUST KNOW WE ARE TRYING, AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON A LOT OF THOSE THINGS. And I said a couple weeks ago, and I gave my thanks to the veterans and all our active duty members, and it is disheartening to hear what Councilman Hernandez said about the deal at the fair. And I do think that that is a huge group that is often overlooked, and it's very unfortunate. And I come from a family of many veterans, and I always give the utmost respect and support to any veteran or any first responder due to the history that my family has and the ultimate sacrifices that everybody has given. I had the privilege to attend the retirement ceremony on 9-11 for one of the officers that was involved in the shooting last year. So I wish nothing but the best to Officer Valdez in his future career and whatever he decides to do going forward. And one last thing, I really try to not... I try to not talk about certain things, and I try to ignore certain things. But sometimes there's just a fly that's buzzing around in the room. And you do your best to ignore the flies. You usually try not to give them time of day. But sometimes you've got a pestering fly that kind of just gets to be too much, and you need a swatter. So finances are public knowledge. Everybody knows who donates to everybody's campaign. And if the allegations that are being made by somebody that knows nothing about me, nothing about my character, and knows nothing on what I stand on, just never sat down to have a conversation with me, wants to sit here and question my character, On his opinion, I can't support the fire department because I had firefighters donate to my campaign. On his opinion, I can't support anything Councilman Aliff brings forward because he donated to my campaign. I can't support anything on the east side for Councilman Latino because he donated to my campaign. I can't support a single city employee because the Page Union donated to my campaign. I can't support certain constituents because people donated to my campaign. Donations are made because somebody believes what you campaign on. They believe on your vision. They believe in your values. They're not buying votes. They're believing in a person and their convictions and their vision for the community. So before you ever want to question my integrity again, feel free to sit down and have a real conversation about something that matters. And that is all I have tonight, President Aliff.

Thank you. Councilor Dante.

I will pass.

Well, we got off to a great start again today, so I'm very happy about that. I want to address one thing. I know a little bit about a lot. But I know a whole lot about the homeless. And I'm going to tell you that this administration has done more in the last three years than the previous five, six, seven administrators. I don't care. You can keep counting. Programs have been put in place. City Council, at the behest of Councilor Maestri at the time, brought forward a camping ordinance to crack down on camping and sleeping in our streets and sleeping on our businesses and so on and so forth. Programs have been put in place, and this city... by the leadership of Mayor Graham and the direction of City Council has done tremendously in trying to affect the problem of homelessness. And we've always said, if you've got the answer, you ought to come to us, man, because we got our doors are wide open on how to figure out every single aspect of what the homeless issue is and what the homeless problems are. I think our biggest problem as a community isn't crime. It isn't homeless problem. It's not drugs and alcohol. It's us. We're our biggest problem because all we do is fight and holler at each other and talk it down to each other. And nobody wants to come with solutions. Everybody wants to fight. Whatever anybody brings up that might be a good idea, everybody wants to fight against it and throw rocks at it and say this is a horrible idea. This is terrible. But we don't just disagree. We get vile about it. And as a community, we've got to stop that. The only way forward, the only way to fix any of these problems is to come together as a community and be decent. Be decent to each other. That's how problems are solved. You can't have a room full of people that hate each other come up with any solutions. You've got to have people that are willing to put differences aside, to compromise, to collaborate, to try and get along. I have never, you know, I don't act like I have all the experience in the world, but I have never seen an environment like we're in now from the federal government down to the municipal government where it is such a nasty environment. nasty, horrible place to be because you just can't. It's beyond words. It's beyond words. So I think we're all responsible. We're all responsible and maybe we ought to pull our boots up. and try and get along, and try and come up with solutions, and try and compromise, and try and make, as the old saying, just try and get along for a little bit to move this community forward. I mean, it needs to happen. It needs to happen, and that's the only way we're going to move forward. Now on the part of the homeless, I just wanted to remind everybody in a selfish way that I'm still trying desperately to open up the Donna Ayla Pet Shelter. You can go to safesidefoundation.org and donate to help me get this done. It'll be a great way to break down a barrier and to get people off of the streets and stop all this rampant crime that they're doing. Please, if you can help, help. I would appreciate that with all my heart. And with that being said, we're going to move to the review of the agenda. Councilors, page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4.

I'd like to move N17 to the regular agenda, please.

You have that, Mr. Clerk? Page four, page five, page six. Do we have an approval of?

I move to approve. One second.

Mr. President, I make a motion to amend the agenda, moving item N17 to the regular agenda and approve the agenda as amended.

Thank you. Is there a second?

Second.

Councillor Gomez, any questions? Let's call for the vote. Passes 7-0. We now move to the reading and approval of the minutes. Is there a motion to...

I motion to dispense with the reading and approve the minutes of the regular meeting dated August 24th, 2026 as distributed.

Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Councillor Gomez, any questions?

Let's call for the vote.

Passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, we go to Section J, Public Hearings, Item J-1.

Item J1, an ordinance assessing the cost of demolition and removal of a dangerous building upon land located at 125 East 7th Street, introduced August 24, 2026 by Councilor Selena Ruiz Gomez.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report. Yes, Mr. President, members of council, mayor, good evening. This is a unique procedure here at the beginning of council. This is a process we go through from time to time when we're assessing or proposing to assess costs related to the demolition of dangerous buildings. In this particular case, we're referring to the property at 125 East 7th Street that's formerly known as the Albany. The property was demolished a couple of years ago. We have compiled a report of demolition, which was provided in the packet there. But I want to quickly go over, I guess, kind of order of operations here. The intent of this hearing is to collect public testimony and for the public works director, myself, to present this report of demolition. And then immediately following, we'll ask that the ordinance that was presented with the hearing material be voted upon or moved for approval and then voted upon. So with respect to the report of demolition.

I'm just going to interrupt because if you're going to give testimony, then you need to be sworn in since it's a hearing. Staff. You're still going to give testimony as part of the hearing. So if we're going to open the hearing, then we need to have you sworn in.

Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give in this matter shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do.

All right. So with respect to the report of demolition, the property was demolished a couple of years ago. Like I said, in May of 2024, the work was completed. There was an initial notice and order that was filed with the property owner following a fire that occurred in 2022. The city abated and demolished the building and the structures that were on there. Essentially, it was a former church. It had been a funeral home, a banquet hall, several different things over the years. But ultimately, the property was cleaned up and the blighted structure was removed. The ordinance that we're bringing forward tonight to assess the costs will assess the total cost of $750,922.08, reflective of the demolition work, of rental, of temporary fencing, of traffic control, of other expenses related to the demolition work for that property. Again, the report of demolition was included in your packet. I do want to make note that under our code, there is a requirement that notice be given related to this hearing tonight. So that was done in a few ways here. First, a certified mail notice or notice was sent by certified mail to the property owner. There was also a notice posted on the property. And the notice was also published in the public chieftain. And it was also emailed to the property owner. So the intent, again, is for this reported demolition to be introduced and received, and then also for anybody wishing to provide testimony related to the demolition have that opportunity during the hearing. Following this, when that ordinance is moved for approval, there will be another public hearing, again, on the ordinance itself. Did I get that right? Any questions?

Are you giving testimony? Are you finished with your testimony?

I will conclude my testimony there.

So let me ask you a couple of questions.

Yes, ma'am.

What is the address of the property that you're talking about?

Yes, the address is 125 East 7th Street, Pueblo, Colorado.

Okay. And what is the total amount of the final demolition cost?

The total amount being assessed is $750,922.08.

And when was the demolition completed?

The demolition work was completed in May of 2024.

And when was notice provided to the property of this hearing?

It was provided in different ways on different dates. But it was, again, provided certified mail, posted on the property, published in the paper. And the notice was posted in accordance with the code, which requires that at least 10 days prior to this hearing it be posted.

And are you aware of any objections to the notice that was provided? Were any objections filed by the owner?

I have not received any objections, but the instructions in the notice were to provide those to the city clerk. I do not know if there were any communications received by the clerk.

We did not receive any.

Okay.

That's all the questions I have. Yes, ma'am.

Okay. So with respect to testimony, if council would like to receive other testimony to see if anybody else is here to speak with respect to the demolition.

So this would be council's opportunity if there's any testimony that would be that anybody has to offer about the facts. So this would go to the reasonableness of the demolition costs and not on the ordinance in general, but just to the reasonableness of the demolition costs.

So I'll open that up. Is there anyone wishing to give testimony as to the reasonableness of this cost? Come on down.

I don't know what. My name is Eleonora Bartoli.

Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give in this matter shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Yes, I just have a question.

State your name, please.

Yes, Eleonora Bartoli. I just have a question. I only saw one picture, and I would like to see more pictures, especially of the before and after, especially because it wasn't a very old building, like a historic building. So I would like to see the before and after pictures.

Thank you. Is there anyone else wishing to give testimony? Seeing none, the hearing is now closed. Mr. Clerk, we now are going to move to J1.

So at this time, City Council needs to either confirm or reject the demolition costs that have been submitted to Council after the hearing.

Sorry. Thank you. There was an ordinance that has been provided with the package. I would like to point out that in that ordinance, there is one small error. Our municipal code requires that the assessment of interest on that assessment be at 10% per year. The ordinance specifies 7%. So I would ask if council would make a motion to amend that ordinance to reflect that change.

Are there any questions? Want to make the amendment?

Mr. President, I move to amend Section 5 of the ordinance to strike the words 7 percent and replace them with the words 10 percent and approve the ordinance as amended.

Is there a second? Second. Let's call for the vote. It passes 7-0. We now move to the ordinance itself. There's no other testimony from you on that. All right. This is a public hearing, so I will open up the testimony and ask if there's anyone who would speak in favor of this ordinance.

And this would be the ordinances to assess it as you have accepted it and is conclusive, the total amount of the assessment. So the ordinance is to assess it on the tax rolls, essentially.

Seeing none, is there anyone wishing to speak against this ordinance? Seeing none, the hearing is closed. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Councillor Gomez, is there a second?

Second.

Councillor Dante, any questions? Let's call for the vote. Passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, we now move to the consent agenda. Item L, communications.

Item L1, minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting for 7-8-2026. M1, a resolution appointing the city clerk as a designated election official for the special municipal election to be held on November 3rd, 2026, and ratifying the city clerk's certification of the content of the ballot for said election. M2, resolution awarding a construction contract in the amount of $43,569 to Industrial Contractors Managers, Inc., In the amount of $43,569 for project number 26005, WWAN04, fiscal year 2026 primary scum flushing loop at the James R. Delaria water reclamation facility, setting forth $4,356.90 for contingencies and authorizing the purchasing agent to execute the same. M3, a resolution authorizing the issue of a revocable permit REV2626. to Pueblo Community College for the use of the public right-of-way along Ormond Avenue between Arthur Street and Maryland Place to host the inaugural Farm-to-Table Dinner on Saturday, September 26, 2026. M4, a resolution confirming the appointment by the Mayor of Robert Esser to complete a four-year term expiring August 30, 2030 on the ADA Advisory Committee. M5, a resolution ratifying the joint Pueblo-Boone appointment of Jim Valentin to serve on the Pueblo Board of Appeals of the Southern Colorado Building Commission, SCBC, and the engineering position. M6, a resolution authorizing the issue of revocable permit REV 26-27 to the HARP Authority a Colorado nonprofit corporation for the use of Allen Hamel Avenue from South Union Avenue and Santa Fe Avenue and Main Street between D Street and City Center Drive to facilitate the new Pueblo Co. event. Ordinance, first presentation. An ordinance imposing a 24-month moratorium on the acceptance of applications for the issuance of new retail marijuana store facility license UNDER CHAPTER 11 OF TITLE 11 OF THE PUEBLO MUNICIPAL CODE, N2, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AIRLINE OPERATING AGREEMENT AND TERMINAL BUILDING LEASE BETWEEN THE CITY OF PUEBLO, A COLORADO MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AND KEELIME AIR CORPORATION DOING BUSINESS AS DENVER AIR CONNECTION, A CORPORATION DOING BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF COLORADO AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE SAME. N3, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ZONING RESTRICTIONS to Zone 250.1 Acres of the Jackson Ranch Annexation Area to Agricultural 1 Zone District. N4, an ordinance amending zoning restrictions to Zone 65.70 Acres of the Jackson Ranch Annexation Area to Agricultural 4 Zone District. N5, an ordinance amending zoning restrictions to Zone 225.66 Acres of the Jackson Ranch annexation area to single family residential R2 zone district. And six, an ordinance amending zoning restrictions to zone 50.3 or zero three acres of the Jackson Ranch annexation area to one and two family residential R3 zone districts. And seven, an ordinance amending zoning restrictions to rezone 0.29 acres at 1209 Nevada Avenue from a highway and arterial business B3 zone districts to a mixed residential R4 zone district. N8, an ordinance amending Section 15-1-4 of the Pueblo Municipal Code to correct transcription errors in Section 1401 and 1402 of the Model Traffic Code, Reckless and Careless Driving, to conform to Sections 42-4-1401 and 42-4-1402 of the CRS. N9, an ordinance approving a state and local law enforcement agency memorandum of agreement between the City of Pueblo and The Colorado Municipal Corporation and the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration relating to the assignment of a Pueblo police officer to the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Task Force and authorizing the mayor to execute same. And ten. An ordinance accepting the 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, awarding number 15PBJA25GG03414GAGX, establishing project PS2610, budgeting and appropriating funds in the amount of $122,927. therefore approving a memorandum of understanding between the city of Pueblo, a Colorado municipal corporation, and Pueblo County, Colorado, relating to the receipt and disbursement of the grant funds and ratifying the mayor prior execution of same. N11, an ordinance establishing project number PS2608 in the Public Safety Grant Fund, budgeting and appropriating funds in the amount of $25,000 into project number PS2608, approving and accepting the grant award between Pueblo, a Colorado municipal corporation, and the state of Colorado, acting by and through the Colorado Department of Transportation, relating to the federal fiscal year 2027, reducing fatality crashes through speed enforcement grant for the period of October 1st, 2026 through September 30th, 2027 and authorizing the mayor to execute same. N12, an ordinance repealing and reenacting section 15-1-10 of the Pueblo Municipal Code entitled owner liability for traffic signal camera violation to conform the city's traffic signal camera program to Senate Bill 26152 and align operational with Section 15-1-25. N13, an ordinance amending Title 15 of the Pueblo Municipal Code by the addition of a new Section 15-1-25 entitled Automated Vehicle Identification System Speed Enforcement, to authorize the use of automated vehicle identification systems for the detection of speed violations within designated corridors and eligible locations pursuant to CRS section 42-4-110.5. N14, an ordinance designating Automated vehicle identification system corridors on specified streets within the City of Pueblo pursuant to Section 15-1-25 of the Pueblo Municipal Code and CRS Section 42-4-110.5 and making legislation findings in support thereof. N-15, an ordinance approving an automated speed enforcement agreement between the City of Pueblo and Avio, Inc., and authorizing the mayor to execute the agreement. And 16, an ordinance approving the form of a rooftop public safety camera license agreement between the City of Pueblo and Colorado Municipal Corporation and property owners for the placement of public safety cameras on rooftops within the city and authorizing the mayor to execute the same. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Is there an approval of the consent agenda?

I move to approve all resolutions set forth in the consent agenda, pass the ordinances of the consent agenda, setting the public hearings for September 28, 2026, and order the ordinances to be published by title.

Thank you. Is there a second? Councilor Gomez, any questions? Let's call for the vote. Passes six to one. Mr. Clerk, we now move to the regular agenda, item N17.

Item N17, an ordinance establishing project CI2620, Pueblo Mountain Park, Aspen Acres, transferring, budgeting, and appropriating insurance proceeds for fire damage at Pueblo Mountain Park and providing for the transfer of any remaining funds.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

Yes, we do. Hi, council, mayor. The ordinance before you on first reading establishes project CI2620, which is a capital improvement project where we will park insurance proceeds from SIRSA related to fire damage at Pueblo Mountain Park. I placed a cap on this of $10 million just so that any future insurance proceeds would not have to be piecemealed one by one as those payments begin to trickle in. Pending any questions, that concludes my report.

Thank you for that report. Mr. Hernandez.

Yes, sir. Thank you, President Aleph. Just a couple of quick questions. Can you explain how the $10 million cap would affect money coming in at different times?

Sure. So I cannot create a carte blanche, all money coming in is budgeted and appropriated. CERSA gave a figure roundabout, full depreciation, their thinking at $10 This time around $9 million. So I gave us a cap and some cushion.

OK. So what happens if it comes in at, you get $11 million? What happens to the $1 million?

Then we will come back to council for budgeting and appropriating.

OK. So one of the, it says in here that upon the completion of the project, funds will be, return to the self-insurance fund. Which self-insurance fund?

Sure. So the city has two self-insurance funds. There's the self-insurance fund and there's the health self-insurance fund. So health is strictly for the health insurance for employees and the clinic our property coverage through sursa is through the self-insurance fund so even though that policy is through sursa because it's a reciprocal organization of colorado municipalities it's self-insurance so normally when those proceeds come in from insurance those just are deposited and categorized as a revenue to that self-insurance fund. Now, from time to time, we need to utilize those proceeds for large repairs that we cannot absorb in the general fund budget. So when we get large hail damage for roof repairs, we will take those proceeds, transfer them out to the capital improvement fund, complete that repair work, And typically, upon completion, SIRSA then reimburses us for the replacement value as opposed to the depreciated, which is the first half of that payment.

Are the self-insurance accounts delineated by two different call letters? Because I know self-insurance is S-I. So for health and then separate for the insurance?

So I don't believe that we have ever established projects in the self-insurance funds. So for finance, we refer to the self-insurance fund as the 601 fund and the health self-insurance as the 604 fund.

So there's two different charts, two different accounts.

Two different, completely separate funds.

Okay. That's all I had. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Hernandez. Before we move any further, is there a motion to approve?

Motion.

Mr. President, I move to approve Resolution N17 in the Consent Agenda and pass the ordinance in the Consent Agenda, sending the public hearing for September 28, 2026, and order the ordinance to be published by title.

Is there a second? Second. Councillor Gomez. Questions? Councillor Gomez.

Yeah. That money that is used for the insurance fund Is that accessible to be utilized by you or anybody in the... I don't understand. Is there restricted funds that can only be utilized for the Aspen area fire or the mountain park? Or if there's something that exceeds that, where does that money go and what discretion do you have to utilize those funds?

Sure. budgeting and appropriating which we're moving on for its second reading tonight allows those insurance proceeds to be spent for the repair work assessment and Reconstruction of Pueblo Mountain Park if insurance exceeds what we plan or council decides to do, if council decides we're not going to rebuild it and we've made more in insurance than we have in expenditures, then these insurance proceeds go back to the self-insurance fund and would not be able to be used for anything else.

So they track those funds and how they're utilized? And who's going to track that? Is that you or is that the? I do. Okay, so if there's an excess, you're saying $10 million. I guess that's the cap. Is it the $10 million?

So I have to have a cap on what I'm budgeting and appropriating. So like I said, CERSA is estimating that we might get around $9 million. So for efficiency, I added some... cushion in there in case the design work or anything else that CIRSA decides they're going to pay us for comes in higher.

You don't foresee anything going high? You're saying $9 million, not $10 million? Is it $9 million?

Right now, it's hard to say. So we have preliminary estimates in from SIRSA. They're working with engineers that are on site. So that's the estimate. But right now, Now I think it's anyone's kick guess until we get those estimates back.

So if it exceeds those numbers, that extra money can't just go back into the park that needs a lot of help, as opposed to going back into the general fund or back to... Correct. I mean, that cannot go back to the park.

Well, ideally, we never want to use insurance proceeds for something that's not related to an insurance claim. That keeps that fund afloat, and that's how we're able to stabilize our self-insurance. So if we get paid out, I don't know if there's anything preventing council from using those from something else, but I would strongly disagree with it because that's how we keep the actuarial balance in that fund.

You'll keep us abreast of the actual numbers when we come to the conclusion we get that number? You're going to give that to us?

Absolutely. Okay.

Thank you.

Councilor Dante?

On the Circus insurance claim, is that going to cover the landscaping and the trees and things like that?

Yes, so they've actually already paid us out for that. So the covers that we have through CERSA, through Trees and Landscaping, is capped at $50,000. So the damage that we incurred was well above that amount. So they've actually already sent that check to us for that capped amount.

Okay, thank you. Just one more point, Mark, real quick. Councillor Gomez.

Do you have any idea when they're going to come to the conclusion on all the costs and when it's going to be done? Shouldn't it have been done by now or no?

I think it's going to take, I would say, probably a few more months to have everything completely analyzed. I think Andrew's here. He can speak more to that aspect. But it's an in-depth process. Okay.

I'd like to be able to track that if we can.

Thanks for the question. Actually, the costs that have been paid out are things that they're already aware that their obligations are going to have to pay out. But there are still things being assessed. I believe, in particular, the either repairs or abatement or cleanup of the site where the lodge building is. That's one of the pieces that's still being assessed. So right now we're also in the process of doing removal of burned vehicles and cleaning up the building sites that are out there that were damaged. So those actual costs have not been determined. They've made estimates. So they prepaid a portion of the claim that they know we're certainly going to get to this level. But there are still other costs coming in. Once, you remember, just last week or two weeks ago, but we had a quick discussion about upcoming meetings for kind of gauging public input on what to do with the park, getting that temperature in the community. So there are going to be three or four meetings here within the community and probably one of those in Beulah for kind of gauging I guess, use of the park, how people would envision it seeing going forward, but also in the context of the available resources that are coming back in to rebuild or to repair facilities in the park as well. So there's been no course of action determined. That's coming later. But SRSA does need to know at some point what we want to do because their direction, the way that they will spend funds, is going to change based on the direction that we give. so the 10 million just for argument's sakes is a target cap correct that doesn't mean it's we don't know what the final capital 11 million we don't know what the final claim amount will be and it's just a set it's a set amount to be able to uh efficiently budget and appropriate the funds up to that limit not to spend it not to put it towards a specific project so if Ultimately, Council makes a decision that we're going to make repairs to facilities in Beulah Mountain Park. We would be bringing an ordinance forward to fund a project for that purpose, and it would likely be funded from the insurance proceeds. But those insurance proceeds are going back into the self-insurance fund for now. And once we have those amounts, we know what those claims will be and what the depreciation will be that's deducted, what the additional costs will be for bringing things up to code. Those kinds of things are still yet to be determined. But as those costs are determined, we'll be bringing a specific project forward at that time for use of those funds.

So this is the city self-insurance fund?

That's correct.

Yes. Correct. And the $10 million... that we have the target cap on, right?

That goes into that bank of... Yeah, all the 10 million means is... Danny has picked a number that is above what we think the claim will be, just so that when we get a check from SRSA, because they won't come in all at once. It's not just one, like we normally get a deposit all at once. This will come in several payments. He doesn't have to bring a separate ordinance for you every single time. But if we do hit that $10 million cap, we get $1 over, we're going to be back with at least one more ordinance to budget those additional funds.

$2 million plus $3 million plus $1 million? Correct. I got it. OK. Yeah.

Thanks. All right. Councilor Ruiz-Gomez.

Thank you, Mr. President. Just as a point of clarification, on the probable $10 million claim, $50,000 is already accounted for, so we can already see a deduction from that total?

Yes. So we have received that $50,000, but right now we can't spend a penny of it because nothing has been appropriated through council.

All right. Let's call for the vote. Passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, we go to the regular agenda. Resolutions, item Q1.

Item Q1, resolution authorizing payment from the council contingencies account in the 2026 general fund to Assistance League of Pueblo, Inc. in the amount of $2,500 to sponsor the holiday fashion preview from 9.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 5th, 2026 at the Pueblo Convention Center. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

President Aliff, happy to provide the staff report. City Council Member Mark Aliff is requesting $2,500 to sponsor the Assistance League of Pueblo's Holiday Fashion Preview. The fundraiser will take place from 9.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at the Public Convention Center. The Holiday Fashion Preview is an annual festival fundraiser featuring a fashion show, holiday boutique, with local artisans, live music, and lunch. Funds raised are specifically earmarked for Operation School Bell, which assists needy elementary and middle school children in a public area with new school clothes, hygiene kits, and age-appropriate books. Operation School Bell is held after school for one week every September, and underprivileged children are referred by school counselors to the Assistant League. Pueblo City Council has sponsored this event from 2021 to 2023 for $1,000 and in 2024 for $2,000 and in 2025, $2,500. And that concludes the staff report.

Thank you for that report. Mr. Martinez, you signed up to speak on this?

Okay, so I was reading the attachments and what the mayor said with the prior years that it was supported. So I would politely ask you guys to amend this to $1,000 to save some of the council funds for future meetings this year. And the only difference from the $1,000 to the $25,000 besides the $1,500 is that for $25,000... The city gets eight tickets and they also get a logo placement, print advertising. The MC says the people who sponsored it at that amount and then also a banner display. But without that $2,500, if it's $1,000, it's the four tickets, and then without advertising the logo. So we're paying for four more tickets and just to be recognized by the MC and a little dinky logo for $1,500. That doesn't add up to $1,500 in my hat. Of course, I signed up on the other ones without speaking on the other ones. We have $11,000 out of the $85,000 contingency fund here, which is nearly 13% of the funds. So, again, we have to start saying cut some of these down here and there. I'm not saying completely cut. say give them zero that they are a good non-profit and mr aliff has spoke about that so thank you mr aliff in the past so i like this non-profit so even if you guys amended to two thousand dollars from 2024 i think the mayor said so a thousand dollars or two thousand dollars thank you thank you is there a motion to approve motion approved counselor gomez is there a second counselor dante any questions counselor gomez

Yeah, I understand the ask, but I don't understand the amount. I mean, I've been trying to work my little unaccountable brain down to somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,500, because there's a lot of nonprofits. I mean, it's increased. So I've just got nothing against this organization. I think the Assistance League is great, but I'm just looking at all these other asks, and I'm just wondering if we're ever going to get to a place where we feel comfortable with a number. that we can utilize to be fair to everybody. And they're not all built the same. They don't have the same dinners. They don't have all the same. I got it. But I'm just saying, basically, for me, I'd support it if we can realistically look at bringing it down to 1,500.

I want to make a motion to bring it down to 1,500.

So you have a motion to bring it to 1,500. Is there a second? I'll give it a second. Councilor Latino, any questions? This is Councilor Ruiz Gomez.

Thank you. Mayor Graham, can you please review for us the fund balance? Yes. Thank you.

So if this was to pass at the $2,500, City Council would have $28,250 left in your contingencies. Thank you. Any other? Councilor Dante.

Any other questions? So the vote is on the amendment to be at 1500. Passes 6 to 1. Mr. Clerk, item Q2.

Item Q2, a resolution authorizing payment from the Council Contingencies Account to the 2026 General Fund Budget to Hard Knocks Gang Prevention and Intervention in the amount of $5,000 to sponsor program-related operating expenses. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

President Aleph and members of council, City Councilor Ruiz Gomez is requesting $5,000 to sponsor Hard Knocks Gang Prevention and Interventions Program related to their operating expenses. Hard Knocks Gang Prevention and Intervention is a 501c3 whose mission is to help high-risk youth entangled with today's gang culture take small steps in big ways that lead to big changes within their lives. Their vision is to understand our youth and their perception of the world that surrounds them and to help them create a new vision and new goals that challenge them beyond what they believe possible through the process of determination, focus, and perseverance. Sponsorship funds will be used to provide initiatives to the children they serve, such as meals, gift cards, pro-social activities. These pro-social activities can include access to local gyms, boxing clubs, and MMA programs provided at no cost. They also provide job seeking and resume building services. and purchase work uniform shoes for clients as needed. They provide a workbook to every client who is working within an evidence-based curriculum. Hard Knocks gang prevention and intervention is currently funded through referral contracts with public probation. Referral sources pay for their therapeutic mentoring at $65 an hour, and group sessions are paid at $45 through each program. They will receive $30 an hour for approximately 40 hours a month to hold their CHESS program at the library, and they can provide 40 hours of pro bono services a year. As of August 17, 2026, they were working on applying to CSAC and had submitted for grants but had not been awarded any. Their gross profit for 2025 totaled $2,198.05. And I can also confirm that they did submit a request through CSAC for $10,000. And happy to answer any other questions.

Thank you for that report. Mr. Martinez, you signed up to speak on this?

For all of them.

I just want to go on record right away and say Mr. Salazar is an amazing man. So no hard feelings. So I would like you guys to amend this, and I have a couple of asks or requests. So last year it was $3,500 we gave them, but how I told you, all we had was $85,000 this time in the funds. My ask would be to amend it between $3,000 and $3,500, but half from the council fund and half from the mayor's fund, if that would be possible. And I know that's possible because it has happened in the past by splitting it half and half on a couple of the other asks from last year. And Mr. Salazar does wonderful things for the kids, teaches them how to go on the right path. So I give all kudos to Mr. Salazar. And I know Mr. Gomez has talked highly of Mr. Salazar in the past, and he's right behind me. So thank you, Mr. Salazar, for what you do for all the youth. And I hope more people could follow in the footsteps of Mr. Salazar by turning their life around. And he has presented to you guys in the past. And once again, he's an outstanding asset to Pueblo. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Councillor Gomez, is there a second? Second. Councillor Latino, questions? Councillor Dante?

Yes. I think this is a really great organization. It helps young kids that have nowhere to go and seem to end up in the gangs. And I think it's a great organization. But I'd like to make a motion to change that to $2,500.

So we have a motion to make it $2,500. Is there a second? Second. Second. Councillor Gomez? Questions? Councillor Gomez?

Yeah, this is one of the things I think we've got to be a little bit more distinct on events. I mean, one thing is it looks like we're talking on both sides of our mouth that we want $1,500 and then this $5,000 ask, whatever. But we've got to start looking at the times. I mean, if you've got an event that's going on for one day, that's one thing. If you've got an event that's going on for a full year or they need funding for a full year, that's something else. So I'm trying to be clear and make it make sense. my brick of a head here when it comes to accounting. But that's what I look at. They're not all created equal. We've all said that. They have different missions. They have different events. They get different vetting. They get different things for tickets, for auctions, whatever we did. Sometimes we're not really, I'm not caught up with a lot of that. But I can only talk to that if this is the 2026 general fund budget, And I can only vouch that I know this organization, and I know what they're doing, and I know I've seen them in action. Again, take a look at the amount of time that we're looking at as opposed to an event that we give for $1,500 versus $3,000 or whatever we decide, $5,000, whatever. I'm not really sure if I can... deal with the 5000 because i don't know how much of a clear vetting we have on that in reference to operating costs that always bothers me so that i'm not really sure about so does that any of that make sense and i'm having confused even more let me know can i just add to uh counselor gomez um typically city council requests are not for operating budgets that come through contingencies those are usually made through csac

and have been over the last couple of years. So the requests that usually come for city council are sponsorships to events, to single-day items, like Councilor Gomez talked about. This is an ongoing operating expense as stated in their application. So this would be one that we would recommend be sent to CSAC. And as I stated, they did submit an application through CSAC for $10,000.

Any other questions? Councilor Ruiz-Gomez. Yes.

Thank you, President Elif. I've had an opportunity to meet with this organization. understand their foundation and the evidence-based techniques that they use to support our youth and our community. However, understanding the numbers and the budget that we have now, I don't know that at this point in time we could allot this exact number. So I would support the lowered award at this time and then... bring it forward to the CSAC organization, see if they would approve it. So I think there was an amendment for $2,500.

Councilor Latino.

Yes, I want to compliment Mr. Salazar and his associate in what they've done. They've done great things in this community as it relates to young people and helping them. If you go to the east side to the Lucero Library, you see him over there all the time, working with young people, and in other parts of the city as well. The sad thing is that we don't have the money to give them the full $5,000. So I'm going to support Councilwoman Salina Ruiz Gomez. Mark, thank you for everything that you do. Thank you, man.

Any other questions?

I'm just curious in reference to the CSAC approach, how that works, because I don't want them leaving here without having a clearer understanding of what we're talking about. Do we do a split somehow?

Do we do... All I know is that they said... All I know is that they did submit an application request for $10,000 that was submitted after they submitted this to city council. And in their application, you did see that they were going to be submitting the application. The CSAC commission has not reviewed or made any suggestions moving forward at this point.

So how does that work then? I'm just...

CSAC applications ended August 31st. Now they're reviewing them. And until after they review them, you don't know how much you're going to get.

Yeah, I'm not going to support $2,500. And let me tell you why.

This is the only guy... in Pueblo that's doing the work. Guy does the work. He comes here, every single year that I've been here, he's come in and he's proven that he does the work. And to say that we don't have the money is kind of embarrassing because there's plenty of money. So I'm going to vote no on the $2,500 and hopefully we go back to the $5,000, but that's up to council. Councilor Boston.

Thank you, Mr. President. You saw what I was going to say. Yeah, this is not a program that I think we should afford to be able to cut. Thank you for all the work you do. Youth services, especially in this avenue, I think are incredibly, incredibly important to this community. So I also am going to vote no because As stated in the prior staff report, I believe that with the amendment is over $29,000. So we do have the money. I would rather forego several events than cut the funding on this one. So I will also be voting no. And a counselor requested this to be brought forward at this amount. That was at their discretion. So I think to vote against that when they ask for that would be interesting.

Councilor Ruiz-Gomez.

Mr. President, so at this time, do we need to move to amend the... No.

On this first one.

Just vote. Okay.

We have a motion. Councilor Gomez. I hate when you guys change my mind. It really gets me angry.

So I'm also going to vote no on the motion. Thanks.

I will do the same.

Let's call for the vote on the motion for $2,500. No. Right?

I just want to make sure.

It's not going. You see me doing it.

It fails 6 to 1. We now go to the motion for $5,000. Are there any questions? Let's call for the vote. Passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, we now go to item Q3.

Item Q3 resolution authorizing payment from the Council contingency account in the 2026 general fund budget to the Becky Baker Foundation in the amount of $2000 to sponsor giving hearts taking place from 10 AM to 2 PM on Friday and Saturdays from November 20th to December 12th, 2026 at the Baker at the Becky Baker Foundation Survivor Resource Center. Thank you Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

President Aleph and members of City Council, this is a request from Councilor Roger Gomez and Councilor Ted Hernandez for $2,000 to sponsor the Becky Baker Foundation's Giving Hearts event. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from November 20th to December 12th, 2026 at the Becky Baker Foundation Survival Resource Center located at 4140 Club Manor Drive. The Becky Baker Foundation is a 501c3 whose mission is to change the national conversation around breast cancer from awareness to prevention. They provide free education on the factors that can lead to breast cancer diagnosis, including nutrition, stress, environment, and relationship dynamics, focusing on expanding awareness, and more importantly, prevention. They also provide dedication resources that meet the needs of those affected by breast cancer. A breast cancer diagnosis is very expensive, even with quality health insurance. For the underused or uninsured, a diagnosis can be devastating to a family. Mounting medical bills means many families are unable to afford important necessities such as clothing, shoes, household items, personal care products, or baby and children's clothing. The Becky Baker Foundation has partnered with the United Breast Cancer Foundation to help meet the needs of these families by creating the Becky Baker Foundation Survivors Resource Center, where these families are able to select from hundreds of free items their families' needs, relieving some of the burden, fears, and financial constraints facing those battling breast cancer. This would be the first time that the city council would be providing contingencies to the foundation. Happy to answer any other questions.

Thank you for that staff report. Mr. Martinez? What's that on his head?

I support this for 2,100%, so thank you, Mr. Gomez, for bringing this forward, and I would hope that the mayor would also match this out of her mayor fund so that they could get $4,000 because I met Mr. Baker. He's a wonderful man. I had a short conversation with him, and he's doing great not only for Pueblo but for all of Colorado. those affected by breast cancer visit the shop and how the mayor said it's absolutely free to all of those who are affected by breast cancer and of course all of us probably had a relative affected by breast cancer. So Mr. Baker is an outstanding man and he's great and nothing bad to say about Mr. Baker so I hope you guys approve this for $2,000 and I hope the mayor could also give $2,000 to Mr. Baker. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Councillor Boston, is there a second? Second. Councillor Ruiz Gomez. Questions? Councillor Gomez.

Yeah, I know about this group somewhat. I know that the background is that Mr. Baker's wife had issues with breast cancer. And it's impacted my family a great deal. And I know other families. Breast cancer, not just for women, but there is an occasion that it happens to men as well. But this gentleman, I know his personality, he made a promise to his wife that they wouldn't forget her. And it really tugs at your heartstrings. And he's been running a great organization for a long, long time. And if I look at the dates from November 20 through December 12, almost a month, the ask above that was money that they were localized for operating costs for the year. And to make some sense of this, I would, and I'm not just looking away. I just know this group. I know this organization. I know how it's impacting Pueblo. It's not getting, they're working on it. And they're very open. They don't turn anybody away. And I would, again, I know we're getting tight on money, but I would prefer that we look at actually going to $3,000 as opposed to the $2,000 just because of the mission of this. These guys are incredible people. So I hope nobody has to deal with it, but that's just my recommendation. Thank you.

Any other questions? That's a motion. Excuse me.

Did I do that wrong? Yes. I'd like to make a motion. To? To raise it to $3,000.

So Councilor Gomez has made a motion to raise it to $3,000. Is there a second? Second. Councilor Dante seconded it. Seconded it.

Say it again.

Any questions? You're voting on $3,000. Maybe. Passes 7-0. Mr.

Clerk, item Q4.

Item Q4, resolution authorizing payment from the council contingency account in the 2026 general fund budget to the Pueblo Community Health Center Foundation in the amount of $1,500 to sponsor the Fiesta fundraiser, a dueling piano show in the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center on Friday, October 16th, 2026 from 6 to 9 p.m. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

President Aliff and members of council, City Councilmember Ted Hernandez is requesting $1,500 to sponsor this Community Health Center Foundation's Fiesta fundraiser at Dooling Piano Show. The fundraiser will take place at the San Diego Crystal Arts Center Conference Center on Friday, October 16th from 6 to 9 p.m. In the past, PCHC has partnered to provide health and care services at the shelter. Comprehensive services are provided to All patients, including primary, medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, lab, and case management, they have locations throughout Pueblo and are accepting new patients without a waiting list. The Fiesta Fundraiser, a dueling piano show, is an annual fundraising event featuring a silent auction, dinner, and live entertainment. The doors open at 6. The show kicks off promptly at 7 after brief comments. The estimated cost to hold this event this year is $20,000. Funds raised will be used to support programs and priority projects for Pueblo Community Health Center. And they have received 44,400 in sponsorships and donations so far. The sponsorship tier includes a table for eight. Happy to answer any other questions.

Thank you for that staff report. Mr. Martinez.

Thank you. Okay, a bit different from what I said earlier. So the mayor stated this is for eight seats, eight tickets, however you want to say it, for $1,500. And the event technically starts at 7 o'clock promptly, according to the attachments, and ends 9 o'clock, maybe 9.05. So this doesn't make sense. For two hours, we're spending $1,500 of the taxpayer's money. Now, Mr. Gomez was just saying how he thinks about it in his amazing mind. The time frame of the event, right, there's a weekend, a couple hours from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., whatever like that. So I would kindly... request you guys suggest to not sponsor this for a single penny. They already raised $44,000. It's two hours for $1,500. That's $750 an hour. So the math isn't mapping up in my head for two-hour event for $1,500. That $1,500 could go elsewhere to other non-profits in the future meetings that we have later on this month, next month, November and December because we're Depleting the pot of funds, I think we're going to have about $25,000, $26,000 left after this, and that would equate to about $2,000 and some change for the rest of the meetings. So if you guys could be more conservative, I bring that up quite a bit. Thank you.

Yes, sir. I sponsored this event, or this event, this ask. And I know if you've ever played the piano for two hours, it's a lot of work. So are we good? Can we go? OK. So the cause is just. It's the community health centers. They provide a lot of health care to a lot of low-income individuals in the city. And if we're going to help people, we should be helping those who need the help. And so that's why I made this recommendation. And again, it was a joke and nobody got it, but playing the piano for two hours is pretty tough work.

Any other questions? Councillor Gomez.

Yeah. In reference to, you know, we get into this thing of what somebody should get and not get and all this other stuff. But, you know, very rarely does Mr. Hernandez ever get in front of something like this. And his ask and his, you know, I've got a good, you know, sitting next to his head for a long time and working on things. This is not something he would just do frivolously. I just know him. So in this case, in reference to this ask, I am going to support this one because I know this man, and that's good enough for me. Thank you.

I brought up my second ask, and you cut it in half.

Wow.

Any other questions? Let's call for the vote. Passes 7-0. Mr.

Clerk, we go to Q5. Item Q5, a resolution confirming the appointment by the mayor of Thomas Slomiknik to serve a two-year term on the Airport Policy Advisory Committee. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

President Aleph, on August 24th of 2026, the City Council adopted the resolution establishing the Airport Policy Advisory Committee. On August 24th, City Council voted 6-1 to separate the resolution confirming the appointment of four members to the Airport Policy Advisory Committee into four separate resolutions. This is the first resolution you'll see tonight. Happy to answer any questions.

Thank you for that report. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Councillor Boston, is there a second? Second. Councillor Ruiz Gomez, any questions?

Question.

Councillor Latino.

Madam Mayor, did you in any way work with the current tenants at the airport to see Were they stood as it relates to the board appointments? Or did you talk to me? Because I never heard anything.

Thank you, Councilor Latino, for the question. As I stated before, we had two public hearings, that I'll call them, where airport tenants, commercial tenants, members of the airport users group, members of the airports, even general citizens were allowed to come and get public testimony right here in city council chambers. As I told you before, you nor any other member of city council came to those hearings. In applying for this board, it was publicly put out, like all of our boards, to where anybody could apply. The city received 17 applications that came in. I made four appointments based off the testimony that I received over those two days and the applications that were submitted. And that is how I came forward with these four individuals tonight.

Okay. I'll support the first one and then we'll go one by one. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Any other questions? Councilor Gomez.

Yeah, I met with Slovatnik several times at the airport trying to get myself a little bit more brushed up on it. Very patient guy. Got a lot of support from the hangar owners and a lot of folks out at the airport. And this is just for me. These are the people that do this for a living. I mean, the people out there. I mean, the money that surrounds a hangar and the aviation and the fixed... base operations and all that stuff. The money that I can't even, my lack of an accounting brain can't wrap my head around. He's very, very well spoken. He's very knowledgeable. And more than anything else, he took a lot of time. I can only tell you for myself, he's a very patient guy. And I really enjoyed him. And I met with him more than once. And usually when I go out, I just show up. Never turn me down. He's always there. So just what it's worth. I'm really behind this guy. So just what it's worth.

Any other questions? Councillor Hernandez.

Yeah. Madam Mayor, I sent you a list of three people, and we talked briefly before the meeting started. And I just wanted to... suggest that we consider those three people. It wasn't an ask to appoint them. It was an ask to consider them. Because I know that most of the people, unlike myself, work a full-time job. So being able to attend all of those was a little bit difficult for most people. So I submitted three names to you, and I would just like for Council to be able to consider those three names based on the information.

Sure, I'd be happy to talk to those names that Council submitted. So Councilor Ruiz-Gomez, Councilor Dante, and Councilor Hernandez all submitted the same names. to put forward on tonight's agenda if you're going to make a motion to substitute. The third name that you submitted, that individual did not even apply to be part of this board. As far as council's substitutes that they have requested, I do find it quite interesting that you have never reviewed any of the applications.

That's why we're asking them to be considered because we would like an opportunity to view those.

I understand, but tonight is the night that the appointments are being made. So if you wanted me to consider or you wanted to consider them yourself, I think it would have been pretty pertinent that you reviewed the applications for these individuals. that you're putting forward on this agenda tonight.

And the last time that we met, you asked us if we had any suggestions, so that's what these are. These are the suggestions that you asked for.

I understand, but I got that about 1 o'clock today for a meeting that took place tonight with names that are already included in the agenda. And I know no member of city council had requested that information before, nor have any of the members of city council received or had a chance to review the two individuals that you put forward. In fact, one of the individuals does not even live in the city of Pueblo, so that might be a challenge.

When will this committee be seated?

It should have been seated two, three weeks ago.

When will they meet for the first time?

It depends if you pass enough people to have a quorum tonight.

So what's the quorum? Three?

Yeah, so it's a five, yes.

So how many people are on the committee total? Just the four? Five. Five.

Yeah, so the Director of Aviation has a vote and four appointed members.

Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Any other questions? Let's call for the vote. Passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, item Q6.

Item Q6, a resolution confirming the appointment by the mayor of Bill Evans to serve a two-year term on the Airport Policy Advisory Committee. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

It'll be the same staff report that I gave last time, but I do know that Mr. Evans is in the audience of City Council, wishes to ask him any questions about this appointment.

Thank you for that report. We have two people signed up to speak on this. James Rohima. Hope I said that right.

Mm hmm.

Hello, I'm James Rock and I've been a pilot here in and out of Pueblo since 88 and I'm providing medical services around New Mexico and southern Colorado with the aid of being able to fly. I think that There's a major conflict with Bill Evans. First of all, he doesn't have longevity. He doesn't really understand the airport area. I don't believe he's an active general aviation pilot. He may have had some experience in the past, but also his relationship, well, his wife, I believe, works for Citi, and that raises some concerns regarding his independence. The Airport Advisory Committee should really have a good stake in general aviation. The people that directly use and operate from the airport, the policy committee should represent the entire aviation community. including aircraft mechanics, commercial pilots, aircraft and hangar owners and tenants, and not primarily organizations or individuals with direct ties to the city administration or individual airport business. So I think to have a General aviation representation, we really need more than five members. And so I'd recommend nine, at least seven, to have a better voice of general aviation. Those of us that use and fly in and out of Pueblo. routinely, and I've been here a long time, Colorado, at least, natives and Pueblo folks. Particularly, committee members shouldn't be free from actual or perceived conflicts of interest, as that's my perception of Mr. Evans. So that the The public can have confidence that the recommendations made by the committee are to benefit Pueblo Memorial Airport. We just have a real gem, a diamond in the rough here in Pueblo. Tower, great facilities. And we're distant enough from Denver and Colorado Springs. It's just such an opportunity to build general aviation here in Pueblo. respectfully asked the council to vote no on him particularly, but also the same would go for Mr. Hayes.

I'm sorry, we can only talk on this.

Yes, sir. So a stacked committee just doesn't work. and I think that it's clearly stacked against general aviation with the recommendations that have been made. Thank you.

Thank you. There's one other person signed up to speak. I cannot read your name, so I'm going to read your phone number. 778-5888. Is that you? Who are you?

John Pearson.

It's totally different on the other one. Yes, I know.

My wife signed one. Got it. Oddly enough, I have better handwriting than my wife. Yeah, so I've been a part of the airport community since 2020, so not near as long as a lot of the other individuals you've been in contact with or you might speak to. I know most everybody at the airport. I talk to nine out of ten people I see out there. I'm out at the airport two to three days a week. So yeah, we get to know everybody. We've kind of got a good family thing going. It feels everybody's friendly. Somebody I don't know is Bill Evans, though. I've never seen him at the airport. Don't know if he... owns an airplane, I can't find him in the FAA registry. What we're really looking for in this advisory committee is representation of the stakeholders at the airport. We need the people that use the airport on a regular basis to be involved in our advisory committee. So I came, along with a lot of our family, if you would, to ask council to vote no against Bill Evans and maybe fill his name in with somebody, one of the three that that you all brought up, somebody that uses the airport. We need representation as a general aviation community at the airport. And I think the doctor was right. This committee as it is, it's stacked. And we need more representation for general aviation. And we need more members in this advisory committee. We need more people to sit on the board and to advise. And so, yeah, we're asking council to vote no on Q6.

Thank you. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

Councillor Boston, is there a second?

Second.

Councillor Dante, questions? Councilor Ruiz Gomez.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mayor Graham, on this committee, since it's newly forming, are there any bylaws that are created that would prohibit the use of, like, someone who is on your staff to... No, there's no bylaws for that.

The only question that's asked on any application is if you are an employee of the City of Pueblo. It is not uncommon for spouses to apply for city boards. In fact, your own councilwoman, Councillor Dante's husband, Ken, is appointed and sits on the Energy Advisory Commission. So when we talk about conflicts, if we're going to talk about one, we have one right here, right? I don't think that that's what this is about. I don't think that Ken is a conflict. I think Ken is very knowledgeable, just like I think Mr. Evans is. And when we talk about bringing advisory people to come and talk about standards, rules, and regulations. And fee, sometimes it's good to have a set of eyes who doesn't have a financial benefit coming to listen to the committee members review the rules and regulations. I'm going to take this straight out of Mr. Evans. application that you all have. He is a 24-year Navy vet, and he spent most of his time flying F-14s, F-18 jets. Aviation is the core of most of his career. And it has also dominated most of his professional career moving forward. So I would say that after reviewing his application He would be a very good fit I would not necessarily mean that that means it's stacked because if we're gonna start saying that it's stacked because we have a spouse of a Somebody who works for the city of Pueblo. Well, you have a council person's husband who is also part of the Energy Advisory Commission so I would have to ask the City Council be fair and also when talking about that. That is why I chose Bill. I think he would be a great asset, and I think he brings a different view than the individuals who have come and spoke in front of you today. When I made these appointments to City Council, It was because of the individuals who came forward and spoke upon the different groups. So you had Mr. Crocker, who's also going to be up next. He came and spoke upon the airport users group. So he gave up and gave testimony along with LaWayne, you had Tom who came up and talked about being a flight instructor. That was one of the fields that was discussed. And on our next, I'm not sure, I don't know if we want to turn this on. I'm not sure if city council received this. We didn't make copies for your testimony tonight, but somebody in the audience. printed out about why you should be voting ethically and responsible. And then you have Reese Hayes, who is the attorney from the Freeman Jet Center. He was one of the only commercial aviation respondents who responded back to the rules, regulations, and standards and sent multiple red line documents to the city when we did, in fact, ask for that information to be provided back to us. That is why I chose him so we'll get to him coming up But I wanted to make sure that you knew that it was not a conflict of interest to have a city employees spouse There are many city employees who have spouses that sit on many different boards and commissions through the city of Pueblo and you even have some spouses of City Council members who also want to donate their time to make the commit community better and I just do not think that that is stacking the deck by any means I

Councilor Gomez.

Yeah, I understand your concerns, Mayor. But for me, when I go through these kind of things, I try to consult the experts. And they're at the airport. They're not here. They're at the airport, the advisory boards. And I spend a lot of time out there. And if we're worried about the nepotism angle, I got it. But you got to listen to the people out there, in my mind, are the ones that know what's going on, not just in the air, but on the ground. And I'm going to take their recommendations. For me, it's a no vote on Mr. Evans. And if there is concerns about the connection between, I believe, his wife that works for Andrew Hayes I understand it. I'm not saying I agree with it, but I understand it. So I think we should take the time to go to the experts on the ground instead of trying to guess. If you remember this correctly, you put this to us packet thing. We just want to sign off on all four of them without being voted on their own merit. That was the first that got my attention. We need to look at doing this and vote them on their own merit, not this package deals that we keep on getting. So at this time, I'm voting no on this candidate. Thank you.

Is Mr. Evans here? Could you come down, please?

There's a small one up there.

Hello.

Good evening, council.

First of all, thank you for wanting to serve on this committee and putting your name out there. I just have two questions for you. How many people on city council reached out to you and interviewed you?

Nobody.

And of the airport committee, how many people reached out to you and sat down with you?

Nobody, sir.

Okay. That's all the questions I have.

any other questions i have one uh counselor dante um for bill no not for him not for you're good you're good um the one question is this when public works is working will they ever be working at the airport

um yeah so they do all the crack sill all the building maintenance as a city is going to be taking over the api hangers maintenance issues are going to have to be resolved public works comes out just like the parks department some of that labor is also contracted out from time to time public works oversees every city building and facility within the community

And would Molly Evans ever come across her husband while he's on this committee?

I would say no. This committee is specifically to talk about fees, rules and regulations, and minimum standards. I just wanted to make that clear. Sure.

Councillor Gomez.

Yeah, President, I don't believe you. Did you meet with any of the candidates yourself?

No, I sure didn't, Councillor Gomez.

OK, so what I want to find out is the only place I can go to is I look to the people that are on the ground. They're the experts. That's how I can do it. If I'm going to have to start sitting here and vet every single candidate,

Well, that's what you're asking to do.

Okay, I understand, but that's why I brought it in that context. But I can't tell you that I contacted Mr. Evans. I have nothing against the guy. I don't know. All I'm telling you is my research going on the ground, been out there for hours and hours at a time trying to learn the process.

Thank you. I understand the concerns and people's saying. But in trying not to stack the deck, you're stacking the deck. You literally say who can't be appointed and who can be appointed based on what? This is a Navy veteran that flew F-16s. To say that he doesn't have any aviation experience or capable of being on this board I didn't say that. I'm just bringing it up, not to you, but to everybody. If we're going to look at applicants based upon experience, you couldn't ask for an applicant with more experience. I'm not arguing the point that he's married to somebody who works for the city. But if as a council we say that no matter what, anybody who works for the city, their spouse cannot be a part of any board, any commission, or anything else like that because it creates a conflict of interest, you're not giving this veteran the benefit of the doubt that he can act and make decisions in a non-biased way, and I think that's unfair in that sense. That's all I'm saying about that. Councillor Hernandez.

Mr. Evans, can you come back down, please? Easy questions. Why in the world would you ever want to be on a committee like this?

I've got a couple ways to answer that, Counselor. Please. First, we just moved here this year, as was brought up earlier. And I think that's common for military. We tend to move around a lot, and we see a lot. And often, we don't get the opportunity to plug into the community, to give back in a more personal role to the community. So in my time when I traveled, when I moved every two to three years, I didn't have this opportunity because longevity was you wanted to be on the board for more than the 14 months I would be there, or the 18 months. So this is a great opportunity for me to give back to the community I'm in. And I'm fully vested here in Pueblo. The second reason, and this goes to some other points that have been made here, is I'm not an active pilot here. I got that. I am not actively working on the tarmac here. I accept that. And I think many committees, advisory committees, whose sole job is to provide advice and look at things. Diversity, variety, difference of opinion, difference of background is very important. And I personally believe that in addition to the expertise of airport maintainers, owners, businesses, I think having someone slightly outside of that realm who has exposure and experience with that realm can provide some variety and a different perspective that could help better inform the process. I think the end result of this would be a Pueblo Memorial Airport that is as approachable and usable for economic development, for travel, for civil, for private, for a lot more. And I really want to bring that to Pueblo. So I want to help inform that decision.

Can you tell me, have you been out to the airport lately? Yes. Just by chance? Yes. Can you give me a breakdown of what you thought about the condition of our airport?

I've seen better. I've seen worse. It's a small airport. It seems to be as efficient as it needs to be in its current state. But I can't give you specific tokens or areas where I would ask for change right now. But I think it's good. I mean, I really appreciate the simple parking. I really appreciate the short line to get through security. I really appreciate the proximity of the restaurant there. I thought their breakfast burrito was fantastic. I think it's a good airport. I think it has potential for growth, and I think that involves not just the private general aviation, but also involves other aspects that I think would be helpful.

Can you see why people are concerned about the fact that your wife works for Public Works and that Public Works does work out there and why that might be a conflict? Let me explain why it might. One of the things that Public Works is responsible for are the large cracks that exist at the airport. if the condition of the airport now is in the state that it's in, which it's not very good. I mean, I've been out there three times now, and there are some cracks in the asphalt you could actually set your foot in. And so I'm not saying that your wife is responsible for that. Obviously, she's not. But what I'm saying is that when the condition of the airport isn't worked on the way it should be by Public Works or by whoever, and then this name comes up with somebody who's married to somebody in public works, you can see why that would lead people to believe there might be a conflict. I'm not saying there is. I'm just asking you if you can understand why people would feel that way.

I think Councilman Gomez said it well. I understand it. I don't disagree with it. I don't agree with it. Okay. I think... I have to take offense that anyone questions my integrity and my ethics and my ability to deal with the discussion around the committee in an unbiased way. Whether or not I discuss it with my wife, I believe that I can do it well and do it honest without bringing in bias of a city employee in the same house as me.

And I don't believe for one second that you would do that. I'm just wanting to know if you understand why other people would feel that way. Because I don't believe. I've met you a couple of times, and I consider you an honorable man. You're a veteran, 24 years flying. I mean, what... I'm never going to question your integrity. I'm just wanting to know if you can understand why other people not question your integrity, but would question the conflict of interest. That's all. Thank you, Council. You bet.

Councilor Boston.

Thank you, Mr. President. Yeah, I guess I don't understand the conflict because I don't really think this committee is going to be making any decisions on anything that Public Works is really going to be working on.

I think you'd have to talk about what a conflict of interest means. You're throwing that word around a lot. as if Mr. Evans' wife is going to be financially benefiting because of the standards, fees, rules and regulations that this committee is going to be setting forward. That is a conflict of interest. It is when somebody personally, financially benefits from a project or something that's going on. I don't know in what world that could ever happen with a city employee and a committee member being on a commission that talks about rules and regulations and minimum standards. So I'm also confused, Councilor Boston, on the word conflict of interest and how it relates specifically to this.

Thank you. And then also, I'm kind of also a little I guess questioning, you know, I mean, planning and zoning appointments come forward. Have you guys ever reached out to real estate holders, landholders in the community to get the stakeholders' opinions on how they feel about people going on to planning and zoning? Yes. There's just, you know, some of the stuff, you know, I think we're kind of getting a little too deep into the weeds on. Obviously, I think you're qualified. The mayor brings forward appointments. If you think they're qualified, vote for them. If you don't, don't vote for them. But obviously, this person seems to be qualified.

Councilor Latino.

My concerns are the same as have been referred to by Councilman Hernandez and Councilman Gomez. I'm on the airport board. I represent the city. So again, thank you for what you've done to serve our country. Obviously, that's something above and beyond. It has nothing to do with the trust. I guess I need to know, just give me one point that you think you've seen out there at the airport that can be corrected.

I've heard earlier in the meeting, Councillor, I've heard earlier in the meeting tonight that there are hangers unutilized, there are buildings unused there. I think one of the biggest things we can do is bring in more business around the airport. Obviously if the conditions of the tarmac, conditions of the parking, conditions of the I don't know of any airport in the world that doesn't want to repave their Alpha taxiway or redo a runway. And some are certainly worse than others. I think this is a horse and a cart thing. I think bringing in more business, enabling more business, and doing that with careful, informed understanding of the costs and benefits of those can help improve the transactional throughput of the airport. And that will reflect, I think, back on the city.

What about the terminal?

I don't know that I can comment on the material condition of the terminal. I don't work for Public Works. So I don't have those plans. And that was a joke. I apologize. I don't know the condition of the terminal other than I've certainly traveled through as a traveler. I've traveled through much worse. As air crew, I've traveled through much worse. I think it is good. And I think it's a good basis. I think improving it would certainly could be justified. But I don't think that's my decision right now.

What about the air traffic control tower? I've not been in it, Councilor. Okay. Okay. That's a concern of mine. You've answered my questions. Thank you. You have my support.

I know.

Councilor Gomez.

Yeah, I'd just like, did you get a chance, again, did you get a chance to meet with the board members to introduce yourself?

Are you talking this potential advisory committee or the board members here?

The airport improvement folks and I believe there's two boards.

I have not reached out to them yet, Counselor.

Okay. So when I'm looking at this thing, and I got nothing against you. I don't know you. You seem to have a great background. But I think in reference to getting to know people and getting the folks set up that, again, I consider the experts on the ground, not the mayor's office. I understand. But this could have been handled better. That's just my opinion. I think if you went out there, as opposed to me sitting here trying to interview every candidate, that's not going to happen. It's not realistic. But I'm just saying that things could have been done differently. But I don't see, in reference to the things we're not talking about, we're not talking about the fact there is suspicions. I mean, it's just part of politics. That's what we live in here. So there are some people that are very suspicious about some of the moves that a mayor makes. So I just want to be direct. I moved to make sure that this was voted on each individual person's merit. And I don't know you. I don't think they know you. Think about this. You're a counselor, and you're told, well, out there at the airport, the worst hanger is the cities. Garage doors are broken. It's a mess. And then the other thing is, the next call you get is, by the way, we're on our fourth failure for an FAA inspection. And people don't know this stuff. But think about that. That's the stuff we got to deal with that you don't hear behind the scenes. Why is that? Why are we in the condition we are now? And I've made this before. I don't like talking down our airport. I love that place. But when you look at the window of a Freeman Center and you're having lunch and you're looking at a concrete jungle with Christmas tree-sized weeds, seriously? These are the kind of things the audience may not understand. So I got nothing against you. I don't know you. But I think you should introduce yourself to these boards before we had to, unfortunately, make the decision.

Thank you. All right. No other questions? Call for the vote. Passes five to two. Mr. Clerk, item Q7.

Item Q7, a resolution confirming the appointment by the mayor of Vance Crocker to serve a four-year term on the Airport Policy Advisory Committee. Thank you, Mr.

Clerk. Same staff report, President Aleph. Mr. Crocker is also here to answer any questions that the council might see fit tonight. But I will also include that I believe that this committee originated from Mr. Crocker wanting to have a committee of different members and including staff to sit down and review these rules and regulations. During the meetings, he spoke on behalf of the airport users And nevertheless, he is here to answer any questions.

Thank you for that report. Is there a motion to approve? Councilor Boston, is there a second?

Second.

Councilor Gomez, questions? Councilor Dante? Okay.

Ben Skracker. I've had some dealings with him, not personally or one-on-one, but he worked as VP at Black Hills, and during that time our electric bills went up. So I'm real concerned about what he's going to do at the airport, if I can just trust him.

Let him come up.

All right. Thank you, Ms. Councilwoman. Yeah, so just since you brought up the history, I'll go back. I was at Little History. I was asked to come to Pueblo, Colorado back in 2018. And it was not something that was really in my next career move. And I'm going to get to this point real quickly. But I had a real heart for Pueblo. I had a heart for what was going on in the community with Black Hills. I had a heart for our employees and things that were going on with them, the culture inside the company. employees getting injured, employees getting spit on. And so I decided I was gonna come down here and move my family and my girls down here and try to make a difference. And I spent probably three or four months going out in the community and listening to the community of what the concerns were. And I made a commitment to this community and to my employees that we were going to freeze base rates for five years, investing hundreds of millions of dollars of capital in a community bigger than Pueblo, but somehow we were going to find a way that we were going to stabilize rates because I heard them loud and clear. So to answer that question, Ms. Councilwoman, I came down with a very specific plan to listen and take action and help the community out. So I just wanted to clarify that information in my tenure with Black Hills.

And once that five years was up, were you still with the company?

I was not with the company. I believe it would have been after five or six years, I left the company and decided that, as I told counsel at the time, I love Pueblo, and Pueblo is now my home. I'm really out from my home. Pueblo is my home.

Because I remember the minute that five years was up, the rates went up. That's why I was asking that. OK. So you weren't involved in any of that.

So I just wanted to clarify the record, because there was a lot of rates went up x percent. And in reality, the base rates did not go up. And then just to talk maybe a little bit about the concerns, the airport authority. And I appreciate, Mayor, you giving me the credit. But it was the group behind me. plus about 35 others that decided we needed to do something really to make what I call this gem of an airport really a gem. And Dr. Rakama did a great job, so I'm not going to repeat everything there. But the concern that we do have is that with two members from a 35-plus member community of general aviation users, We don't feel like general aviation is really going to be properly represented here. And I appreciate the service of the gentleman there. Who knows, maybe he was flying over my head sometime in the sandbox. I don't know if we were there together. But I appreciate his service. What we're looking for is we're looking for people that really have a vested interest in understanding the challenges that we're facing from general aviation and others and understand what we think it could take and would take to move things forward to make Pueblo, I mean, this airport, fabulous. I was on the airport board in Rapid City, South Dakota, a very active board that actually controlled the airport We did some amazing things. That's an awesome airport. I fly in and out of. I got a plane in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Again, great general aviation. So I kind of have an understanding. I see what things work, what don't work. And when general aviation, whether it's instructors, whether it is people that own 100% of an airplane, part of a hangar, all of a hangar, the mechanics. When everybody is represented, we're not all going to agree on something, but I think And I really believe that we'll come together to make something really, really good. And that's just really the concern of having two general aviation and three that have ties to the city. We just truly in our hearts believe, not that anything wrong, that people are going to lie and be deceptive, but we just don't think we're going to get a fair shake with those folks on there and not an additional three or four people in general aviation.

So let me ask you another question. I heard you had an airplane. Do you have a T-hanger that the airplane's in?

Yes, ma'am.

Okay. Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

Councilor Boston.

Thank you, Mr. President. So you got any friends at Black Hills with another five-year hold in there? I'm just kidding. Thank you for the ideas and working with us as a city and, you know, the airport group and trying to bring this idea forward. I know it wasn't just you alone, but I hope you see us working in the right direction to try to help create a committee to kind of address some of these concerns, and I appreciate you throwing your hat in for the board seat. Thank you.

I think it's a great story. I mean, you and I were bitter foes for many years, and now I consider you one of my better friends.

A bitter foal, Mr. President? That's like an understatement.

Yes, yes. I said some pretty nasty things to you. And I appreciate that we're still friends after all of that.

Councilor Latino. I just want to acknowledge the Work that you've done and also the fact that you are a pilot and that you've been in the Dakotas and Sioux Falls and in that area and and. I'm going to support this. Thank you.

Alright, let's call for the vote. Passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, item Q8.

Item Q8, a resolution confirming the appointment by the mayor of Reese Hayes to serve a four-year term on the Airport Policy Advisory Committee. Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

President Aleph, this is the last appointment tonight. So you've heard from General Aviation. This appointment is Mr. Reese Hayes, and he represents Freeman Jet Center in a commercial aviation letter. He is one of the only commercial respondents that we had in the red lines for the standards, rules, regulations, and fees that went out. He was very active. in corresponding with the law department and submitting information back to the city. That concludes my...

Thank you for that report. James, come on down. How do you say your last name? Rockamon. Rockamon.

Thank you again. I'm also a 23-year Air Force veteran and had the privilege of flying in F-16s and 18s, flight surgeon, but that's not my strength here. The strength really for who we're looking for to be on this committee are those that are general aviation, also such as myself. I'm a commercial pilot and such as well and have flown all over the from the Caribbean to Alaska and Mexico and across the Gulf to all over. But nevertheless, I think that Mayor Graham had commented several times regarding the risks of financial gain. And I believe that Mr. Hayes has the biggest risk. He stands to gain the most financially as the attorney for Freeman Jet Center. It doesn't sound like he has any general aviation experience. He's always been corporate attorney for this national chain of jet centers. And we are looking for people that really understand general aviation. The problems that we have with hangar and maintenance, of course, trying to support our own aircraft mines. My current plane is a 1979, and it costs a lot to maintain it. And we do go through a lot. The hole in the committee is we don't have any maintenance folks and A&P mechanics and stuff, flight school stuff. There's so many other areas that we could have representation, which is the reason I think we need at least seven, if not nine, members of this committee. I haven't made application, but I'll throw my hat in the ring. I think I have good background both general aviation as far as hours and also military background. But the rules and regulations or minimum standards have not changed for 50 years. There's a reason. They were working. Sure, we could update some things. But my fear is, Mr. Hayes, when I look at the rules and regulations that have been put forth by the airport administration, it looks to me like they're written either by or with significant influence from Freeman Jet Center, big corporate stuff. I just don't think that Mr. Hayes would represent really Pueblo. He is not a Puebloan. And he, again, stands to gain significantly financially. I obviously would vote no for him because there are several other members that we could task. And there's some here in the audience that haven't put their name in. But we have a wealth of amazing people, long-term flight instructors and long-term FAA FAST flight safety people. that do training nationally, but they're really general aviation people. I think that's really what our goal should be, is to have a voice. And if you're looking at a committee, there's the airport administrator and now Mr. Evans, and then the other two... Vance and Tom, but we're just going to always have a three against two vote really against general aviation. I just think that's a huge problem. So I just plead for more members of the committee.

Thank you. Mr. Pearson. Hello again.

Hello again. So my main concern with the appointment of Mr. Hayes on the Airport Advisory Committee is the fact that he is the attorney for the Freeman Jet Center. I think Mrs. Sykes could probably answer what the... duties of an attorney is to represent their best interests and their clients. And what's in the best interest for the Freeman Jet Center isn't always going to be what's in the best interest for the Pueblo Memorial Airport. I'm not arguing that Freeman Jet Center doesn't need or deserves some sort of representation on our advisory committee. However, an attorney

I just think having her turn that light off so it doesn't blind us when we're looking at each other.

Oh, the whole thing is just a distraction. There you go. Having an attorney represent somebody at an airport that works at the airport is just preposterous. They need to pick somebody else if they want somebody on their board, a manager, an owner, or something, but not their attorney. It just doesn't make any sense. And I'm going to echo what the doctor said. We need more general aviation representation on this board. It needs to happen. Most of the activity that happens at the airport is from general aviation.

Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Councilor Gomez, is there a second? Second. Councilor Dante. Councilor Gomez.

Yeah, again, I'm going to refer to the experts on the ground. There's just way too many conflicts. The attorney for the Freeman Center, and then we have the, I think what people forget, when it comes to the airport and all the different levels and all the different issues, sometimes you end up talking Japanese to the support counsel, and we're trying to catch up. Well, I can talk for myself, okay? I don't speak Japanese. But when I look at some of the stuff that you have an attorney, that's working with the Freeman Center that wants to get on the board. Do we know if this attorney, is he based here? Is he based in Michigan or Kansas, wherever he's at? Does anybody really know? I don't know. Is he going to be based out of here?

Can somebody answer that?

I think he's out of state. He's out of state. So he's going to be on a Pueblo board.

I believe the intent of the Freeman Jet Center having their attorney, their attorney represents them, right? Their attorney is the one who submitted the red light comments for the minimum standards in commercial aviation. So I understand that the group behind me is concerned about general aviation, but part of our airport is also commercial aviation. aviation and the minimum standards only apply to commercial aviation. So to not have somebody on this board who represents commercial aviation would be an issue to not be able to give information and feedback back to the committee as a whole.

Does that answer your question? To me, it's an obvious conflict. I mean, I understand Freeman. He's got a nice operation out there, and he wants to extend his business. I got all that. But we're not paying attention to the people that are on the ground that really matter. Did you confer with anybody, with the airport improvement folks out there now, the folks that are on the ground? Or did you just come up with this? How did you come up with this candidate for this position? Sure.

So for the third time tonight... Mr. Hayes is one of the only individuals for commercial who responded to redlining and updating the minimum standards that only apply to the commercial. He also gave feedback on rules and regulations and fees. Many of these people that are sitting behind you, Counselor, and the people who have brought their concerns, do not represent commercial aviation. They represent general aviation. So there are two separate things here. You have to have proponents from both sides being able to give feedback on the rules and regulations and the minimum standards, especially when the minimum standards affect the commercial.

So, Mr. Hayes... Columbia Commercial Airport, no.

We have commercial air service.

Okay. So, yes. Are we commercial air?

We have commercial air service. So, yes, we are. We also have commercial businesses out on our airport. Okay. One of them is Freeman Jet Center that Mr. Hayes represents.

I just can't tell you I know better than the folks that are out there that I visit with, and I don't think you do either. That's just my opinion. I'm not going after you. I'm not trying to give you a hard time. But they don't agree with you. They vehemently do not want this candidate. I don't know how much clearer I can make that. They're against it.

That's fine, and they can be against it.

Well, I'm just giving you their input.

But they are not the ones who submitted the feedback on behalf of the commercial campaign.

If you meet with them, you might be able to get their feedback.

Well, they wouldn't have that type of feedback. That's not the business that they provide.

I won't argue about it. Thank you.

You're welcome. Councilor Hernandez.

With regards to the rules and regulations and the minimum standards, when those are adopted, those will come before council for approval, correct? Correct. Are you going to have rules and regulations for general aviation and rules and regulations for commercial, or are they going to be the same?

Rules and regulations are the same overall, but minimum standards only affect commercial.

Okay. So all the rules that they're making out there won't affect general aviation at all?

They will. Not the minimum standards. So you're going to have three different documents.

So will the rules and regulations. So you have three different rules and regulations for general aviation.

For overall.

Overall.

Minimum standards for commercial.

Okay. And then for.

Fees.

Okay.

For everybody.

All right. Why. Okay. Wouldn't it make better sense to have a larger committee so that you can address all of the issues where they're separate?

Well, this is the first time that I'm hearing about the size of the committee. City Council approved this committee with these many seats on August 24th. And I don't think City Council received any testimony from any of these individuals or any comments or calls or concerns that the committee was too small at the time.

Right, but that's why we're here now, and that's kind of the general feel.

Well, you've already approved that, so this is just filling the seats.

Yes, but tonight it kind of seems like the overall consensus is that we're not addressing all of the people that we need to address.

I'm not sure which people we're missing. We have general aviation. We have somebody from the airport. We have an instructor who's also general in aviation.

I don't think we're missing anybody. I don't think we have enough voices is all I'm saying.

Just my opinion. I don't know how to respond to that for tonight because you have already approved this board with this many seats.

I got you.

So, I mean, if council wanted to bring it back to a later date and add more people or amend what that committee looks like, I don't think that anybody is opposed. This is just the first time I'm hearing about it. Okay. Well, thank you. So if you want to do that, we'd be open. And I know that there was some people in the audience that said that they didn't have an opportunity to turn their Application and maybe that could be an opportunity for them to apply I think that really what we're just trying to do is get this going it's been several months now that these have Really not progressed and I think that that's the goal on both sides To get something in front of City Council that everybody agrees to thank you.

Sure. Yes, sir Dante

I only have one question. You're listing off the different categories that people are from at the airport. You were saying aviation.

General aviation.

Can you do it again?

General aviation and commercial aviation. And then we have Mr. Pedroza, who will be a voting member, who is part of airport staff. We know that at least two of the members, three of the members, two of the members will be general aviation, one commercial aviation, and then somebody that was a citizen that had aviation background that does not have any kind of a financial interest or stake to be part of the committee.

So you've got two GAs and one commercial. Correct. Plus one that's not either one of those.

Yes. I'm assuming we can, would Tom fall under a GA? Yes. That was my question.

I'm in agreement that I think we need to change the number. So, but that's all.

Councilor Latino. Yes, thank you. Madam Mayor, we had before you a name.

Tom would also be commercial, not general aviation. What makes it commercial?

Sorry, I'm just asking.

So Tom is stating his certificate is commercial, but he does represent general aviation.

And commercial aviation.

So kind of both?

Kind of both.

His emphasis is more on GA, but he does hold a commercial pilot's license, for those of you who couldn't hear.

Councilor Latino.

Yes, Madam Mayor. We had before you, it's been a while now, when I first got appointed to the board, a gentleman by the name of Jim Lopresti. Yes. And you turned him down. And he submitted his application with a very solid background, flying the big planes, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And continues to come to the board meetings and sits as an observant. But for some reason, on my recommendation, you turned him down.

Um, Councillor Latino, I'm looking at the list and he did not apply for.

He did not apply because basically he, you shot him down the last time we had this same type of, these same type of openings.

So the board that you're speaking about, Councilman Latino, the board that you sit on focuses mostly on marketing and advertising. It does not focus on policy as this board does. So they're two different boards, but Jim did not apply for this board. So I think that that statement is irrelevant.

Well, it's not irrelevant. And the matter of fact is he's a pilot, a very prominent pilot who was raised in this city, as a matter of fact. who lives in this city, as a matter of fact. Again, we're playing politics.

Okay.

Councilor Gomez.

I just... God, I don't want to... I always wish the best for you, Mayor, but I'm just having a hard time swallowing these. You're the expert on some of this stuff. When we got an airport that faces fourth FAA failed inspection, when we had a gentleman that's no longer with us, Brian McCain, that was given responsibility at the airport, He's gone. I mean, you're going to take accountability for anything, and then you're recommending people that are telling you we don't want him on our board. But they're the experts on the ground. You're not. I don't understand why you can't. I mean, I understand you're fighting for your position. I got it. But you've got to give in a little bit to the experts that are on the ground, and you're not it. That's just my opinion.

Councilor Gomez, I appoint hundreds of individuals to various boards and commissions across the city that is, in fact, part of the legislative branch is to appoint all boards and commissions in the city. So take applications in, review them, and figure out who's best for the seat. Tonight I've put four candidates in front of you. It is your choice. to vote no. I think that they're for strong candidates. I think we had a long, a lot of individuals submit applications who were strong candidates. And if you choose not to support my recommendations, that's fine. But I just think that we need to get this process moving to get this back in front of city council.

Well, let's agree we're not going to agree, because I don't agree with the process of a mayor being able to appoint to all these boards. I think that if they were wise, every non-profit is hearing my voice right now. I think you need to go out there and a picture.

Councillor Gomez, we need to stick to the question.

I understand, but this is part of it. This is part of the problem. The appointment should be made by those organizations within their board members, not an appointment by the mayor.

Thank you. This is one that I'm struggling with. Out of state, not a part of the community, making decisions for community. I have a problem with that. I think we can do better. Is there any other questions? We need to wait a second.

Thank you, Mr. President. How many other commercial options do you think there were that applied if this were to fail?

Well, one or two. One that for sure submitted comments back. which I'm happy to bring back to City Council at the next regular meeting.

Thank you. Mr. Hayes, do you see him?

The importance is if we take a vote without Mr. Latino sitting here, he is automatically kicked off of city council.

All right, let's call for the vote.

Please make your votes, counselors.

Fails 6 to 1. Mr. Clerk, item Q9.

Madam, Q9, a resolution approving the transfer of funds from the annual large main rehab, WWAN02, in the amount of $1 million to emergency point repairs, WWAN03. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

Good evening, Council Members, President, and Mayor. The resolution transfers funds from the WWAN02 Annual Large Main Project Account WWAN03 Emergency Point Repair Project. The Emergency Point Repair Project was created to fund projects that need to be done immediately to protect the citizens and the environment. Additional funds are needed to cover the remaining open projects and allow additional emergency point repairs that may be encountered during the remaining months of 2026. $1 million will be transferred from WWA and o to the annual large main rehab if passed This concludes my staff report and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you for that report. Is there a motion to approve? Councillor Boston is there a second second councillor Ruiz Gomez any questions? Councillor Dante

I'm not quite sure that you can answer the questions. I may need Danny. How many different wastewater annual accounts are there?

Let's see, there's AN01, AN02, AN03. I believe there's four. We have the large main, the small main, the manholes, and emergency repairs.

OK. And what account does the money come into when people pay their bill?

It does. This is coming from the sewer user fund. The sewer user fund is then transferred and moved into the different annual accounts.

Into the three, into the four different accounts. So there's one main one and then those four. OK. I was just wanting the education there on how that works. Okay, and how do you decide when to move money from the main one into these accounts? So, Danny, do you want to answer that? I think it's more of a budget question, right?

Where's the wastewater person?

Sorry.

I figured I'd need him.

If I can go back a bit. So... When the revenues are taken in from the wastewater enterprise, they are just revenues to the fund as a whole. The projects are budgeted annually during the budget cycle. So during budget time, the department submits what they foresee they need to have in those four specific projects. Now, sometimes things happen and they don't go according to plan and we have needs to transfer those from one project to another. In this case here, we are transferring... A million dollars. From...

The annual large main... rehab to the emergency.

Because that's needed in the emergency side.

Okay. That's all I needed to know. I was just wondering how it all worked together. Okay. Thank you.

Councilor Hernandez. Are there repairs tied to this million dollars right now?

So there is, I believe, one emergency repair that we didn't have enough funds for that we need to cover.

Which repair is that?

This is 109 Vernon. There was a large sinkhole caused by some issues with the pipe. It had some holes in the pipe that was allowing the soil to come in, creating defects.

OK. So what was in that account for that project before?

I'm sorry, I don't know off the top, but I could get you that information.

Okay, so this is in addition to what we're spending, what wastewater is spending there already? This million dollars?

That's right. So what we're saying is we're spending less on the annual main by a million and more for... That emergency repair. Repairs.

Okay. Thank you.

Councilor Dante.

These emergency repairs, the $1 million is not for one project. It's for all the way to December, correct? That's correct. Okay.

Mayor Graham?

I just want to add that frequently city council will see these. You had stormwater at the beginning of the year for emergency repair in a storm line. So as the account gets lower, they will come and they will ask for large amounts of money. I think stormwater, we did $2 million. So this is consistent revenue. with what we spend to repair these pipes annually, there's a good chance that they might have to come back again before the end of the year, depending on what kind of emergency point repairs come forward and how large the projects are. So this has done, when the account is emptied and city council reappropriates a very large amount of money.

Let's call for the vote. Passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, item Q10.

Item Q10, a resolution awarding a construction contract in the amount of $928,420 to Northline Electric for project number 26043-WW1203, fiscal year 2026, switch gear replacement at the James R. Deloria Water Reclamation Facility. setting forth $92,842,000 for contingencies and authorizing the purchasing agent to execute the same. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

Okay. So this resolution awards a construction contract to Northline Electric for $928,420 to replace the incoming switchgear. The water reclamation facility treats all the wastewater for the city of Pueblo. The incoming switchgear controls all the power that is supplied to the facility. The current switchgear does not trip when a power outage or lightning strike, like a regular electrical breaker. We need the switchgear to protect the facility and keep all electrical components safe and protected. The new switchgear will protect all the phases of the incoming power to the facility's electrical components. Without the new switchgear, the facility is in danger of lightning strikes or power surges that will cause damage to pumps, motors, and other switchgears throughout the facility, which would incur greater costs to replace the damaged equipment. $928,420 will be paid from the sewer user funds if this resolution is passed. And this concludes my staff report, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you for that report. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Councillor Gomez, is there a second? Second. Councillor Ruiz-Gomez, any questions? Let's call for the vote. Passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, we now move to ordinances, final presentations. Item R1. Hold on a minute. Councilor Dante needs a break. We'll be back in 10 minutes. Recess. He didn't ask.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Well, I'm a fan of anybody, but how do you talk to them? The only thing I did here is . Thank you. Thank you. I don't want to start something that might be a waste. Thank you.

Clyde. Mayor Graham.

Ready to go.

Okay, Mr. Clerk, we now move to ordinances, final presentation, item R1. Item R1.

An ordinance approving and accepting a grant funding agreement and all applicable conditions pertaining thereto from the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority, CAPTA, relating to the beat auto theft through law enforcement battle team, establishing project number PS2605, budgeting and appropriating funds to project number PS2605, and authorizing the mayor to execute same. Introduced August 10th, 2026 by Councilor Selena Ruiz Gomez. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

Yes, Mr. President, members of council, Madam Mayor. R1 is an ordinance approving and accepting a grant in the amount of $125,000.59 through CAPPAW, the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority, and that is staff's report.

Thank you for that report. This public hearing has already taken place. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

Councillor Boston, is there a second? Second. Councillor Gomez, any questions? Let's call for the vote. Passes 7-0. Mr.

Clerk, item R2. Item R2, an ordinance approving an economic development agreement between the city of Pueblo, a Colorado municipal corporation, and Pueblo Steamworks, doing business, Southern Colorado Science Center, doing business, Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Northern America, a Colorado nonprofit corporation, and authorizing the mayor to execute the same establishing project. number ED2602, Leonardo da Vinci Museum, and budgeting appropriating $885,000 from an unencumbered fund balance of the 1992 to 2031 sales and use tax capital improvement project funds to the project ED2602, Leonardo da Vinci Museum, introduced August 10th, 2026 by Councilor Selena Ruiz Gomez. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

Yes, President Ayla, members of council. This is an ordinance approving an economic development agreement between the City of Pueblo and Pueblo Steamworks, DBA, Southern Colorado Science Center, DBA, Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America. This is for appropriating $885,000 out of the half-cent sales tax. to support them in continuing efforts for the museum and construction consistent with the budget that they presented to City Council at the work session last week. And that concludes my staff report. I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you for that report. Public testimony has already been had in this. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Councilor Boston, is there a second? Second. Councilor Dante, questions? None, let's call for the vote. Fails 5 to 2. Mr. Clerk item R3.

ITEM R3, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE COLORADO RESOURCE FOR EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA EDUCATION CREATE GRANT ESTABLISHING PROJECT NUMBER PS2609 FOR EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA EDUCATION GRANT AND BUDGETING APPROPRIATING GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 22,500 INTRODUCED AUGUST 24, 2026 BY COUNSELOR SELENA RUIZ GOMEZ. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

Good evening, President and members of Council. My name is Barb Huber. I'm Fire Chief. And so this ordinance that I'm presenting tonight is basically a reimbursement for four paramedic students.

Excuse me. We can't hear, so please go ahead.

It's a reimbursement, and it establishes the project to use those monies for those four paramedic students. And that concludes my report.

Thank you for that report. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance? Seeing none, is there anyone here wishing to speak against this ordinance? Seeing none, the hearing is closed. Is there a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Councillor Latino, is there a second? Second. Councillor Ruiz-Gomez, any questions? Call for the vote. Passes 7-0.

Mr. Clerk, item R4. Item R4, an ordinance approving a contribution agreement between the City of Pueblo, a Colorado Municipal Corporation, and Martinez Property Holdings, Inc., a New Mexico corporation, and authorizing the mayor to execute same. Introduced August 24, 2026 by Councilor Selena Ruiz Gomez. Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

We have a staff report. Yes, Mr. President, members of council, good evening. The ordinance before you is to approve a contribution agreement between Martinez Property Holdings and the city. This is related to the project at generally, well, in Polo Boulevard, generally between Acero and Mirror. This is to install traffic signal. and centerline median striping signage, other improvements out there for the development that's generally associated with Starbucks. But it's also a Chipotle and some other property as well that Martinez Property Holdings owns out there. This is just an ordinance approving the contribution agreement for Mr. Martinez's company's contribution to the project in the amount of $250,000. Separately, we'll be presenting ordinances for budget appropriating funds and award of a contract, as well as a reimbursement agreement with the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority that their board recently approved as well. So those will be coming separately in the future, but this is just the first step with Mr. Martinez's contribution to the project for now. I do want to acknowledge, I believe Mr. Martinez is online. I see somebody participating named Andrea. That may be his attorney as well. So just want to acknowledge that they're in the room here as well if you have any questions. And I will conclude my staff report on that note.

Thank you for that report. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance? Seeing none, is there anyone here wishing to speak against this ordinance? Please state your name.

My first time here. Albus Martinez. And as Mr. Hayes says, $250,000. Where exactly is that money coming from? I know it's coming from taxpayers' money, so what fund? And I don't think... The people should be on the hook of this from a multimillionaire that owns the property. And it's not the city's issue right here. It's CDOT on what they were wanting because of the extra traffic, which I understand safety is number one. That's your guys' number one duty. But it shouldn't be put on us. If somebody owns property, it should be put on them to improve the easements. and the other areas surrounding that are needed for the extra traffic when people are going to Starbucks, Chipotle, and whatever else is going to be built there in the future. So I would respectfully ask you guys to vote no. Thank you.

Is there anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance? Seeing none, the hearing is closed. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Councillor Boston, is there a second? Second. Second by Councillor Dante. Questions? Councillor Dante?

Okay, you're saying that we're going to receive $250,000 from Martinez Holdings?

Martinez Property Holdings, yes.

Properties. And they own Chipotle's and Starbucks?

I believe he has three lots that are there. Two of them are built on. Starbucks is open. Chipotle is built but waiting to open. They're currently restricted from getting their CO until either this project is completed or a council approves a project. Okay. for on behalf of them but this would be his contributory share of that project okay and there's an additional 51 000 is it correct from some other correct and this will be brought separately but this this again this ordinance is strictly about the contribution agreement in the amount of 250 000 but there are some other funds from other property owners who have contributed to improvements in this area

I'm trying to get to a total here. So you said Pura was going to give money. So the question is, how much is coming out of the half-cent sales tax?

We don't know yet. So again, I'll reiterate it one more time. So I think it's important because there's funds coming from multiple sources. All we're talking about tonight is Mr. Martinez's company's proportionate share of the cost of this project. We estimate that the project will cost somewhere between $2 and $3 million right now. We're going to bid that out until we have the bids back. That will be the basis of the request for funds from the half-cent sales tax fund. But we don't know that amount until we get the bids back. But there are other sources of funds, as we just talked about. And if I could, Mr. Martinez was just here, different Mr. Martinez, was just here speaking. He made a statement that alluded to the idea that these were taxpayer funds. This $250,000 is Mr. Martinez's company's direct contribution. It is private money going to this project. The other 50 or so thousand, it's just a little bit above, I believe, are from two different developers who have previously contributed to improvements along this corridor as well. So it's just over 50K. So we have about $300,000 of private money going toward this project as well. The intent for the rest of that balance, whatever that becomes with the bid, would be to request that fund difference from city council from the absent sales tax fund. Separately, there is also an urban renewal district in there that has raised funds from TIF. And PURA, their board has already approved a reimbursement agreement with the city that would reimburse us for the costs of the half-cent sales tax funds being put in. So this will be reimbursed back to the city. But we'll bring two... pending approval by council, of course. So we'll be bringing at least two ordinances forward in the future, one to award a contract and budget to appropriate the funds, and one to approve the Pura reimbursement agreement that the Pura board approved at their last meeting.

Okay. Thank you. That helps. Thank you.

Councilor Gomez.

Yeah, I'm just curious, in reference to Pura, doesn't Pura own the city 14.4 million already?

I don't know how that's relevant to this project. That's a completely different district.

I believe that's the case. We kept on adding all this stuff on the paper.

If I can finish.

Go ahead.

So 14.4 million relates to an RTA project. This is not in that district. This is in the Miniqua district. It's in your council district.

I understand.

So this project, this project... is set up in a way that PIRA has been getting dollars from this district from tax increment funding revenue that's been coming in for 20-ish years. That district expires in a few years, but the revenues that they've currently got on hand and that they will be generating from these developments are going to go to pay back these improvements back to the House and Sales Tax Fund. So this is as simple as it gets in that front, but it has nothing to do with the RTA project, the Convention Center, the DaVinci Museum you just voted down, or anything else. So $14.4 million has nothing to do with this conversation.