City of Manitou Springs

The primary discussion focused on the application for funding the 'Upstairs at the Stack' project, also referred to as the Manitou Springs Commons, which sought $20,000 primarily for rent covering half of the first year's $40,000 lease obligation with St. Michael's Church. Concerns were raised regarding the lack of a finalized multi-year lease, the fact that the requested funds were earmarked for rent on property not owned by the city, and the building's non-ADA compliant status, with rent revenue intended for renovations. Board members expressed significant reservations about full funding approval due to incomplete details. A suggestion was introduced to potentially underwrite a one-year option agreement using available funds to preserve the unique opportunity while the applicants secure necessary documentation and long-term funding. The meeting also addressed initial procedural items, including establishing voting alternates due to absent members, approving the agenda, and approving the minutes from the February 12th meeting, which included a housekeeping correction regarding a proper name spelling.

The meeting included adding discussion items for the liaison position to the board and the DCI renewal under new business. Key updates included the Paragon project status, noting they are working on contracting and fabrication details with Fading West, and tracking two paths: one for 43 town homes (market rate or missing middle) and another involving an adjusted Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LITC) application for 50 units. It was decided Paragon representatives should attend the next meeting. For the El Colorado update, work is focused on stabilization and insulation, with plans for a press tour when Danielle visits in January. There was also discussion about collaborating with the Chamber of Commerce to promote URA businesses. Discussions regarding Crane involved the selection of Randy Walker for the 'Wellspring' sculpture, planning for lighting installation (which requires coordination with the City due to power access), and working with the city engineer on a blanket approval process for public art in the CDOT right-of-way. Further, progress was reported on the Art on the Avenue map, the upcoming annual report, and utility box wraps in the URA. Finally, extensive discussion occurred concerning a potential free bridge offered by Colorado Springs, focusing on the required engineering for placement, trail connections, and the financial implications for maintenance, as well as the process for utility box wraps.

The session began with preliminary discussions regarding technical difficulties with the virtual meeting platform (Zoom), including issues with links, passwords, and member connectivity. Following these logistical matters, the presiding officer outlined the plan for addressing the resolution, which included an introduction, a formal statement, a motion, and open discussion among members. It was noted that this being a special meeting, there was no public comment period, and attendees were encouraged to submit comments via email or wait for the next regular meeting on February 3rd. The discussion also involved managing participants who were temporarily disconnected due to technical problems, including efforts to get a specific member reconnected via a phone call option.

The Special Meeting involved technical setup for participants to join the virtual session, including addressing audio and video issues for several attendees. The board addressed procedural matters by establishing a motion to designate Jason Wells as the voting alternate for the meeting, and Lette Casey as the voting alternate for grants involving board recusals, due to an excused member and an anticipated recusal for a "drum circles" grant. The agenda was approved. The main discussion centered on a grant request of $20,000 for the establishment of a community center in the upstairs portion of the former St. Andrews building, which is now managed by St. Michael's Episcopal Church. The presenters, who are volunteers, detailed the proven need for a dedicated community space, citing extensive community engagement, and outlined their plan to form a nonprofit to control and program the upstairs space. The proposed use for the upstairs space includes musical performances, yoga, art exhibits, and community events, while the downstairs space will continue housing the community pantry along with new health and mental health services. The presenters emphasized that the requested match dollars are solely for the upstairs operations and that the goal is to create affordable or free access, partnering with existing community venues rather than competing with them. The need for this seed money to launch the nonprofit and subsequent fundraising efforts was stressed.

The special meeting was called to order, primarily to address the city budget requirements set by the state. Key discussions included the approval of the agenda, public comment on non-agenda items where an update on ADA accessibility improvements for the visitor center restroom was provided, and the presentation of the consent calendar covering warrants. The main agenda item involved the second reading and public hearing for the ordinance adopting the annual budget for fiscal year 2026 and amending the 2025 budget. Significant discussion focused on changes to the budget, including the creation of a $690,000 assigned fund balance for fire mitigation, and the reduction in projected tax revenues leading to a decrease in the unassigned fund balance to $4.3 million, which is below the recommended minimum of $5 million. Council members expressed strong support for the fire mitigation fund allocation but debated whether expenditures from this fund should require prior council approval, given the high wildfire risk and the need for strategic allocation.