1
00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:13,640
Recording in progress.

2
00:00:41,360 --> 00:01:03,280
Welcome, everybody, to the city council meeting. It's another beautiful hot evening in Pueblo, Colorado. I now call to order the regular city council meeting. Today is Monday, August 24th, 2026. First up, we'll have our invocation. I understand Pastor Micah Eragon is not here. He is here.

3
00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:09,200
So please join us in the invocation with Pastor Micah Eragon of

4
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:14,240
the Pueblo Christian Center and then immediately following we'll do the pleasure of allegiance.

5
00:01:16,630 --> 00:01:17,790
Yes, that's great.

6
00:01:18,770 --> 00:01:24,330
Hello Father, we love you and we call upon the name of Jesus today and we ask for your

7
00:01:24,330 --> 00:01:29,710
help Lord, we thank you for this great city that we live in, Father, from the leadership

8
00:01:30,110 --> 00:01:34,350
to the first responders Lord, we thank you and today we ask for help.

9
00:01:34,750 --> 00:01:38,270
Lord, would you even be in the meetings today with the various topics and we thank you

10
00:01:38,270 --> 00:01:43,290
for the freedoms that we have to even be able to come into a room and share ideas and

11
00:01:43,290 --> 00:01:49,450
share thoughts and concerns father and we just ask you to be in this place as we galvan

12
00:01:49,450 --> 00:01:56,530
we meet together again help us today and tomorrow and forevermore we love you in the mighty

13
00:01:56,530 --> 00:01:59,410
name of Jesus and everyone said amen.

14
00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:03,920
Thank

15
00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,180
you, Pastor Argonne.

16
00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:22,260
Mr. Clerk, roll call.

17
00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:30,860
Martaela here, Brett Boss here, Roger Gomez, Joe Latino, Ted Hernandez, Diane Dante,

18
00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:32,740
Salina Ruiz Gomez.

19
00:02:34,180 --> 00:02:36,140
Everybody's here and accounted for, fantastic.

20
00:02:36,780 --> 00:02:38,160
He's special recognitions.

21
00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:45,280
First up is a mayoral proclamation presentation for Andrew Hayes Day, August 24th,

22
00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:50,420
2026 Andrew Hayes, Director of Public Works, come on down.

23
00:03:01,810 --> 00:03:03,750
Another district joining us tonight.

24
00:03:06,590 --> 00:03:10,990
I'm Jim Ecker, I'm the district manager for Colorado City.

25
00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:21,220
Okay, Andrew Hayes Day, Monday, August 24th, 2026.

26
00:03:21,940 --> 00:03:26,700
Whereas Andrew Hayes Public Works Director for the City of Public has been officially recognized

27
00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,980
by the Colorado City Metropolitan District with a letter of accommodation

28
00:03:30,980 --> 00:03:44,620
from the Board of Directors, and whereas in June of 2026, Mr. Hayes assisted Colorado City with the Applewood Fire and Aspen Acres Fire by providing critical assistance to the Colorado City water supply.

29
00:03:45,220 --> 00:03:54,400
And whereas, if Mr. Hayes hadn't reached out with concern to offer his knowledge and resources, further fire damage and longer evacuations may have occurred.

30
00:03:54,400 --> 00:04:02,900
And whereas Mr. Hays is dedication and care for the community shown by his daily actions of going over and above expectations.

31
00:04:03,340 --> 00:04:09,540
It's sincerely appreciated by those affected by the fires and by those who are responding to the emergency.

32
00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:15,540
Now therefore, I, Heather Graham, the mayor of the city of Pueblo, Colorado, by the authority invested in me.

33
00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:22,400
Do hereby proclaim August 24th, 2026 as Andrew Haysday in the city of Pueblo.

34
00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:27,340
to acknowledge and commend your personal contributions to Colorado City in

35
00:04:27,340 --> 00:04:28,380
the time of great need.

36
00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,760
We're going to hear a little bit more about the back

37
00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:36,340
story.

38
00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:45,880
We had a fire at our Applewood and our trailer park on Father's Day. He

39
00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:51,600
came down with equipment and also other assistance that helped with the fire

40
00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:58,320
and get us stopped. You know, this is Father's Day and he's down helping us out. We also, we had

41
00:04:58,320 --> 00:04:59,560
with Aspen Acre fire.

42
00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:27,820
It happened. And I happened to be on vacation on the other side of the world on a cruise and I had cream came in and helped. And he wanted to be here tonight, but he was stuck on an airplane himself. But yeah, between him and cream and me on the phone, we were able to get. He was able to get generators down to our plant because it was shut down. We didn't have electricity.

43
00:05:27,820 --> 00:05:35,300
If he didn't do that, we would have ended up having to be evacuated probably 10 to 12

44
00:05:35,300 --> 00:05:35,840
more days.

45
00:05:36,620 --> 00:05:40,420
Because then we would have had a boil order and all other things that would have happened.

46
00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:49,020
So without his assistance in all those little things that happened, we're in debt to him.

47
00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:55,000
He was very helpful in all their situations and we want to make sure that he gets recognized

48
00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:55,460
for it.

49
00:05:55,460 --> 00:06:06,000
I do have a letter that's framed here from all of our board of directors that signed it and all that same thing that she had on that plaque, so thank you very much.

50
00:06:24,940 --> 00:06:35,160
It's very important that this recognition is amazing thank you for just even saying thank you, but this is what a career in public service looks like.

51
00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:47,660
This is what 30 years, almost, of helping communities build themselves up, protect themselves, defend from fires, whatever it is, this is what it looks like, and this is what we're supposed to do.

52
00:06:48,340 --> 00:06:50,120
This didn't happen because of me.

53
00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:59,860
There were a lot of people that helped, and credit needs to go to those folks as well, but that includes our public work staff, our storm water staff, our wastewater staff,

54
00:07:00,780 --> 00:07:12,660
Board of Waterworks, contractors that helped in the local area, contractors in Denver that helped and jumped without question and provided those generators and got them on the road and got them down to help.

55
00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:22,020
But the night of July 2nd, going to July 3rd, the fire was expanding and the footprint grew significantly over that night.

56
00:07:22,700 --> 00:07:26,980
folks may remember there were heavy, heavy winds going on, and so the fire was spreading very quickly.

57
00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:35,320
But going into the holiday weekend of July 4th, there wasn't going to be a whole lot of spare capacity sitting around helping, I guess.

58
00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:41,200
So we wanted to make sure that you were taken care of, and folks jumped up to make sure that you were taken care of.

59
00:07:41,260 --> 00:07:43,640
So this was by no means Andrew Hayes alone.

60
00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:45,580
There were a lot of people helping to make sure that happened.

61
00:07:45,820 --> 00:07:51,120
So thank you for the recognition, thank you for the recognition, and thank you to the community for your trust.

62
00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:56,560
again this is what we're supposed to do so thank you

63
00:08:05,580 --> 00:08:07,440
all right we have another

64
00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:14,100
mayoral proclamation presentation for Kim Bowman Day August 31st 2026 Kim

65
00:08:14,100 --> 00:08:16,940
Bowman Executive Director of Posada Inc.

66
00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,220
Yeah bring the whole team down the

67
00:08:22,220 --> 00:08:25,120
whole team okay

68
00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:50,520
talk about public servant Kim Bowman Day Monday August 31st

69
00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:57,220
2026, whereas Kim joined Pasada in 1991 as the Director of Development, a role in which

70
00:08:57,220 --> 00:09:02,300
she spent nearly three decades building the financial and programmatic infrastructure that

71
00:09:02,300 --> 00:09:07,680
would define the organization's growth. In 1997 she took on a mission that would become her

72
00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:13,320
signature contribution to Southern Colorado, leading Pasada's designation in ongoing work as

73
00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:19,960
public soul community housing development organization, positioning Pasada as a force for affordable

74
00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:21,480
housing expansion in the region.

75
00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:27,120
It is a distinction that requires technical expertise in housing, finance, and

76
00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,820
federal compliance, plus deep community trust.

77
00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:34,820
And whereas, in 2018, can assume the role of executive director.

78
00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,960
Bringing with her a foundation of institutional knowledge, community relationships,

79
00:09:39,980 --> 00:09:41,720
and operational credibility.

80
00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:46,260
Under her leadership and across broader tenure at Pasada, she has overseen the

81
00:09:46,260 --> 00:09:52,860
development and renovation of 197 single and multifamily housing units assembled in low-income

82
00:09:52,860 --> 00:09:59,620
housing tax credit funding packages and excess of $27 million and established Alfa West, a holy

83
00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:23,760
Own subsidy dedicated to expanding affordable housing development. And whereas, what sets Kim apart is not simply what she has built. It is how she has built it known among colleagues, funders and community partners as resilient, high energy, and charismatic. Kim combines strategic vision with a get it done approach that inspires confidence. With more than 35 years of leadership at Pasada,

84
00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:33,100
in Pablo her ability to hold the big picture while attending to the operational details that matter most has been the engine behind Pasada's longevity and impact.

85
00:10:33,660 --> 00:10:52,580
And whereas Kim's leadership extends well beyond Pasada's walls, she has served as the board chair of the Rosemont Museum, a board member of education at the Shrine of St. Tres Catholic School, a member of the Pablo Homeless Coalition, a grant reviewer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a judge for historic preservation Colorado Springs.

86
00:10:52,580 --> 00:10:59,200
A proud graduate of Colorado State University public with a degree in mass communication with an emphasis in journalism.

87
00:10:59,740 --> 00:11:06,520
Kim brings the storytellers in instinct to everything she does, never losing sight of the human story at the center of her work.

88
00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:21,100
As she concludes her tenure at Pasada, her legacy has not measured only in housing units, bill or dollars raised, but in the lives stabilized, the staff she mentored, and the community she helped shaped over more than three decades, a purposeful, principal leadership.

89
00:11:21,100 --> 00:11:26,700
Now, therefore, I Heather Graham, the mayor of the city of Pueblo, by the authority invested in me,

90
00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:43,140
due per claim Monday the 31st, 2026 is Kim Bowman Day, and urged the citizens of Pueblo to join me in expressing appreciation for Kim's efforts to create safe, supportive spaces for everybody in the Pueblo community.

91
00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,620
And Melissa also has a award that she would like to give you.

92
00:11:48,800 --> 00:12:04,520
Yeah, so to add on that, I just, I don't have a, you know, a proclamation and all of this information, but I just, I think it's so important for the community to know how hard development is, how hard housing development is, you hit roadblocks at every corner and you have to continue and you have to persevere.

93
00:12:05,060 --> 00:12:09,520
And so I, you know, 197 units is absolutely commendable of those.

94
00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:11,660
was the city of Pueblo was able to partner with Kim

95
00:12:11,660 --> 00:12:13,060
on over 130 of them.

96
00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:14,040
Yes.

97
00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:20,180
And so over the years, Kim has been our number one developer.

98
00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,000
Over and over, steadfast, continued to come back.

99
00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,500
So with that on behalf of the Department of Housing

100
00:12:25,500 --> 00:12:27,240
and Citizen Services and the city of Pueblo,

101
00:12:27,300 --> 00:12:28,920
we also wanted to present you with this.

102
00:12:29,020 --> 00:12:29,840
We appreciate you.

103
00:12:35,870 --> 00:12:36,750
Thank you, Mayor.

104
00:12:37,310 --> 00:12:37,830
Thank you, Melissa.

105
00:12:38,530 --> 00:12:41,650
And I just wanna say that none of this is possible

106
00:12:41,650 --> 00:12:44,810
without the tremendous support of an incredible staff.

107
00:12:45,390 --> 00:12:46,450
Hi, Veronica in the back.

108
00:12:46,450 --> 00:12:49,310
One of my staff members, he's not down here joining us.

109
00:12:49,590 --> 00:12:53,750
And I'm grateful for the ability to do this work in the community.

110
00:12:53,910 --> 00:12:57,310
And I'm just so proud of everything that the sod has accomplished.

111
00:12:57,530 --> 00:12:58,410
So thank you.

112
00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:48,100
And our final proclamation is for mental health and

113
00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:55,520
In Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, September 5, 2026, I'd like to call down Tanya Johnson,

114
00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:02,380
Chair and Co-Founder of the Mental Wellness Task Force of Southern Colorado, and Genevieve

115
00:14:02,380 --> 00:14:08,040
Gonzales, Co-Chair of the Mental Wellness Task Force of Southern Colorado, and Nancy

116
00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:13,680
Gonzales, Chair of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Pueblo County.

117
00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:14,840
Come on now.

118
00:14:36,610 --> 00:14:38,210
Nancy, are you out there?

119
00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,240
This is a proclamation for mental health and

120
00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,980
suicide prevention awareness day. September 5th, 2020.

121
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:28,240
2020-26. Whereas, suicide is a national public health crisis that claims the lives of more than 49,000 people in the US each year, leaving families and communities devastated, and grieving, and whereas mental health conditions affect one-in-five adults, and one-in-six youth each year. Yet stigma and barriers to care often prevent individuals from seeking the help they need.

122
00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:34,140
And whereas the effects of suicide are long lasting and deeply felt, particularly by

123
00:15:34,140 --> 00:15:39,780
those who have loved ones, parents, siblings, friends, partners, and co-workers who continue

124
00:15:39,780 --> 00:15:42,580
to carry the memories of those they have lost.

125
00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:49,200
And whereas mental health and suicide prevention awareness day serves as a meaningful opportunity

126
00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:56,180
to honor the lives lost to suicide, support survivors of suicide loss, and raise awareness

127
00:15:56,180 --> 00:16:01,520
us about mental health and bring communities together in hope and healing.

128
00:16:02,220 --> 00:16:08,040
And whereas community-driven efforts such as education, advocacy, access to quality

129
00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:15,000
mental health care, and open conversations are vital to reducing stigma, increasing prevention

130
00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,320
and ultimately saving lives.

131
00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:24,400
And whereas we recognize that mental health is essential to overall health and suicide prevention

132
00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,440
is a shared responsibility.

133
00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:37,340
Now, therefore, we, the City Council of the City of Pueblo, Colorado, by the authority vested in us, do hereby proclaim September 5th,

134
00:16:37,540 --> 00:16:44,080
2026 as mental health and suicide prevention awareness state in the City of Pueblo.

135
00:16:44,500 --> 00:16:52,420
And encourage all citizens to join in honoring the memories of those lost supporting survivors and

136
00:16:52,420 --> 00:16:58,040
and to make a commitment to mental health advocacy, education, and compassionate community

137
00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:03,920
care. In witness whereof, I have here on two, sent my hand and caused the seal of the

138
00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:11,140
City of Pueblo, Colorado to be affixed this 24th day of August 2026, sign Mark Elif, President

139
00:17:11,140 --> 00:17:14,500
of the City Council. I'm very, very happy to give this to you.

140
00:17:23,250 --> 00:17:28,050
We are just hoping that everybody remember September 5th is our 4th annual suicide memory

141
00:17:29,050 --> 00:17:31,490
We would love to have you, it's night to noon.

142
00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:34,160
The perfect.

143
00:17:34,340 --> 00:17:34,740
Thank you, Jim.

144
00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:35,440
We'll get a picture.

145
00:18:04,220 --> 00:18:06,180
We now move to public forum.

146
00:18:06,180 --> 00:18:09,780
And first up is Bill Klenlow?

147
00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:10,520
Klen?

148
00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:11,520
Thank you.

149
00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:13,340
Come on down, Bill.

150
00:18:19,060 --> 00:18:19,740
Thank you for coming.

151
00:18:25,060 --> 00:18:27,200
And just hit that button there on the microphone.

152
00:18:27,660 --> 00:18:28,000
You're good.

153
00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:28,460
You're on.

154
00:18:28,820 --> 00:18:29,120
Hi,

155
00:18:32,860 --> 00:18:33,160
I'm Bill.

156
00:18:36,690 --> 00:18:37,170
Hi.

157
00:18:39,450 --> 00:18:40,090
There you go.

158
00:18:41,290 --> 00:18:42,610
Hello, I'm Bill Klenkey.

159
00:18:42,610 --> 00:18:55,110
and I just wanted to come and voice some concerns about this proposed train station that I guess is going to be built maybe on 2030-2032.

160
00:18:55,790 --> 00:19:01,470
I was reading in the public start journal where the cost of that is $38 million.

161
00:19:02,510 --> 00:19:04,190
I did some research.

162
00:19:04,190 --> 00:19:14,910
I am track has a pretty good site called Great American Train Stations and you can pull up information on every train station in the United States.

163
00:19:16,890 --> 00:19:28,270
And this proposed train between Pueblo, Denver and Fort Collins requires some more funding.

164
00:19:28,530 --> 00:19:32,010
I guess I got to put some sales tax on about for November.

165
00:19:32,010 --> 00:19:40,110
or from what I understand, each locality has to pay for the train station itself is what I've read.

166
00:19:41,530 --> 00:19:46,510
And so for the public county and city, I guess the county is supposed to fund it somehow.

167
00:19:47,650 --> 00:19:51,990
It's the cost that they've requested is $38 million.

168
00:19:53,350 --> 00:19:58,510
Miss research that I've done looking at Amtrak's site.

169
00:20:00,020 --> 00:20:29,720
St. Louis, the city of St. Louis, the town of 2.5 million spent, $36 million on a train station in 2008, and they had like $375,395 thousand riders. There's another train station on the north what that train station is on the southwest side of St. Louis. There's another train station on the northwest side across the river, and it had like $75,000 riders.

170
00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:35,860
and they spent $28 million building a train station there in 2017.

171
00:20:36,860 --> 00:20:42,700
So I don't know, it just doesn't seem like $38 million for our town, our size, county

172
00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:46,200
our size, seems to be pretty extreme.

173
00:20:47,060 --> 00:20:53,460
I was curious, and last night I looked to see what Fort Collins was doing on the opposite

174
00:20:53,460 --> 00:20:59,900
it's on the north side of this train line and in the castle meeting there and the railroad

175
00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:06,480
director said well we just want a simple platform and then we'll see how many writers show

176
00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:13,700
up and then we might go from there. So it seems like we're jumping in with both feet forward

177
00:21:14,260 --> 00:21:21,160
maybe into a potential fire. These trains have been running between St. Louis and Kansas City

178
00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:24,000
The similar type train runs twice a day between St.

179
00:21:24,100 --> 00:21:28,080
Louis and Kansas City, and there's six or seven train stops there,

180
00:21:28,140 --> 00:21:30,540
including the capital city, Jefferson City.

181
00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:35,460
They have about 40,000 riders annually.

182
00:21:36,540 --> 00:21:39,740
And the University of Missouri is 30 miles north of there.

183
00:21:39,900 --> 00:21:44,500
So there's about 250,000 people in that regional area.

184
00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,300
And looking at some of the other numbers of these towns,

185
00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:55,040
I would guess that maybe Pueblo, our ridership might be between $10,000 and $40,000.

186
00:21:55,040 --> 00:22:00,320
And almost all of these train stations across the state of Missouri are open air ones.

187
00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:07,460
Even the one in Jefferson City for the capital city has an open platform.

188
00:22:08,140 --> 00:22:12,580
And just the plastic shelter kind of like what you see with the bus stations and stuff.

189
00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:15,340
They don't even have one inside the building or anything.

190
00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:22,700
So, I don't know, my comments are as I just think, you know, we really need to re-evaluate

191
00:22:22,700 --> 00:22:29,320
this giving the shape that our city and county finances are in right now, and that's all

192
00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:29,640
I have.

193
00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:30,900
Thank you, sir.

194
00:22:32,060 --> 00:22:32,840
Ken Dante.

195
00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:34,780
Hello.

196
00:22:40,970 --> 00:22:41,650
Thank you for coming.

197
00:22:56,670 --> 00:23:01,110
I just wanted to talk about a milestone in Colorado that's reached.

198
00:23:02,250 --> 00:23:02,730
I

199
00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:05,540
get that.

200
00:23:09,110 --> 00:23:15,850
I've got a graph here to show. It's about renewable energy. There's this

201
00:23:15,850 --> 00:23:22,310
database in the United States called the EIA and you can look at this database EIA.org.

202
00:23:25,690 --> 00:23:30,650
I'm sorry I had this on my phone. I should have brought a piece of paper, but the graph

203
00:23:30,650 --> 00:23:37,070
is renewable energy in Colorado. And it's kind of late reported because they have to collect

204
00:23:37,070 --> 00:23:45,990
the data first. This is actual energy to power in Colorado. It's not made up, it's actual

205
00:23:45,990 --> 00:23:58,710
energy that has been used. And this shows over from 2004 up to present. And in Q1 of

206
00:23:58,710 --> 00:24:02,250
of the 2026 this year, 50% of our energy

207
00:24:02,250 --> 00:24:04,190
came from renewable energy resources

208
00:24:04,570 --> 00:24:09,930
that include mostly wind, growing the amount of solar

209
00:24:10,250 --> 00:24:12,490
and a little bit of hydroelectric power.

210
00:24:12,610 --> 00:24:15,890
Hydroelectric power is kind of constant.

211
00:24:17,510 --> 00:24:20,130
So we're powered by renewable energy

212
00:24:21,990 --> 00:24:24,830
and that's basically all I had to say.

213
00:24:26,150 --> 00:24:26,770
Thank you.

214
00:24:37,340 --> 00:24:41,960
Thank you, Mr. President, I'm out of mayor, everybody else.

215
00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:45,600
So, a bit different tonight than what I always speak on.

216
00:24:45,700 --> 00:24:48,760
So, thank you, Madam Mayor, shocking.

217
00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:54,920
Thank you for making it easier to vote for someone else next year for mayor.

218
00:24:55,420 --> 00:24:59,980
Speaking about the election next year, I have been talking to someone.

219
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:08,540
One. That isn't here at all tonight. Maybe watching about running for mayor. And I will support

220
00:25:08,540 --> 00:25:19,960
he or she for a better pueblo for a better tomorrow. And just 435 short days, we will be voting

221
00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:28,880
for a new mayor in roughly about 512 days for the runoff, which will be another low voter

222
00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,540
turn out at an expense that none of us know yet.

223
00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:41,800
And in just 526 days, February 1, 2020-8, we will swear in a new mayor.

224
00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:49,500
And without talking about the items on the agenda later about the taxes, I'm going to talk

225
00:25:49,500 --> 00:25:49,940
about this.

226
00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:57,040
Pueblo is the poorest city of 25,000 population or more.

227
00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:08,080
A one penny increase isn't a one percent increase, although it is a one percentage point

228
00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:14,460
just wanting to specify misinformation that has been spreading out on Facebook.

229
00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:23,300
It represents a 13.16 relative increase in the tax itself.

230
00:26:24,460 --> 00:26:26,700
All you've got to do is know some good math.

231
00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:32,060
And then what I've been talking about since last month, I'll pivot to this now.

232
00:26:32,620 --> 00:26:40,740
It has been 43 days that Brian Hunt was murdered in broad daylight on his property,

233
00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,520
shot five times.

234
00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:51,600
No report from PD, no condolences from the mayor to the family.

235
00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:54,060
And I know the family, personally,

236
00:26:56,420 --> 00:26:57,220
they are grieving.

237
00:26:57,820 --> 00:27:04,000
His father's grieving, his siblings, and his only daughter, no answers.

238
00:27:05,060 --> 00:27:08,680
That's a shame, at least put something out, even if it's private to the family

239
00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:14,260
that whoever that they want to give it to, they could give it to, no answers whatsoever.

240
00:27:15,420 --> 00:27:19,700
Brian Hunt wasn't just a father, he had degrees, look it up.

241
00:27:19,700 --> 00:27:23,340
But he was also a veteran that fought for our rights.

242
00:27:24,980 --> 00:27:29,540
That is a shame that a veteran was murdered in broad daylight.

243
00:27:30,100 --> 00:27:32,420
It was no self-defense, he didn't have a weapon on him.

244
00:27:34,430 --> 00:27:43,050
So I am demanding PD to give a report, even if it's a brief report, to the family in the next 14 days.

245
00:27:43,050 --> 00:27:58,110
Just give the family some answers on the case and arrest and charge the individual that killed Brian Hunt in cold blood, broad daylight, 43 days ago.

246
00:28:00,580 --> 00:28:13,740
Now, I would want you to put your feet in their shoes if it was your dad, your brother, your sister, your mother, your wife, your child, even if it wasn't in public, if they lived in Texas or California, wherever.

247
00:28:14,700 --> 00:28:25,600
If you guys weren't getting any answers, you guys would be irate at the PD or if it was out in the county and those other cities and states with the sheriff's department without giving any answers whatsoever.

248
00:28:26,300 --> 00:28:32,260
And yes, I know they have to get evidence, but we just had another murder just two or three days ago.

249
00:28:32,260 --> 00:28:37,890
Well, there is at that person on charges the manslaughter, not that hard.

250
00:28:38,150 --> 00:28:39,910
PD knows who this individual is.

251
00:28:40,050 --> 00:28:46,990
They haven't given a word in edgewise to the family, why is that?

252
00:28:47,570 --> 00:28:49,590
And once again, Chief Nolis' should resign.

253
00:28:51,610 --> 00:28:52,230
Thank you.

254
00:28:53,930 --> 00:28:57,850
Gregory Pauline, Gregory, come on down.

255
00:29:02,750 --> 00:29:03,090
Hello.

256
00:29:03,790 --> 00:29:04,950
Thank you for coming.

257
00:29:04,950 --> 00:29:05,070
Thank

258
00:29:10,830 --> 00:29:15,670
you, first of all, appreciate your time, I know you guys are busy.

259
00:29:16,930 --> 00:29:22,810
So I'm a local business owner, born and raised here, lived here my entire life except for when I went off to the military.

260
00:29:23,830 --> 00:29:39,310
I do own a business here in town, and one of the things that I wanted to really address to you guys is this city is so business unfriendly and I don't understand why.

261
00:29:40,770 --> 00:29:45,550
We've got a budget that you guys are always screaming that you need more money for.

262
00:29:45,730 --> 00:29:48,290
Well, businesses will get you out of that, okay?

263
00:29:48,410 --> 00:29:50,330
We pay a lot of sales tax to you.

264
00:29:50,710 --> 00:29:53,110
We pay a lot of property taxes to you.

265
00:29:54,230 --> 00:29:57,010
Now, I'm going to give a perfect example here.

266
00:29:57,870 --> 00:29:59,970
Well, first of all, I'm going to start with, I just-

267
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:29,280
I just expanded my business a few months ago, actually spent about two years. It took me eight months to get the permit, and six months to build the extension. So it took me two months longer just to get through the paperwork. Then it did actual construction. Now, I don't have a dog in this fight, but I'm going to use Chipolty and Starbucks over there in Pebble Boulevard because they're close to my business, and I drive by them every day, going to my work. Okay.

268
00:30:30,820 --> 00:30:40,420
It is insane that two fairly large companies, I mean pretty big companies, take so long

269
00:30:40,420 --> 00:30:47,840
to get through the bureaucratic nonsense that we've got to go through here, okay?

270
00:30:48,860 --> 00:30:52,780
I'm going to give you guys some numbers here, and I'm going to be fairly quick about this

271
00:30:52,780 --> 00:30:53,940
because I know you guys are busy.

272
00:30:56,020 --> 00:31:01,140
Chipotle makes on average nationwide they make about $8,500 per day.

273
00:31:01,780 --> 00:31:02,620
That's what they bring in.

274
00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:06,260
Starbucks nationwide makes about $3,200 per day.

275
00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:08,700
And you guys can Google this, it'll tell you.

276
00:31:09,700 --> 00:31:09,940
Okay?

277
00:31:10,820 --> 00:31:15,160
You're looking at roughly, if you combine the two for the City of Pueblo

278
00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:21,160
in sales tax alone, you're looking at $158,000 a year in sales tax.

279
00:31:21,820 --> 00:31:25,660
Okay, that's a little bit of the narrow, okay?

280
00:31:26,260 --> 00:31:30,460
So, $158,000 just for the city, that's not the county.

281
00:31:30,740 --> 00:31:36,160
For the county of Pueblo and the city, you're looking at a little over $200,000 a year in sales tax.

282
00:31:36,740 --> 00:31:41,700
Not talking about property tax, because those go up too, so you guys get a chunk of that.

283
00:31:43,100 --> 00:31:46,820
So, my understanding, and like I said, I don't have a dog in this fight, so

284
00:31:46,820 --> 00:31:50,780
So maybe something's come to fruition that I don't know about.

285
00:31:52,420 --> 00:32:01,360
But my understanding Starbucks, it took them so long to get open because the state was holding their CO hostage because of a stoplight.

286
00:32:02,100 --> 00:32:09,940
Now, from my understanding is the city has been fairly accommodating, okay, trying to get their CO's form.

287
00:32:09,940 --> 00:32:20,920
However, when the city and county are going to make $200,000 a year and a stoplight is holding up a CEO,

288
00:32:21,540 --> 00:32:25,320
now I realize the state they're up there in Denver, they could care less about us down here.

289
00:32:25,700 --> 00:32:26,280
They really could.

290
00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:32,860
I don't know how much the stoplight was going to cost, but let's say at the top in it was a million bucks.

291
00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:35,860
Okay, let's just take a million dollars for that stoplight.

292
00:32:35,860 --> 00:32:40,120
I think that's absolutely insane, but let's take a million dollars for the stoplight.

293
00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:45,500
You guys will have just the city will recoup that money in six and a half years.

294
00:32:46,540 --> 00:32:50,480
If you include the county, you recoup that money in five years.

295
00:32:51,700 --> 00:32:58,820
So you guys pay for the light, get them their CEO, they give you their sales tax, and in five

296
00:32:58,820 --> 00:33:00,640
years you guys are making pure profit.

297
00:33:03,100 --> 00:33:07,720
That $200,000 a year, I think is going to go a little ways towards your budget.

298
00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:10,480
Okay, it's going to start filling some holes.

299
00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:15,760
And if we can make it easy for companies to come in here, they're going to start paying

300
00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:19,200
this sales tax to the city and it will start filling budgets.

301
00:33:20,400 --> 00:33:21,660
That's all I have to say, guys.

302
00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:40,100
All right, we'll move to Council Member and Mayor Commentary, Mayor Graham.

303
00:33:42,350 --> 00:33:43,710
Thank you, President A. Liff.

304
00:33:44,710 --> 00:33:49,090
Mr. Collins, you're going to be very excited tonight, because on City Council's agenda,

305
00:33:49,870 --> 00:33:57,830
we have item N2 on first presentation, which deals exactly with the Starbucks and the Chipotle

306
00:33:57,830 --> 00:34:05,230
in the usage of the half-cent sales tax fund being able to fund the infrastructure so

307
00:34:05,230 --> 00:34:11,350
those businesses can get open. So thank you for coming and voicing your concerns about

308
00:34:11,350 --> 00:34:16,970
that tonight and just know that the city is well on its way of being able to grant the

309
00:34:16,970 --> 00:34:21,250
access permit as long as City Council approves the use of the half-cent sales tax funds

310
00:34:21,250 --> 00:34:24,950
to pay for the infrastructure that's desperately needed.

311
00:34:25,710 --> 00:34:29,390
Next, Tammy, if you could please pull up my picture.

312
00:34:30,210 --> 00:34:31,830
So there's been a lot of discussion

313
00:34:32,650 --> 00:34:35,670
over the last several weeks on the flock cameras

314
00:34:35,670 --> 00:34:38,870
and the ALPRs that the City of Pueblo uses.

315
00:34:39,290 --> 00:34:43,110
So I asked our police and IT department

316
00:34:43,990 --> 00:34:49,230
to send me some actual pictures of what is being caught

317
00:34:49,230 --> 00:34:53,770
when somebody drives by one of the city's ALPRs,

318
00:34:53,970 --> 00:34:59,670
so the city of Pueblo currently has four different license plate readers.

319
00:35:00,210 --> 00:35:30,190
That we use. Flock, plate, ranger, genotech, and motorola. These pictures that are on display show you exactly what is being caught when a vehicle passes through one of our flock cameras. Or genotech any of our ALPR so you can see that it typically catches the back of the car. The license plate comes up so these license plates aren't redacted because these are all

320
00:35:30,190 --> 00:35:37,850
city vehicles that have gone through the ALPR, one of the ALPRs that are located within

321
00:35:37,850 --> 00:35:42,170
the city of Pueblo. And I thought that it was really important because we hear a lot

322
00:35:42,170 --> 00:35:50,010
of conversation, but I've yet to see anybody actually show a picture of what type of identifying

323
00:35:50,010 --> 00:36:00,090
factors are being put out as far as what some may say is tracking or racial profiling

324
00:36:00,090 --> 00:36:02,690
or what exactly that looks like.

325
00:36:02,890 --> 00:36:05,670
This white truck that's coming at us

326
00:36:05,670 --> 00:36:08,690
is actually a city vehicle that's turning in

327
00:36:09,150 --> 00:36:11,670
the wrong lane so you can kind of see the driver.

328
00:36:12,450 --> 00:36:13,990
If you get close to the picture,

329
00:36:13,990 --> 00:36:17,110
you cannot identify who the driver is.

330
00:36:17,970 --> 00:36:20,490
Last week, chief noler put a directive

331
00:36:20,490 --> 00:36:24,370
and a policy together that all went to city council

332
00:36:24,370 --> 00:36:27,090
and answered several questions that council women

333
00:36:27,090 --> 00:36:35,210
And Diane Dante had proposed through a citizen for him to come back with some factual information.

334
00:36:36,450 --> 00:36:41,770
So I thought I would go through each one of these cameras and kind of tell you what

335
00:36:41,770 --> 00:36:44,550
they do, what they're recording, what that looks like.

336
00:36:44,710 --> 00:36:50,610
So this top one is a sample of what Motorola looks like.

337
00:36:50,610 --> 00:36:56,990
Like this is not a capture of video, the only captures still shots.

338
00:36:57,630 --> 00:37:01,770
These license plates have been redacted, because these are not city vehicles.

339
00:37:02,190 --> 00:37:08,310
This is taking through a parking lot, if you go up, tamir down whichever way you want

340
00:37:08,310 --> 00:37:08,550
to go.

341
00:37:08,990 --> 00:37:11,710
This next one is going to be a plate ranger.

342
00:37:12,710 --> 00:37:16,350
Again, with plate ranger, we do not have continuous video.

343
00:37:16,350 --> 00:37:24,270
We only have the plate and it captures an estimated of three seconds of video footage before and after.

344
00:37:25,770 --> 00:37:31,090
Again, this is a city car so you can see that the license plate is not redacted.

345
00:37:32,130 --> 00:37:36,170
Next, this is a genotech.

346
00:37:36,770 --> 00:37:42,770
These are not, these are also still photos. It's not a continuous video.

347
00:37:43,590 --> 00:37:56,110
When the plate, when it's coming head on it, you like that it's because it's taking it, the car was maybe in the correct, not in the correct land or changing lanes, again, city vehicle.

348
00:37:57,070 --> 00:38:01,990
And then the last one is going to be with the flock cameras capture.

349
00:38:02,290 --> 00:38:08,190
So again, we cannot see who's driving this vehicle, I cannot see how many people are in this vehicle.

350
00:38:08,190 --> 00:38:20,670
I can just tell you that this truck drove by this flat camera at this time, and that this is the image that we see at the police department.

351
00:38:20,950 --> 00:38:36,090
So all of our captured reads in our system, they're safeguarded under the public police department policies and directives that Chief Miller has sent to City Council, as well as full compliance with the Federal Bureau of the Investigations Criminal Justice Information.

352
00:38:37,170 --> 00:38:42,750
The city has to have the clearance in order to view this information and the city of

353
00:38:42,750 --> 00:38:45,250
Pueblo undergoes an FBI audit every three years.

354
00:38:46,050 --> 00:38:50,990
All data within our systems is owned by the city of Pueblo and is only shared in accordance

355
00:38:50,990 --> 00:38:55,330
with public police department policies and directives in which has been sent to city council.

356
00:38:56,070 --> 00:39:01,190
All system access is logged and audited for our public police department policies and directives.

357
00:39:01,190 --> 00:39:05,850
All captured reads are retained within their respective system for 30 days.

358
00:39:06,390 --> 00:39:10,850
Audit-related data is retained for one year as required by CEGIS compliance standards.

359
00:39:11,590 --> 00:39:16,510
All captured reads across all systems are encrypted into end to end both at rest and at transit

360
00:39:16,510 --> 00:39:18,710
and adhere to applicable privacy protections.

361
00:39:19,670 --> 00:39:24,850
And so tonight I just wanted to put this out to the public and show you what we're seeing

362
00:39:24,850 --> 00:39:33,610
when cameras drive through an ALPR because I think that there could be some misconception

363
00:39:34,630 --> 00:39:39,930
about what we can see in your vehicle, who we can see who's driving, what's being done

364
00:39:39,930 --> 00:39:48,210
in the vehicle. These were taken straight off of each one of our ALPR cameras that we use

365
00:39:48,730 --> 00:39:51,750
currently in the city of Pueblo. And that's all I have, President Elif.

366
00:39:51,750 --> 00:39:57,990
Thank you. Councilor Latino. Yes.

367
00:40:00,210 --> 00:40:01,170
I have

368
00:40:03,950 --> 00:40:11,530
some concerns about, I was in contact this afternoon with one of the merchants, well, with one of the

369
00:40:15,470 --> 00:40:36,850
significant individuals in this community that let me get my thoughts together here. Anyway, I was in contact this afternoon with one of the proprietors and managers of the housing and urban development, well, the senior living center here. And he told me that

370
00:40:36,850 --> 00:40:47,710
last evening that we had a number of gunshots right here in the parking garage and a number

371
00:40:47,710 --> 00:40:51,910
of gunshots. The police were called, and there was no response.

372
00:40:55,990 --> 00:40:57,170
That seems to happen

373
00:40:57,170 --> 00:41:02,230
a lot. I mean, we can put cameras everywhere we want in this city. I don't, I prefer not

374
00:41:02,230 --> 00:41:06,430
to have cameras in every place in this city. This is the United States of America, okay?

375
00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:16,920
So I'm not supportive of that, but I am supportive of having police on the streets.

376
00:41:17,560 --> 00:41:25,260
And I think probably what we need to get back to, and at one time I contacted the governor of the state of Colorado and said we need some help down here.

377
00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:28,320
Maybe we need to Colorado National Guard to come down here and help us.

378
00:41:28,940 --> 00:41:29,840
Sad, isn't it?

379
00:41:30,140 --> 00:41:31,000
Sad, isn't it?

380
00:41:31,540 --> 00:41:32,100
Isn't that sad?

381
00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:33,940
Yeah, I agree.

382
00:41:34,940 --> 00:41:35,300
I agree.

383
00:41:35,300 --> 00:41:40,220
You know, when we were growing up, we could come down the streets of Maine and Union after

384
00:41:40,220 --> 00:41:45,180
football, basketball, baseball, practice at the high school, local, high school, PCH,

385
00:41:45,780 --> 00:41:47,180
and our parents never worried.

386
00:41:47,400 --> 00:41:52,360
Walked right down Maine or Union, 5, 6, 7 o'clock at night, rock across the railroad tax, up

387
00:41:52,360 --> 00:41:55,380
to Goldhill and Smelter wherever we were, the east side, wherever.

388
00:41:55,980 --> 00:41:59,700
You know, again, we need to be creative.

389
00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:01,140
How about police on the streets?

390
00:42:02,960 --> 00:42:09,880
You know? How about police on the streets? You know? I think we need to, again, I think

391
00:42:09,880 --> 00:42:14,000
we really need to sit down and we need to be creative. Maybe we need to put a committee

392
00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:20,540
together of the, in the community and do some things that are creative that would put

393
00:42:20,540 --> 00:42:26,260
Pueblo back in a position where it is Pueblo Homo-Heroes. Again, this is the United States

394
00:42:26,260 --> 00:42:29,680
of America, and we're the only city in this country that's got four congressional metal

395
00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:30,280
of honor winners.

396
00:42:30,540 --> 00:42:31,920
I've said that a number of times.

397
00:42:32,140 --> 00:42:36,420
Not one city in America has four, since it has seven, since it has seven, but not one

398
00:42:36,420 --> 00:42:37,420
of them were raised in Pueblo.

399
00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:39,820
So we need to be the actual home of heroes.

400
00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:43,000
We need to take care of each other, okay?

401
00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:45,140
We need to take care of each other.

402
00:42:45,240 --> 00:42:49,220
So I'm saying we need to be creative and maybe we need to put a committee together to look

403
00:42:49,220 --> 00:42:50,140
at those kinds of things.

404
00:42:51,520 --> 00:42:59,660
And again, talking to one of the local merchants here, we had shots fired in the garage

405
00:42:59,660 --> 00:43:04,280
right next to the Senior Living Center, Senior Resource Center, okay?

406
00:43:04,580 --> 00:43:06,140
That's not good, it's not good.

407
00:43:08,100 --> 00:43:20,520
It's like me finding a homeless amputee right behind this building here, laying on the street with no shoes and no shirt out of his wheelchair.

408
00:43:24,470 --> 00:43:26,390
Those are the kinds of things that we need to avoid.

409
00:43:27,850 --> 00:43:33,050
And again, we are a community that we can work together if we really want to do that.

410
00:43:33,050 --> 00:43:38,530
But we need some guidance from the top and we need some support and help from the police

411
00:43:38,530 --> 00:43:41,030
department to do the kinds of things that they're expected to do.

412
00:43:41,310 --> 00:43:45,230
I realize they're short, however, response times are not the best.

413
00:43:45,990 --> 00:43:47,130
They are not the best.

414
00:43:49,470 --> 00:43:53,310
The guidance and direction is not the best from the top, from the very top.

415
00:43:54,450 --> 00:43:56,210
I've asked the chief to resign twice,

416
00:43:58,790 --> 00:43:59,010
you know.

417
00:43:59,890 --> 00:44:04,350
It's time to upload that we come back to where we were when we were growing up and realize

418
00:44:04,350 --> 00:44:09,370
that this is a great community it is a great community there's a lot of

419
00:44:09,370 --> 00:44:12,910
businesses that would come here except they read in the paper a number 10 in

420
00:44:12,910 --> 00:44:16,450
crime in the United States of America sitting county of approximately 200

421
00:44:16,450 --> 00:44:19,530
thousand people that's not the way it should be I

422
00:44:21,740 --> 00:44:22,820
guess that's all I got to say

423
00:44:22,820 --> 00:44:31,010
thank you councillor councillor Rees go man thank you mr. President I'd like

424
00:44:31,010 --> 00:44:34,830
to welcome Pueblo to this meeting thank you all for coming out I really

425
00:44:34,830 --> 00:44:42,450
appreciate everyone coming in to hear what's going on so if you can please just give yourselves a hand for being here this evening. Thank you so much. This is your meeting.

426
00:44:44,950 --> 00:44:59,650
Okay, just want to take a minute to say thank you to Mr. Andrew Hayes for your work and your proclamation as well as to the folks Kim Bowman and to the folks at suicide prevention.

427
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:05,980
For all of the work that you all do for our community and all of those root cause things that

428
00:45:05,980 --> 00:45:11,560
like mental health and housing that are very important to what we are talking about today

429
00:45:11,560 --> 00:45:17,900
and building our communities with resources and the things that we need that connect

430
00:45:17,900 --> 00:45:24,580
us and bring us together, I want to just take a minute to address some of the things that

431
00:45:24,580 --> 00:45:47,240
I've been coming toward to my attention regarding the speed cameras and the flock cameras that have recently been discussed and I want to thank the folks who have been sending information and been, you know, inquiring about this and helping us to understand this issue as thoroughly as we can understand it.

432
00:45:47,240 --> 00:45:53,680
And I just want to say to you as our community, please be patient, we are, we are like

433
00:45:53,680 --> 00:46:00,120
barely scratching the surface of all of the things that we need to know about what we

434
00:46:00,120 --> 00:46:04,180
as a community are going to decide to do about how we move forward on this issue.

435
00:46:04,640 --> 00:46:10,720
So just please be patient, please keep us informed on your, of what your thoughts are.

436
00:46:10,720 --> 00:46:17,680
There is just I believe as early as Friday we received the information.

437
00:46:17,900 --> 00:46:26,540
Thank you, Mayor Graham, from the stuff that Chief Noller had responded on as well as the city policy on this.

438
00:46:26,780 --> 00:46:39,620
And so I would there is something on the agenda today that I'm going to ask council to hold off on the vote until we have our we will be hosting the work session on this particular battle grant.

439
00:46:39,620 --> 00:46:44,800
And other things that we would like for Chief Noller to help address in our community

440
00:46:45,440 --> 00:46:48,360
in a response to some of those things that got brought up.

441
00:46:48,580 --> 00:46:53,360
So just like that, I'm just asking you, we are trying to make the best decision in this

442
00:46:53,360 --> 00:46:59,920
with this issue and so help us with any information or feedback that you have.

443
00:47:00,180 --> 00:47:05,600
And my hope is that we can come to this where we are promoting our liberty,

444
00:47:06,900 --> 00:47:10,580
safety and building a better community for one another.

445
00:47:10,880 --> 00:47:12,000
That's all I have, Mr. President.

446
00:47:12,600 --> 00:47:14,480
Thank you, Councilor.

447
00:47:14,720 --> 00:47:15,380
Councilor Boston.

448
00:47:16,980 --> 00:47:17,920
Thank you, Mr. President.

449
00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:23,680
I just like to start off by saying I had the privilege to go out of town today and play at

450
00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:26,800
the Air Force Academy golf course in the tournament for a very good cause.

451
00:47:27,620 --> 00:47:33,720
And it reminded me just how thankful I am to live in the United States and how thankful I am for all our

452
00:47:33,720 --> 00:47:38,320
active and former military service members, so thank you to all of our service members.

453
00:47:39,120 --> 00:47:44,100
And on my way home, I also happen to see a state patrolman on the side of the road helping

454
00:47:44,100 --> 00:47:45,400
somebody change a flat tire.

455
00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:49,200
So that just goes to show, you know, our first responders and how much good work they do.

456
00:47:49,380 --> 00:47:52,940
So another thanks to all the first responders, so responding to the fire and so working hard

457
00:47:52,940 --> 00:47:53,680
every single day.

458
00:47:54,920 --> 00:48:00,000
And I think people forget sometimes up here, yes, we were elected by the people, but we

459
00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:00,700
are people too.

460
00:48:00,860 --> 00:48:02,360
But we were elected to serve you.

461
00:48:02,360 --> 00:48:05,420
And when I campaigned, I campaigned on three key issues.

462
00:48:05,920 --> 00:48:11,500
The first being public safety, the second being economic development, and the third being bringing more amenities to Pueblo.

463
00:48:12,220 --> 00:48:17,220
And I try to do my best every time I sit up here representing those who voted for me and those who didn't as well,

464
00:48:17,400 --> 00:48:21,300
trying to make sure that I do what's best for Pueblo standing behind those three key issues.

465
00:48:21,960 --> 00:48:31,040
So just remember when we make decisions whether that be allowing you to vote for something, whether you agree with it or not, that's us giving you the rights you elected us to do.

466
00:48:31,500 --> 00:48:35,260
So, I appreciate everybody always coming out here, voicing your concerns.

467
00:48:35,800 --> 00:48:40,240
In my day to day job, I hear from many different members of the community from all walks of

468
00:48:40,240 --> 00:48:44,340
life, and I try to gather as much information on hot topics or topics that some people

469
00:48:44,340 --> 00:48:48,620
may not think are important, and I always try to formulate decisions based on the information

470
00:48:48,620 --> 00:48:52,720
I gather from constituents, based on research, and based on the information, whether I get

471
00:48:52,720 --> 00:48:55,380
it from legal, department heads, or my own research.

472
00:48:55,680 --> 00:48:57,760
And I try to always make decisions that are best for pueblo.

473
00:48:57,760 --> 00:49:08,360
So I continue to do that and I will continue to do that and I hope you guys are, you know, gracious with us sometimes when we're up here trying to do what's best for you and the city of Pueblo.

474
00:49:08,660 --> 00:49:09,500
And that's all I have tonight.

475
00:49:10,380 --> 00:49:12,980
Thank you, Councillor Boston. Councillor Dante.

476
00:49:15,340 --> 00:49:18,060
Good evening. Nice to see you, Paul House.

477
00:49:20,220 --> 00:49:27,000
last week I went on a tour of their Rocky Mountain Steel Mill. And while I was there, a question

478
00:49:27,000 --> 00:49:33,040
was asked of the president about how much solar the steel mill uses. And they say that

479
00:49:33,040 --> 00:49:37,280
they're 100% renewable. So that was really great to hear.

480
00:49:41,920 --> 00:49:47,380
I really want the citizens to have a voice in these cameras.

481
00:49:47,660 --> 00:49:50,700
I want you to feel comfortable with these cameras.

482
00:49:51,380 --> 00:49:57,280
So I'm still doing research on everything that is associated with the

483
00:49:57,280 --> 00:49:59,540
floor cameras, so just be patient.

484
00:50:00,840 --> 00:50:09,340
That's the end of my report. Thank you, Councillor Gomez. Yeah, I'm concerned about one of the things

485
00:50:09,340 --> 00:50:14,800
we, I hooked up with the Selena Gomez in reference that a shopping cart issue, I want to discuss a

486
00:50:14,800 --> 00:50:18,680
couple things with that. I spent a lot of time meeting with different grocery stores and they're

487
00:50:18,680 --> 00:50:23,360
so scared they don't even want to be identified. Some of the things that are happening, some of the

488
00:50:23,360 --> 00:50:27,920
reservations they have is because corporate has given them the marching orders. If you look at some

489
00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:32,900
Some of these carts, the gray ones that are on top of their plastic and the bottom is metal.

490
00:50:33,220 --> 00:50:34,920
Those are about 350 apiece.

491
00:50:35,240 --> 00:50:37,180
The metal ones are about 500.

492
00:50:37,980 --> 00:50:43,620
So when we talk about 4,000 carts, I mean, that's a lot of money by the time you get finished it.

493
00:50:43,960 --> 00:50:48,320
But what amazed me is when I did talk to the folks, the supervisors of those stores,

494
00:50:48,780 --> 00:50:53,780
they are scared to death of allowing one of their people that might be new,

495
00:50:53,780 --> 00:50:57,640
even touch a cart that's walking out with New York State, the layman,

496
00:50:57,760 --> 00:51:01,580
young, it's packed to the gills, go ahead, you'll get fired on the spot.

497
00:51:02,360 --> 00:51:04,800
And that really, that really, really bothers me.

498
00:51:05,360 --> 00:51:09,080
Another thing is I'm going through this and I'm trying to pass on what I've learned,

499
00:51:09,540 --> 00:51:13,200
we have an ordinance out there apparently that you can't just take a cart like they used to do

500
00:51:13,200 --> 00:51:14,580
in the old days because they were all metal.

501
00:51:15,180 --> 00:51:16,820
And bring them down and you haven't scrapped.

502
00:51:17,420 --> 00:51:21,460
When you talk to the homeless about the carts, they like that because the carts

503
00:51:21,460 --> 00:51:24,780
there's a lot of ingenuity with people, even though they're poor and harmless,

504
00:51:25,820 --> 00:51:29,340
they utilize those carts and they would put a grill underneath it and they would cook.

505
00:51:29,840 --> 00:51:32,300
So when you hear all these different things with carts and how to be

506
00:51:32,300 --> 00:51:36,600
in utilized and how to be taken advantage of, but would gripes me

507
00:51:37,100 --> 00:51:39,660
about the corporations of these stores.

508
00:51:40,380 --> 00:51:43,240
They have no, actually have a little skin in the game.

509
00:51:43,380 --> 00:51:46,300
Even when they hire those guards, that's for dressing.

510
00:51:46,840 --> 00:51:49,760
They can't do anything either. They have to watch them walk out.

511
00:51:49,760 --> 00:51:53,480
I've talked to the guys in the meat department and said it makes them sick.

512
00:51:54,040 --> 00:51:58,760
When they're sitting there watching, all their stuff go out whether it's expensive produce

513
00:51:58,760 --> 00:52:01,960
or expensive, they can't do a damn thing about it.

514
00:52:02,280 --> 00:52:04,720
And who do you think absorbs the cost for all of that?

515
00:52:05,820 --> 00:52:06,440
We do.

516
00:52:06,760 --> 00:52:08,220
Every single body person in there.

517
00:52:08,320 --> 00:52:14,040
I wouldn't be surprised as I wouldn't be surprised if there's fear not a way to make

518
00:52:14,040 --> 00:52:18,580
a profit, calling it, you know, their insurance and saying, hey, we got to loss a product.

519
00:52:18,580 --> 00:52:22,020
Let's charge it to the consumer in some way that will get us to pay for it.

520
00:52:22,380 --> 00:52:25,040
So I'm angry, I don't want to see the vendors get hurt.

521
00:52:25,120 --> 00:52:29,020
I don't want to see supers or safe way or albums or whatever you want.

522
00:52:29,340 --> 00:52:30,340
I don't want to see them penalized.

523
00:52:30,400 --> 00:52:34,980
We want them in our community, but to put it all back on the community and

524
00:52:35,440 --> 00:52:40,740
trying to figure out a way when they have to stand up for the rights of the people

525
00:52:40,740 --> 00:52:46,180
here in reference to these cards and stop putting the onus of the penalties on us and

526
00:52:46,180 --> 00:52:47,800
not standing up and saying, wait a second.

527
00:52:47,800 --> 00:52:51,280
We're not stealing them, you're not stealing them, we're not taking them off.

528
00:52:51,960 --> 00:52:58,700
How do we have those companies take some responsibility and say, screw it, we'll have the customers pay for it in the end.

529
00:52:59,180 --> 00:53:03,840
That's what grabs me, and I found this all this out, spending about three hours with these guys.

530
00:53:04,320 --> 00:53:07,420
Not one of them want to put their name down because they're afraid of losing their job.

531
00:53:07,820 --> 00:53:08,660
That's the first thing.

532
00:53:09,720 --> 00:53:14,140
The second thing in reference to the, why this is going to make me famous here.

533
00:53:14,880 --> 00:53:18,500
the flock issue with these cameras.

534
00:53:18,940 --> 00:53:22,080
I've heard the complaints from folks that a lot of these guys are out there,

535
00:53:22,600 --> 00:53:27,580
or policemen, or people in high security areas are utilizing to track their girlfriends,

536
00:53:27,920 --> 00:53:30,120
to stalk whatever I heard those things are ready.

537
00:53:30,740 --> 00:53:34,840
But in the areas that I represent in the lower income areas,

538
00:53:35,400 --> 00:53:40,720
they're living through a lot of the potential for crime and the accumulation of a lot of crime.

539
00:53:40,720 --> 00:53:44,380
If you're driving through best from where it's one thing, and I don't want to play class warfare.

540
00:53:44,660 --> 00:53:46,420
If you're driving through, it's a little different.

541
00:53:46,900 --> 00:53:49,940
You got people living in those areas that are looking for police.

542
00:53:50,260 --> 00:53:51,540
They're looking for police and they're on the ground.

543
00:53:52,020 --> 00:53:57,560
And if you don't realize this for now, the recruiting for a policeman is not that easy.

544
00:53:57,700 --> 00:53:58,600
And it's not just a problem.

545
00:53:59,140 --> 00:54:03,260
It's Colorado Springs, it's Denver, so what do you do?

546
00:54:03,680 --> 00:54:08,680
How do you soothe somebody that comes to you and say, my house was robbed.

547
00:54:08,680 --> 00:54:13,680
My son was hit by a car driven by gang members that came after him.

548
00:54:14,040 --> 00:54:15,040
How do you do it?

549
00:54:15,360 --> 00:54:20,900
Do you offset some of that with technology when you don't have the manpower to deal with it?

550
00:54:20,960 --> 00:54:23,280
So we were full staff, we'd be talking a different story.

551
00:54:23,840 --> 00:54:27,360
So think about what this administration has to struggle with to try to make that up.

552
00:54:27,900 --> 00:54:30,000
I believe in technology, okay?

553
00:54:30,460 --> 00:54:34,200
I'm a law buying citizen, I don't care if you put a flat camera in my front seat.

554
00:54:34,800 --> 00:54:38,580
I expect the rest of that to be passed on to the constituency as well.

555
00:54:38,960 --> 00:54:41,160
We all have a responsibility to follow the law.

556
00:54:41,600 --> 00:54:46,620
But if we have somebody that's got a camera that gives them any kind of edge, I'm not against that.

557
00:54:46,820 --> 00:54:49,480
And I'm not going to be us looking for applause from anybody.

558
00:54:50,020 --> 00:54:53,880
I am telling you I was on the street for a long time and law enforcement about 20 years.

559
00:54:54,260 --> 00:54:57,780
And any assistance that we can give these offices out there, we should be doing.

560
00:54:57,780 --> 00:54:59,820
And I'm not saying I

561
00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:27,740
I would be the first one, if I found that it was an officer, and I was in law enforcement for a long time, and I found out that they were utilizing that camera, I would have them tired and feathered and fired immediately. So I'm not in favor of them utilizing or abusing that system. But right now, let's be honest, do you think we have enough people in law enforcement that are joining the ranks to stop crime? No, we don't. So what do I tell my constituency when they complain to me?

562
00:55:28,180 --> 00:55:33,660
The other thing I get offended by is when we talk about drones and drones are considered

563
00:55:33,660 --> 00:55:34,880
first responders.

564
00:55:35,240 --> 00:55:40,140
BS, the first responders are your firemen, your policemen.

565
00:55:40,260 --> 00:55:41,440
I'm talking about human beings.

566
00:55:42,320 --> 00:55:47,880
I'm talking about eye-and-the-sky drones, which I don't want to turn away, but if they're being abused,

567
00:55:48,480 --> 00:55:51,900
those are the people that are abused and should be set and thrown in jail.

568
00:55:52,820 --> 00:55:56,200
So I think somewhere we're going to align and we're going to have to come to a compromise

569
00:55:56,200 --> 00:56:02,180
somewhere until we get our full staffing and they can actually work with a staff that's

570
00:56:02,180 --> 00:56:07,620
willing to be I mean today in probably what's eight grand a year plus probably pennies

571
00:56:07,620 --> 00:56:12,380
somewhere 100 grand you're talking but we're not the only ones looking for cops it's

572
00:56:12,380 --> 00:56:16,760
all over the place so how do you offset some of that and you got everybody screaming for

573
00:56:16,760 --> 00:56:22,380
a more protection look at the low income areas and not just the low income areas the high income

574
00:56:22,380 --> 00:56:26,800
areas that are going to be marked. It's slowly going to some really nice areas now.

575
00:56:26,900 --> 00:56:32,640
It's expanding every day. So all I'm saying is that we have any advantages with technologies.

576
00:56:32,880 --> 00:56:38,120
Let's look at it. Let's look at it honestly. Look calmly. Let's see, will it make a difference?

577
00:56:38,780 --> 00:56:43,720
All I know is when you have a camera that just followed and got information from a drone and

578
00:56:43,720 --> 00:56:47,880
they're connected and it can be connected and they say, you know, there was just a crime over here.

579
00:56:47,880 --> 00:56:52,560
It was a red Subaru with a plate number and left that area and they got a connection

580
00:56:52,560 --> 00:56:59,020
between all these license plate readers and they contract that vehicle and stop them

581
00:56:59,020 --> 00:57:00,480
before it goes to the next victim's house.

582
00:57:00,980 --> 00:57:07,760
Excuse me, maybe it's me, but if it happens, we save one person with that, that's an improvement

583
00:57:07,760 --> 00:57:08,700
on what we're doing now.

584
00:57:09,160 --> 00:57:14,480
And I understand we have police officers rank and file guys that have to take orders.

585
00:57:14,940 --> 00:57:17,720
There you got Corporal Sergeant Lieutenant's captains, I got it.

586
00:57:18,600 --> 00:57:22,560
So we can't just take a brush, and I was in the long,

587
00:57:22,640 --> 00:57:24,480
forced, long time, it really hurts me to say this.

588
00:57:24,920 --> 00:57:27,500
To blame these guys around the street that are bustin' their ass,

589
00:57:27,900 --> 00:57:31,040
and I am telling you, I've worked with these guys,

590
00:57:31,460 --> 00:57:35,240
we have some of the best, and I'm not looking for any applause

591
00:57:35,240 --> 00:57:35,920
from them either.

592
00:57:36,400 --> 00:57:39,680
We have some really dedicated folks, they're professional as hell,

593
00:57:40,120 --> 00:57:41,320
they're workin' short-handed.

594
00:57:41,780 --> 00:57:43,680
Do we not want to give them any kind of edge at all

595
00:57:43,680 --> 00:57:57,240
We don't want to just say the hell with it, we're not going to worry about the cops coming five hours later or the next day or the claims I hear, meanwhile we have some things we can do and get some kind of edge in our favor and now we're going to say, well, we don't want big brother watching this.

596
00:57:57,620 --> 00:57:59,700
What is it? What does everybody want?

597
00:58:02,860 --> 00:58:04,880
Well, you've got to give it a round of applause.

598
00:58:11,580 --> 00:58:16,520
That's a great tag line, I got it, but I'm just telling you, when you're on the street

599
00:58:17,040 --> 00:58:25,200
and our obligation is safety first, okay, that's fire department, mayor's office, this

600
00:58:25,200 --> 00:58:29,960
is Dias, we are responsible for safety and if you're going to sit there and tell me that

601
00:58:29,960 --> 00:58:31,100
that we're meeting the grade, we're not.

602
00:58:31,320 --> 00:58:32,340
I'm telling you, we're not.

603
00:58:32,940 --> 00:58:35,120
Because it's not the council's fault.

604
00:58:35,840 --> 00:58:38,240
It's not the fact that we can't get more people in.

605
00:58:38,340 --> 00:58:39,900
They're trying to recruit as many as they can.

606
00:58:40,580 --> 00:58:41,740
We're in a box right now.

607
00:58:42,620 --> 00:58:45,440
So for what it's worth, I just want to express my side of it.

608
00:58:45,700 --> 00:58:47,000
I understand what Joe is saying.

609
00:58:47,220 --> 00:58:49,420
I understand what you guys are saying about the big brother aspect.

610
00:58:49,640 --> 00:58:50,160
I got it.

611
00:58:50,560 --> 00:58:51,700
But we need help.

612
00:58:52,460 --> 00:58:53,020
Thank you.

613
00:58:53,740 --> 00:58:55,740
Thank you, councilor Hernandez.

614
00:58:56,380 --> 00:59:03,230
Thank you, President Eilith, I want to start off maybe bring it down a little bit.

615
00:59:04,250 --> 00:59:26,710
I had the opportunity to visit, be part of the South High School ribbon cutting ceremony a couple weeks ago, and as most of you know, I've been very critical of district 60 with regards to both the condition and the academic rigor at South High School, so I had the opportunity to go to the ribbon cutting and I can tell you that they have a new team that they put together there to administrative team for

616
00:59:26,710 --> 00:59:33,490
the students. My eldest grandson is a freshman there so that school is very, very important

617
00:59:33,490 --> 00:59:41,470
to me. It's a very historic school on the south side and so I'm going to continue to challenge

618
00:59:41,470 --> 00:59:47,990
the 6.62 work on increasing the enrollment at the school because it's below 700 right

619
00:59:47,990 --> 00:59:55,490
now which is sad as far as I'm concerned. But I'm going to give them the credit for putting

620
00:59:55,490 --> 00:59:59,450
the money into the school and making it look a lot better now if we can get the educational

621
00:59:59,450 --> 00:59:59,970
Grigger.

622
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:29,960
We're up, then, will be in a good place. Also want to point out a young man who was in an automobile accident, the night before graduation, came in Guida, H and your old young man, coached him four years at South High School in football, had eight surgeries, died three times, and fortunately for us, South Colt coaches and South Colt family, Colt Nation, he was at our

623
01:00:29,960 --> 01:00:41,020
game on Friday night. He actually walked. So he's still working really, really hard to

624
01:00:41,020 --> 01:00:47,380
get back at recovery and to be the old Cayman that we always knew, but he's working hard.

625
01:00:47,580 --> 01:00:54,000
And so we're super, we're super proud of Cayman. And we look forward to the day when we defend

626
01:00:54,000 --> 01:01:00,940
the canon and Cayman gets to come out with us and be our captain. So good luck, Cayman.

627
01:01:00,940 --> 01:01:30,920
I know we're got our eyes on you, and finally, I went to high school long time ago, it's hard to even imagine how long ago it was, but I had a class by the name of Bill Nimic, and Bill was, we're for the fire department for over 40 years, so I kind of want to recognize Bill, I have the privilege to recognize who's assistant police chief, and he retired after an extraordinary 40 year, 40 years of dedicated service.

628
01:01:30,920 --> 01:01:33,800
service to the citizen of the public throughout his career.

629
01:01:34,350 --> 01:01:36,780
Bill exemplified what it meant to be a public servant.

630
01:01:36,940 --> 01:01:43,620
He advanced to the ranks of the public fire department, earning the respect of peers through hard work, integrity, and exceptional leadership.

631
01:01:43,780 --> 01:01:57,120
For 18 years, he served as an assistant chief, including 12 years as a nationally credited chief fire officer, where he helped shape the operation, safety and future of our fire department.

632
01:01:57,120 --> 01:02:00,740
Bill's impact reaches far beyond the titles he held.

633
01:02:01,400 --> 01:02:14,940
He was an incident commander at some of public's most challenging emergencies, including the Sacred Heart Cathedral Fire, the Branch in Explosion and the Fountain River Wall Fire, that threatened the Belmont area during extremely windy conditions.

634
01:02:15,540 --> 01:02:25,500
During these and countless other emergencies, his calm leadership sound judgment and commitment to protecting both public and his firefighters were evident.

635
01:02:25,500 --> 01:02:34,060
His contributions extend well beyond the fire ground, Bill secured numerous grants that brought valuable resources to the Polo Fire Department.

636
01:02:34,480 --> 01:02:47,720
He played a key role in the design of fire stations, apparatus, how develop equipment and firefighting procedures that improved operational effectiveness and continually looked for ways to make the department stronger and safer.

637
01:02:48,360 --> 01:02:50,820
His expertise was recognized nationally as well.

638
01:02:50,820 --> 01:02:56,280
Bill authored several articles published in the National Distributed Fire Service Magazine,

639
01:02:56,860 --> 01:03:01,840
Fire Engineering, becoming the only member of the public fire department to achieve this distinction.

640
01:03:02,680 --> 01:03:08,940
He shared his knowledge not only with his colleagues in public, but with firefighters around the country.

641
01:03:09,960 --> 01:03:18,920
So to my friend Bill, he retired back in July 31st, I think the chief told me of last year.

642
01:03:19,920 --> 01:03:29,760
Thank you. Please remember that. That's all guys. Always remember you all guys. And we appreciate your 40 years of experience. Thank you, sir.

643
01:03:37,990 --> 01:03:40,170
Are you good? Thank you, Councillor.

644
01:03:42,850 --> 01:03:46,790
I rarely get a big crowd like this, so I get a rant for two minutes.

645
01:03:46,790 --> 01:03:47,850
So

646
01:03:50,410 --> 01:03:59,290
what hasn't been in front of you, and a lot of people don't know about, is the Black Hills energy debacle.

647
01:03:59,760 --> 01:04:06,510
The debacle of again asking for double digit, 18% rate on its rate payers.

648
01:04:07,610 --> 01:04:19,070
And I believe 14 to 18%, it's 14% doesn't matter, 14, 18, 6%, so they got 6 or 8% last time.

649
01:04:19,070 --> 01:04:27,090
And they didn't like it so they're suing the Public Utility Commission or whatever because they didn't think that was right that they should get more money.

650
01:04:27,790 --> 01:04:38,270
So for years I've been arguing and arguing and saying, you know, we got to do something about this. We've tried twice to create a municipal utility that just was shot down.

651
01:04:38,650 --> 01:04:39,710
I'm over that.

652
01:04:39,710 --> 01:04:46,870
We fought tooth and nail with the Public Utility Commission the last time to try and get

653
01:04:46,870 --> 01:04:54,550
it down to a reasonable raise and we thought we got that done.

654
01:04:54,550 --> 01:04:59,110
This time, we're still fighting, trying to, to, uh,

655
01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:27,520
Offset the high rates. But here's what I want to say. The only way anything is going to change with our utilities, especially with electric, is something has to be done at the state. It has to be done through the Public Utilities Commission. It has to be done through our state legislators. It has to be done through our state senators and the governor and so on and so forth. Literally, the only lifeline that the city of Pueblo

656
01:05:27,520 --> 01:05:31,820
So, possibly has this community choice energy.

657
01:05:32,380 --> 01:05:38,060
And if we don't get serious about community choice energy, allowing communities like

658
01:05:38,060 --> 01:05:46,980
Pueblo who are held hostage by these utilities, given us the opportunity to buy the utilities

659
01:05:46,980 --> 01:05:55,000
off of the wholesale market and still utilize our provider, our utility provider to deliver

660
01:05:55,000 --> 01:06:05,100
of the electricity. It has an opportunity to reduce our rates. Governor Paul, it never

661
01:06:05,100 --> 01:06:10,880
went through. It's been at the state. Governor Paul has said that he would veto it if it

662
01:06:10,880 --> 01:06:17,580
ever got through the house or the Senate and it never happened. So here's what I'm asking.

663
01:06:18,000 --> 01:06:24,880
Here's what I'm asking. Everybody that cares. Anybody that cares about how bad are you

664
01:06:24,880 --> 01:06:30,080
utility rates are on how high we are as compared to anybody else in the state of Colorado.

665
01:06:30,720 --> 01:06:36,460
Whoever's running for a state representative, whoever's running for state senator,

666
01:06:36,660 --> 01:06:41,600
who's ever running for a state position, this needs to come to the forefront if you're a

667
01:06:41,600 --> 01:06:42,660
Pueblo citizen.

668
01:06:43,400 --> 01:06:46,260
It needs to be on their radar.

669
01:06:46,780 --> 01:06:53,720
You listen to them talk when they have their town halls or their public meetings or whatever.

670
01:06:53,720 --> 01:07:01,300
our energy costs are never in the conversation ever but yet it's the only way

671
01:07:01,300 --> 01:07:06,380
that it's going to change and the only way that it'll change is if we hold

672
01:07:06,380 --> 01:07:14,400
them accountable to change it. So please as you're talking and you're asked to

673
01:07:14,400 --> 01:07:18,760
vote for specific people. Hey and this isn't a partisan deal. I haven't heard a

674
01:07:18,760 --> 01:07:22,620
Republican talk about it. I haven't heard a Democrat talk about it. I haven't

675
01:07:22,620 --> 01:07:27,960
heard an independent talk about it? Nobody. They're all guilty of leaving us in the

676
01:07:27,960 --> 01:07:33,140
lurch when it comes to our energy costs. And this is our last chance. Our last chance

677
01:07:33,140 --> 01:07:38,920
is community choice energy. And they need to at least get it on the floor, debate it,

678
01:07:39,100 --> 01:07:43,340
talk about it, and get it to the governor. You know the utility public utility commission

679
01:07:43,340 --> 01:07:52,380
actually did a study on it five or six years ago, and they just dropped it. Our state

680
01:07:52,380 --> 01:07:57,660
represented is just drafted. It never went any further than a study that says, well,

681
01:07:57,660 --> 01:08:04,940
it could help, Pueblo, but we'll see. And so that's my rant on utilities. It's very important.

682
01:08:06,100 --> 01:08:10,140
Join me on that. And I'll

683
01:08:13,220 --> 01:08:19,260
just close with this. Mass anytime a government wants to

684
01:08:19,260 --> 01:08:24,500
mass surveil, the citizens of its country, something's wrong.

685
01:08:25,540 --> 01:08:26,780
Something's wrong with that,

686
01:08:29,490 --> 01:08:31,330
and nothing good can come out of that.

687
01:08:31,610 --> 01:08:39,530
Nothing good can come out of it without unbelievable barriers to what they can do with that kind of stuff.

688
01:08:40,130 --> 01:08:42,590
It's a wreck waiting to happen, in my opinion.

689
01:08:43,270 --> 01:08:45,050
We'll move to the review of the agenda.

690
01:08:45,990 --> 01:08:47,190
Counselors, page one,

691
01:08:51,100 --> 01:08:52,040
page two.

692
01:08:52,040 --> 01:08:53,540
I like a poll.

693
01:08:54,360 --> 01:08:54,600
Ma'am.

694
01:08:54,960 --> 01:08:55,120
Yes.

695
01:08:55,500 --> 01:08:58,940
M is in Mary A. M is in Mary 9.

696
01:08:59,660 --> 01:09:02,920
So you'd like to poll M A and M 9.

697
01:09:02,980 --> 01:09:04,980
I'm bringing down to the regular agenda.

698
01:09:05,700 --> 01:09:06,860
Did you get that, Mr. Clerk?

699
01:09:07,900 --> 01:09:10,320
Move to the regular agenda.

700
01:09:10,600 --> 01:09:11,200
Page three.

701
01:09:11,380 --> 01:09:11,520
Sir.

702
01:09:11,980 --> 01:09:12,620
Go ahead.

703
01:09:13,300 --> 01:09:14,140
Page two.

704
01:09:14,660 --> 01:09:15,700
Thank you, Mr. President.

705
01:09:15,800 --> 01:09:20,120
I'd like to move M is in Mary 10 to the regular agenda.

706
01:09:22,360 --> 01:09:26,840
Mr. Clerk, do you get M10 to the regular agenda?

707
01:09:27,640 --> 01:09:29,220
Is that all on page two?

708
01:09:30,280 --> 01:09:31,060
Page three,

709
01:09:34,400 --> 01:09:35,540
page four,

710
01:09:39,640 --> 01:09:41,020
page four?

711
01:09:41,740 --> 01:09:52,020
Mr. President, I would like to postpone R1 to our regular meeting on September 14th, 2026.

712
01:09:54,940 --> 01:09:56,560
This is on the regular agenda.

713
01:09:56,700 --> 01:09:58,300
We should we take it to the...

714
01:10:00,500 --> 01:10:13,900
To the, to the, to the actual presentation and then you make the motion. That's fine. Thank you, Mr. President. Or do you see anybody? I think that's the best way to do that.

715
01:10:18,240 --> 01:10:19,260
Page 5.

716
01:10:20,040 --> 01:10:28,220
Mr. President, a list staff would like to continue R-A-R-9 and R-10 to October 26.

717
01:10:28,900 --> 01:10:29,800
R-8.

718
01:10:30,360 --> 01:10:30,920
26.

719
01:10:33,070 --> 01:10:33,770
Till 10.

720
01:10:34,750 --> 01:10:35,030
25.

721
01:10:36,510 --> 01:10:37,830
You got that, Mr. Clerk?

722
01:10:42,720 --> 01:10:43,560
October 25.

723
01:10:45,100 --> 01:10:47,020
And is there an approval of the agenda?

724
01:10:47,540 --> 01:10:53,740
Mr. President, I make a motion to amend the agenda, moving items M-8, M-9, and M-10 to the regular agenda.

725
01:10:53,740 --> 01:11:00,040
and postponing items R-8, R-9, and R-10 to October 25th and approve the agenda as amended.

726
01:11:00,620 --> 01:11:01,660
Thank you. Is there a second?

727
01:11:01,960 --> 01:11:07,100
Second. Councillor Gomes, any questions? It's called for the vote.

728
01:11:10,700 --> 01:11:13,420
It's not working. Why is that working?

729
01:11:21,430 --> 01:11:21,970
There it is.

730
01:11:33,070 --> 01:11:33,870
Did everybody vote?

731
01:11:39,180 --> 01:11:40,340
Passes 6 to 1.

732
01:11:44,250 --> 01:11:48,170
We now move to a reading and approval of the minutes. Is there a motion?

733
01:11:48,170 --> 01:11:48,250
motion.

734
01:11:48,710 --> 01:11:49,410
I'm motion.

735
01:11:50,030 --> 01:11:50,870
I've got to read it.

736
01:11:56,740 --> 01:12:00,640
Motion dispense with the reading and approve the minutes of the regular meaning date in

737
01:12:00,640 --> 01:12:03,080
August and 2026 as district reading.

738
01:12:03,300 --> 01:12:03,620
Thank you.

739
01:12:03,760 --> 01:12:04,240
Is there a second?

740
01:12:04,360 --> 01:12:04,660
Second.

741
01:12:05,000 --> 01:12:05,640
Councillor Hernandez.

742
01:12:06,020 --> 01:12:06,500
Any questions?

743
01:12:07,540 --> 01:12:08,320
It's called for the vote.

744
01:12:09,000 --> 01:12:09,840
I have a race to explain.

745
01:12:10,040 --> 01:12:10,340
Is that true?

746
01:12:10,500 --> 01:12:11,600
I'm trying to pass

747
01:12:15,920 --> 01:12:16,700
it.

748
01:12:16,840 --> 01:12:17,400
7-0.

749
01:12:17,960 --> 01:12:20,120
Mr. Clerk, we now move to the consent agenda.

750
01:12:20,900 --> 01:12:23,440
There is nothing under communications.

751
01:12:23,440 --> 01:12:53,420
Let's move to section M resolutions item M1, item M1, resolution ratifying the award of an emergency construction contract in the amount of $295,504.20 to rust grading and excavating LLC, a Colorado limited liability company for project number 25-012 SW and 0-3 for emergency storm sewer point repair on 10th street and conglustry and approving a change order in the amount of 62,000

752
01:12:53,420 --> 01:12:57,220
and $485.12 for additional work and materials

753
01:12:57,220 --> 01:12:58,960
and authorizing and improving the purchasing

754
01:12:58,960 --> 01:13:00,580
agents' execution of SAID.

755
01:13:01,220 --> 01:13:04,600
Item M2, a resolution preliminary determining,

756
01:13:10,070 --> 01:13:13,170
is to turn the microphone up, Tammy.

757
01:13:14,970 --> 01:13:18,030
A resolution preliminary determining

758
01:13:18,030 --> 01:13:20,190
that the petition for the annexation

759
01:13:20,190 --> 01:13:25,410
of the 89.93 acres commonly known as the Pueblo Master Plan

760
01:13:25,410 --> 01:13:31,290
community's annexation number one is valid under the provisions of Colorado Revise Statute

761
01:13:31,290 --> 01:13:41,530
Section 31-12-104, parentheses 1A and 31-12-1071, tabling final action on the petition for a period

762
01:13:41,530 --> 01:13:46,290
of not more than 180 days and referring the petition to the Planning and Zoning Commission for

763
01:13:46,290 --> 01:13:52,170
review and recommendation. Item M3, a resolution confirming the appointment by the mayor of Genelle

764
01:13:52,170 --> 01:13:58,470
quick and Shannon Vargas to serve a three-year term expiring August 31, 2029, on the

765
01:13:58,470 --> 01:14:02,110
El Centro de Quinto Soul Recreation Center Board of Directors.

766
01:14:02,990 --> 01:14:07,570
M4 resolution confirming the appointment by the Mayor of Heather Black to complete a three-year

767
01:14:07,570 --> 01:14:12,450
term expiring December 31, 2027, on the Human Relations Commission.

768
01:14:13,110 --> 01:14:20,090
Item M5, a resolution authorizing the issue of a revokeable permit REV 26-24 to the YMCA

769
01:14:20,090 --> 01:14:25,450
of Pueblo for the use of the outer lanes of Spalding Avenue both directions between the North

770
01:14:25,450 --> 01:14:31,170
entrance of the YMCA and Pueblo Boulevard both directions between Spalding Avenue and

771
01:14:31,170 --> 01:14:35,390
its North Eastern terminus for the 5K run slash walk corporate cup event.

772
01:14:36,010 --> 01:14:41,650
Item M6, a resolution improving compensation with respect to a legal service agreement with

773
01:14:41,650 --> 01:14:43,810
Fairfield and Ward Woods PC.

774
01:14:44,610 --> 01:14:49,890
Item M7, a resolution accepting the letter of agreement regarding procedures outlined between

775
01:14:49,890 --> 01:14:55,910
the Pueblo Airport Traffic Control Tower, ARFF, and the City of Pueblo Department of Aviation.

776
01:14:56,670 --> 01:14:59,350
And ordinances, first presentation.

777
01:15:00,240 --> 01:15:07,400
N1, an ordinance approving and accepting a Colorado resource for emergency and trauma education

778
01:15:07,400 --> 01:15:14,060
grant establishing project number PS2609 for emergency and trauma education grant, and budgeting

779
01:15:14,060 --> 01:15:21,140
and appropriating grants in the amount of 22,500. N2, an ordinance approving a contribution

780
01:15:21,140 --> 01:15:25,620
agreement between the city of Pueblo, a Colorado municipal corporation, and the Martinez property

781
01:15:25,620 --> 01:15:31,720
holdings in New Mexico Corporation and authorizing the mayor to execute same item N3 an ordinance

782
01:15:31,720 --> 01:15:37,880
approving an agreement between the pueblo a Colorado municipal corporation and pueblo municipal rail

783
01:15:37,880 --> 01:15:44,360
corporation and authorizing the mayor to execute same N4 an ordinance assessing the cost of demolition

784
01:15:44,360 --> 01:15:51,640
and removal of dangerous buildings upon land located at 125 East 7th Street N5 an ordinance approving

785
01:15:51,640 --> 01:15:56,500
and enacting a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Pueblo and the International

786
01:15:56,500 --> 01:16:02,240
Association of Firefighters, local number three, commenced in January 1st, 2027, and authorizing

787
01:16:02,240 --> 01:16:07,840
the Mayor to execute same. N6, an ordinance approving a lease agreement between Pueblo, a

788
01:16:07,840 --> 01:16:12,780
Colorado Municipal Corporation, and Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, a Virginia non-stop

789
01:16:12,780 --> 01:16:18,380
corporation relating to a portion of the building at 317 North Main Street, waving and releasing

790
01:16:18,380 --> 01:16:23,460
in certain common area maintenance and operating expense charges and authorizing the mayor to execute

791
01:16:23,460 --> 01:16:28,740
same. N7, an ordinance approving a tea hanger lease agreement between the City of Pueblo,

792
01:16:29,160 --> 01:16:37,600
a Colorado Municipal Corporation, and Anwar Saeed Allen for Hanger Unit E at 31501 Bryan Circle Pueblo

793
01:16:37,600 --> 01:16:43,320
Colorado. N8, an ordinance approving a tea hanger lease agreement between the City of Pueblo at

794
01:16:43,320 --> 01:16:46,080
Colorado Municipal Corporation and Nathan C. Hawkins

795
01:16:46,680 --> 01:16:50,480
at 4 Hanger Unit C at 3151 Brian Circle,

796
01:16:50,480 --> 01:16:51,440
Pueblo, Colorado.

797
01:16:52,200 --> 01:16:54,380
N9, an ordinance-approving and accepting

798
01:16:54,380 --> 01:16:56,420
airport improvement program, AIP,

799
01:16:56,820 --> 01:17:00,120
non-competitive discretionary supplement grant agreement number,

800
01:17:00,720 --> 01:17:06,440
3-08-0046-056-20206,

801
01:17:06,740 --> 01:17:08,260
from the United States of America,

802
01:17:08,440 --> 01:17:10,560
acting through the Federal Aviation Administration

803
01:17:10,560 --> 01:17:19,060
for funds and the amount of $75,881 to reimburse the city up to 95% of the total cost to acquire

804
01:17:19,060 --> 01:17:26,180
15 vehicle movement area transponders, units for airport vehicles and authorizing the

805
01:17:26,180 --> 01:17:27,320
mayor to execute same.

806
01:17:27,720 --> 01:17:38,340
Establishing project number 8P, 2605, PUB, VMAT units, budgeting and appropriating $79,875,000

807
01:17:38,340 --> 01:17:44,640
to said project and transferring matching funds in the amount of $3,994 from project

808
01:17:44,640 --> 01:17:50,880
number C I A N 1 A grant matches airport and 10 an ordinance amending the fiscal year

809
01:17:50,880 --> 01:17:56,640
of 2026 staffing ordinance by abolishing one vacant full-time wastewater compliance officer

810
01:17:56,640 --> 01:18:03,340
position and adding one full-time permit compliance specialist and adding one full-time pre-treatment

811
01:18:03,340 --> 01:18:10,920
compliant technician position to the authorized staffing of the wastewater department and 11 and ordinance establishing project C.I.

812
01:18:11,320 --> 01:18:20,120
2619 AR FF truck improvement accepting budgeting and appropriation appropriating funds from the Colorado Department of Public Health and

813
01:18:20,120 --> 01:18:31,900
Environment CDPHE PFAS take back program into C.I. 2619 budgeting and appropriating and transferring funds from the airport improvement trust fund to C.I.

814
01:18:31,900 --> 01:18:41,240
by 2619 and transferring funds from the project CIN-13, vehicle and equipment, and CIN-2606,

815
01:18:41,600 --> 01:18:46,280
fire apparatus equipment, two said, into said project for the purpose of removing them,

816
01:18:46,360 --> 01:18:50,800
replacing AFFF with a non-P-FAS foam.

817
01:18:51,480 --> 01:18:52,600
Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

818
01:18:52,740 --> 01:18:54,280
Is there an approval of the consent agenda?

819
01:18:54,700 --> 01:18:58,720
I move to approve all resolutions set forth in this consent agenda.

820
01:18:58,720 --> 01:19:07,320
We have passed the ordinances of the consent agenda, setting public hearings for September 14th, 2026, and order the ordinance to be published by Title.

821
01:19:07,660 --> 01:19:12,620
Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Councillor Latino, any questions? It's call for the vote.

822
01:19:19,480 --> 01:19:25,560
Passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, we now move to the regular agenda. Item M8.

823
01:19:26,340 --> 01:19:34,100
Item M8 resolution concerning the assessment of costs for the demolition and abatement of dangerous structures upon the property located at

824
01:19:34,100 --> 01:19:40,000
the 125-E7 street within the city of Pueblo, and setting a date for council hearing thereon.

825
01:19:41,060 --> 01:19:41,980
Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

826
01:19:42,120 --> 01:19:42,860
We have a staff report.

827
01:19:43,240 --> 01:19:44,340
Mr. President, members of council, good evening.

828
01:19:44,640 --> 01:19:51,840
The resolution before you sets a hearing for a public hearing to consider assessment of costs.

829
01:19:52,000 --> 01:19:55,180
This is with the demolition of the property there at 125-E7 street.

830
01:19:55,580 --> 01:19:58,320
This is the property that's more commonly known as the Albany Building.

831
01:19:58,320 --> 01:19:58,860
Thank you.

832
01:19:59,540 --> 01:19:59,960
Thank you.

833
01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:29,740
This is simply a resolution that sets that hearing date. There is an accompanying ordinance that is on for first reading that actually passed in the consent agenda tonight that would actually assess those costs. So that ordinance will be heard for second reading. And there will be a public hearing at the next council meeting if this resolution passes. So that concludes my report. I'll take any questions you have. Thank you for that report. Councillor Dante, you pulled this. Yes, I did. So I was reading the background paper and under financial implications.

834
01:20:29,740 --> 01:20:42,880
It says that there's no financial impact on the city, but then when you go down to stakeholder process, there's $750,922 and 8 cents, so that didn't make sense.

835
01:20:43,560 --> 01:20:51,780
And then if you go down to alternative, it talks about the city will not recover the costs associated with the completed projects.

836
01:20:52,220 --> 01:20:56,820
So you're not going to recover these, so is it?

837
01:20:57,420 --> 01:21:01,120
There's, I'll clarify again, there are two items on the agenda tonight.

838
01:21:01,620 --> 01:21:03,240
One, is this resolution?

839
01:21:03,760 --> 01:21:06,580
The resolution does one item, one thing it just sets the hearing only.

840
01:21:07,220 --> 01:21:12,080
But the accompanying resolution, sorry, the accompanying ordinance is item number, and

841
01:21:12,080 --> 01:21:13,100
four, November four.

842
01:21:13,460 --> 01:21:13,900
And like that?

843
01:21:14,080 --> 01:21:19,560
Ordinance contains more of the information there and talks about the assessment of those costs.

844
01:21:20,860 --> 01:21:24,940
So that it is up to council to assess the cost.

845
01:21:24,940 --> 01:21:28,580
but we're bringing a report of demolition, so I need to back up.

846
01:21:28,920 --> 01:21:31,620
If this resolution passes, you will set a hearing day.

847
01:21:32,420 --> 01:21:37,400
At that hearing, presumably, I will be bringing forward the report of demolition so

848
01:21:37,400 --> 01:21:40,900
it'll have that cost breakdown for the $750,000 worth of expenses.

849
01:21:41,700 --> 01:21:46,860
And then it is up to counsel to vote whether or not to assess in full, in part, and how to do that.

850
01:21:47,080 --> 01:21:53,400
So we'll be bringing that ordinance forward again for second reading at the next meeting in conjunction with the public hearing it.

851
01:21:53,400 --> 01:21:57,040
which you'll hear the report and get a chance to ask questions.

852
01:21:58,140 --> 01:22:04,360
So will we be trying to recoup these costs from the actual owner?

853
01:22:04,760 --> 01:22:06,200
So that is my recommendation.

854
01:22:07,060 --> 01:22:10,160
So we are going to, I'm recommending that we,

855
01:22:10,380 --> 01:22:14,000
I am, will be recommending that we assess the costs against the property.

856
01:22:14,520 --> 01:22:19,940
The property is owned by an LLC and so the city's already obviously completed this demolition.

857
01:22:20,060 --> 01:22:21,380
This project's been done for some time.

858
01:22:22,000 --> 01:22:28,720
But I presume again that it's hearing resolution passes we will be bringing that report of demolition that breaks down those costs for you

859
01:22:28,720 --> 01:22:37,520
So until we know rather we're going to recoup it is good cost is $750,000 what you're saying. It has already cost cities of $50,000

860
01:22:37,520 --> 01:22:43,200
Okay, these are costs that were incurred back in 2024. Okay, that was my question. Thank you. Thank you

861
01:22:44,340 --> 01:22:46,260
I was remiss is there a motion to approve?

862
01:22:46,260 --> 01:22:52,520
move. Councillor Posthons, second by Councillor Gomez. Any other questions?

863
01:22:53,660 --> 01:22:54,600
It's called for the vote.

864
01:23:04,740 --> 01:23:11,840
Passes 7-0, Mr. Clerk, item M-9. Item M-9, a resolution establishing

865
01:23:11,840 --> 01:23:17,640
the Airport Policy Advisory Committee. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

866
01:23:19,260 --> 01:23:24,740
Thank you. Good evening, Mr. President. Earlier this year, airport staff, airport administration

867
01:23:24,740 --> 01:23:30,660
and city leadership, drafted three documents for the airport, rules and regs, minimum standards

868
01:23:30,660 --> 01:23:36,720
and rates and fees. Through that process, we determined that we needed to, well, as per

869
01:23:36,720 --> 01:23:42,340
guidance, we needed to, we wanted to include stakeholder engagement with the creation of

870
01:23:42,340 --> 01:23:46,480
those documents, so we pumped the brakes on that initially. You guys might remember seeing

871
01:23:46,480 --> 01:23:53,600
those a few times on Council agenda. We had two very productive meetings with users

872
01:23:53,600 --> 01:23:58,420
stakeholders, and through that interaction and engagement, it was determined we were going

873
01:23:58,420 --> 01:24:05,900
to form the airport policy advisory committee, specifically to construct and continue the

874
01:24:05,900 --> 01:24:10,780
draft of these three documents. So through that process, applications were received through

875
01:24:10,780 --> 01:24:16,640
the mayor's office, and also feedback and comments were received to get these documents into

876
01:24:16,640 --> 01:24:22,240
a draft position, so now we can finish them off with the advisory, the policy advisory committee

877
01:24:22,240 --> 01:24:27,680
To be able to present them to council and as you heard tonight the mayor has asked to postpone or table those

878
01:24:27,680 --> 01:24:29,820
continue those documents to that

879
01:24:29,820 --> 01:24:34,400
October meeting so between now and October once this committee is formed

880
01:24:34,400 --> 01:24:40,200
We will then present these to council for consideration in a finished form that concludes my report

881
01:24:41,000 --> 01:24:42,500
Is there a motion to approve?

882
01:24:43,960 --> 01:24:46,000
Councillor Gomez is there a second?

883
01:24:46,680 --> 01:24:49,920
Councillor Dante. Councillor Dante, you pulled this. You have a question?

884
01:24:50,180 --> 01:24:50,620
Yes, I did.

885
01:24:52,880 --> 01:24:59,260
Okay, my question is this. During reading this, it talks about the previous

886
01:24:59,260 --> 01:24:59,860
This can't work.

887
01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:29,760
Action saying established this the public memorial airport advisory committee was established and was repealed and it was reestablished and it kept going back and forth. So my question is, do we now have two advisory committees for the airport? Yes, technically one would be specifically directed to review these policies and procedures with an annual review. We're not quite sure we're going to get the feel of the committee.

888
01:25:29,760 --> 01:25:34,860
Once we get it settled, if it's a buy annual or if it's just annual, but anytime something comes up

889
01:25:34,860 --> 01:25:41,120
We can call these folks to the table to say hey this rule this rate or this minimum standard is just not quite working for us or it doesn't fit

890
01:25:41,120 --> 01:25:48,540
It's unintended consequences perhaps so we will have that ability then to revise and redraft and bring back for council consideration

891
01:25:48,540 --> 01:25:52,520
So that is the purpose of this advisory policy policy advisory committee

892
01:25:52,520 --> 01:25:57,860
This does not take the place or does not work against or actually in conjunction either with the

893
01:25:57,860 --> 01:26:02,860
The existing Pueblo Advisory Committee, which is marketing and promotion of the airfield.

894
01:26:04,100 --> 01:26:04,700
Okay.

895
01:26:05,080 --> 01:26:06,340
Two separate groups.

896
01:26:06,820 --> 01:26:08,640
Okay, and one more question.

897
01:26:08,880 --> 01:26:09,160
Yes, ma'am.

898
01:26:09,240 --> 01:26:16,640
With the three ordinances that we have down, is this new committee going to be working on that at all?

899
01:26:17,040 --> 01:26:21,980
The three documents that were on the agenda today and table till October 26th.

900
01:26:22,500 --> 01:26:25,440
Those are the sole purpose of this policy advisory committee.

901
01:26:25,440 --> 01:26:36,060
But again, we have them, we affirm them and any other policies or advisory opportunities that come up through policy and documentation, they would be a good resource to have for those as well.

902
01:26:36,440 --> 01:26:37,120
Okay, thank you.

903
01:26:38,000 --> 01:26:40,140
Any other questions? Councillor Gomez?

904
01:26:41,140 --> 01:26:52,360
Yeah, just for the record, Councilman Hernandez and myself, probably in the last couple of visits, we spent over seven, eight hours with the airport folks and they've been really gracious.

905
01:26:52,360 --> 01:26:57,460
I spent three hours today alone, and one of the things I'm walking away with,

906
01:26:57,500 --> 01:27:02,800
I hate to say this, but there are some really reasonable people on both sides on the

907
01:27:02,800 --> 01:27:08,920
tenets, so the hangers on the other side, from the mayor's, I would just, I think we

908
01:27:08,920 --> 01:27:13,100
solve a lot of this and we just find the attorneys on both sides, and make these guys sit

909
01:27:13,100 --> 01:27:17,140
out on the room and figure this thing out, because there's some logical people on both sides.

910
01:27:17,660 --> 01:27:20,260
And when you get attorneys involved, forget it.

911
01:27:20,260 --> 01:27:24,500
So I'm just saying for words, I think there's a, I think there's a compromise there.

912
01:27:25,160 --> 01:27:31,820
I know that there's a lot of motion right now, and you're going to be, you're still stuck in the middle of this,

913
01:27:32,100 --> 01:27:37,480
but I'm just saying for me what I saw, I was, I was glad to see on both sides some level heads,

914
01:27:37,680 --> 01:27:40,220
but I don't think they get a chance to talk because we have attorneys involved.

915
01:27:40,460 --> 01:27:43,220
That's just my opinion, so forgive me, thank you.

916
01:27:44,380 --> 01:27:45,180
Councillor Hernandez?

917
01:27:45,180 --> 01:27:49,200
I just a couple of questions, there's going to be five people on this committee.

918
01:27:50,780 --> 01:27:53,800
I believe so, yeah, the mayor is pointing for including myself.

919
01:27:54,360 --> 01:27:59,520
So who will be the fifth, okay, and then you'll have the other four.

920
01:27:59,600 --> 01:28:03,660
Who are the four people that you will see them on our ten tonight.

921
01:28:04,120 --> 01:28:08,420
So, okay, so can you tell me a little bit about Thomas Lovatic?

922
01:28:09,360 --> 01:28:13,980
Mr. Savlatnik is a flight pilot trainer on our airfield.

923
01:28:13,980 --> 01:28:19,240
He does say this is on the next ordinance resolution has also been told so if you want

924
01:28:20,120 --> 01:28:23,840
Oh, that would be appropriate time for the story. Yeah, okay. I just jumped ahead a bit

925
01:28:25,100 --> 01:28:28,700
I'm done. I'll get it on the next one any other questions

926
01:28:29,380 --> 01:28:30,400
It's call for the vote

927
01:28:41,410 --> 01:28:42,610
passes six to one

928
01:28:44,710 --> 01:28:45,590
we now

929
01:28:46,670 --> 01:28:49,070
Move to m10 mr. Clerk

930
01:28:50,110 --> 01:28:52,050
item m10 a resolution conferner

931
01:28:52,050 --> 01:29:00,090
an appointment by the mayor of Thomas Levaknik, Bill Evans, Vance Crocker, and Reese Hayes to serve terms on the Airport Policy Advisory Committee.

932
01:29:00,330 --> 01:29:02,030
Thank you, Mr. Clark. We have a staff report.

933
01:29:02,430 --> 01:29:09,790
Thank you, President Anilis. This resolution before you, before this resolution, establish the Airport Policy Advisory Committee that will be providing

934
01:29:10,260 --> 01:29:21,450
a committee consistent of five members for whom are appointed by the mayor's subject to council confirmation with the director of aviation serving as the fifth voting member by virtue of office section 2-5

935
01:29:21,450 --> 01:29:26,290
the try to requires that appointments by the mayors specify the term of the office of each individual

936
01:29:26,290 --> 01:29:33,350
in order to achieve the overlapping tenure. So two of the members will serve four-year terms

937
01:29:33,350 --> 01:29:37,910
and two of the members will serve to your terms. And happy to answer any questions.

938
01:29:38,950 --> 01:29:40,990
Thank you for that report. Is there a motion to approve?

939
01:29:41,570 --> 01:29:44,210
Motion to approve. Councillor Hernandez, is there a second?

940
01:29:44,490 --> 01:29:44,730
Second.

941
01:29:45,550 --> 01:29:49,930
Second, Councillor Dante. Councillor Ruiz-Gomes, you pulled this?

942
01:29:49,930 --> 01:29:56,830
Yes, thank you Mr. President, there's just been a lot of communication from constituents

943
01:29:56,830 --> 01:29:57,590
out of the airport.

944
01:29:57,730 --> 01:29:59,970
I'm sure to all the Councillors, we've-

945
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:29,940
You know, heard out a lot of the issues there. And there was a specific, there were some specific conversations around these particular appointments. And so the reason I pulled this was for us to, number one, recognize that yes, the charter does say that these appointments are, you know, their mayor Graham has the authority to appoint. However, we do ratify that appointment. So I was just wanting to open up conversation.

946
01:30:29,940 --> 01:30:36,520
around, you know, thank you, Councillor Hernandez around some of these folks because I know

947
01:30:36,520 --> 01:30:41,180
that you all have done some diligence and wanted to give an opportunity to discuss these

948
01:30:41,180 --> 01:30:42,160
particular folks.

949
01:30:42,620 --> 01:30:42,820
Thank you.

950
01:30:43,720 --> 01:30:44,700
Councillor Gomez.

951
01:30:45,940 --> 01:30:51,260
I don't think it's justice being served if we don't separate and vote on each person individually.

952
01:30:51,460 --> 01:30:58,460
I don't like this form of person, I think there has to be voted on individually and I hope

953
01:30:58,460 --> 01:30:59,200
we can do that.

954
01:31:02,040 --> 01:31:05,720
Make that motion I believe. Make the motion. I'm going to get that motion that we

955
01:31:05,720 --> 01:31:09,180
separate and we vote on each candidate on their own merit.

956
01:31:11,210 --> 01:31:13,490
Second. Mr. Gifford.

957
01:31:17,660 --> 01:31:19,460
If council's intent

958
01:31:19,460 --> 01:31:23,740
is to vote on these separately we can always bring this back next week so we could have four separate

959
01:31:23,740 --> 01:31:28,840
resolutions. The clerk are you able to track four separate votes and number those as four different

960
01:31:28,840 --> 01:31:32,520
resolutions. They would have to be forced separate. That's my concern.

961
01:31:36,740 --> 01:31:42,660
It would be, it would be easier for us to bring it back that way, but it could be good.

962
01:31:42,740 --> 01:31:48,320
So for clarity and I think for purposes of voting on each person individually, we could

963
01:31:48,320 --> 01:31:54,480
bring these back two weeks from now on the regular agenda, appointing each separate person

964
01:31:54,480 --> 01:31:57,120
to the airport policy advisory commission.

965
01:31:58,360 --> 01:32:04,320
So your motion would be to bring back in two weeks as separate resolutions on each

966
01:32:04,320 --> 01:32:04,680
appointment.

967
01:32:05,340 --> 01:32:05,500
Quint.

968
01:32:06,220 --> 01:32:06,540
You good?

969
01:32:06,900 --> 01:32:06,980
Yep.

970
01:32:07,240 --> 01:32:07,820
Is there a second?

971
01:32:08,180 --> 01:32:08,660
Second.

972
01:32:10,000 --> 01:32:11,300
Councillor Ruiz Gomez.

973
01:32:11,660 --> 01:32:12,380
Any other questions?

974
01:32:12,640 --> 01:32:13,480
Councillor Annas?

975
01:32:13,880 --> 01:32:15,760
So this is going to surprise you a little bit.

976
01:32:16,000 --> 01:32:20,720
But when you do bring those back, can you please give us some information on each of the

977
01:32:20,720 --> 01:32:21,200
individuals?

978
01:32:21,660 --> 01:32:21,840
Yeah.

979
01:32:21,980 --> 01:32:23,340
I'd be happy to provide that.

980
01:32:23,420 --> 01:32:23,540
Okay.

981
01:32:23,600 --> 01:32:24,140
I'm the packet.

982
01:32:24,440 --> 01:32:24,840
Information.

983
01:32:24,840 --> 01:32:25,780
I didn't see it.

984
01:32:25,900 --> 01:32:26,660
They're in the packet.

985
01:32:26,960 --> 01:32:28,180
I didn't see it.

986
01:32:28,180 --> 01:32:29,420
I didn't see it at all.

987
01:32:29,780 --> 01:32:30,640
Talk to you a little.

988
01:32:30,940 --> 01:32:31,320
I didn't see it.

989
01:32:31,320 --> 01:32:32,480
It came last Thursday.

990
01:32:32,740 --> 01:32:33,480
I couldn't talk Friday.

991
01:32:33,560 --> 01:32:37,800
I said I could talk to you a little bit about why each of these individuals was appointed,

992
01:32:37,800 --> 01:32:40,580
if that would help answer some questions.

993
01:32:41,760 --> 01:32:44,960
Councillor Gomez, is that going to change the motion?

994
01:32:45,360 --> 01:32:45,880
I don't know.

995
01:32:46,020 --> 01:32:47,600
I don't know if he wants to hear why.

996
01:32:47,960 --> 01:32:48,460
We can wait.

997
01:32:48,580 --> 01:32:48,960
I can wait.

998
01:32:49,480 --> 01:32:50,660
Before they're changed.

999
01:32:52,380 --> 01:32:53,240
I'm making that.

1000
01:32:53,240 --> 01:32:57,620
If it's, what's the easiest way but we're going to do it individually?

1001
01:32:57,780 --> 01:32:58,740
I'll vote on it right now.

1002
01:32:59,020 --> 01:33:01,980
I'm going to go ahead and ask the information, share what you have.

1003
01:33:02,180 --> 01:33:09,940
Sure, so, President Aylith and members of Council, as you know, this has kind of been a long drawn out process with the fees,

1004
01:33:10,860 --> 01:33:12,840
rolls and regulations and the standards.

1005
01:33:14,260 --> 01:33:18,220
The last Thursday and Friday in July, I held two public meetings.

1006
01:33:18,620 --> 01:33:21,320
There wasn't anybody on City Council who attended these meetings.

1007
01:33:21,320 --> 01:33:27,140
And so you may not know about the information that was provided from the individuals that

1008
01:33:27,140 --> 01:33:27,440
came.

1009
01:33:28,200 --> 01:33:34,080
Each one of these individuals came and gave testimony, either as part of a larger group,

1010
01:33:34,380 --> 01:33:41,520
part of commercial, part of GA, or contacted my office as a citizen.

1011
01:33:42,320 --> 01:33:46,240
That is why I went through each of the applications.

1012
01:33:46,240 --> 01:33:53,820
It was based off of the information that they had provided over the two periods and their

1013
01:33:53,820 --> 01:33:55,940
intent to sit on this committee.

1014
01:33:56,160 --> 01:34:01,480
This committee was actually recommended by the individuals who came to give testimony.

1015
01:34:02,700 --> 01:34:10,900
So starting off, the first Thomas is a flight instructor who came and gave about 30 minutes

1016
01:34:10,900 --> 01:34:22,740
of testimony about how the fees, the rules and regulations and the minimum standards could affect his ability as a flight instructor or any other flight instructor.

1017
01:34:23,300 --> 01:34:34,080
We took down all of his comments that he gave to Mr. Gifford and I and those have been rewritten into the red lines of the rules and regulations.

1018
01:34:34,080 --> 01:34:43,260
Bill Evans is a community member who I believe flew F-16s and 14s, I think he's here tonight.

1019
01:34:44,460 --> 01:34:49,000
14s and 18s, his interest is pilot based.

1020
01:34:49,840 --> 01:34:58,200
Mr. Vance Crocker is a representative of the airport users, so a group of individuals that belongs to a user group.

1021
01:34:58,200 --> 01:34:59,760
He also came and gave.

1022
01:35:00,000 --> 01:35:29,920
We have a testimony on behalf of the user, so I thought that he would be a good individual to sit on this committee, because he represented multiple people at the airport. And then Reese Hayes is general counsel for Freeman Jess Center. So we also wanted to have somebody who was involved in community, or I'm sorry, commercial aviation also come and speak. He also gave several comments back to the law department on what he wanted.

1023
01:35:29,920 --> 01:35:33,000
to see as far as rules, regulations, and standards.

1024
01:35:33,300 --> 01:35:38,720
So each of these individuals had lots of testimony, lots of comments, and have been working

1025
01:35:38,720 --> 01:35:45,660
with the city over the last several months on all three of these ordinances that were

1026
01:35:45,660 --> 01:35:46,280
tabled tonight.

1027
01:35:48,020 --> 01:35:48,680
I'm sorry.

1028
01:35:49,200 --> 01:35:50,000
Councillor Hernandez?

1029
01:35:50,520 --> 01:35:51,560
Thank you very much.

1030
01:35:51,560 --> 01:35:55,600
I think it's important even though that sometimes we have all this information, I don't think the

1031
01:35:55,600 --> 01:35:56,500
community has it all.

1032
01:35:56,500 --> 01:36:00,160
And that's why sometimes I ask you to do something that we always have in our information.

1033
01:36:00,740 --> 01:36:03,980
Because I think it's important not just that we know but that the public know as well.

1034
01:36:04,060 --> 01:36:05,040
So thank you very much.

1035
01:36:05,140 --> 01:36:05,640
I appreciate that.

1036
01:36:05,720 --> 01:36:05,880
Of course.

1037
01:36:08,110 --> 01:36:15,830
Councillor Gomes, just in reference to some of the folks that I know that one of them has a strong

1038
01:36:15,830 --> 01:36:18,490
invested interest in a business there at the airport.

1039
01:36:19,110 --> 01:36:22,870
So I'm not sure I have to weigh this out and that's why I want to do it individually.

1040
01:36:22,870 --> 01:36:29,190
I don't know enough or feel comfortable unless we're voting on each one individually.

1041
01:36:29,650 --> 01:36:31,190
I don't see why that's a big issue.

1042
01:36:31,550 --> 01:36:33,130
I don't think it's a lot more work to do that.

1043
01:36:33,530 --> 01:36:37,890
But I think there's a lot of things that should not be compiled in the one vote like this.

1044
01:36:38,130 --> 01:36:41,670
I think it has to be divided individually, again, on their own merit.

1045
01:36:42,510 --> 01:36:46,270
Okay, there's a motion with a second, any other questions, Councillor Latino?

1046
01:36:46,830 --> 01:36:50,090
Yes, I guess I want to know why I wasn't involved in this.

1047
01:36:50,090 --> 01:36:54,530
I'm on the board, nobody talked to me about this.

1048
01:36:54,790 --> 01:37:02,270
Sure, Councilman Latino, this is a different board, so this is the new policy committee separate from the board that you set on.

1049
01:37:02,550 --> 01:37:08,370
Again, it's just rules, regulations, minimum standards, and the fees associated.

1050
01:37:09,390 --> 01:37:18,590
I would think though that I, sitting on the board, on the general board, that being the council representative that I would have at least

1051
01:37:18,590 --> 01:37:22,290
It's been notified and had the ability to attend.

1052
01:37:22,650 --> 01:37:26,210
Sure, so all City Council was notified of the two hearing dates.

1053
01:37:26,670 --> 01:37:33,010
Like I said, and nobody from City Council showed up, so that left me to make the decisions

1054
01:37:33,010 --> 01:37:38,490
as the appointing body of the government when it comes to the boards, and that is before

1055
01:37:38,490 --> 01:37:38,890
you tonight.

1056
01:37:38,890 --> 01:37:40,230
Is this all by email, did you?

1057
01:37:40,610 --> 01:37:40,950
Is that right?

1058
01:37:41,290 --> 01:37:45,270
No, there were public meetings, they were recorded and they happened, and this real

1059
01:37:45,270 --> 01:37:50,750
I said at the Dias and several different community members, members of the airport, commercial

1060
01:37:51,380 --> 01:37:54,050
users, general aviation, came and gave public testimony.

1061
01:37:54,670 --> 01:38:00,290
I also had an email address that people could submit, and I have forwarded you every single

1062
01:38:00,290 --> 01:38:06,190
email that has come in from the Pueblo air commons for any of the users or anybody that wanted

1063
01:38:06,190 --> 01:38:07,770
to adjust any of this information.

1064
01:38:07,770 --> 01:38:13,710
Again, so there were members of the current airport board that were involved and or there

1065
01:38:13,710 --> 01:38:16,170
There are tenants involved as well, current tenants?

1066
01:38:16,410 --> 01:38:18,830
Anybody from the public, any tenant,

1067
01:38:19,210 --> 01:38:22,850
anybody who was part of the current airport commission

1068
01:38:22,850 --> 01:38:25,110
could have come and give comments on those two days.

1069
01:38:25,250 --> 01:38:25,890
All right, thank you.

1070
01:38:26,050 --> 01:38:26,370
You're welcome.

1071
01:38:26,850 --> 01:38:28,390
All right, no other questions?

1072
01:38:29,230 --> 01:38:30,050
Councillor Gomez.

1073
01:38:30,630 --> 01:38:32,650
Just again, it's another indication you have a board

1074
01:38:32,650 --> 01:38:34,870
airport member and he doesn't even know about this.

1075
01:38:35,610 --> 01:38:39,950
I want to make sure that the rest of the constituents

1076
01:38:39,950 --> 01:38:46,070
these feel comfortable. I don't. I don't see what the big deal is voting on each one of these

1077
01:38:46,070 --> 01:38:50,270
gems. I don't think that much won't work, but there's a lot of things I don't know about two of

1078
01:38:50,270 --> 01:38:54,110
these gentlemen and two I know a little bit more about. So it's not fair on both both ways.

1079
01:38:54,930 --> 01:38:58,550
So I don't feel comfortable. I think we need to separate these and vote on them individually.

1080
01:38:59,010 --> 01:39:02,750
And that's the motion I've made. And that's the motion we're going to vote on. Councillor.

1081
01:39:02,750 --> 01:39:08,670
I just want to add that I did give a presentation to City Council in which I put up on the screen

1082
01:39:08,670 --> 01:39:16,050
actually, the two different dates that City Council could come, so every single City Council member was here, and you were made aware

1083
01:39:16,050 --> 01:39:19,230
several times that these meetings were taking place.

1084
01:39:20,170 --> 01:39:22,810
So to say that nobody on City Council knew or

1085
01:39:24,550 --> 01:39:27,870
was advised you were on multiple occasions.

1086
01:39:28,270 --> 01:39:33,110
I'm talking from myself. I'm not talking from the Council. I don't feel comfortable voting. I know what the problem is.

1087
01:39:33,230 --> 01:39:34,030
Why can't you accept that?

1088
01:39:34,030 --> 01:39:35,910
Councillor, you have a motion. We're good.

1089
01:39:38,120 --> 01:39:42,400
We have a motion to postpone and bring back as

1090
01:39:42,400 --> 01:39:45,860
four separate resolutions with a second. It's called for the vote.

1091
01:39:50,880 --> 01:39:58,160
Passes 6 to 1. Mr. Clerk, we now move to the regular agenda. Resolutions item Q1.

1092
01:40:01,010 --> 01:40:30,990
Item Q1, resolution authorizing payment from the council contingency account in the 2026 general fund budget to Pueblo Chamber of Commerce in the amount of 2,500 to sponsor the Pueblo Chilli Balloon Fest, taking place at Lane Goening Soccer Fields and the historic downtown Pueblo on Union Avenue on Friday, September 18th from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday, September 19th, from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday, September 20th, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,

1093
01:40:30,990 --> 01:40:33,390
Thank you, Mr. Clerk, we have a staff report.

1094
01:40:33,830 --> 01:40:36,370
Yes, thank you, President Alif, Council, and Mayor Graham.

1095
01:40:36,990 --> 01:40:41,690
This is a request from Councillor Ted Hernandez to sponsor the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce,

1096
01:40:42,430 --> 01:40:48,770
Chile and Balloon Fest, and that's taking place at Lingoni soccer fields and in historic downtown

1097
01:40:48,770 --> 01:40:56,790
Pueblo. The request for $2,500 during Balloon Fest, 20 plus giant hot air balloons will inflate and

1098
01:40:56,790 --> 01:41:00,530
and launch from the soccer fields and fly over the city for about one to two hours weather

1099
01:41:00,530 --> 01:41:06,430
permitting. Sponsorship funds will be used to cover the cost related for travel, room

1100
01:41:06,430 --> 01:41:08,810
and board for all of the ballooness who are volunteers.

1101
01:41:09,770 --> 01:41:16,710
Council has sponsored this event annually since 2022 for 2500 and the estimated cost is about

1102
01:41:16,710 --> 01:41:24,010
30 grand. As of August 13th, they had received $20,000 in sponsorship funds and this sponsorship

1103
01:41:24,010 --> 01:41:29,230
Chair, does include a hot air balloon ride for three, if anyone's interested.

1104
01:41:29,710 --> 01:41:37,270
And the contingency balance is $35,250 if approved, and that concludes my staff report, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

1105
01:41:37,630 --> 01:41:40,830
Thank you for that report, Mr. Martinez, you signed up to speak on this?

1106
01:41:49,930 --> 01:41:54,010
That's one heck of a city employee, and thank you, Katie, for reaching back out to me on Friday.

1107
01:41:55,210 --> 01:42:00,550
So on this one, as I read in on the paperwork that was put out,

1108
01:42:00,550 --> 01:42:22,630
So it was 1500 last year, so why are they asking for a $1,000 more, so we could amend this back to $1,500 and how it was stated, whether permitting its mother nature so, if weather does not permit, we so pay these people the pilots to come on out, so that's paying room and board.

1109
01:42:22,630 --> 01:42:32,310
So I'll ask for you guys once again to amend this to $1,500 to match last year's, so we could have a bit more money left in the council fund over here.

1110
01:42:33,530 --> 01:42:41,370
And then, amending it to $1,500 would give two rights instead of three, whether permitting.

1111
01:42:42,110 --> 01:42:46,810
Who with those possible two people be if amended to $1,500?

1112
01:42:46,810 --> 01:43:04,050
And if you guys don't amend it, who are those three people be because I would not like it and no offense for any elected official to do that because I would see that as kind of a conflict of interest and just to gain

1113
01:43:05,590 --> 01:43:13,010
right up in the sky when it could go to any veteran out there that burned that right.

1114
01:43:13,610 --> 01:43:21,210
that is not electroficial. And then also who would and it also includes passes to the festival

1115
01:43:22,130 --> 01:43:26,770
who are getting those passes shouldn't be no elected official. It should be veterans.

1116
01:43:27,510 --> 01:43:34,410
And then who would the two shirts go to? Once again, no elected officials, veterans. How much

1117
01:43:34,410 --> 01:43:40,450
do you live always says veterans first of that nature. And then for transparency reasons,

1118
01:43:40,450 --> 01:43:45,210
It should be made public who is receiving all of these right here.

1119
01:43:46,030 --> 01:43:52,570
And so, once again, I'm always up here gripping at you guys to save money, and I'll talk again here later.

1120
01:43:53,310 --> 01:44:03,770
But please amend this to 1500 to match last year's fund, because as we know Council funds last year was 100,000 and it went down to 85,000 this year.

1121
01:44:04,210 --> 01:44:09,890
So I don't know why several nonprofits are always asking for more money than last year.

1122
01:44:09,890 --> 01:44:17,030
So please amended to 1,500. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve. Councillor

1123
01:44:17,030 --> 01:44:22,830
Boston. Is there a second? Second. Second. Councillor Dante. Any questions?

1124
01:44:25,240 --> 01:44:25,580
Councillor

1125
01:44:25,580 --> 01:44:32,700
Gomez. So it was $2,500 last year. Was there a thing? I'll double check and it might have

1126
01:44:32,700 --> 01:44:34,640
just been a typo on my part, but I'll double check it.

1127
01:44:38,130 --> 01:44:41,530
We are. We're trying to do our

1128
01:44:41,530 --> 01:44:46,750
to ensure responsibility and I see all these, I don't know, a lot of ass, I'm in the,

1129
01:44:48,050 --> 01:44:51,250
trying to settle my mind with all the different things that are coming forward and counsel.

1130
01:44:51,890 --> 01:44:57,270
And once 2500, or once 15, and once 1,000, trying to find a fair place that we can, and then

1131
01:44:57,270 --> 01:44:59,770
I look at the time of the three days.

1132
01:45:00,270 --> 01:45:29,990
Four hours, two hours. All these things, and then what other, any other associated fundraising that they're getting, those are the kind of things I want to make sure I'm doing right so. I think I would limit this to the $1500 as well for now. Thank you. Councillor Dante. When I look at these basically grants that we're giving out through the Council contingencies,

1133
01:45:29,990 --> 01:45:34,050
I look at what type of event it is.

1134
01:45:34,550 --> 01:45:41,490
If it's an event that's a sit down dinner where only a certain number of people can come to, I think less money.

1135
01:45:42,170 --> 01:45:46,830
If it's an event that the whole city can go to, I think, more money.

1136
01:45:47,490 --> 01:45:51,390
So I'm happy with the $2,500 on this one, thank you.

1137
01:45:51,390 --> 01:45:53,470
Thank you. Any other questions?

1138
01:45:54,850 --> 01:45:56,070
It's call for the vote.

1139
01:46:04,260 --> 01:46:07,020
Pass a 7-0, Mr. Clerk,

1140
01:46:10,960 --> 01:46:11,920
it wouldn't make any difference.

1141
01:46:13,800 --> 01:46:14,200
It's red.

1142
01:46:14,880 --> 01:46:15,320
It is.

1143
01:46:16,480 --> 01:46:18,460
Mr. Clerk, item Q2.

1144
01:46:21,190 --> 01:46:34,790
Item Q2, resolution authorizing payment from the Council contingencies account in the 2026 General Fund Budget to Mountain Park Environmental Association doing business, nature and wildlife discovery center in the amount of

1145
01:46:34,790 --> 01:46:43,070
2,500 to sponsor the land and legacy benefit dinner on Friday, September 25th, 2026, from 5 to 9 p.m.

1146
01:46:43,670 --> 01:46:44,810
at the Pueblo Union Depot.

1147
01:46:46,190 --> 01:46:47,150
Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

1148
01:46:47,330 --> 01:46:47,990
We have a staff report.

1149
01:46:48,570 --> 01:46:53,490
Yes, this is a request from Councillor Ted Hernandez to sponsor the nature and wildlife discovery centers

1150
01:46:53,490 --> 01:46:54,910
land and legacy benefit dinner.

1151
01:46:55,430 --> 01:47:00,070
That's coming up on September 25th, and that will be at the Pueblo Union Depot at 5 p.m.

1152
01:47:00,490 --> 01:47:01,970
The request is for 2,500.

1153
01:47:02,850 --> 01:47:06,750
Proceeds from this event will be used to support their youth education programs,

1154
01:47:07,250 --> 01:47:13,290
raptor rehabilitation programs, and the monumental recovery of Pueblo Mountain Park and

1155
01:47:13,290 --> 01:47:16,890
Horseshoe Lodge following the destruction from the Aspen-Agris Fire.

1156
01:47:17,890 --> 01:47:22,910
Councils did sponsor this organization's Winter Solstice celebration in 2024 for 900.

1157
01:47:23,650 --> 01:47:25,490
But this is the first for this event.

1158
01:47:26,190 --> 01:47:29,410
The estimated cost for the event this year is 30,000.

1159
01:47:29,410 --> 01:47:34,430
And as of August 13th, they had 19,000 in pledged sponsorships.

1160
01:47:34,810 --> 01:47:45,470
The cost to attend is about $75 and this sponsorship tier does include eight tickets to the event and an annual membership to the center for all eight guests.

1161
01:47:46,110 --> 01:47:52,670
In the contingency balance, if approved is $32,750 and that concludes my staff report, happy to answer questions.

1162
01:47:52,670 --> 01:47:54,850
Thank you for the report. Is there a motion to approve?

1163
01:47:56,490 --> 01:47:58,130
Councillor Boaston. Is there a second?

1164
01:47:58,250 --> 01:47:58,510
Second.

1165
01:47:59,570 --> 01:48:01,210
Councillor Ruiz Gomez, questions.

1166
01:48:02,550 --> 01:48:04,770
Councillor Ruiz go? No, Councillor Gomez.

1167
01:48:05,410 --> 01:48:08,670
What was the amount last year that was good?

1168
01:48:09,470 --> 01:48:10,230
No, it wasn't it?

1169
01:48:10,610 --> 01:48:12,330
This is all obviously the other

1170
01:48:15,020 --> 01:48:15,480
questions.

1171
01:48:15,500 --> 01:48:16,400
Any other questions?

1172
01:48:16,880 --> 01:48:17,660
It's called for the vote.

1173
01:48:27,720 --> 01:48:30,500
Passes 70, Mr. Clerk, item Q3.

1174
01:48:31,460 --> 01:48:34,360
Item Q3, resolution authorizing payment from the council

1175
01:48:34,360 --> 01:48:50,820
of contingencies account in the 2026 General Fund budget to park view foundation in the amount of $2,000 to sponsor the 45th annual Starlight Gala golden legacy on Friday, September 25th, 2026 from 530 to 10pm at the Pueblo Convention Center.

1176
01:48:51,260 --> 01:48:52,760
Thank you, Mr. Clark. We have a staff report.

1177
01:48:53,300 --> 01:49:00,000
Yes, this is a request from Councillor Bret Boston to sponsor park view foundations and Starlight Gala on September 25th.

1178
01:49:00,000 --> 01:49:06,640
The request is for $2,000 sponsorship funds or proceeds from the event will be split evenly

1179
01:49:06,640 --> 01:49:13,540
in thirds between the Pueblo Police Department, the County Sheriff and Parkview Foundation.

1180
01:49:14,280 --> 01:49:19,900
Council did sponsor this event last year for 1,500 and as of August 13, they had received

1181
01:49:19,900 --> 01:49:22,600
$57,000 in sponsorship funds.

1182
01:49:22,960 --> 01:49:28,140
The cost to attend is $150 and this tier does include a table for 10.

1183
01:49:28,140 --> 01:49:34,740
The contingency balance, if approved, is $30,750 and that concludes my staff report.

1184
01:49:35,020 --> 01:49:36,020
I'm happy to answer any questions.

1185
01:49:36,340 --> 01:49:39,340
Thank you for that report, Mr. Martinez, you signed up for this?

1186
01:49:40,640 --> 01:49:41,980
Did you guys miss me?

1187
01:49:42,680 --> 01:49:43,180
That's a no.

1188
01:49:44,640 --> 01:49:46,400
So, once again,

1189
01:49:48,640 --> 01:49:51,000
I'll say it in other words, you guys are too

1190
01:49:51,000 --> 01:49:57,560
dang liberal with the taxpayer's money, not conservative whatsoever and we all know the

1191
01:49:57,560 --> 01:49:59,980
make-up of City Council, so think about it.

1192
01:50:01,360 --> 01:50:29,980
So, I would politely ask you guys to amend this to $1,500 because I know Ms. Dante looks at everything. She has for many years, like I have, but I don't know if all of you guys looked at all of the attachments. So, the difference between $1,500 and $2,000, it's an extra $500 just to have our logo on the table and on the screens. That's pretty dang expensive, just to put a logo on the table.

1193
01:50:29,980 --> 01:50:38,140
the table $500 and on the screen, it makes no difference to put that right there for

1194
01:50:38,140 --> 01:50:47,520
an extra $500. And I think that's just a rip-off. And right here, either, well, even with

1195
01:50:47,520 --> 01:50:54,540
the $1,500, it'll still give us tickets. And most people wouldn't be able to afford this.

1196
01:50:54,540 --> 01:51:04,100
So if we have veterans or first responders, give them the tickets and City Council could pay for their own, the mayor could pay for her own if she wants to attend.

1197
01:51:04,740 --> 01:51:15,820
So I don't think you guys would amend this because you guys hardly ever amend anything lower and we're running out of funds.

1198
01:51:15,900 --> 01:51:23,940
I get some calculation and with the rest of the meetings left, we're only going to be able to give away about $3,700 per meeting.

1199
01:51:23,940 --> 01:51:29,620
on average $3,800. And we're well over that on this meeting. So we have no clue it's

1200
01:51:29,620 --> 01:51:35,880
going to be coming up in next month, October, and then around the holiday season when

1201
01:51:35,880 --> 01:51:40,600
other people want $5,6, $700. So think wisely and remember when you run again.

1202
01:51:41,860 --> 01:51:47,880
Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Councillor Gomez, is there a second? Second, by

1203
01:51:47,880 --> 01:51:51,500
by Councillor Dante. Any questions? It's called for the vote.

1204
01:51:51,720 --> 01:51:54,680
I had a question. Councillor Williams. Thank you.

1205
01:51:55,440 --> 01:52:04,180
Katie, would you mind just one more time? Do you say that this? The proceeds are going

1206
01:52:04,180 --> 01:52:09,960
to be split in third. Can you one more time tell us where the Parkview Foundation is going

1207
01:52:09,960 --> 01:52:16,760
to be splitting their proceeds to? Yes. So all of the proceeds from the event will be split

1208
01:52:16,760 --> 01:52:20,680
in 3rds evenly between the Pueblo Police Department,

1209
01:52:21,240 --> 01:52:22,860
the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office,

1210
01:52:23,420 --> 01:52:24,600
and Park View Foundation.

1211
01:52:25,560 --> 01:52:28,820
And the funds that go towards Park View Foundation

1212
01:52:28,820 --> 01:52:32,220
just go towards their hospital initiatives

1213
01:52:32,220 --> 01:52:33,420
that advance patient care.

1214
01:52:34,500 --> 01:52:35,220
Okay.

1215
01:52:35,720 --> 01:52:39,100
Did it talk a little talk about what the promises

1216
01:52:39,100 --> 01:52:41,060
for the police department and the sheriffs

1217
01:52:41,820 --> 01:52:44,800
are gonna be funded for in particular?

1218
01:52:44,800 --> 01:52:49,580
No. They just shared that they would be funding those departments.

1219
01:52:50,360 --> 01:52:51,520
Okay. Thank you.

1220
01:52:52,420 --> 01:52:54,480
Any other questions? Councillor Dante?

1221
01:52:55,780 --> 01:53:02,260
Yes. As I said before, normally, if there's a dinner, I would cut it down to 1,500 as well.

1222
01:53:03,000 --> 01:53:12,360
But being that this is spent for three different sections or organizations, I would leave it at

1223
01:53:12,360 --> 01:53:13,420
Thank you.

1224
01:53:14,900 --> 01:53:15,540
Thank you.

1225
01:53:15,660 --> 01:53:16,360
Any other questions?

1226
01:53:16,840 --> 01:53:17,800
Call for the vote.

1227
01:53:25,080 --> 01:53:25,980
Pass a 6-1.

1228
01:53:26,220 --> 01:53:27,640
Mr. Clerk, item Q4.

1229
01:53:29,970 --> 01:53:30,930
Item Q4.

1230
01:53:31,010 --> 01:53:35,430
Resolution declaring the intent of the City of Pueblo, Colorado, to issue revenue bonds in

1231
01:53:35,430 --> 01:53:41,230
the connection with financing residential facilities for low and middle-income families of persons.

1232
01:53:42,630 --> 01:53:43,650
Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

1233
01:53:43,790 --> 01:53:44,470
We have staff report.

1234
01:53:45,030 --> 01:53:45,150
Yes.

1235
01:53:45,310 --> 01:53:46,050
Thank you, President Alif.

1236
01:53:46,850 --> 01:53:57,310
Private activity bonds or PABs are tax exempt or a tax exempt financing tool used to support qualifying private projects that serve a public purpose including affordable housing.

1237
01:53:57,930 --> 01:54:06,150
PABs are not actual dollars rather they provide access to tax exempt financing for eligible private entities which results in a reduced interest rate.

1238
01:54:06,630 --> 01:54:11,890
The city receives an annual allocation but is strictly prohibited from using the bonds for its own purposes.

1239
01:54:12,650 --> 01:54:20,810
For 2026, the City of Pueblo received a PAB, a private activity bond allocation of $7,675,759.

1240
01:54:21,530 --> 01:54:26,970
Each year, by September 15th, the city must allocate the bonds, carry forward the bonds, or reassign the bonds.

1241
01:54:27,630 --> 01:54:37,110
This resolution would carry forward that allocation for the Tava Square apartments, which is a 105 unit affordable housing development proposed by Rocky Mountain communities, a non-profit developer.

1242
01:54:37,110 --> 01:54:43,170
Public County is also expected to carry forward approximately $3.9 million, which is their full

1243
01:54:43,170 --> 01:54:48,630
2026 allocation at the Board of County Commissioners meeting this upcoming Thursday, August 27th.

1244
01:54:49,470 --> 01:54:54,630
In 2025, the city carried forward approximately $7.3 million for this same project,

1245
01:54:54,930 --> 01:54:59,790
and the county carried forward as well their entire application, which was $3.7 million.

1246
01:55:00,000 --> 01:55:10,180
$2.2 million approximately. Combined with the 2025 and 2026 allocations, the top of square apartments is looking at a total of $22.6 million in private activity bond capacity.

1247
01:55:12,760 --> 01:55:20,240
Currently, Rocky Mountain Communities has an executed a purchase agreement with NeighborWorks of Sedan, Colorado. Sorry, can we just one second?

1248
01:55:22,580 --> 01:55:32,920
For the property located within the Pikes Peak Park development on the public's west side. This demonstrates both side control and the readiness for the proposed development. Staff anticipated from the outset of

1249
01:55:32,920 --> 01:55:36,580
this project that it would require two full years of private activity bond carry forward

1250
01:55:36,580 --> 01:55:39,900
from both the city and the county in order to make the financing structure work.

1251
01:55:40,560 --> 01:55:44,740
As such, this is expected to be the final carry forward for the top of square apartments

1252
01:55:44,740 --> 01:55:47,640
and we do not expect an additional carry forward in 2027.

1253
01:55:48,860 --> 01:55:53,960
Once the 2026 allocations are carried forward, this would be the full project financial

1254
01:55:53,960 --> 01:55:55,900
stack as far as the bonds are considered.

1255
01:55:58,640 --> 01:56:02,280
This carry forward continues to demonstrate the city's continued commitment to supporting

1256
01:56:02,280 --> 01:56:04,580
of affordable housing within the public community.

1257
01:56:05,180 --> 01:56:10,900
Bonds are an important and very unique development tool available to municipalities, and because

1258
01:56:10,900 --> 01:56:15,620
affordable housing developments often require significant bond capital, it is very common

1259
01:56:15,620 --> 01:56:18,260
for multiple-year private activity bond allocations.

1260
01:56:19,180 --> 01:56:22,980
If this resolution is not approved and the city does not otherwise preserve our use for the

1261
01:56:22,980 --> 01:56:28,740
2026 bonds by September 15th, the unused allocation would automatically go back and be reverted

1262
01:56:28,740 --> 01:56:32,840
to the Department of Local Affairs for use potentially outside of the city of Pueblo.

1263
01:56:33,180 --> 01:56:34,380
This concludes my staff report.

1264
01:56:34,900 --> 01:56:35,840
Thank you for that report.

1265
01:56:36,060 --> 01:56:37,120
Is there a motion to approve?

1266
01:56:38,220 --> 01:56:39,700
Councillor Gomez, is there a second?

1267
01:56:40,480 --> 01:56:42,600
Councillor Latino, any questions?

1268
01:56:43,520 --> 01:56:44,100
Councillor Dante?

1269
01:56:46,160 --> 01:56:53,340
I'm seeing that there's $7 million here that you're going to use for low and middle income.

1270
01:56:54,380 --> 01:56:56,680
Do you have an idea of what you're going to do?

1271
01:57:00,680 --> 01:57:06,100
Yes, so these bonds will be reserved to create the 105 unit Tova Square Apartments.

1272
01:57:06,260 --> 01:57:11,480
They will be de-restricted at or below 60% of their median income, which is required by the bonds.

1273
01:57:12,760 --> 01:57:13,900
Okay, thank you.

1274
01:57:14,380 --> 01:57:15,160
Councillor Gomez.

1275
01:57:16,160 --> 01:57:19,920
Yeah, I don't want to fake anybody here saying I don't understand all the revenue bond stuff

1276
01:57:19,920 --> 01:57:21,440
that you're talking about because I don't.

1277
01:57:21,720 --> 01:57:25,760
And I don't think a lot of people in the audience, unless you're in this field, I don't feel comfortable.

1278
01:57:26,800 --> 01:57:33,340
You said 100 and now the revenue bond explained that just a little bit more so the rest of us can get it or the rest I can get it.

1279
01:57:33,800 --> 01:57:35,300
So bonds are not dollars.

1280
01:57:36,800 --> 01:57:42,600
The federal government allows municipalities of a certain size you have to be a minimum size.

1281
01:57:43,080 --> 01:57:50,340
They allow us bond capital or bond cap is what it's called to then allocate to different eligible projects.

1282
01:57:50,340 --> 01:58:01,920
All that a bond really is, is the capital market, so a bank will allow you to have or give you a lower interest rate in exchange for a tax credit that they are getting.

1283
01:58:02,520 --> 01:58:14,680
And so depending on the interest rate, this results in the $7.6 million for 2026 will result in a roughly $100,000 annual reduction in debt service for this project.

1284
01:58:14,680 --> 01:58:14,720
All right.

1285
01:58:16,360 --> 01:58:16,800
Okay.

1286
01:58:17,060 --> 01:58:17,480
Clear as much.

1287
01:58:19,620 --> 01:58:20,180
Thank you.

1288
01:58:20,560 --> 01:58:21,620
Councillor Ruiz Gomez.

1289
01:58:21,920 --> 01:58:22,200
Thank you.

1290
01:58:22,620 --> 01:58:26,140
So does this mean we will be financing the project?

1291
01:58:27,220 --> 01:58:27,300
No.

1292
01:58:27,860 --> 01:58:27,940
No.

1293
01:58:28,200 --> 01:58:28,420
No.

1294
01:58:28,640 --> 01:58:33,540
We literally just give the authority for them to go find their own private financing and that

1295
01:58:33,540 --> 01:58:36,800
bank would then apply for the tax credit from the federal government.

1296
01:58:37,120 --> 01:58:38,620
We are just the pass-through entity.

1297
01:58:39,060 --> 01:58:44,400
So these are not dollars and I understand this is, it's very confusing, it takes a lot

1298
01:58:44,400 --> 01:58:48,020
a lot of time to really dive in and understand this, so they are not dollars.

1299
01:58:48,640 --> 01:58:50,560
There's no dollars associated here.

1300
01:58:50,900 --> 01:58:56,080
We are just given the authority to hand over that federal tax credit to someone else.

1301
01:58:56,180 --> 01:58:59,440
We cannot utilize it ourselves, that's the private, in the private activity bond,

1302
01:58:59,520 --> 01:59:00,940
it has to be done by a private entity.

1303
01:59:01,580 --> 01:59:08,120
So about 85% of them nationwide are used for building affordable housing, affordable housing creation.

1304
01:59:08,620 --> 01:59:12,740
It's not the only use, there are other uses, but it's the most common and

1305
01:59:12,740 --> 01:59:14,940
And the easiest use of private activity bonds.

1306
01:59:15,260 --> 01:59:20,140
How much would you say when these 150 units are developed,

1307
01:59:21,100 --> 01:59:24,780
what would be the ballpark rent and

1308
01:59:24,780 --> 01:59:29,080
not neighborhood that the folks would be able to access these units for?

1309
01:59:30,580 --> 01:59:34,540
Yeah, so it depends on your household size.

1310
01:59:35,000 --> 01:59:41,440
And which one of those brackets you fall under if you're 40, 50, 60% of the area median income.

1311
01:59:42,200 --> 01:59:56,120
And so it really just depends again on your household size, but we are talking about rents that some of them will be deeply subsidized at roughly $500 per month and then some that will be much less subsidized that may go up to $1,400 per month.

1312
01:59:56,120 --> 01:59:59,940
And so, you have a variety of rents in a product-

1313
02:00:00,600 --> 02:00:29,980
They call it the unit mix and that unit mix is very important. You want to have some that have deep subsidies. You want to have some that don't have as deep of subsidies so that they can generate the revenue to go and pay the debt service on this bond. Can you explain the debt service? Like does that mean that the developers responsible or does that come back to us and they go or that? No, nothing comes back to us. And to be clear, nobody is approved.

1314
02:00:29,980 --> 02:00:36,320
this bond tonight, this is simply to roll over and carry forward before the statutory September 15th deadline.

1315
02:00:36,960 --> 02:00:42,780
Once we get a contract in place, we will come back with a developer agreement, and that will have all of the specifics.

1316
02:00:43,220 --> 02:00:48,940
So some of this is not even clearly identified yet, because the project has not yet applied for

1317
02:00:48,940 --> 02:00:54,160
low-income housing tax credits and the other components of their financial stack that will be required.

1318
02:00:54,880 --> 02:00:59,180
Can you tell me the name of the development again that you're working with?

1319
02:00:59,540 --> 02:01:00,160
Neighborhood works.

1320
02:01:00,800 --> 02:01:03,440
So we are working with Rocky Mountain Communities.

1321
02:01:04,160 --> 02:01:08,440
Rocky Mountain Communities has an option agreement to purchase the Tava Square Apartments,

1322
02:01:08,540 --> 02:01:14,900
which is part of the total development that NeighborWorks has done, which is Pikes Peak Park.

1323
02:01:15,680 --> 02:01:20,640
So it is not the entire Pikes Peak Park, it is just one project within Pikes Peak Park.

1324
02:01:21,280 --> 02:01:26,840
When do you anticipate this coming up on a vote for the use?

1325
02:01:27,540 --> 02:01:33,580
So they are anticipating to apply for low income housing tax credits in the April

1326
02:01:33,580 --> 02:01:37,040
round for the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority or Chaffa.

1327
02:01:38,040 --> 02:01:40,940
We would come to you at some point after they were awarded.

1328
02:01:41,720 --> 02:01:43,800
It would likely be later next year.

1329
02:01:44,300 --> 02:01:48,680
We anticipate that an award would probably happen in mid-summer and then we would work with

1330
02:01:48,680 --> 02:01:54,460
all of the attorneys involved to come up with an X or a good acceptable developer agreement.

1331
02:01:54,760 --> 02:01:55,800
And then that would come to council.

1332
02:01:56,280 --> 02:02:00,760
Likely late 2027, it's possible it could be early 2028, just depending.

1333
02:02:01,280 --> 02:02:02,100
Okay, thank you.

1334
02:02:02,940 --> 02:02:04,020
Any other questions?

1335
02:02:05,200 --> 02:02:06,240
Let's call for the vote.

1336
02:02:13,420 --> 02:02:21,060
Pass of 70, Mr. Clerk, item Q5, item Q5, a resolution establishing a schedule of fees for

1337
02:02:21,060 --> 02:02:26,720
the impoundment and storage of abandoned shopping carts pursuant to section 7-3-6-7,

1338
02:02:26,880 --> 02:02:28,220
the Pueblo Municipal Code.

1339
02:02:28,960 --> 02:02:30,860
Thank you, Mr. Clerk, we have staff report.

1340
02:02:31,800 --> 02:02:35,960
Yes, Mr. President, members and Councillors, we're getting the resolution before you is a

1341
02:02:35,960 --> 02:02:41,400
re-presentation of the, excuse me, if the resolution was presented on August 10th related to the

1342
02:02:41,960 --> 02:02:46,580
setting of fees for the impoundment and management of shopping carts that are collected and

1343
02:02:46,580 --> 02:02:53,040
compounded by the city. You may recall that this was tabled or postponed

1344
02:02:53,040 --> 02:02:58,720
until tonight, but there has been no specific question or information request that's

1345
02:02:58,720 --> 02:03:03,980
come from council in the past two weeks. So we're presenting obviously the resolution

1346
02:03:03,980 --> 02:03:09,740
in its current form as it was presented on August 10th. I think it's important for council

1347
02:03:09,740 --> 02:03:18,260
to recall that this is a fee schedule that is required by the code, the ordinance was adopted

1348
02:03:18,260 --> 02:03:20,160
back in 2024.

1349
02:03:22,620 --> 02:03:26,420
It contemplates setting this fee schedule separately by a separate resolution,

1350
02:03:26,420 --> 02:03:30,060
so that's why this is being brought forward. So that concludes my staff report and I'll take any

1351
02:03:30,060 --> 02:03:34,720
questions you have at this time. Thank you for that report. Mr. Martinez, you signed up to speak on this.

1352
02:03:43,070 --> 02:03:53,010
So, I remember this was on the agenda back in, 2024, I was against it then, still against it now, because this will hurt any business that wants to move here.

1353
02:03:53,470 --> 02:04:01,910
Talk about economic development, how we're going to get another grocery store here, if we want to implement this, if some idiot takes their cart,

1354
02:04:01,910 --> 02:04:06,170
went to find the idiot that takes the cart and not the business.

1355
02:04:07,250 --> 02:04:08,750
It makes absolutely no sense.

1356
02:04:08,890 --> 02:04:14,730
Yes, it puts a lot of work on Mr. Hayes, his people, fire, PD, whoever is picking them up.

1357
02:04:16,030 --> 02:04:18,010
But what other cities are doing this?

1358
02:04:18,610 --> 02:04:23,210
And when all of this was on the agenda, I reached out to some council members out in Kenyon City.

1359
02:04:23,430 --> 02:04:28,130
They have something similar to this, but they do not find the stores whatsoever.

1360
02:04:28,130 --> 02:04:43,050
However, so if you guys want to kick the can down the road for another three weeks because it'll be the 14th of September that you guys meet and talk to the elected body out in Canyon City.

1361
02:04:44,150 --> 02:04:47,350
Because this absolutely makes zero sense.

1362
02:04:47,510 --> 02:04:56,470
Let's find a business that pays a lot of taxes to be here when some knucklehead or knuckleheads steal their cards.

1363
02:04:57,310 --> 02:04:59,170
That's like saying if you get something

1364
02:05:00,000 --> 02:05:29,620
If somebody owns a gun, and the gun gets stolen, that person's going to get fined for having their gun stolen when it was locked up. No, if you have an alley in your backyard, and somebody that's dump a couch and other stuff, city's probably going to find you. That makes no sense when it wasn't you. They did it. You might have to pay to haul it off since you want to get in your garage if the garage is in the back. We have to hold knuckleheads,

1365
02:05:29,620 --> 02:05:33,400
It's responsible for their actions and not a business.

1366
02:05:35,140 --> 02:05:41,340
And I was spoken about earlier by Mr. Gomez, whoever he spoke to, I have no clue, don't want to know, that's private conversation.

1367
02:05:43,040 --> 02:05:53,300
But how many other people have reached out to King Super's, Walmart, Target, and when a card is found, how are we going to know which Walmart it came from?

1368
02:05:54,200 --> 02:05:57,260
How are we going to know which dollar general it came from?

1369
02:05:57,820 --> 02:06:00,980
It's not identified by the store number.

1370
02:06:01,540 --> 02:06:06,520
Maybe we could tell the stores to put some type of sticker on the bottom or on the

1371
02:06:06,520 --> 02:06:11,820
side saying this is store 2500, whatever the store number is.

1372
02:06:12,120 --> 02:06:14,160
That's how you identify them specifically.

1373
02:06:15,840 --> 02:06:21,740
And there's other small mom and pop places that have carts from other places that have shut

1374
02:06:21,740 --> 02:06:22,620
their business.

1375
02:06:23,040 --> 02:06:26,820
So you're going to find that mom and pop shop if you find out that they have a circuit

1376
02:06:26,820 --> 02:06:32,580
city, one, or a Kmart, or big lots, or whatever, that's shuttered, ridiculous,

1377
02:06:32,920 --> 02:06:37,580
so either vote this down, postpone it until next time, and speak to the elected

1378
02:06:37,580 --> 02:06:40,200
body out in Canyon City. Thank you.

1379
02:06:40,800 --> 02:06:43,140
Thank you. Is there a motion to approve, motion to approve?

1380
02:06:43,460 --> 02:06:44,840
Councillor Gomez, is there a second?

1381
02:06:44,960 --> 02:06:45,280
Second.

1382
02:06:45,560 --> 02:06:49,300
Second by Councillor Dante. Any questions? Councillor Gomez.

1383
02:06:50,440 --> 02:06:53,040
Yours, again, about the stuff that's in the cart when it leaves the store.

1384
02:06:53,040 --> 02:06:56,860
If it's packed and they can't stop it, what happens all that material, what happens all that?

1385
02:06:58,240 --> 02:07:02,960
But I'm having a problem with is that the store is the vendors and I feel for it. I don't want to lose a vendor,

1386
02:07:03,740 --> 02:07:08,500
but when they say hey and your employees stop them, we're gonna fire them.

1387
02:07:09,380 --> 02:07:12,800
Where do you think the cost they're gonna go to? Everybody's complaining about high cost?

1388
02:07:13,020 --> 02:07:19,380
How do you think this is gonna end up? There's gotta be some responsibility on the vendors and maybe if we could get a little bit more

1389
02:07:19,380 --> 02:07:25,640
intervention we don't have the police to do it right now. I wouldn't think that's a priority call to the police

1390
02:07:25,640 --> 02:07:32,720
department. I just don't. How else do you solve this thing? You got to make the corporate people take some

1391
02:07:32,720 --> 02:07:37,060
oneness in this thing and just saying, well, it's a cart. No, it's not just a cart. A lot of these

1392
02:07:37,060 --> 02:07:42,600
cars are leaving with a lot of gross residue. That's what I'm concerned about. Are we doing anything to

1393
02:07:42,600 --> 02:07:48,300
stop this? Because if not, every one of the taxpayers are taking a hit on this in every single store and

1394
02:07:48,300 --> 02:07:51,180
And every single item and every single cart that he put it in.

1395
02:07:51,680 --> 02:07:52,560
That's all I'm saying.

1396
02:07:52,720 --> 02:07:56,100
I think we got to start getting a little bit tough all over the board, not just there.

1397
02:07:56,360 --> 02:07:56,580
Thanks.

1398
02:07:57,700 --> 02:07:58,600
Any other questions?

1399
02:07:59,180 --> 02:07:59,620
Councilor Dante.

1400
02:08:01,840 --> 02:08:02,760
Good evening, Andrew.

1401
02:08:04,040 --> 02:08:08,780
I'm looking at, I'm looking at a larger picture here.

1402
02:08:09,200 --> 02:08:09,920
We've got cards.

1403
02:08:10,160 --> 02:08:10,920
We've got food theft.

1404
02:08:11,160 --> 02:08:12,880
We have the cart management system.

1405
02:08:14,080 --> 02:08:19,780
I look at cards like if somebody went in the store and took a Twinkie and took it and

1406
02:08:19,780 --> 02:08:22,820
I hate it and through the trash on the ground.

1407
02:08:24,180 --> 02:08:26,140
If it was a Kirkland cupcake,

1408
02:08:26,660 --> 02:08:28,120
you would know what store came from.

1409
02:08:28,380 --> 02:08:30,380
But you would go back to them and say,

1410
02:08:30,540 --> 02:08:32,580
hey, you need to pay for this being out here.

1411
02:08:34,220 --> 02:08:36,160
But yet the cart management system,

1412
02:08:36,160 --> 02:08:37,600
that's a whole different thing

1413
02:08:38,380 --> 02:08:41,660
because it's not somebody else stealing their stuff.

1414
02:08:41,880 --> 02:08:44,760
It's something that they're putting into a system

1415
02:08:45,520 --> 02:08:48,240
that will prevent the theft.

1416
02:08:50,120 --> 02:09:09,260
And my suggestion would be to look at the cart management system and look at how many stores do not have it and find them according to who doesn't have the management system, not on how many carts are out there.

1417
02:09:09,260 --> 02:09:11,280
And it would be just a flat fee.

1418
02:09:11,460 --> 02:09:15,260
It would not be a fee for one or two or five, you know,

1419
02:09:15,480 --> 02:09:18,600
it would be one flat pay, which would make it a lot easier too.

1420
02:09:19,120 --> 02:09:19,880
It's just an idea.

1421
02:09:22,550 --> 02:09:23,210
Thank you.

1422
02:09:23,790 --> 02:09:24,350
Councilor Latino?

1423
02:09:24,790 --> 02:09:27,310
Yes, I agree with Councilwoman Dante.

1424
02:09:30,500 --> 02:09:35,160
What they're doing, and again, it's, I find a lot of them

1425
02:09:35,160 --> 02:09:35,820
in my district,

1426
02:09:38,390 --> 02:09:40,010
the homeless are using a lot of them,

1427
02:09:40,990 --> 02:09:44,030
and they just say the vendor just says,

1428
02:09:44,030 --> 02:09:51,430
okay well we'll make it up with the cost of the item from the good people that come in and buy

1429
02:09:51,430 --> 02:09:57,190
the goods and pay for them so they make up the they make up the loss through the good vendors that

1430
02:09:57,190 --> 02:09:59,910
come up to excuse me through the good good customers it

1431
02:10:00,000 --> 02:10:27,980
Come in, pay their bills, and walk out. The price is just go up. So, again, I agree with Councilwoman Dante. Councilor Boston. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. Hayes, can you tell me exactly what it would cost for recuperation of carts for the business? You're talking about what it costs the city to recover and return carts for a cost for a shopping cart. How much it would cost the business to recoup them from the city?

1432
02:10:29,300 --> 02:10:34,160
Well, it depends, so there's three components to the fee schedule as proposed.

1433
02:10:34,600 --> 02:10:38,420
There's just an initial impoundment fee that's $35 per cart.

1434
02:10:38,920 --> 02:10:45,660
That's, again, supposed to help offset the cost for city staff and equipment used to go collect those.

1435
02:10:46,180 --> 02:10:50,740
There's a $2 per day impoundment or storage fee that's on there.

1436
02:10:50,740 --> 02:10:59,040
And then there's, I believe it's a $15 per cart disposal fee if it's held more than the 30 days.

1437
02:10:59,800 --> 02:11:06,840
So that fee collectively would be capped at $95 per cart because the $2 per day fee would stop

1438
02:11:07,340 --> 02:11:08,820
crewing at the end of that 30 day period.

1439
02:11:09,120 --> 02:11:12,940
But it gives stores enough time to also be able to come back and collect their carts, so it depends.

1440
02:11:14,160 --> 02:11:17,700
A, there's initial fee when it gets picked up, but if they're prompting, picking them up,

1441
02:11:17,700 --> 02:11:22,060
those fees can be kept to a minimum, $35, $37 for the next day, that kind of thing.

1442
02:11:22,700 --> 02:11:31,080
So, it varies, but the fees could be relatively low for vendors who are interested in seeing their cards return to them.

1443
02:11:31,500 --> 02:11:34,420
And is there any way to get the fees waived by the businesses?

1444
02:11:34,800 --> 02:11:38,840
So currently, in the underlying ordinance, this isn't in the resolution, but in the underlying ordinance,

1445
02:11:39,040 --> 02:11:43,980
there is a grace period that is set up that will expire at the end of this year.

1446
02:11:44,500 --> 02:11:50,740
But that grace period allows those retailers to be able to present a shopping cart management

1447
02:11:50,740 --> 02:11:51,560
plan.

1448
02:11:51,960 --> 02:11:56,240
Essentially, they just need to address how are they trying to keep shopping carts from

1449
02:11:56,240 --> 02:11:56,940
leaving their property?

1450
02:11:57,040 --> 02:11:58,480
They're doing something actively to do so.

1451
02:11:59,100 --> 02:12:01,320
Many places just don't even have any kind of system at all.

1452
02:12:02,120 --> 02:12:06,700
But that shopping cart system management plan does not make any minimum specific requirements

1453
02:12:06,700 --> 02:12:10,220
that doesn't have to be some fancy electronic locking system.

1454
02:12:10,220 --> 02:12:18,620
It doesn't have to be some high-tech thing that keeps the carts from leaving the premises, the permit, right?

1455
02:12:19,480 --> 02:12:23,180
I think those are systems that might work, but they can also be very expensive and

1456
02:12:23,180 --> 02:12:27,680
it might only be economically viable for a retailer with a large number of carts.

1457
02:12:29,640 --> 02:12:33,840
But it could be something as simple as locking up the carts and

1458
02:12:33,840 --> 02:12:36,280
preventing them from leaving the property when they're not in use.

1459
02:12:36,280 --> 02:12:43,380
for actively employing staff to go collect the cards before they're taken off the property.

1460
02:12:43,620 --> 02:12:44,960
So there's a number of ways that that could be addressed.

1461
02:12:45,460 --> 02:12:49,500
Currently, that provision expires on December 31st.

1462
02:12:49,680 --> 02:12:55,500
So that's not the subject of this resolution, but it could be something that Council could

1463
02:12:55,500 --> 02:13:00,280
consider if that was directed to extend that grace period that something we could bring forward

1464
02:13:00,280 --> 02:13:01,640
if Council wanted to see that.

1465
02:13:02,460 --> 02:13:08,040
So Council could potentially, if we see them actively trying to put, you know, the locking

1466
02:13:08,040 --> 02:13:11,540
mechanisms or lock them up a night or have somebody running up more often, maybe the

1467
02:13:11,540 --> 02:13:14,740
fees could potentially even be waived if we gave direction to do so.

1468
02:13:15,080 --> 02:13:15,360
That's correct.

1469
02:13:15,560 --> 02:13:20,480
We could bring forward an ordinance to amend the current code and then the ordinance is in

1470
02:13:20,480 --> 02:13:25,820
place to shape this the way you'd like to see it come forward, just the way that it's considered

1471
02:13:25,820 --> 02:13:26,360
right now.

1472
02:13:26,560 --> 02:13:30,520
It is simply, if fee schedule needs to be implemented, so that's what this particular

1473
02:13:30,520 --> 02:13:31,260
resolutions about.

1474
02:13:31,780 --> 02:13:34,760
And what is the proximate ballpark cost of a cart?

1475
02:13:35,500 --> 02:13:40,260
I'm sure they vary, but we've seen anywhere from $400 to $600 a cart, so there's a significant

1476
02:13:40,260 --> 02:13:45,420
amount of money that leaves the retailers when they lose a cart too.

1477
02:13:46,020 --> 02:13:50,240
So in many ways it's in their interest to also employ some kind of shopping cart management

1478
02:13:50,240 --> 02:13:51,340
strategies of some kind.

1479
02:13:51,800 --> 02:13:56,940
So then getting carts stolen and not getting carts back would probably be more expensive to buy

1480
02:13:56,940 --> 02:13:58,960
I knew one than try to retrieve their cards.

1481
02:13:59,460 --> 02:14:01,560
So those more expensive costs might be passed on.

1482
02:14:01,820 --> 02:14:03,300
That's probably true.

1483
02:14:03,580 --> 02:14:06,480
I understand that some retailers do file claims with insurance

1484
02:14:06,480 --> 02:14:09,980
and those sorts of things, particularly those that lose lots of cards.

1485
02:14:10,720 --> 02:14:15,240
But again, those are losses that they pay premiums for,

1486
02:14:15,400 --> 02:14:17,220
and those premiums are passed through to consumers as well.

1487
02:14:17,400 --> 02:14:26,660
So either way, I think consumers are taking a hit whether there are city imposed processes here,

1488
02:14:26,660 --> 02:14:32,620
or if retailers just aren't doing anything to try to stop the cards from leaving in the first place.

1489
02:14:33,580 --> 02:14:35,120
Thank you. Thanks.

1490
02:14:35,440 --> 02:14:36,700
I think we'll get a little clarity.

1491
02:14:37,180 --> 02:14:39,320
Councillor Gomez. A little clarity on something.

1492
02:14:39,500 --> 02:14:48,240
If it's a $95 hit and I own a grocery store, from point A to point B to the $95, how many days are we talking to it?

1493
02:14:48,480 --> 02:14:51,440
Including the $2 fee, whatever, how many days is that?

1494
02:14:51,820 --> 02:14:53,900
That's the 30 days, so.

1495
02:14:53,900 --> 02:14:59,880
That's 30 days, so we're going to get a $95 hit for 30 days if it was it was collected 35

1496
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:24,980
$30, then $2 per day for the storage fee. And if it's held all the way through that 30 days, then another $15 for us to dispose of it. If they come to pick it up, the fees would obviously stop accruing the data, it came to get it. So it could be less than that significantly. The $35 would be the initial fee though for us to collect and, you know, you staff and equipment again to collect those cards and bring them to the storage area.

1497
02:15:24,980 --> 02:15:31,740
Do you have an average in reference to how many cards are stolen in fair weather, hot weather, cold weather?

1498
02:15:32,360 --> 02:15:36,640
Is that, it's got a very somewhat, I can imagine the mail, wouldn't it ain't going to do when you're doing a lot of that?

1499
02:15:36,820 --> 02:15:39,180
But do you have any numbers like that you've broken out?

1500
02:15:39,420 --> 02:15:43,940
I have not, not explicitly, those are a good point to you, right?

1501
02:15:44,080 --> 02:15:46,980
I mean, the fee schedule is set by resolution.

1502
02:15:47,420 --> 02:15:52,980
And if the fee schedule turns out that this is not meant to be a penalty,

1503
02:15:52,980 --> 02:15:58,840
It's meant to offset the cost that the city is incurring for managing this program and taking care of these issues.

1504
02:16:02,100 --> 02:16:09,800
If we find that it's costing less than the fees coming in to manage the shopping cars we're collecting,

1505
02:16:10,220 --> 02:16:14,960
we can bring a amendment forward to also reduce the fee schedule back to offset these costs.

1506
02:16:15,140 --> 02:16:17,180
But it's meant to, again, offset costs.

1507
02:16:17,180 --> 02:16:33,420
not as a penalty, you know, has, I think in a secondary effect of nudging retailers in the right way to achieve a benefit of not having these cars leave the property, but it's not its intent.

1508
02:16:33,560 --> 02:16:37,720
It's simply meant to help pay for the services that are being provided by city staff.

1509
02:16:39,440 --> 02:16:45,560
I'm just, well, I'm just struggling with this because I don't know how to make the corporate

1510
02:16:45,560 --> 02:16:50,120
folks a little bit more responsible and take this seriously and I don't know what your

1511
02:16:50,120 --> 02:16:50,660
numbers are.

1512
02:16:50,820 --> 02:16:54,220
I mean, I don't know 14 carts in one location.

1513
02:16:54,900 --> 02:16:59,760
The carts that they have to use now, they've gone from that metal, which are about 600

1514
02:17:00,260 --> 02:17:03,100
to the hybrid cart that's plastic on top and the metal on the bottom.

1515
02:17:03,420 --> 02:17:05,560
Those are about 350, okay.

1516
02:17:05,560 --> 02:17:10,600
Okay, so I'm just wondering, is there an answer to this or we're just saying the other

1517
02:17:10,600 --> 02:17:14,760
thing is that a homeless person I spoke with said, and I don't know, I haven't tried

1518
02:17:14,760 --> 02:17:20,880
yet, I'm not homeless yet, but I'm getting there, I'm just wondering, they said to me, if

1519
02:17:20,880 --> 02:17:26,920
you take the car, one guy gets on one end, the guy gets in and they lift it up, the ones

1520
02:17:26,920 --> 02:17:32,320
that stop when you're outside, you can't go any further, they can trigger that by taking

1521
02:17:32,320 --> 02:17:35,360
it and moving it and then the problem solved. Have you heard that?

1522
02:17:35,980 --> 02:17:40,260
I am sure there are some systems that people can work around, right?

1523
02:17:40,360 --> 02:17:40,780
That's what I'm thinking.

1524
02:17:40,780 --> 02:17:42,120
We have a lot of mechanics in Pueblo.

1525
02:17:42,740 --> 02:17:45,260
Well, I'm just trying to see how do we solve this. It's a tough one.

1526
02:17:45,680 --> 02:17:46,640
But, okay, that's all I had.

1527
02:17:46,760 --> 02:17:46,980
Thank you.

1528
02:17:47,020 --> 02:17:52,980
One piece of your point here, or one case in point you asked, or I guess, how many carts do

1529
02:17:52,980 --> 02:17:57,060
we pick up? And it varies wildly. Sometimes it's just one in the middle of the street or

1530
02:17:57,060 --> 02:18:01,900
on the side of the road or in an alley. But frequently, particularly in areas where in

1531
02:18:01,900 --> 02:18:07,080
campments have been an issue, long-fountain creek, for instance, we will find sometimes

1532
02:18:07,080 --> 02:18:12,140
hundreds. And so this, the cost of us, I guess, collecting this and the equipment needed

1533
02:18:12,140 --> 02:18:18,380
to get back there and go collect them and strap them down and make multiple trips, it

1534
02:18:18,380 --> 02:18:22,820
can vary wildly. And so just loading up one shopping cart in the back of a pickup truck

1535
02:18:22,820 --> 02:18:27,600
is one thing. But sometimes, again, we're talking about hundreds of carts that are stacked

1536
02:18:27,600 --> 02:18:35,520
It can vary from case to case, but the city's not collecting their paying the service for somebody to know the city's doing it 100%

1537
02:18:35,520 --> 02:18:42,300
These what we're talking about here is if the city collects collect shopping carts that are if we get a call from a citizen

1538
02:18:42,300 --> 02:18:44,020
There's a shopping cart in my alley

1539
02:18:45,020 --> 02:18:55,520
You know do they need to dispose of it? It's not theirs, right? So we would be collecting it under this ordinance and impounding or impounding and starting to collect fees on that based on the schedules here

1540
02:18:55,520 --> 02:19:12,280
And if it's one cart and it's relatively straightforward, if it's lots and lots of carts down by found creek or in other areas of town where I came into the inner issue again, that's a lot of equipment and manhours and time getting those things collected and hauled to the storage place and then processing that.

1541
02:19:12,680 --> 02:19:19,220
Do we have any other communities that you've looked at similar size, similar budget that I've dealing with this and they've seen a reduction in it?

1542
02:19:20,580 --> 02:19:22,060
We're going to try to do it.

1543
02:19:22,140 --> 02:19:22,880
Do we know that yet?

1544
02:19:23,560 --> 02:19:26,880
I don't, I can't speak to the effectiveness of those programs.

1545
02:19:28,660 --> 02:19:35,880
I feel like this fee schedule, again, is, it has two effects.

1546
02:19:36,660 --> 02:19:38,940
One, of course, is, again, the offset that cost I can talk about.

1547
02:19:39,140 --> 02:19:48,800
The other is, again, it incentivizes store owners to help spend some of that money that they might incur in these fees.

1548
02:19:48,800 --> 02:19:55,060
on the development of plans and shopping cart management systems or other things to keep those cars in.

1549
02:19:55,240 --> 02:19:59,640
So, it's hard to say what the effectiveness will be until it's implemented and in.

1550
02:20:00,620 --> 02:20:07,520
There are a number of cities that have various types of measures. You know, big cities, smaller cities,

1551
02:20:08,080 --> 02:20:14,880
just mentioned, for instance, Kansas City has an ordinance. So there's a number of ways to do this,

1552
02:20:14,940 --> 02:20:20,220
but many have fees. Many have fees that are much, much higher than what's been proposed. That $35

1553
02:20:20,220 --> 02:20:25,080
dollar impoundment fee is kind of in the middle of what I've seen out there and they vary

1554
02:20:25,080 --> 02:20:34,000
from 25 to $80 or so, right? This $35 that wasn't based on what I see out there, it's

1555
02:20:34,000 --> 02:20:39,020
based on what I've tried to perceive it may be an average of staff time and equipment spent

1556
02:20:39,020 --> 02:20:42,020
to go collect and bring those carts back into storage.

1557
02:20:43,340 --> 02:20:47,540
So do you have a shopping cart team sort of like the graffiti team? I mean is that what

1558
02:20:47,540 --> 02:20:53,640
have? It's the same. What would happen if they had somebody that's got a cart and it's not

1559
02:20:54,280 --> 02:20:57,900
sparse them where, but they see somebody with it, how does that work?

1560
02:20:58,420 --> 02:21:03,400
So we're not out wrestling carts out of people's hands, but we find abandoned carts frequently,

1561
02:21:03,580 --> 02:21:07,680
right? People call about abandoned carts on their property. And so those are the kinds of scenarios

1562
02:21:07,680 --> 02:21:15,520
that primarily code enforcement and stormwater public works, the infrastructure departments may find.

1563
02:21:15,520 --> 02:21:19,480
So, these are the kinds of cases in which we are collecting those cards typically.

1564
02:21:20,600 --> 02:21:27,080
The ordinance has separately tools available to the police department for those who are

1565
02:21:27,080 --> 02:21:30,220
defacing or damaging cards or taking cards off properties.

1566
02:21:31,040 --> 02:21:31,720
Those are different.

1567
02:21:32,040 --> 02:21:37,530
Those are handled under the separate part of the ordinance.

1568
02:21:38,030 --> 02:21:42,470
This is simply if we find abandoned shopping cards, there's a process and a fee schedule to

1569
02:21:42,470 --> 02:21:44,550
help offset the cost of managing that.

1570
02:21:44,550 --> 02:21:46,570
Have you had a story refuse to take the cart back?

1571
02:21:47,870 --> 02:21:49,170
I have heard that.

1572
02:21:49,550 --> 02:21:50,250
I have to.

1573
02:21:50,670 --> 02:21:56,210
But I will say that even myself, when I've found carts and

1574
02:21:56,210 --> 02:22:01,410
when we're able to toss them in the back of the truck and take them back to Target, Walmart, Sam's, whoever, right.

1575
02:22:02,670 --> 02:22:05,990
Usually I just put it right back in the shopping cart stall, because that's where they came from.

1576
02:22:06,850 --> 02:22:12,310
So I've done that, but that's not practical to do when we're talking about hundreds and

1577
02:22:12,310 --> 02:22:13,850
hundreds of carts from all over the city.

1578
02:22:14,670 --> 02:22:20,250
This puts a little bit on us, like you said, some accountability for the stores and the retailers.

1579
02:22:20,870 --> 02:22:24,270
It puts a little bit of skin in the game to help kind of prevent this problem from happening.

1580
02:22:24,650 --> 02:22:27,130
So I think that's an important element of what this structure brings.

1581
02:22:28,050 --> 02:22:28,450
Thank you.

1582
02:22:28,730 --> 02:22:29,910
Thank you.

1583
02:22:30,250 --> 02:22:39,570
And so this is, you know, for me this is the most bizarre conversation we've ever had in the history of City Council.

1584
02:22:39,570 --> 02:22:43,930
And I'm

1585
02:22:48,380 --> 02:22:50,920
going to say it and then I'll get off that horse.

1586
02:22:52,260 --> 02:23:01,040
It is incredulous that somebody steals somebody's property and then we're going to charge

1587
02:23:01,040 --> 02:23:03,620
them because somebody stole their property.

1588
02:23:05,160 --> 02:23:10,160
I think sometimes the best answers are the simplest answers.

1589
02:23:10,160 --> 02:23:17,160
Every single person that's walking down the street with a shopping cart is in possession of stolen property.

1590
02:23:18,640 --> 02:23:26,340
Why don't we enforce our laws that you're in, if these carts cost $3,000 or $3,000 or whatever,

1591
02:23:26,900 --> 02:23:35,600
somebody has stolen property and it's guaranteed that they didn't buy the cart, right?

1592
02:23:35,600 --> 02:23:37,660
Okay? And that it's not their property.

1593
02:23:39,360 --> 02:23:46,620
Maybe we can reduce the amount of cards that are out there if we actively enforce the

1594
02:23:46,620 --> 02:23:50,640
laws that say you cannot be in receipt of stolen property.

1595
02:23:51,120 --> 02:23:53,160
It just does not make sense to me.

1596
02:23:53,700 --> 02:23:57,080
It never will to go back and charge the business.

1597
02:23:58,560 --> 02:24:02,100
Any kind of money because they got it stolen from them.

1598
02:24:03,280 --> 02:24:06,840
There's no argument that anybody can make to make me think any different.

1599
02:24:09,520 --> 02:24:14,640
I've just never heard of anything like this, but Councillor Boston.

1600
02:24:14,960 --> 02:24:15,440
Thank you, Mr. President.

1601
02:24:15,700 --> 02:24:20,740
I just wanted to speak to Councilman Gomez's question on the effectiveness of this.

1602
02:24:20,860 --> 02:24:27,300
I can speak for my personal experience prior to the mitigation plan or resolution passing.

1603
02:24:27,960 --> 02:24:42,880
I used to have a plethora of shopping carts near my business that were stolen or put in the ditch near my business that were stolen, and since this has been implemented that number has dropped to next to zero, and I used to have 25, 30 a month or more.

1604
02:24:43,440 --> 02:24:53,420
So I do think there is some effectiveness of asking businesses to put forth these plans, and I've seen it personally, I see less of them out there in the community myself, but that's just my personal experience.

1605
02:24:53,420 --> 02:24:56,340
So I do think that the plans have been effective.

1606
02:24:56,740 --> 02:24:58,440
Anybody else, Councillor Hernandez?

1607
02:24:58,680 --> 02:24:59,980
Just what is-

1608
02:25:00,000 --> 02:25:29,280
As the maximum amount, a billion-dollar corporation would have to pay to get their carts returned. So the maximum amount for a cart on the first cart would be $95. If they left the cart and if we collected a cart and we stored it for 30 days and we got to the end and dispose of it, $95. On their fourth or more cart, there's a $50 surcharge as well. So those are the repeat offenders, so to speak, the way the fee schedule set. So if, again, we've got four in a rolling 30-day period.

1609
02:25:30,080 --> 02:25:34,840
then that that fourth or more cart would be subject to the additional search charge.

1610
02:25:35,000 --> 02:25:42,000
Okay, so if I'm the owner of Roger Mart, and I've got a bunch of carts to make it even more ridiculous.

1611
02:25:43,140 --> 02:25:49,300
And I've got a dozen carts that have been stolen from me and you come to me and say you owe me for a dozen carts.

1612
02:25:49,880 --> 02:25:54,640
What's to keep you from saying I gave those carts away, they don't belong to me, I give them away.

1613
02:25:54,640 --> 02:25:54,680
Okay.

1614
02:25:56,060 --> 02:25:56,540
Sure.

1615
02:25:56,680 --> 02:25:59,180
I suppose that that could be something that happens.

1616
02:26:00,200 --> 02:26:01,120
There are-

1617
02:26:01,120 --> 02:26:01,940
You're welcome, everybody.

1618
02:26:02,140 --> 02:26:02,740
Thank you.

1619
02:26:03,180 --> 02:26:03,400
What was that?

1620
02:26:03,880 --> 02:26:05,060
So-

1621
02:26:05,680 --> 02:26:08,620
In general, I mean, the carts are pretty well marked on who's there.

1622
02:26:08,760 --> 02:26:08,860
Sure.

1623
02:26:09,080 --> 02:26:14,680
And if somebody's giving away their property and selling it, generally most companies, when they sell

1624
02:26:14,680 --> 02:26:20,580
off vehicles, equipment, they remove their branding because they don't want their brand

1625
02:26:20,580 --> 02:26:22,400
out there associated with litter in the streets.

1626
02:26:22,400 --> 02:26:28,400
I'm going to say that I can't guarantee that Target, Walmart, Sam's, whoever, right,

1627
02:26:28,540 --> 02:26:33,460
Home Depot would always remove that and it's pretty obvious when you see a red plastic

1628
02:26:33,460 --> 02:26:35,380
shopping cart from over that one cable, right?

1629
02:26:36,360 --> 02:26:39,540
Even if they removed their branding, I think that would still be tough to do.

1630
02:26:39,720 --> 02:26:47,420
But you're right, if somebody, if Target came to me and said, for instance, that we gave

1631
02:26:47,420 --> 02:26:51,440
away these carts, these are not our carts anymore, we'd just be disposing of those carts.

1632
02:26:51,440 --> 02:26:54,520
But again, this is now a burden that the public is picking up.

1633
02:26:54,680 --> 02:26:54,880
Correct.

1634
02:26:55,240 --> 02:26:58,220
And so it's not just the retailers that are affected.

1635
02:26:58,380 --> 02:27:00,120
It's the rest of the businesses that are picking up.

1636
02:27:00,740 --> 02:27:01,360
Thank you.

1637
02:27:03,440 --> 02:27:04,860
Okay, Councillor Latino.

1638
02:27:05,160 --> 02:27:05,740
Thank you.

1639
02:27:07,540 --> 02:27:12,660
I, again, Mr. Hayes and the public works are trying to clean up

1640
02:27:12,660 --> 02:27:15,020
the mess in this community, okay?

1641
02:27:15,840 --> 02:27:19,660
I can't emphasize enough the cleanliness

1642
02:27:19,660 --> 02:27:21,600
of this community growing up.

1643
02:27:22,880 --> 02:27:24,060
And we're not helping people by

1644
02:27:24,060 --> 02:27:25,440
allowing them to steal things.

1645
02:27:25,940 --> 02:27:27,280
That's not what this is all about.

1646
02:27:28,880 --> 02:27:29,220
Okay?

1647
02:27:30,780 --> 02:27:33,420
So, again, when you're on the streets

1648
02:27:33,420 --> 02:27:35,480
at night and I'm on the streets

1649
02:27:35,480 --> 02:27:37,080
at night and you see them walking

1650
02:27:37,080 --> 02:27:39,360
around with the carts from targets

1651
02:27:39,360 --> 02:27:42,400
or Walmart or wherever, again,

1652
02:27:42,800 --> 02:27:44,840
we're not helping by enabling.

1653
02:27:45,920 --> 02:27:47,740
And so I think we need to support

1654
02:27:47,740 --> 02:27:54,540
court, what he has come up with in terms of a plan, and we need to support it wholeheartedly.

1655
02:27:55,120 --> 02:27:56,740
We need to clean this community up.

1656
02:27:58,770 --> 02:28:02,490
Okay, nothing else, let's call for the vote.

1657
02:28:21,100 --> 02:28:22,100
Pass us five to two.

1658
02:28:23,180 --> 02:28:26,260
Mr. Clerk, let's go to item Q6.

1659
02:28:27,340 --> 02:28:32,300
Item Q6, the resolution transferring $232,369.

1660
02:28:32,300 --> 02:28:56,260
$1.13 from Project CI2113, City of Puebla wastewater infrastructure, West 11th Street to West 21st Street, and $396,450.56 from Project CI2113, City of Puebla wastewater infrastructure, Northern Avenue sewer, with $25,000 to be transferred from Project CI2113.

1661
02:28:58,040 --> 02:29:10,480
central renovations and the remainder to project C.I. 2113 neighborhood trash cleanup as an expansion of the program services consistent with the U.S. Treasury S. L. F. R. F. Guidance.

1662
02:29:11,220 --> 02:29:12,880
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

1663
02:29:12,880 --> 02:29:30,680
However, high council mayor, the resolution before you transfers from two wastewater ARPA infrastructure projects that came in under budget and had unused funds.

1664
02:29:31,380 --> 02:29:42,700
Per the treasuries guidance, we can transfer this excess to existing projects that were obligated prior to

1665
02:29:42,700 --> 02:29:45,280
December 31st, 2024.

1666
02:29:46,540 --> 02:29:58,080
Within some other parameters also, this resolution transfers 25,000 for cost.

1667
02:30:02,880 --> 02:30:30,020
Overruns at the L-central renovation and the remainder is transferred to the neighborhood trash cleanup project, which is in the qualified census tracks, painting any questions that concludes my report. Thank you for that report. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Councillor Gomez, is there a second? Second.

1668
02:30:30,020 --> 02:30:34,440
Councillor Dante, any questions? Councillor Dante.

1669
02:30:35,740 --> 02:30:42,600
So with all this mind being transferred, will that close out to our bid count?

1670
02:30:45,460 --> 02:30:56,210
So there are a few projects out there still that are active and open that are still awaiting

1671
02:30:56,210 --> 02:31:00,310
completion but this is one step closer.

1672
02:31:00,310 --> 02:31:08,530
Councillor. Okay. And one happens if there's arpanmaning left over that wasn't obligated

1673
02:31:08,530 --> 02:31:13,330
back in before December 31st of 2024. We're going to send it back.

1674
02:31:13,670 --> 02:31:15,290
Thank you.

1675
02:31:17,950 --> 02:31:21,690
Councillor Gomez. I'm sorry. Councillor Latina.

1676
02:31:21,990 --> 02:31:24,330
I'm sorry. It's call for the vote.

1677
02:31:35,750 --> 02:31:39,370
Passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, we now move to ordinances. Final

1678
02:31:39,370 --> 02:31:41,450
No presentation, item R1.

1679
02:31:41,750 --> 02:32:09,350
Item R1, an ordinance approval and an accept in the grant funding agreement and all applicable conditions pertaining there to from the Colorado Auto-Theft Prevention Authority, CAPTA relating to the Beat Auto-Theft Through Law Enforcement Battle Team is establishing Project PS-2605 budgeting and appropriating funds to Project PS-2605 and authorizing the mayor to execute same introduced August 10th, 2026 by Councillor Salina Ruiz.

1680
02:32:09,970 --> 02:32:11,750
Thank you, Mr. Clark, we have a staff report.

1681
02:32:12,490 --> 02:32:13,010
Thank you, sir.

1682
02:32:13,670 --> 02:32:17,330
Gave me the President of the A.L.F. members of the Council, Mayor Graham and staff.

1683
02:32:18,210 --> 02:32:20,670
And with me tonight, I have Captain Centeno Oliva.

1684
02:32:20,910 --> 02:32:23,670
He's the captain over our Criminal Investigations Division.

1685
02:32:24,530 --> 02:32:27,850
And in the audience behind me, I have Director Robert Fores.

1686
02:32:28,070 --> 02:32:30,110
He's from the Colorado out of the prevention authority.

1687
02:32:30,750 --> 02:32:32,770
And so we're all here to answer your questions if you have any.

1688
02:32:34,330 --> 02:32:36,570
Okay, so this ordinance approves and accepts a grant.

1689
02:32:36,570 --> 02:32:43,030
funding agreement from the Colorado Out-of-the-Thief Prevention Authority for a statewide battle team.

1690
02:32:43,610 --> 02:32:50,190
Under the city's existing three-year MOU, the police department has been awarded $125,000, $59,

1691
02:32:50,610 --> 02:32:57,110
effective July 1st of this year to support overtime costs for out-of-the-thief investigations and enforcement.

1692
02:32:57,890 --> 02:33:02,770
This ordinance formally establishes Project PS2605 and

1693
02:33:02,770 --> 02:33:04,990
and budgets and appropriates the grant funds accordingly.

1694
02:33:05,690 --> 02:33:10,250
The approval also authorizes the mayor to execute the agreement and associated conditions.

1695
02:33:11,470 --> 02:33:19,050
For some background, the police department has consistently received KAPA grant funding since 2009 as of 17 years ago.

1696
02:33:19,790 --> 02:33:24,550
The state funds are shared statewide among multiple law enforcement agencies and

1697
02:33:24,550 --> 02:33:27,230
supported through the formal MOU that I just referenced.

1698
02:33:27,230 --> 02:33:32,990
The battle task force uses these funds to prevent and reduce auto theft by conducting coordinated

1699
02:33:32,990 --> 02:33:39,350
intelligence driven operations, sharing information across jurisdictions, and improving the storm

1700
02:33:39,350 --> 02:33:43,910
vehicle recoveries and officer arrests, the Finder arrests, excuse me.

1701
02:33:45,090 --> 02:33:50,290
Ground funds must be used in accordance with cap-plots just for the year 27 award requirements

1702
02:33:50,290 --> 02:33:51,170
under this project.

1703
02:33:52,790 --> 02:34:00,130
For the 2025 and 2026 to 2026 grant cycle, our battle team has recovered 165 stolen vehicles

1704
02:34:00,650 --> 02:34:05,530
at a value of almost $1.5 million and made 163 arrests.

1705
02:34:06,510 --> 02:34:14,030
Here today, out of the, the problem was down 11% from 2019 and 38% since last year.

1706
02:34:14,850 --> 02:34:19,570
Two weeks ago, just for an example, they arrested a seven-time felon and he was one of our

1707
02:34:19,570 --> 02:34:28,490
Our former Safe Streets, one of the persons who's in a stolen car, they chased him on foot into a local residence.

1708
02:34:28,930 --> 02:34:32,930
They got him into custody, and then they found an AK-47 inside the vehicle.

1709
02:34:34,050 --> 02:34:38,670
That vehicle, or that person now is being considered by the federal government to take him and

1710
02:34:38,670 --> 02:34:40,670
charge him with federal crimes.

1711
02:34:42,130 --> 02:34:46,690
So that's what we're doing here, this is not a license plate reader ordinance.

1712
02:34:46,690 --> 02:34:50,390
This is just funding for overtime to deal with out-of-theft.

1713
02:34:50,870 --> 02:34:59,390
So like I said, we have been doing since 2020, 2009, and so that concludes my report, and I will accept any questions you have.

1714
02:35:00,000 --> 02:35:16,280
Thank you for that report. I want to remind everybody that this is a public hearing. Is there anyone here wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance? Saying none. Is there anyone here wishing to speak against this ordinance? Come on down. But you guys let him sit there, please.

1715
02:35:32,160 --> 02:35:34,540
If you just give him to the clerk, he'll pass them out.

1716
02:35:51,480 --> 02:35:57,800
Please just state your name and start. Hello, city council. My name is Devon Flores.

1717
02:35:57,800 --> 02:36:08,380
I know that the folks who are just presenting said that this is not a surveillance camera situation,

1718
02:36:08,860 --> 02:36:17,080
but the fact of the matter is that this grant does include a requirement that the city

1719
02:36:17,840 --> 02:36:27,380
continue to cooperate with larger ALPR systems, that's part of what this program includes,

1720
02:36:28,200 --> 02:36:30,820
which is why that's what I'm going to be talking about today.

1721
02:36:31,180 --> 02:36:35,240
I'm not necessarily saying that I like car theft, I don't.

1722
02:36:35,960 --> 02:36:43,400
What I'm saying is that there have been many cases over the years, not just in public, but

1723
02:36:43,400 --> 02:36:49,580
in hundreds of municipalities across the country, where ALPRs and that kind of surveillance

1724
02:36:49,580 --> 02:36:58,060
is snuck into grants, into street improvement funds and things of that nature.

1725
02:36:58,740 --> 02:37:04,940
This is not by far not the most egregious example, it's just the most recent one.

1726
02:37:06,260 --> 02:37:11,240
So with that in mind, I have a couple of very important questions that I think that a lot

1727
02:37:11,240 --> 02:37:26,480
A lot of us in this room and a lot of people in Pueblo want to see answered before the city commits to continuing to work with ALPR companies and continuing to allow them to surveil our streets.

1728
02:37:27,080 --> 02:37:39,540
These are private corporations, not public entities, so holding them accountable for what they do with this information and how they collect it is much more difficult than holding law enforcement accountable.

1729
02:37:39,540 --> 02:37:53,500
And the fact, the most common thing that people keep saying and we hear echoes of this whenever this conversation is brought up, people say if you have nothing to hide, if you're not committing crimes, why are you afraid of these cameras?

1730
02:37:54,120 --> 02:37:57,940
If you have nothing to hide, why do the police need a warrant to enter your house?

1731
02:37:58,500 --> 02:38:07,780
If you have nothing to hide, how come the police need a warrant to surveil your, to tap your phones or to listen in on your conversations?

1732
02:38:07,780 --> 02:38:30,540
These are basic rights and allowing them to be eroded in the name of public safety is very, very dangerous and should be considered with extreme scrutiny, especially given some of the information that comes out about these ALPRs every single day in this country.

1733
02:38:30,540 --> 02:38:36,460
It was brought up earlier by Council Member Gomez, how there are several criminal cases

1734
02:38:36,460 --> 02:38:43,740
in which not just law enforcement but employees of these companies used these cameras to stock

1735
02:38:43,740 --> 02:38:45,680
and spy on people that they know.

1736
02:38:46,460 --> 02:38:49,860
That is a huge breach of privacy.

1737
02:38:50,740 --> 02:38:59,240
And the city at this time does not have guardrails in place, systems in place to hold these

1738
02:38:59,240 --> 02:39:01,820
companies accountable when something bad happens.

1739
02:39:02,720 --> 02:39:08,100
And the justification is consistently that, we're using these to solve so many crimes,

1740
02:39:08,160 --> 02:39:10,880
we're using these to recover so many stolen vehicles.

1741
02:39:11,400 --> 02:39:18,620
I have pulled data from the FBI, from the information that the city of public provides to the FBI

1742
02:39:18,620 --> 02:39:22,920
every single month about such crimes.

1743
02:39:23,500 --> 02:39:27,260
And so since the ones we talked about most recently, could I get the presentation?

1744
02:39:27,500 --> 02:39:28,140
Is that possible?

1745
02:39:29,540 --> 02:39:32,640
We talked about vehicle thefts.

1746
02:39:33,100 --> 02:39:38,300
So vehicle theft is by and large, oh,

1747
02:39:41,250 --> 02:39:42,730
I'll figure it out eventually.

1748
02:39:43,150 --> 02:39:48,310
So vehicle theft is down, but only relative to this massive spike.

1749
02:39:49,010 --> 02:39:53,710
I'm like, yes, it's important that we fight this massive spike, but what was going on back

1750
02:39:53,710 --> 02:39:57,450
here that was keeping vehicle theft down, because it wasn't these cameras.

1751
02:39:57,450 --> 02:39:59,430
These cameras didn't exist.

1752
02:40:00,000 --> 02:40:28,860
10 or 15 years ago, the technology for them did not exist. And furthermore, when we look at the percent of these vehicle thefts that are being solved, that number is also down and has not significantly changed in the last four or five years since the city started using these cameras. And that is a pattern that you see consistently municipality to municipality across this country. These companies, like FROC, they advertise to

1753
02:40:28,860 --> 02:40:36,280
cities like ours to pray upon our concerns and our anxieties in order to make money.

1754
02:40:36,520 --> 02:40:45,020
They make money off of us and they make money selling our data and training their AI robots to scan for cars.

1755
02:40:45,560 --> 02:40:49,960
And learn different things about how normal people on the street behave.

1756
02:40:50,200 --> 02:40:55,360
That information has value and we trust that they're going to hold to a contract.

1757
02:40:55,360 --> 02:40:59,280
Even if the contract says that they have to delete this information,

1758
02:40:59,460 --> 02:41:01,700
what's the fine for breaking the contract?

1759
02:41:02,000 --> 02:41:05,120
Probably a lot less than the money they make by breaking the contract.

1760
02:41:06,220 --> 02:41:08,440
So how can we trust these companies?

1761
02:41:08,920 --> 02:41:09,420
Thank you, sir.

1762
02:41:09,880 --> 02:41:10,140
Thank you.

1763
02:41:10,640 --> 02:41:13,560
Is there anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance?

1764
02:41:17,660 --> 02:41:18,240
I know the drill.

1765
02:41:19,740 --> 02:41:20,720
That was Martinez.

1766
02:41:21,380 --> 02:41:23,740
So I know this is a question-and-answer portion.

1767
02:41:23,980 --> 02:41:27,740
So a question and then I hope the answer is no for you guys.

1768
02:41:27,740 --> 02:41:31,500
Raise your hand if you had a car ever stolen.

1769
02:41:37,020 --> 02:41:44,800
So, back in January, a car of mine was stolen, and I talked to Mr. Olieven and several other officers.

1770
02:41:45,440 --> 02:41:50,420
And it wasn't even found by PD, it was found by State Patrol, that you pull, you pay up and springs.

1771
02:41:51,040 --> 02:41:56,220
Completely gutted, and then it went to some toying garden and they asked if I wanted a back.

1772
02:41:56,220 --> 02:41:56,300
Yeah,

1773
02:41:58,820 --> 02:42:03,560
yeah, I wonder back when it's completely gutted, no engine, no nothing, no tires.

1774
02:42:06,010 --> 02:42:13,590
So I haven't been compensated and I would love to know of those arrests that was said

1775
02:42:13,590 --> 02:42:20,290
by the deputy chief, how many of those people were actually convicted and tried and sent

1776
02:42:20,290 --> 02:42:26,630
to prison because the individual, that's still my vehicle, I have her on camera, God bless

1777
02:42:26,630 --> 02:42:26,870
her.

1778
02:42:29,570 --> 02:42:36,870
She was arrested, but then, oh my God, the DA threw it out because of not enough evidence.

1779
02:42:38,510 --> 02:42:41,530
And my vehicle wasn't stolen because I had a running or anything.

1780
02:42:41,530 --> 02:42:49,010
I said, I'll have my keys. I still have the title. It was stolen because somebody she called had a trailer.

1781
02:42:50,050 --> 02:42:52,710
And on camera, it took about 15 minutes to hook it up to the trailer.

1782
02:42:52,710 --> 02:43:01,410
He busted the passenger window because he wasn't smart to open in another way all on camera

1783
02:43:01,410 --> 02:43:04,730
I have the footage. I'll send it to you guys if you want it

1784
02:43:05,550 --> 02:43:09,930
And then he was interviewed by the DA or somebody in the DA's office and

1785
02:43:10,590 --> 02:43:12,870
Guess what he walked free

1786
02:43:13,830 --> 02:43:18,130
Completely on camera broad daylight. It was a bit after 2 p.m. When I wasn't home and

1787
02:43:20,150 --> 02:43:22,190
And nothing happened to him.

1788
02:43:22,550 --> 02:43:25,810
They know his name but I was never informed on who this knucklehead is.

1789
02:43:26,690 --> 02:43:28,150
So guess what?

1790
02:43:28,510 --> 02:43:30,770
None of the ALPR cameras caught him.

1791
02:43:31,350 --> 02:43:36,070
And I figured out his license plate before PD when they had the video before I did.

1792
02:43:36,850 --> 02:43:40,050
I did my own investigation detective work.

1793
02:43:41,630 --> 02:43:47,550
And one of the officers said, good job on the license plate.

1794
02:43:47,730 --> 02:43:49,750
So I have no clue who this individual is.

1795
02:43:49,830 --> 02:43:50,550
I know who the neighbor is.

1796
02:43:50,550 --> 02:43:59,050
but I haven't spoken to her, so I would love to know the stats of the arrest, whatever

1797
02:43:59,050 --> 02:44:03,850
number that was, on how many of those ones were actually convicted, and was it the first

1798
02:44:03,850 --> 02:44:08,070
time still and get second, third, 20th time, what have you?

1799
02:44:09,210 --> 02:44:14,850
And how you guys just passed that other one, why don't we pass an ordinance that people

1800
02:44:14,850 --> 02:44:19,370
people who get their car stolen, find the person who got a stolen, make sense.

1801
02:44:19,750 --> 02:44:21,430
No, it doesn't, being sarcastic.

1802
02:44:22,170 --> 02:44:26,130
So both this down, and it does have the ALPR in it, in the attachments.

1803
02:44:27,330 --> 02:44:30,390
You can't BS somebody that knows this stuff.

1804
02:44:30,790 --> 02:44:36,030
I'm sorry to say that it was a bunch of BS up here, and I know I can't say those words, but I could say the letters.

1805
02:44:37,330 --> 02:44:44,290
This is a bunch of malarkey, and Mr. President, I hope after R2 we could take a 10 minute recess,

1806
02:44:44,290 --> 02:44:47,870
That's because I know R3 is going to be pretty happy with the people behind me.

1807
02:44:47,990 --> 02:44:48,650
Thank you, Mr. President.

1808
02:44:49,730 --> 02:44:52,410
Senator Romales, wishing to speak against this ordinance.

1809
02:44:53,450 --> 02:44:54,750
See, come on down.

1810
02:45:07,150 --> 02:45:07,730
Hello.

1811
02:45:11,860 --> 02:45:40,380
My name is Mary Salopas. In this ordinance, as it's been stated before already, they have said that there's something about ALPR written in the ordinance. There is a clause in this ordinance that we have to continue using these ALPR cameras. That is why I'm speaking out against this particular ordinance. We need to have more conversations around how we're promoting these ALPRs within our community. There are way too many unanswered questions.

1812
02:45:40,380 --> 02:45:45,060
There's information that's been shared by Mayor Graham herself who said that we don't

1813
02:45:45,060 --> 02:45:48,180
share this data on the Genotech website itself.

1814
02:45:48,180 --> 02:45:53,000
It does say that we have access to certain data that through the NCIS, just the National

1815
02:45:54,840 --> 02:45:57,540
Criminal Information Center.

1816
02:45:59,320 --> 02:46:02,160
So I'm wondering how that works both ways.

1817
02:46:02,400 --> 02:46:03,760
Do we reach out to them?

1818
02:46:04,180 --> 02:46:06,640
Do we get information from them?

1819
02:46:06,860 --> 02:46:08,420
Can they get information from us?

1820
02:46:08,420 --> 02:46:12,960
These are connected to those centers, this data is all connected somehow.

1821
02:46:13,560 --> 02:46:21,400
We have to answer questions, we need to table this, honestly, and we need to have an actual conversation that promotes both sides of the story.

1822
02:46:21,800 --> 02:46:36,260
We've heard from experts on one side of the story, who from the public police department, I understand that they are understaffed, and that was Mr. Gomez's statement earlier, I get that, I completely understand that.

1823
02:46:37,380 --> 02:46:40,420
But we need to have these questions asked.

1824
02:46:40,620 --> 02:46:42,920
We have a whole list of questions that have been sent to y'all.

1825
02:46:43,620 --> 02:46:48,000
I think that it's time for the actual community to have a conversation about it.

1826
02:46:48,180 --> 02:46:50,760
Not just here from one side, it's important.

1827
02:46:51,320 --> 02:46:56,940
So please, I recommend tabling this so we can have those conversations before we start moving forward on these.

1828
02:46:57,260 --> 02:46:57,660
Thank you.

1829
02:46:58,840 --> 02:46:59,140
Thank you.

1830
02:47:02,380 --> 02:47:05,180
Is there anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance?

1831
02:47:05,920 --> 02:47:07,060
Sure, come on down.

1832
02:47:33,500 --> 02:47:36,840
Is this my, my name is ZZJ and I've been here before.

1833
02:47:38,460 --> 02:47:46,920
The question about this bill is not that we're injecting to having the police department get the funds that they need.

1834
02:47:47,420 --> 02:47:54,440
I mean, I'm all for subsidizing and making sure my police department has the equipment and stuff that they need.

1835
02:47:54,440 --> 02:48:07,220
But when you sneak in stuff in a bill, just like the big, beautiful bill, you know, you sneak it in, and then it, you fund it.

1836
02:48:08,140 --> 02:48:20,320
And without the community having any say so of it, if you take that part out of the bill, then I don't think there's any objection to this bill for the police department.

1837
02:48:20,320 --> 02:48:28,460
But when you're sneaking in technology that we don't have any control over, we don't know what the upgrades will be in the future.

1838
02:48:28,940 --> 02:48:34,820
We have no protection against our data, and you have no safeguards in place.

1839
02:48:35,460 --> 02:48:40,120
Then I think it needs to be tabled the bill until you take that portion out.

1840
02:48:40,620 --> 02:48:47,420
I'm for the police department having money, I'm for them having tools.

1841
02:48:47,420 --> 02:48:58,660
And I understand that there are some benefits to having some surveillance, but the data part of this situation is what we're concerned about.

1842
02:48:58,860 --> 02:49:05,780
And you guys can't promise that this is going to not come to bite us in the butt.

1843
02:49:06,280 --> 02:49:10,960
And I know that there's a case up in Boulder where they're arguing against this.

1844
02:49:10,960 --> 02:49:18,800
And I know that in other places, they're saying that it violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.

1845
02:49:19,260 --> 02:49:30,620
So, we're playing with a little bit of fire here, and I think that you, as citizens that protect us,

1846
02:49:30,620 --> 02:49:39,840
should at least table this bill for a relook at and maybe a rewording because I don't think

1847
02:49:39,840 --> 02:49:46,060
that anybody in this audience doesn't want our police department to function.

1848
02:49:46,280 --> 02:49:48,880
They just are worried about the data and the consequences.

1849
02:49:49,700 --> 02:49:51,220
And then who will be responsible?

1850
02:49:51,620 --> 02:49:56,100
Will you be responsible for my data being misused and I can sue all of you?

1851
02:49:56,100 --> 02:49:59,840
Because that's what it amounts to are you going to take the

1852
02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:29,700
We're not going to say that the police department is not going to misuse, mishandle. So those are the things that this whole audience or part of this audience is worried about, is how are we going to be protected? And so I appreciate your time. Thank you, council members. I have listened to everything you said and I'm weighing the pros and cons, but I do feel like to blatantly surveillance

1853
02:50:29,700 --> 02:50:37,680
It's a community just because you can, doesn't mean it's right, doesn't mean that it should

1854
02:50:37,680 --> 02:50:45,800
be done, and especially when you can't secure any updates.

1855
02:50:46,060 --> 02:50:50,460
I mean, who's to say in five years that you're not going to be able to see into my car because

1856
02:50:50,460 --> 02:50:54,100
you're going to get a nice little update because the company can update it.

1857
02:50:54,440 --> 02:50:58,800
You know, who's to say that you're not going to track down, you know, there's all kinds

1858
02:50:58,800 --> 02:51:08,840
There's a possibility, and I just think that you don't have enough information in this bill that has that portion in should not pass.

1859
02:51:09,260 --> 02:51:10,500
Thank you for your time.

1860
02:51:10,800 --> 02:51:11,200
Thank you.

1861
02:51:11,540 --> 02:51:14,500
All right, anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance?

1862
02:51:20,230 --> 02:51:25,070
Okay, seeing none, the hearings closed, is there, okay, come on down.

1863
02:51:31,230 --> 02:51:33,690
I just wanted to say that it would be-

1864
02:51:33,690 --> 02:51:34,750
Can you give me the name, please?

1865
02:51:34,750 --> 02:51:41,530
I'm sorry, Leonora Bartoli, I just want to say with all the information that has come

1866
02:51:41,530 --> 02:51:49,910
out and so many people don't know how these cameras work, the legality of it, what's

1867
02:51:49,910 --> 02:51:57,910
in the contract, what's not in the contract, there's a lot to be learned, so please postpone

1868
02:51:57,910 --> 02:52:05,950
it, like Councilmember Gomez was saying, and let's all learn about this topic.

1869
02:52:06,110 --> 02:52:10,010
And even the police chief said that we need to have a discussion.

1870
02:52:10,330 --> 02:52:16,530
So let's give it as much time as we can to understand the topic.

1871
02:52:17,250 --> 02:52:17,710
Thank you.

1872
02:52:18,250 --> 02:52:19,170
Sir, come on down.

1873
02:52:30,120 --> 02:52:32,060
Hit that button there for your mic.

1874
02:52:32,320 --> 02:52:32,720
So on right there?

1875
02:52:32,860 --> 02:52:33,460
Yeah, you're good.

1876
02:52:33,580 --> 02:52:34,580
My name is Doug McGinnity.

1877
02:52:34,580 --> 02:52:39,120
I'm a recent, well, there's hired a military intelligence

1878
02:52:39,120 --> 02:52:44,680
warrant officer, 35 years in the Army, working in signals

1879
02:52:44,680 --> 02:52:45,140
intelligence.

1880
02:52:46,060 --> 02:52:46,980
And I'll tell you,

1881
02:52:49,560 --> 02:52:53,860
in my experience, if information exists,

1882
02:52:54,740 --> 02:52:58,040
it will be used, and it will be abused.

1883
02:53:00,670 --> 02:53:03,550
My job was collecting information.

1884
02:53:04,350 --> 02:53:07,830
My job was watching other foreign governments

1885
02:53:07,830 --> 02:53:11,550
collect information and finding out what they do with it.

1886
02:53:12,330 --> 02:53:21,900
The people here are right, this information is dangerous, we don't know how it's going

1887
02:53:21,900 --> 02:53:28,700
to be used in the future, we're going to see it collected and aggregated and dissected.

1888
02:53:29,840 --> 02:53:35,740
I understand that I just found out through the conversations the people here while I appreciate

1889
02:53:35,740 --> 02:53:42,680
the intent of the ordinance, if this really is in there that we have mandated requirements

1890
02:53:43,520 --> 02:53:50,380
to continue to use surveillance cameras, such as flock in this community, that eventually,

1891
02:53:51,340 --> 02:53:58,400
like we see in the media, somebody is going to be unjustly prosecuted for something they

1892
02:53:58,400 --> 02:54:04,400
did not do because of wrongful use of the information and the AI tools are being used to analyze

1893
02:54:04,400 --> 02:54:10,900
information. It's going to happen and we can either choose to be part of it or choose

1894
02:54:10,900 --> 02:54:15,740
to not be part of it and perhaps there will be safeguards in the future that say,

1895
02:54:15,880 --> 02:54:21,180
okay, we now can find ways to not use this information incorrectly and protect the rights

1896
02:54:21,180 --> 02:54:27,500
to people, but it ain't there now. It's the Wild West when it comes to AI analysis, when

1897
02:54:27,500 --> 02:54:33,860
it comes to the aggregation of data, and who we have requirements and restrictions in it,

1898
02:54:33,860 --> 02:54:36,820
Who is going to be able to use it and see it?

1899
02:54:37,120 --> 02:54:46,560
Who is seeing the data of public citizens and what they are doing on a database based on these collection?

1900
02:54:47,260 --> 02:54:50,040
What are their qualifications to see this data?

1901
02:54:50,920 --> 02:54:53,360
What are they assigned to make sure it stays private?

1902
02:54:55,200 --> 02:54:59,960
So we strayed far from the initial conversation and into something that is really important.

1903
02:55:00,000 --> 02:55:12,540
There's an important here that this is dangerous data, and it will be abused at some point in the future, simply because it exists. So, thank you for your time. I just want to say something.

1904
02:55:16,910 --> 02:55:32,510
Is there anybody else wishing to speak against the pardon? Saying none, the hearings closed. Is there a motion to approve? Councillor Gomez, is there a second? Councillor Dante, any questions? Councillor Riz Gomez.

1905
02:55:32,510 --> 02:55:42,170
Mr. President, I would like to move that we postpone a vote on this until our meeting

1906
02:55:42,170 --> 02:55:48,550
on September 14th, once we've been able to have a work session on the specifics of

1907
02:55:48,550 --> 02:55:53,870
this particular ordinance with its use of ARPR, that work session is scheduled for September

1908
02:55:53,870 --> 02:55:54,490
8th.

1909
02:55:54,790 --> 02:55:55,050
Okay.

1910
02:55:55,150 --> 02:55:58,730
We have a motion to postpone until September 14th.

1911
02:55:58,730 --> 02:55:59,450
Is there a second?

1912
02:55:59,450 --> 02:56:03,030
Second. Second by Councillor Gomez. Any questions?

1913
02:56:05,130 --> 02:56:05,810
Councillor Dante.

1914
02:56:08,600 --> 02:56:09,380
Let's call for the vote.

1915
02:56:17,960 --> 02:56:18,960
Passes six to one.

1916
02:56:19,900 --> 02:56:22,680
Mr. Clerk, we go to item

1917
02:56:26,330 --> 02:56:32,350
R2, an ordinance authorizing the disposition by donation of certain

1918
02:56:32,350 --> 02:56:38,590
surplus personnel property of the Pueblo of Pueblo, a Colorado municipal corporation to the

1919
02:56:38,590 --> 02:56:45,890
City of Chihuahua, State of Chihuahua, of the United Mexican States, introduced August 10th, 2026 by Councilor Selina Ruiz-Gomas.

1920
02:56:46,470 --> 02:56:48,330
Thank you, Mr. Clerk, we have a staff report.

1921
02:56:49,590 --> 02:56:54,430
Yes, thank you, good evening, President Euliff, members of Council, mayor Graham and staff.

1922
02:56:55,170 --> 02:57:00,830
This is not an LPR ordinance, this is to donate stuff to Chihuahua PD, don't want to clarify that.

1923
02:57:00,830 --> 02:57:08,570
But this is more than authorizing the donation of surplus pouches and lose the fastener stock

1924
02:57:08,570 --> 02:57:12,810
no longer needed by our police department to the 12th police department in Mexico.

1925
02:57:13,490 --> 02:57:18,330
The property consists of 112 fabric pouches, such as handcuffed pouches, magazine pouches,

1926
02:57:19,030 --> 02:57:22,910
flashlight pouches, etc. that attach to the outer vest carriers of our officers to wear.

1927
02:57:24,050 --> 02:57:27,830
The property also includes the elastic loops on to which our pouches are mounted.

1928
02:57:28,350 --> 02:57:32,090
to all the Mexico is one of our sisters cities and we have made previous donations to

1929
02:57:32,090 --> 02:57:36,370
Chvala PD in the past. This concludes my staff report. I'm available for any questions.

1930
02:57:36,590 --> 02:57:41,050
Thank you. Thank you for that report. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here wishing

1931
02:57:41,050 --> 02:57:46,350
to speak in favor of this ordinance? Saying none. Is there anyone here wishing to speak

1932
02:57:46,350 --> 02:57:47,470
against this ordinance?

1933
02:57:49,890 --> 02:57:52,790
Saying none, the hearings closed. Is there a motion to approve?

1934
02:57:58,810 --> 02:57:59,250
Councillor

1935
02:58:00,190 --> 02:58:01,350
Call for the vote.

1936
02:58:10,920 --> 02:58:12,300
Passes 7-0.

1937
02:58:12,760 --> 02:58:14,880
Mr. Clerk, item R-3.

1938
02:58:16,460 --> 02:58:37,240
Item R-3, an ordinance approval in an economic development agreement between the City of Pueblo and Colorado Municipal Corporation and Pueblo's steamworks doing business as Southern Colorado Science Center, doing business Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America, a Colorado non-profit corporation and authorizing the mayor to execute the same establishing project number ED-2602.

1939
02:58:37,240 --> 02:58:50,900
6.02, the Anardo DaVinci Museum in budgeting and appropriating $885,000 from the unencumbered fund balance of the 1992 to 2031 sales and use tax capital improvement project.

1940
02:58:51,480 --> 02:59:00,480
Fund to project ED 2602, the Anardo DaVinci Museum, introduced August 10th, 2026 by Councillor Salina Ruiz Gomez.

1941
02:59:00,480 --> 02:59:02,760
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Clark. We have a staff report.

1942
02:59:03,260 --> 02:59:09,660
Yes, thank you. President A. Liff, members of Council, Madam Mayor. I'm going to present as a staff report.

1943
02:59:09,940 --> 02:59:16,400
I have created a PowerPoint presentation if I can get that up on the screen.

1944
02:59:25,120 --> 02:59:28,780
So I wanted to go into a little bit more detail on the staff report.

1945
02:59:29,020 --> 02:59:32,740
This is an ordinance that's going to approve an agreement between the city and

1946
02:59:32,740 --> 02:59:37,960
from the Leonardo da Vinci Museum for an economic incentive agreement.

1947
02:59:38,940 --> 02:59:43,700
This incentive agreement is for an amount of $885,000.

1948
02:59:44,400 --> 02:59:52,520
The money is going to be paid pursuant to section 14485.5A1 of the Pueblo Municipal Code.

1949
02:59:53,120 --> 02:59:58,700
The museum will have until February 25th, 2028 to spend the funds.

1950
02:59:58,700 --> 02:59:59,980
Any...

1951
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:29,640
Unspent funds as of that date will be repaid to the city. The term of the agreement is for seven years. In return for that, the museum has certain obligations. And these are the obligations under the agreement. Essentially they're going to have to produce the seam exhibits and interactive learning experiences. They have committed to being open to the public year round seven days a week, except for these holidays.

1952
03:00:29,640 --> 03:00:34,000
So they're going to be open all the time for the public and the community.

1953
03:00:34,940 --> 03:00:39,340
They're going to have to continuously maintain their partnership with the artisans of Florence.

1954
03:00:40,080 --> 03:00:44,420
They're going to have to provide educational programming on Fridays and on weekends.

1955
03:00:45,460 --> 03:00:48,700
They're going to operate an on-site cafe or coffee shop.

1956
03:00:49,280 --> 03:00:55,940
They're going to operate an on-site gift shop and they're going to commit to aggressively marketing and

1957
03:00:55,940 --> 03:01:02,060
advertising the museum to out of town visitors and they're not only going to advertise the museum

1958
03:01:02,060 --> 03:01:07,240
but they're going to advertise to visit Pueblo, the Riverwalk, neighboring attractions, restaurants,

1959
03:01:07,240 --> 03:01:08,440
events, and hotels.

1960
03:01:15,140 --> 03:01:24,580
So we have amended the agreement so that City Council can see under section

1961
03:01:25,320 --> 03:01:35,100
of the code in which we have gone under for this agreement as under place making.

1962
03:01:35,940 --> 03:01:41,020
So this agreement fits under place making as defined under the code.

1963
03:01:41,720 --> 03:01:48,020
Under place making, it is tied to certain things that they have to do.

1964
03:01:48,100 --> 03:01:49,580
It's tied to capital improvement.

1965
03:01:49,580 --> 03:01:57,660
So under section 4.01 of the agreement, the DaVinci Museum would have to use the money to

1966
03:01:57,660 --> 03:02:03,080
do capital improvements, renovations, remodeling fixtures to the facility.

1967
03:02:03,800 --> 03:02:09,500
So the facility is the convention center, the convention center is owned by Urban Renewal.

1968
03:02:09,800 --> 03:02:14,320
They have a lease with Urban Renewal for the interior of that space.

1969
03:02:14,740 --> 03:02:18,020
The outdoor area, the patio area is owned by the city.

1970
03:02:18,020 --> 03:02:21,940
They have a lease with the city for that space.

1971
03:02:22,260 --> 03:02:30,920
The City Council approved that lease last year, and so these are what the funds are going

1972
03:02:30,920 --> 03:02:32,420
to be used for.

1973
03:02:36,290 --> 03:02:39,160
They have provided an estimated budget.

1974
03:02:39,840 --> 03:02:46,020
This estimated budget was provided last week, and I meant to provide this to City Council

1975
03:02:46,020 --> 03:02:57,320
So in for the executive session, I look tonight that was not provided to City Council and I apologize for that, but this estimated budget is what they provided to me.

1976
03:02:57,440 --> 03:03:00,600
This is how they break down the $885,000.

1977
03:03:00,640 --> 03:03:07,240
This is estimated, and they are here tonight, so I'm sure they're happy to answer any questions about that.

1978
03:03:07,800 --> 03:03:12,820
But this is how they're breaking down that $885,000.

1979
03:03:12,820 --> 03:03:13,920
So

1980
03:03:18,620 --> 03:03:24,280
as I talked about under the code, we have placemaking.

1981
03:03:24,540 --> 03:03:37,280
Placemaking is defined under our code as a process and act of creating high quality public spaces and amenities that encourage people to want to live, work, play, and learn in the city, community or region.

1982
03:03:38,140 --> 03:03:41,800
So DaVinci clearly falls within placemaking.

1983
03:03:41,800 --> 03:03:49,800
It is an amenity in the city that is going to encourage people want to live, work, and play, and learn within the community and region.

1984
03:03:50,880 --> 03:03:54,920
And so it fits within that, but place making doesn't stand alone within our code.

1985
03:03:55,460 --> 03:04:02,120
It is tied to our special categories, which is 14485.5.

1986
03:04:02,580 --> 03:04:07,600
So under this special categories is how we tie place making into our code.

1987
03:04:07,600 --> 03:04:14,520
and this is where we come to the acquisition of land and construction of so-called shell buildings or acquisition

1988
03:04:14,520 --> 03:04:22,080
remodeling and renovation of existing buildings for the purpose of or making such buildings available for place making.

1989
03:04:23,120 --> 03:04:32,300
And so this is the section under which the DaVinci Museum qualifies for our half-cent sales tax.

1990
03:04:32,300 --> 03:04:40,520
However, this is not the only criteria under which the DaVinci Museum qualifies.

1991
03:04:40,800 --> 03:04:46,900
Under our code, the DaVinci Museum also qualifies as a regional tourism project.

1992
03:04:47,580 --> 03:04:54,580
Under our code, a regional tourism project is defined and is defined as a primary job.

1993
03:04:54,580 --> 03:04:59,860
So it stands alone as a primary job, as a primary

1994
03:05:00,000 --> 03:05:29,640
Any job, the person or the entity that receives those funds can use those funds for whatever it wants to use those funds for unless it is bound to use those funds by contract on certain things. And the city has, in the past, constricted the use of those funds for certain things under our contracts. But typically, they can use them for general operating, marketing, however they want to do that. So they do qualify under the regional tourism act.

1995
03:05:31,720 --> 03:05:38,160
Now, if you remember, I don't know, you folks weren't on the City Council at the time,

1996
03:05:38,260 --> 03:05:45,200
but in 2011, the city applied for state increment financing or a state increment tax revenue

1997
03:05:45,200 --> 03:05:50,080
from the state through the regional tourism project under state statute.

1998
03:05:50,600 --> 03:05:56,400
And in order to do that, the city had to demonstrate that it had a project that met all of this criteria.

1999
03:05:56,400 --> 03:06:00,560
And the project had to be extraordinary and unique in nature.

2000
03:06:01,100 --> 03:06:07,280
It had to contribute significantly to the economic development and tourism in the state,

2001
03:06:07,700 --> 03:06:09,520
and the community where it was located.

2002
03:06:10,160 --> 03:06:16,180
It had to reasonably anticipate it to result in a substantial increase in out-of-state tourism.

2003
03:06:16,880 --> 03:06:25,700
A significant portion of the sales tax revenue generated by the project had to be anticipated to be attributable to transactions with

2004
03:06:25,700 --> 03:06:33,240
non-residents of the regional tourism zone and they had to provide reliable economic data.

2005
03:06:34,100 --> 03:06:35,800
And so demonstrating these things.

2006
03:06:36,580 --> 03:06:41,060
And so at that time, when we were going through this process, it was a professional bull

2007
03:06:41,060 --> 03:06:50,000
riders that was the project that the city partnered with in order to get the Regional Tourism

2008
03:06:50,000 --> 03:06:53,920
Act incremental tax revenue.

2009
03:06:53,920 --> 03:07:01,740
And so when in 2024, when the professional bull riders decided to leave the city of

2010
03:07:01,740 --> 03:07:04,660
Pueblo, the city needed a new partner.

2011
03:07:05,660 --> 03:07:10,960
And so the city went out and sent out an RFP and we invited people to come in and apply

2012
03:07:11,340 --> 03:07:15,740
to be our new partner and to take over that space in the Convention Center.

2013
03:07:16,320 --> 03:07:20,600
The DaVinci Museum was one of the entities that applied for that.

2014
03:07:22,160 --> 03:07:31,040
And as part of that, the city looked at all of the people that applied, and the DaVinci Museum was determined to meet the criteria the best.

2015
03:07:31,940 --> 03:07:49,560
And so DaVinci partnered with the city, and we went to the state, and we went to Oedit, and we partnered with PEDCO, and with Urban Renewal, and we went to Oedit, and we asked them for permission to allow us to substitute DaVinci for

2016
03:07:49,560 --> 03:07:56,940
the bull riders association and that's important because it allowed the city to be compliant

2017
03:07:56,940 --> 03:08:02,100
and still fulfill all of the requirements that it had under the Regional Tourism Act

2018
03:08:02,100 --> 03:08:08,460
because we still have obligations under that act to spend that money within the Regional

2019
03:08:08,460 --> 03:08:14,680
Tourism District and so that allowed us to do that.

2020
03:08:14,680 --> 03:08:21,820
So, they came in and they partnered with us in February of 2025, Oedit, and the Office

2021
03:08:21,820 --> 03:08:31,740
of Economic Development came in and said, yes, you qualify, they met all of the criteria.

2022
03:08:32,780 --> 03:08:40,500
And so they essentially blessed that substitution, and they said, yes, DaVinci can come in and

2023
03:08:40,500 --> 03:08:41,920
be your substitute.

2024
03:08:42,580 --> 03:08:47,540
And so just so you know, I won't put it out there, this is the definition of primary

2025
03:08:47,540 --> 03:08:54,580
job under our code, and it includes under sub-paragraph B, that employment resulting from a

2026
03:08:54,580 --> 03:08:58,500
regional tourism project qualifies as a primary job.

2027
03:09:04,190 --> 03:09:10,790
When I was going through and I was preparing for tonight, I went back through and I looked

2028
03:09:10,790 --> 03:09:12,410
at some of the legislative history.

2029
03:09:12,410 --> 03:09:19,350
It's also important to note that this changed this economic development criteria.

2030
03:09:20,190 --> 03:09:25,810
When this was added, it was added in 2012.

2031
03:09:26,970 --> 03:09:31,490
This criteria that primary job means Regional Tourism Act.

2032
03:09:32,010 --> 03:09:39,250
And City Council changed that in anticipation of getting the state increment tax funding.

2033
03:09:39,250 --> 03:09:50,890
and we did that because we wanted the ability to get that tax funding and we wanted to have the flexibility to use that.

2034
03:09:51,410 --> 03:09:59,630
And the purpose of that was not so much to tie it with jobs but because the City Council recognized that tourism was going to bring it outside.

2035
03:10:00,000 --> 03:10:09,980
So, people coming in from outside of the community, spending their money here, so new money in the community, and it was going to increase our tax base.

2036
03:10:12,960 --> 03:10:31,520
And so when they did that change, that ordinance specifically provided that they were making that change so that the criteria ordinance could be flexible, and it could account for the realities of economic development in the 21st century. And that it could be codified.

2037
03:10:31,520 --> 03:10:35,740
right so that the public could reference it and those engaged in the economic developments

2038
03:10:35,740 --> 03:10:36,660
could reference it.

2039
03:10:37,360 --> 03:10:41,100
And so I think it's important because we've talked a lot about the criteria ordinance

2040
03:10:41,100 --> 03:10:42,260
and the changing of it.

2041
03:10:42,700 --> 03:10:49,080
But back in 2012, all these same conversations were had and at the time, City Council wanted

2042
03:10:49,080 --> 03:10:54,200
the flexibility of having that and they recognized the flexibility that was needed.

2043
03:10:54,860 --> 03:11:00,560
And the stated purpose of it was then was to codify the existing criteria and to add new

2044
03:11:00,560 --> 03:11:06,060
provisions which granted City Council additional flexibility and clarify the criteria.

2045
03:11:09,110 --> 03:11:12,310
So that is the staff report tonight.

2046
03:11:13,570 --> 03:11:19,330
And just in conclusion, again, the museum qualifies for the House and Sales Tax revenues under

2047
03:11:19,330 --> 03:11:25,470
multiple provisions of the criteria ordinance, not only under the special categories, which

2048
03:11:25,470 --> 03:11:35,750
which is 14485.1A1, which is the place making, but also under the regional tourism act.

2049
03:11:36,630 --> 03:11:42,150
But in this particular case, we have narrowly tailored it under the place making.

2050
03:11:42,750 --> 03:11:44,490
We have put safeguards in place.

2051
03:11:45,190 --> 03:11:48,770
We have put in there specifically what they can spend the money on.

2052
03:11:48,770 --> 03:11:55,750
They have provided a budget which you have been presented with tonight and so

2053
03:11:56,450 --> 03:12:01,050
You have the information available and I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have

2054
03:12:02,050 --> 03:12:09,510
Thank you for that report before I open the public hearing what I'd like to ask is a question of the people in the audience

2055
03:12:10,130 --> 03:12:16,630
By a raise of hands how many people are planning on speaking either for or against this

2056
03:12:17,910 --> 03:12:21,410
Mr. Clerk, we'll limit testimony to three minutes.

2057
03:12:24,490 --> 03:12:29,350
I just asked that everybody has the right to speak.

2058
03:12:29,990 --> 03:12:34,870
If you hear somebody saying the same old thing over and

2059
03:12:34,870 --> 03:12:39,310
over again, please be cognizant of that.

2060
03:12:40,310 --> 03:12:41,490
So I'm going to open this hearing.

2061
03:12:41,790 --> 03:12:42,790
This is a public hearing.

2062
03:12:42,790 --> 03:12:45,930
Is there anyone here wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance?

2063
03:12:45,930 --> 03:12:52,530
You guys can line up on the steps there and start talking.

2064
03:12:58,570 --> 03:13:00,890
We can only have one person at a time.

2065
03:13:02,450 --> 03:13:03,090
So

2066
03:13:08,210 --> 03:13:10,650
please state your name and-

2067
03:13:10,650 --> 03:13:15,030
I'm David Leidel, I'm the attorney for the Adventure Museum of North America.

2068
03:13:18,020 --> 03:13:18,840
Thank you for the opportunity.

2069
03:13:21,560 --> 03:13:25,320
I'm David Leidel, I'm the attorney for the Adventure Museum of North America.

2070
03:13:26,020 --> 03:13:29,580
Thank you, Mr. President, members of council.

2071
03:13:29,580 --> 03:13:36,520
And Mayor, Ms. Sykes did a great job of going back and reviewing the history of how all this came about.

2072
03:13:36,980 --> 03:13:45,940
A couple of things, one comment I would mention as to the impact of the RTA grant to Pueblo.

2073
03:13:47,880 --> 03:13:55,640
It was, it is $35.7 million, about $25 million of that had been paid to date.

2074
03:13:55,640 --> 03:14:03,700
One of the things part of the RTA was it allowed the urban renewal to sell bonds.

2075
03:14:04,360 --> 03:14:09,220
Those bonds were built used to build the convention center and the area where the Pueblo

2076
03:14:09,720 --> 03:14:14,200
bull riders university was located until 2024.

2077
03:14:15,600 --> 03:14:23,560
In 2012 and 2013, when all of that was being negotiated, I was representing another client

2078
03:14:23,560 --> 03:14:29,060
And I was working with Urban Renewal, and we had a conversation because my other client needed

2079
03:14:29,060 --> 03:14:31,420
also look at this and approve it.

2080
03:14:31,760 --> 03:14:39,480
And I was speaking to the chairperson of Urban Renewal and said, well, you know, the agreement

2081
03:14:39,480 --> 03:14:40,020
isn't great.

2082
03:14:41,340 --> 03:14:46,940
He was also an attorney and he said, David, you have to understand, the bullwriters is now owned

2083
03:14:46,940 --> 03:14:50,540
by a bunch of investment people out of New York.

2084
03:14:50,540 --> 03:14:54,540
And they said, it's either this agreement or it's no agreement.

2085
03:14:54,960 --> 03:14:58,160
Without the bull riders, there would have been no RTA money.

2086
03:14:58,340 --> 03:14:59,880
There would have been no convention center.

2087
03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:29,920
There wouldn't be the opportunity today to proceed and take what was an OK deal with a much better deal with DaVinci. The bonds still have to be paid. When PBR pulled out, there was a concern at Urban Renewal, and by others that what's the Colorado Development Commission going to say? Because this was the key point. Without it, we would never have received the RTA resolution and the agreement.

2088
03:15:29,920 --> 03:15:35,500
And so then the city did go out and put out an RFP to get another partner.

2089
03:15:36,240 --> 03:15:42,720
The city, Urban and Newell, went to the Economic Development Commission and

2090
03:15:42,720 --> 03:15:47,500
they agreed to let a substitute, Da Vinci, as this key element.

2091
03:15:48,260 --> 03:15:52,660
Now Da Vinci has raised close to $2 million and

2092
03:15:52,660 --> 03:15:57,000
all of those monies have been going into refurbishing and

2093
03:15:57,000 --> 03:16:01,580
renovating this facility, a facility which is owned by the public.

2094
03:16:02,300 --> 03:16:07,340
So this isn't a private building, this is a public building owned by Urban Renewal.

2095
03:16:07,460 --> 03:16:12,260
So the city gets all the benefit of this improvement and this project.

2096
03:16:12,940 --> 03:16:13,680
Thank you.

2097
03:16:14,240 --> 03:16:17,000
Is there anyone else wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance?

2098
03:16:24,910 --> 03:16:25,290
Thank you.

2099
03:16:26,110 --> 03:16:33,650
I'm Joe Arrigo, the founder and director of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America.

2100
03:16:33,650 --> 03:16:44,680
just to review just a little bit that the Leonardo da Vinci Museum opened its doors on June 12th,

2101
03:16:45,250 --> 03:16:52,410
2026 at 310 Central Maine after being accepted by the Colorado Economic Development Commission

2102
03:16:52,410 --> 03:16:55,810
as a replacement for the Purple Bull Riders University.

2103
03:16:56,650 --> 03:17:02,790
The PBR University had been an essential element for meeting the criteria of the Colorado

2104
03:17:02,790 --> 03:17:13,030
economic development commission for being a regional tourism act reward. The museum has become a destination.

2105
03:17:14,130 --> 03:17:20,130
Since opening we have become a destination for thousands of visitors with nearly half of them

2106
03:17:20,130 --> 03:17:29,530
arriving from out of Pueblo. We are attracting tourists seven days a week. Visitors from 39

2107
03:17:29,530 --> 03:17:35,950
United States plus international guests from Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the Middle East.

2108
03:17:36,790 --> 03:17:40,790
I personally work in the museum, and I can tell you a number of stories, but I won't

2109
03:17:40,790 --> 03:17:42,870
for too much time, but I'll tell you one.

2110
03:17:42,990 --> 03:17:49,430
I was there this weekend, and I'm greeting a set of grandparents from Bon Carbo, and those

2111
03:17:49,430 --> 03:17:54,270
of us that live here know that Bon Carbo was one of the coal mining towns near Trinidad.

2112
03:17:54,270 --> 03:18:00,310
dead. The grandparents are coming because the grandfather has a birthday. The children

2113
03:18:00,310 --> 03:18:05,650
and the grandchildren are coming from Denver and they have chosen the Da Vinci Museum

2114
03:18:05,950 --> 03:18:10,850
to meet in celebration of the grandfather's birthday and then they were going to go

2115
03:18:10,850 --> 03:18:16,670
have lunch together. This is the kind of thing the stories we're hearing anecdotally from

2116
03:18:16,670 --> 03:18:24,190
people coming from Denver, from Colorado Springs, from care centers and Colorado Springs

2117
03:18:24,190 --> 03:18:27,310
are coming in groups. So,

2118
03:18:29,750 --> 03:18:34,830
the attendance numbers that we had given to Council, beyond those

2119
03:18:34,830 --> 03:18:41,030
attendance numbers, our SCREAM Education Center Science Technology Engineering Art and

2120
03:18:41,030 --> 03:18:49,390
Math Center, has served 24 young, 2400 young visitors, numerous classes, camps, and special

2121
03:18:49,390 --> 03:18:55,770
events. Having said all of this, I'd like to tell you why I believe this

2122
03:18:55,770 --> 03:19:01,550
internationally recognized museum science center is important for our

2123
03:19:01,550 --> 03:19:08,610
community. Students passing through our science center are learning unique

2124
03:19:08,610 --> 03:19:15,330
skills, skills of critical thinking and problem solving. Our mission is to ignite

2125
03:19:15,330 --> 03:19:24,290
That curiosity, encourage exploration and inspire innovation that will lead to unique and creative outcomes.

2126
03:19:25,330 --> 03:19:28,930
These students will be our future leaders and entrepreneurs.

2127
03:19:29,710 --> 03:19:30,250
Thank you.

2128
03:19:33,160 --> 03:19:33,580
Thank you.

2129
03:19:34,080 --> 03:19:36,900
Is there anyone else wishing to speak and thank you?

2130
03:19:36,900 --> 03:19:36,960
Good

2131
03:19:50,010 --> 03:19:59,830
evening, Council. Mr. President, Madam Mayor, Steve Naraki, former City Council member for eight years, and I take full

2132
03:20:00,000 --> 03:20:01,900
Thank you for your responsibility for this whole thing.

2133
03:20:04,180 --> 03:20:28,020
Two of our elected officials from public and one of the Democrats who worked together across the aisle in the state legislature. Keeps word perter, and Angela Heron. They were the ones that were able to sponsor additional RTA projects that we could get in southern Colorado. The first original three all went to Denver.

2134
03:20:28,020 --> 03:20:33,940
So, you could thank those folks for even making it available to come to public, but it could

2135
03:20:33,940 --> 03:20:38,960
only come to public if we had skin in the game and I can assure you that the City Council

2136
03:20:38,960 --> 03:20:42,480
at that time had no more extra money than what you have right now.

2137
03:20:42,940 --> 03:20:48,460
So, the only source of revenue that we had on hand was the half-cent sales tax.

2138
03:20:49,500 --> 03:20:57,040
Our City Council at that time in their wisdom amended the ordinance, the half-cent sales

2139
03:20:57,040 --> 03:21:02,540
tax ordinance, and included tourism as being a primary job developer.

2140
03:21:02,920 --> 03:21:11,840
In 2025, $22.2 billion was generated in the state of Colorado because of tourism.

2141
03:21:12,960 --> 03:21:20,040
If that's not something contributing to the income of our state and primary jobs, I don't know what it is.

2142
03:21:20,040 --> 03:21:26,960
Anyhow, I take full responsibility that City Council amended it to allow tourism.

2143
03:21:27,440 --> 03:21:36,460
Certainly, the DaVinci Museum falls within that criteria, and the key thing that the Office of Economic Development International Trade was that it was unique.

2144
03:21:37,040 --> 03:21:38,260
That was one of the key things.

2145
03:21:39,280 --> 03:21:43,840
I'll tell you right up front, we used the PBR, and they used us.

2146
03:21:44,520 --> 03:21:48,640
We never could have gotten that project down here if it hadn't been for the PBR.

2147
03:21:49,080 --> 03:21:55,740
But then the PBR, in my opinion, never fell through with what they said they would make the commitment to the community.

2148
03:21:56,240 --> 03:22:00,340
So the best thing that ever happened in my opinion was when they audiosed from our community.

2149
03:22:03,100 --> 03:22:07,500
And so, and I was sitting on Ermery, no, we had nothing else to put in that.

2150
03:22:07,700 --> 03:22:12,560
I went to the Convention Center, they had nothing that they had any ideas for.

2151
03:22:13,140 --> 03:22:19,840
And so, but actually our mayor was the one that was insistent that we had a project and it was the DaVinci Museum.

2152
03:22:19,840 --> 03:22:22,780
That would be this mayor right here, so it's your fault, too.

2153
03:22:24,660 --> 03:22:28,580
And so anyhow, the precedent has been set.

2154
03:22:28,860 --> 03:22:42,980
We were able to get $14.000 million from half-centred cell stacks that was used to match the $37.36 million from the RTA at the state level from the Office of Economic Development International Trade.

2155
03:22:42,980 --> 03:22:55,880
So former council member to new council members, it's in your hands, you have the legal ability to make a decision one way or another, thank you.

2156
03:22:57,320 --> 03:22:57,960
Good

2157
03:23:04,000 --> 03:23:17,280
evening, Mayor Graham, City Council members, President Alif, my name is Christina Trujillo, and I'm here tonight to express my support for place making as an eligible use of economic development funding here in Pueblo.

2158
03:23:17,280 --> 03:23:26,460
Creating good paying jobs is incredibly important and should continue to be a priority, but economic development can take many forms.

2159
03:23:26,820 --> 03:23:37,140
A strong local economy also depends on creating a community where people want to visit, live, spend money, open businesses, and invest.

2160
03:23:37,780 --> 03:23:42,400
This is why I believe place making belongs in our economic development strategy.

2161
03:23:42,400 --> 03:23:51,000
This year, our nation celebrated its 250th anniversary, Colorado celebrated its 150th anniversary

2162
03:23:51,000 --> 03:23:51,740
of statehood.

2163
03:23:52,200 --> 03:23:58,260
These once in a generation milestones gave Pablo an incredible opportunity to showcase

2164
03:23:58,260 --> 03:24:01,200
our community, our history, and our identity.

2165
03:24:01,700 --> 03:24:06,920
But I do not believe we should look at this as an opportunity for just one year.

2166
03:24:06,920 --> 03:24:11,980
We should use this moment as a starting point for something much bigger.

2167
03:24:12,640 --> 03:24:17,760
The investments we make in place making today can create destinations and

2168
03:24:17,760 --> 03:24:22,700
experiences that continue bringing people to public for years to come.

2169
03:24:23,180 --> 03:24:29,760
We already have something many communities spend years trying to create an authentic identity.

2170
03:24:30,180 --> 03:24:31,560
We are the still city.

2171
03:24:31,860 --> 03:24:36,200
We have incredible history, diverse neighborhoods, museums, arts and

2172
03:24:36,200 --> 03:24:42,220
culture, organizations, historical sites, local businesses, and generations of stories

2173
03:24:42,220 --> 03:24:44,820
that make Pueblo unlike anywhere else.

2174
03:24:45,220 --> 03:24:50,380
When people come here to experience those things, we want them to stay longer, we want

2175
03:24:50,380 --> 03:24:55,700
them to eat at our local restaurants, shop at our businesses, stay at our hotels, visit

2176
03:24:55,700 --> 03:24:59,860
many attractions and come back again. This is Economic Act.

2177
03:25:00,000 --> 03:25:28,120
So, as we celebrate these historic events, I think we should also ask ourselves, what do we want people to discover about Pueblo today? What will bring them back in 2027, 2030, and beyond? To me, that is what place making is about. It isn't simply about funding a project or celebrating a milestone. It's about investing in Pueblo, building upon our current identity,

2178
03:25:28,120 --> 03:25:31,960
and creating economic opportunities that will continue

2179
03:25:31,960 --> 03:25:33,260
for years to come.

2180
03:25:33,840 --> 03:25:36,640
We don't need to create a new identity for Pueblo.

2181
03:25:36,980 --> 03:25:39,520
What we need to is invest in the one

2182
03:25:39,520 --> 03:25:40,500
that we already have.

2183
03:25:41,020 --> 03:25:41,460
Thank you.

2184
03:25:41,940 --> 03:25:42,280
Thank you.

2185
03:25:51,900 --> 03:25:54,460
I mean, Mark Kager, sorry.

2186
03:25:55,300 --> 03:25:56,820
I lost my voice standing back there.

2187
03:25:57,900 --> 03:26:01,660
Anyway, I own a gallery, the 5,000 foot square gallery

2188
03:26:01,660 --> 03:26:03,680
in the heart of the Union Avenue District District.

2189
03:26:03,680 --> 03:26:09,310
I represent many of the program's world class artists.

2190
03:26:11,550 --> 03:26:14,430
And I want to tell you, you know, just like she was just saying,

2191
03:26:14,590 --> 03:26:16,710
the arts and culture is an economic driver.

2192
03:26:17,070 --> 03:26:17,950
And I didn't know that.

2193
03:26:19,870 --> 03:26:23,250
A place like the DaVinci Museum is bringing people to pueblo.

2194
03:26:23,490 --> 03:26:25,170
And it's bringing people, if they're here long enough,

2195
03:26:25,310 --> 03:26:26,810
they come down to where my gallery is.

2196
03:26:27,210 --> 03:26:29,310
I want to ask if any of you have been in my gallery.

2197
03:26:29,830 --> 03:26:31,390
I've been there since 1989.

2198
03:26:32,730 --> 03:26:33,650
OK, one of you.

2199
03:26:33,650 --> 03:26:40,630
So the arts and culture is pretty hidden in this town and it needs to be known and the museum

2200
03:26:40,630 --> 03:26:45,150
is going to help bring that in. It's going to bring more people from out of town because it's

2201
03:26:45,150 --> 03:26:52,810
a classy place. So I really urge you to vote for this. I do want to say artists are primary jobs.

2202
03:26:53,270 --> 03:27:00,830
They manufacture an export of product and I've been collecting that sales tax for this economic

2203
03:27:00,830 --> 03:27:02,930
with development since way before 89.

2204
03:27:03,150 --> 03:27:05,490
I've been in the gallery business since for 50 years.

2205
03:27:06,870 --> 03:27:11,110
So I urge you to show what public class has

2206
03:27:11,110 --> 03:27:13,770
and learn about the culture here.

2207
03:27:13,970 --> 03:27:14,990
If you haven't been to my gallery,

2208
03:27:14,990 --> 03:27:16,110
go to the galleries in town.

2209
03:27:16,250 --> 03:27:18,170
Public was become a real arts community

2210
03:27:18,840 --> 03:27:20,630
and that's pretty unknown right now.

2211
03:27:21,470 --> 03:27:23,650
But we've got much more than Denver Boulder

2212
03:27:23,650 --> 03:27:27,050
Colorado Springs here in Santa Fe and Tows.

2213
03:27:27,050 --> 03:27:30,570
We really have something here that needs to be shown.

2214
03:27:30,570 --> 03:27:36,130
So please fund this museum, thank you.

2215
03:27:44,780 --> 03:27:49,940
I'm Marlene Stiles, I'm president of the nonprofit, the I will projects that's worked

2216
03:27:49,940 --> 03:27:54,240
to bring steam education to our comparable community for 12 years now.

2217
03:27:54,880 --> 03:27:59,000
We very much support the adventure museum and what they're doing to bring educational

2218
03:27:59,000 --> 03:28:01,360
opportunities to our city.

2219
03:28:02,500 --> 03:28:07,400
And the bottom line is it's very difficult to keep the lights on when you have a large

2220
03:28:07,400 --> 03:28:12,320
organization and a big building and a staff. I wanted to point out a couple of statistics.

2221
03:28:13,020 --> 03:28:19,560
The American Alliance of Museums and Giving USA, which is an annual report on American

2222
03:28:19,560 --> 03:28:26,760
philanthropy, reports that only 6 to 10% of museums operating costs actually come from admissions.

2223
03:28:27,420 --> 03:28:32,700
We have a lot of people coming in, but we cannot rely just on people coming to the doors to

2224
03:28:32,700 --> 03:28:34,680
to pay for those overhead operating costs.

2225
03:28:35,500 --> 03:28:40,260
Also, there have been a lot of wonderful, generous donations from our community,

2226
03:28:41,020 --> 03:28:45,140
but against, according to the same statistics, only 30% are really,

2227
03:28:46,120 --> 03:28:48,980
donations really cover operating costs.

2228
03:28:49,140 --> 03:28:51,260
So this leaves a 60% deficit.

2229
03:28:51,720 --> 03:28:56,280
And that's why the museum is coming to you asking for this amount.

2230
03:28:56,680 --> 03:29:01,320
It is really an investment in the future because it will bring tourist dollars in.

2231
03:29:01,320 --> 03:29:03,400
It will bring new people into the community.

2232
03:29:03,860 --> 03:29:05,660
It will support our educational system.

2233
03:29:06,820 --> 03:29:10,660
And we have already tapped out property taxes and the sales tax.

2234
03:29:10,800 --> 03:29:11,900
I don't think we can go any more.

2235
03:29:12,320 --> 03:29:18,360
So looking at the tourist dollar is another way that this will eventually pay back what we are putting into it.

2236
03:29:18,440 --> 03:29:20,460
And I hope you just support it and vote for this.

2237
03:29:20,600 --> 03:29:21,060
Thank you.

2238
03:29:21,380 --> 03:29:21,720
Thank you.

2239
03:29:21,720 --> 03:29:22,620
Hi,

2240
03:29:30,340 --> 03:29:33,560
my name is Susie Jaden, councilmembers and mayor.

2241
03:29:35,020 --> 03:29:39,420
I went to the DaVinci Museum and it was fabulous.

2242
03:29:40,100 --> 03:29:41,740
I spent so much time there.

2243
03:29:42,300 --> 03:29:43,940
I could have spent all day there.

2244
03:29:44,500 --> 03:29:45,800
It was fabulous.

2245
03:29:46,140 --> 03:29:48,200
The people there were kind.

2246
03:29:48,560 --> 03:29:49,600
They spent time.

2247
03:29:49,920 --> 03:29:51,740
They talked about, I went with Marlene.

2248
03:29:52,320 --> 03:29:54,400
They spent time with us.

2249
03:29:54,560 --> 03:29:57,680
They talked about every single item there.

2250
03:29:57,680 --> 03:29:59,200
they demonstrated.

2251
03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:29,720
We had fun shooting airplanes, but you know, it was just a marvelous educational fun place. I'm going to go again. I'm taking my son and bringing him from Colorado Springs. He loves his name is Leonard. I named him after Leonardo. So, you know, I just tell you that this place is great. I know everybody else had statistics, but I just want you to know how fun it was.

2252
03:30:29,720 --> 03:30:34,300
I am going to go there again and again because they're going to bring in new stuff.

2253
03:30:35,440 --> 03:30:38,720
And who wants to not see new stuff from Da Vinci?

2254
03:30:39,500 --> 03:30:39,860
Thank you.

2255
03:30:50,000 --> 03:30:50,900
Good evening.

2256
03:30:51,480 --> 03:30:53,140
My name is Jay Rosenberg.

2257
03:30:53,420 --> 03:30:55,560
I moved to Pueblo a little over six years ago.

2258
03:30:56,960 --> 03:31:01,840
And I can't tell you how much Pueblo has changed my life for the better.

2259
03:31:02,600 --> 03:31:07,400
And when people come and visit me, I do this little tour of Pueblo to show them why.

2260
03:31:07,400 --> 03:31:18,740
I could always ask why Pablo, so I show them around, and I can tell you right now, five families have moved to Pablo and bought homes because of what I've shown them and how much I've fallen in love with Pablo.

2261
03:31:19,680 --> 03:31:26,880
And I have four more families that are going to move here once they can sell their houses from where they're moving, from all over the United States.

2262
03:31:26,880 --> 03:31:31,160
It's personally, I've lived in multiple places.

2263
03:31:31,540 --> 03:31:38,720
Some consider the best places in the world, I lived in Switzerland, I lived in Denmark, lived in Austin, Texas, I lived in Connecticut.

2264
03:31:39,920 --> 03:31:43,960
I've never lived in a community as wonderful as Probleau.

2265
03:31:47,370 --> 03:31:51,050
I travel a lot, I had 10 kids, 11 grandkids.

2266
03:31:52,390 --> 03:31:57,350
When I travel, we go all over, I've been to Europe recently, multiple times, I've been all over.

2267
03:31:57,830 --> 03:32:00,690
I can't wait to get back to Pueblo, I have to be honest.

2268
03:32:01,330 --> 03:32:05,770
Anyway, when the DaVinci Museum opened up, I was excited to be able to volunteer.

2269
03:32:07,010 --> 03:32:12,230
And the people I meet and who come in, and I meet them from all over, not just Pueblo.

2270
03:32:12,510 --> 03:32:18,270
In fact, more and more, people from Colorado Springs who, you know, from what I understand,

2271
03:32:18,590 --> 03:32:20,890
did not always have the best view of Pueblo.

2272
03:32:21,190 --> 03:32:24,350
They come down and they go, Pueblo is amazing, we had no idea.

2273
03:32:24,350 --> 03:32:27,830
They come in from Denver, they come in from Castle Rock,

2274
03:32:28,090 --> 03:32:31,850
Monument, but they come in from Texas, they're coming in from New Mexico,

2275
03:32:32,190 --> 03:32:34,490
from Wyoming, they're coming in from other countries,

2276
03:32:34,910 --> 03:32:35,930
they're coming from the East Coast.

2277
03:32:36,530 --> 03:32:40,510
So before I run out of time, I just was looking through the reviews,

2278
03:32:41,670 --> 03:32:43,490
and there's hundreds of them.

2279
03:32:44,010 --> 03:32:45,690
Every single one, five stars.

2280
03:32:46,270 --> 03:32:51,320
Here's just a short one by a visitor.

2281
03:32:52,040 --> 03:32:55,100
This is the most amazing museum we've ever seen,

2282
03:32:55,100 --> 03:32:58,100
including all the museums in Europe, New York City,

2283
03:32:58,280 --> 03:33:00,020
and Washington, D.C., where we are from.

2284
03:33:00,580 --> 03:33:03,600
My kids have been completely engaged for three hours.

2285
03:33:04,220 --> 03:33:07,720
This is a destination to re-exclamation points.

2286
03:33:08,400 --> 03:33:11,680
So anybody who says that the Division Museum

2287
03:33:11,680 --> 03:33:14,620
is not going to, what's the word gets out?

2288
03:33:14,760 --> 03:33:16,400
Everybody who comes and visits says,

2289
03:33:16,680 --> 03:33:19,340
not only am I coming back, I have to bring other people here

2290
03:33:19,340 --> 03:33:21,100
and tell everybody about it.

2291
03:33:21,100 --> 03:33:24,220
So, it's an asset to Pueblo.

2292
03:33:24,460 --> 03:33:26,380
Pueblo itself is an amazing asset.

2293
03:33:26,820 --> 03:33:27,660
It brought me here.

2294
03:33:27,920 --> 03:33:29,580
It's brought other people here as a result.

2295
03:33:30,220 --> 03:33:32,180
And only good can come from it.

2296
03:33:32,380 --> 03:33:33,220
Thank you for my time.

2297
03:33:44,260 --> 03:33:45,440
My name is Gina Walker.

2298
03:33:45,800 --> 03:33:47,420
I work at the DaVinci Museum.

2299
03:33:47,800 --> 03:33:52,120
And I work primarily up front in the gift shop

2300
03:33:52,120 --> 03:33:53,400
and where the admissions are.

2301
03:33:53,640 --> 03:33:54,780
So I'd like to share with you.

2302
03:33:54,920 --> 03:33:57,880
We talk to everyone who comes in as they come in.

2303
03:33:58,340 --> 03:33:59,640
We track where they come from.

2304
03:33:59,640 --> 03:34:04,040
and we talked them again when they come out to see what their reactions are.

2305
03:34:04,200 --> 03:34:10,840
And I'd like to share a few things that people say to me personally and our other co-workers.

2306
03:34:13,020 --> 03:34:21,420
Mind-blowing. Incredible. Inspirational. Just they just don't know what to say,

2307
03:34:21,740 --> 03:34:27,060
how much they enjoyed the museum, how much they were inspired. The other thing that I hear all

2308
03:34:27,060 --> 03:34:33,120
All the time is from people who come in, not only from out of town, but from all over

2309
03:34:33,540 --> 03:34:39,120
the United States, but from people actually who live fairly near to Pueblo, they come

2310
03:34:39,120 --> 03:34:44,140
and they say, we had no idea that all this was here.

2311
03:34:44,560 --> 03:34:46,000
They've never walked through the walk.

2312
03:34:46,600 --> 03:34:47,360
They haven't been downtown.

2313
03:34:48,140 --> 03:34:49,720
They come because of the museum.

2314
03:34:50,220 --> 03:34:54,200
They come here and then all of a sudden they discover, well, there's all of this.

2315
03:34:54,200 --> 03:34:59,920
And they go and they walk the river walk they eat at restaurants they shop in the

2316
03:35:00,000 --> 03:35:29,540
In shops, they stay in extra night at the hotels. They just talk about that we had a completely different impression of what Pueblo was. That impression is changing for the better. They want to come back, they want to bring their friends, they want to tell their friends, their relatives, bring their kids, and they do. We've hardly been open two months and we're seeing in person repeat business.

2317
03:35:29,540 --> 03:35:33,420
from people who live in Pueblo, bringing their friends,

2318
03:35:33,580 --> 03:35:35,460
their out-of-town guests, their relatives.

2319
03:35:38,120 --> 03:35:42,540
It is a driver, it's making Pueblo a destination.

2320
03:35:43,420 --> 03:35:47,660
Kids are learning, kids I was just surprised to see

2321
03:35:51,890 --> 03:35:55,770
teenagers engaged actively, without looking at their phones.

2322
03:35:56,290 --> 03:35:57,470
How often do you see that?

2323
03:35:57,470 --> 03:36:04,350
That phone during the pocket, the teenagers are really excited about what they're doing, the adults.

2324
03:36:05,520 --> 03:36:13,550
We get a lot of groups of multi-generational families, grandparents, parents, children.

2325
03:36:14,230 --> 03:36:19,710
How many places can you go where everyone in each of those groups has something to do that

2326
03:36:19,710 --> 03:36:22,030
interests them and inspires them?

2327
03:36:23,510 --> 03:36:33,630
I was there when that birthday boy who happened to be 97 that Joe talked about and his family

2328
03:36:33,630 --> 03:36:39,030
came and they spent hours there and every one of them loved it, he loved it.

2329
03:36:39,750 --> 03:36:44,890
It's just a real resource, it's, and David, David.

2330
03:36:45,370 --> 03:36:45,830
Thank you.

2331
03:36:46,010 --> 03:36:47,330
It's changing Pueblo.

2332
03:36:47,810 --> 03:36:48,070
Thank you.

2333
03:36:48,070 --> 03:36:48,950
Hi,

2334
03:36:58,240 --> 03:37:04,480
my name is Eleonara Bartoli, and first of all, I hope you all visited the museum

2335
03:37:05,440 --> 03:37:11,080
and you realized how fun it is, like everybody's saying, and fun for all ages.

2336
03:37:12,060 --> 03:37:26,840
And I want to thank you for making the case that this is a legal ordinance or whatever, as

2337
03:37:26,840 --> 03:37:31,020
I was supposed to do a lot of stuff that was said on Facebook and other places.

2338
03:37:31,900 --> 03:37:34,640
So thank you and thank you the mayor for supporting this.

2339
03:37:35,540 --> 03:37:39,820
And anyway, it was wonderful to go there.

2340
03:37:40,400 --> 03:37:44,700
I also went on the first day, supposed to stay there for an hour and a half.

2341
03:37:44,980 --> 03:37:47,060
But I stayed for three hours and

2342
03:37:47,880 --> 03:37:52,200
still closing time and I'm definitely planning to go back for the manuscripts,

2343
03:37:52,200 --> 03:38:03,080
which is so special because all the manuscripts are Leonardo are in bits and pieces all over the world and we have all the copies here so it will be really special.

2344
03:38:04,140 --> 03:38:16,220
Leonardo has always been particularly important to me because I was born and raised in the area about ten miles from Vinci and he's always been my favorite Italian.

2345
03:38:16,220 --> 03:38:23,140
and it should be the one that we have a statue to, my opinion.

2346
03:38:25,300 --> 03:38:32,860
So please vote yes on this and help these people that are put $1.8 million that I'm

2347
03:38:32,860 --> 03:38:37,700
bringing all these people in to visit that are putting Pueblo on the map.

2348
03:38:40,020 --> 03:38:44,360
And I would like to ask you, maybe if you're

2349
03:38:44,360 --> 03:38:49,260
indecided about this vote, think about 10 or 5 or 10 years

2350
03:38:49,260 --> 03:38:49,820
from now.

2351
03:38:50,420 --> 03:38:53,520
And if you vote yes, or if you vote no.

2352
03:38:54,940 --> 03:38:57,960
And if you vote yes, and the Da Vinci succeeds.

2353
03:38:58,340 --> 03:39:00,400
And if you vote yes, and the Da Vinci fails.

2354
03:39:01,100 --> 03:39:03,400
And if you vote no, and the Da Vinci succeeds.

2355
03:39:04,120 --> 03:39:06,600
And if you vote yes, and if you vote no,

2356
03:39:06,600 --> 03:39:13,460
and the Davinci failed. There's only those four possibilities in the future. And if you can put

2357
03:39:13,460 --> 03:39:18,240
yourself in the future and see what future do you want and how you want to feel about yourself

2358
03:39:18,240 --> 03:39:24,520
and how do you want others to feel about you, please think about your yes or no and therefore

2359
03:39:25,380 --> 03:39:27,420
possibilities. Thank you so much.

2360
03:39:36,260 --> 03:39:40,220
I'm Joel Carpenter. I'm one of the artists and residents at the

2361
03:39:40,220 --> 03:39:48,220
museum everything everything's been said except this one point you know I've

2362
03:39:48,220 --> 03:39:52,560
been in problem my whole life I love problem and you know I went to college here

2363
03:39:52,560 --> 03:39:59,780
and I stayed here and I get really tired of out-of-town comments

2364
03:40:00,000 --> 03:40:28,940
It's about Pueblo. It's a ghetto, pew town, you know. And then people come down here, you know, they see the river walk. They go into the museum. And the common is that I get consistently in the museum is I had no idea Pueblo had such class. You know, that's what we need. We need, you know, it's part of growing up as a city. We no longer depend on the CF and I alpha beta and Rockwell.

2365
03:40:29,520 --> 03:40:33,400
That's all you needed, the PAD, that's all you needed, that's all anybody wanted.

2366
03:40:33,980 --> 03:40:41,640
Well, it's a new age and I think we need to keep up with that and how we do that,

2367
03:40:42,120 --> 03:40:49,360
is we bring things like the museum in, that bring people in, tourists love that place.

2368
03:40:49,540 --> 03:40:52,660
I'm there almost every day and people are just amazed.

2369
03:40:53,020 --> 03:40:54,400
It's a world-class museum.

2370
03:40:54,400 --> 03:41:00,860
you could find it in New York, London, Paris, it would fear right in and you know this is

2371
03:41:00,860 --> 03:41:07,280
a problem. This is great for a problem. You know and I understand that you know a problem

2372
03:41:07,280 --> 03:41:15,800
has many needs and you know I'm a social Democrat so I'm always leaning towards you know spending

2373
03:41:15,800 --> 03:41:23,360
money on social programs but this is something that can go along with that. We need to do

2374
03:41:23,360 --> 03:41:32,460
both things at once. We need to care for people and society and we need to present culture

2375
03:41:32,460 --> 03:41:37,300
like this museum. So, anyway, that's all.

2376
03:41:37,760 --> 03:41:38,240
Thank you.

2377
03:41:46,980 --> 03:41:51,700
Hello, good evening. My name is Jean Aurego, and I do work at the museum. I'm the director

2378
03:41:51,700 --> 03:41:58,400
of operations there. I've been there for about a year now. As has been mentioned, our museum's

2379
03:41:58,400 --> 03:42:04,920
mission is to ignite curiosity, encourage exploration, and inspire innovation that will

2380
03:42:04,920 --> 03:42:07,200
lead to unique and creative outcomes.

2381
03:42:08,200 --> 03:42:14,760
The students that come into our museum of any age and right now I can tell you you're

2382
03:42:14,760 --> 03:42:19,260
hearing we've got 98 year olds and we have six month olds.

2383
03:42:20,620 --> 03:42:24,640
These are our future leaders and these are our entrepreneurs.

2384
03:42:24,640 --> 03:42:34,220
We have created a space very intentionally that is a safe space for any one of any color

2385
03:42:34,220 --> 03:42:41,240
of any creed and speaks any language that they may come into this space and feel welcomed

2386
03:42:41,830 --> 03:42:43,580
and want to learn.

2387
03:42:44,340 --> 03:42:51,020
This is a safe space so that the youth may become, discover what they want to become, whether

2388
03:42:51,020 --> 03:42:57,160
Whether it is an artist, or an engineer, or a fashionista, or a physician, or an architect,

2389
03:42:57,860 --> 03:43:00,440
or perhaps something entirely new.

2390
03:43:01,500 --> 03:43:08,120
Their future may begin with a single moment of wonder, and all of us have experienced

2391
03:43:08,120 --> 03:43:08,440
that.

2392
03:43:08,800 --> 03:43:12,380
One moment in your life that will change your future.

2393
03:43:12,840 --> 03:43:16,780
That is what this museum is intended to be.

2394
03:43:16,780 --> 03:43:24,300
Our museum and science center exist to create moments of wonder.

2395
03:43:25,480 --> 03:43:30,220
Museums preserve the stories of humanity's, the greatest achievements.

2396
03:43:30,880 --> 03:43:34,440
They protect the fragile thread that connects us from the past

2397
03:43:34,440 --> 03:43:39,020
while inspiring the innovation that shapes our future.

2398
03:43:39,960 --> 03:43:43,000
A museum is a classroom without walls.

2399
03:43:43,000 --> 03:43:47,520
A museum is a university without tuition.

2400
03:43:48,320 --> 03:43:53,740
A museum is a sanctuary where curiosity is welcomed regardless of the age or background.

2401
03:43:54,680 --> 03:44:01,900
The Alarn Leonardo da Vinci museum has shown its ability already in a very, very short period of time.

2402
03:44:03,790 --> 03:44:09,830
It's shown its ability to impact our pueblo community that providing added tourism and

2403
03:44:09,830 --> 03:44:12,430
and river walk activity with businesses increasing

2404
03:44:12,750 --> 03:44:14,210
for our surrounding neighbors.

2405
03:44:15,790 --> 03:44:17,630
Yes, we need your help.

2406
03:44:19,190 --> 03:44:20,310
We've done what we can,

2407
03:44:20,870 --> 03:44:22,750
and we really want to move quickly.

2408
03:44:23,030 --> 03:44:24,190
There's a lot of impatience,

2409
03:44:24,190 --> 03:44:26,830
where all want instant gratification,

2410
03:44:26,830 --> 03:44:30,110
and we are working very hard to try

2411
03:44:30,590 --> 03:44:34,910
to create the best space that is safe.

2412
03:44:35,570 --> 03:44:37,450
And we already are needing to expand

2413
03:44:37,450 --> 03:44:38,850
because we have so many students.

2414
03:44:38,850 --> 03:44:45,440
And I would be grateful for your support in this phase of our development.

2415
03:44:45,860 --> 03:44:46,740
Thank you for your time.

2416
03:44:55,830 --> 03:44:57,110
Well, good evening.

2417
03:44:57,990 --> 03:44:59,870
I'm Barbara Vidmar, the last.

2418
03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:29,260
Last time you saw me was February 23rd, and I'm sure you're pretty surprised that I'm here in favor of the museum. To refresh everybody's memory on February 23rd, you all voted to amend the appropriate criteria, standards, rules and regulations for the appropriation and expenditure of the monies in the half-cent sales tax fund. I'm here to tell you.

2419
03:45:29,260 --> 03:45:34,400
that the DaVinci Museum fits well into this amended criteria.

2420
03:45:38,440 --> 03:45:41,450
I know there's been a lot of chatter on social media.

2421
03:45:42,390 --> 03:45:45,870
However, you are the seven people,

2422
03:45:46,210 --> 03:45:50,950
the ones elected to make important decisions on our behalf.

2423
03:45:51,470 --> 03:45:58,490
And you are in a position to know the relevant facts as opposed to just social chatter.

2424
03:45:59,090 --> 03:46:01,070
And I hope you will vote accordingly.

2425
03:46:01,530 --> 03:46:02,250
Thank you.

2426
03:46:14,380 --> 03:46:18,840
Hi, my name is Betty Joe, I work for the city for many years.

2427
03:46:19,560 --> 03:46:21,720
But before I came to the city, I worked for the art center.

2428
03:46:22,960 --> 03:46:28,940
And I remember back when it was being built and being additions added on all that, if

2429
03:46:28,940 --> 03:46:35,440
it wasn't for the contributions and the support of city council for the city of public and

2430
03:46:35,440 --> 03:46:38,400
the county, the art center wouldn't be what it is today.

2431
03:46:42,540 --> 03:46:48,940
Over the years, the arts had to use the money that was given to them to grow and become what it is today.

2432
03:46:50,120 --> 03:46:52,480
That is what the devention museum is trying to do.

2433
03:46:55,180 --> 03:47:02,540
It is offering the citizens the same thing that the arts center is offering, but in a bigger area.

2434
03:47:03,960 --> 03:47:08,180
When I worked at the arts center, many people will say, God, I wish you had a cafe.

2435
03:47:08,180 --> 03:47:16,320
I wish there was a place we could get sit down and have a drink, or a cup of coffee, or if they had their kids there, I could buy them a snack.

2436
03:47:17,700 --> 03:47:24,020
But that's what this museum is asking for, is to be able to offer those saying that a

2437
03:47:24,020 --> 03:47:31,980
amenity that is needed to keep the business downtown, and they're not going back home, hungry or thirsty.

2438
03:47:33,300 --> 03:47:49,360
I honestly believe that the city would not be in odds on this topic if it wasn't for what the city and pet court experiencing together right now in the past pet go support at the art center.

2439
03:47:50,520 --> 03:48:00,940
But because of the smear campaign that has, we just point it in the people who are doing this smear campaign, they're doing it for revenge and not for

2440
03:48:00,940 --> 03:48:04,800
what's better for the better of the citizens of Pueblo.

2441
03:48:07,390 --> 03:48:10,330
I'm asking you to please vote to give the city,

2442
03:48:10,510 --> 03:48:17,370
to give the museum this money, because it will bring more visitors to Pueblo,

2443
03:48:18,070 --> 03:48:23,770
put a place on the map that even Denver would be envious of us.

2444
03:48:24,570 --> 03:48:30,350
I have people who have come from Denver and said, wow, you guys have really changed since last time I was here.

2445
03:48:32,170 --> 03:48:41,150
Let us grow. It's time for the Good Old Boy Clubs, the old regime to move over and make

2446
03:48:41,150 --> 03:48:45,670
room for the new generation. You guys are it. Thank you.

2447
03:48:54,380 --> 03:48:59,280
Good evening. My name is Jeffrey Moore. I am the exhibits coordinator at the Leonardo

2448
03:48:59,280 --> 03:49:05,080
Da Vinci Museum of North America. I like to add that. It should always be added in North

2449
03:49:05,080 --> 03:49:12,300
America. It's in the title. We are an international museum. To reiterate a few of those stories.

2450
03:49:12,540 --> 03:49:19,040
It is true every day I talk to people from all over the state. People who came here only to go

2451
03:49:19,040 --> 03:49:24,500
to the museum. At that point they asked for where to go get coffee, where should we have lunch.

2452
03:49:27,170 --> 03:49:33,910
They want to stay. One story from that is I met a man and woman who came up from Santa Fe and

2453
03:49:33,910 --> 03:49:39,150
And they stopped here at the museum, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America,

2454
03:49:41,300 --> 03:49:41,720
just

2455
03:49:41,720 --> 03:49:42,180
a visit.

2456
03:49:42,680 --> 03:49:46,600
The man said, we live 45 minutes away in Colorado Springs.

2457
03:49:47,240 --> 03:49:51,120
We are going to spend the night right here instead of driving home.

2458
03:49:52,620 --> 03:49:59,980
A quick story, I'm like every one or not everyone, but at my age, we left Pueblo, we...

2459
03:50:00,000 --> 03:50:08,960
Explored life we went after a dream, and a lot of us came back to Pueblo, being their family, which I am very happy to have come back and be near my family.

2460
03:50:10,980 --> 03:50:30,840
If I had been told at any time in my life, that I was working for an international museum in Pueblo, Colorado, there's no way I would ever believe that. I am here to say that the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America,

2461
03:50:31,460 --> 03:50:35,380
is one of the greatest things we have in North America,

2462
03:50:35,640 --> 03:50:38,140
and it is right here under our nose.

2463
03:50:38,980 --> 03:50:39,700
Thank you.

2464
03:50:50,410 --> 03:50:51,550
Good evening, City Council.

2465
03:50:52,730 --> 03:50:54,230
I don't work for the museum.

2466
03:50:55,090 --> 03:50:57,010
Unlike a lot of these folks do,

2467
03:50:57,890 --> 03:51:03,170
but I'm here to strongly support what they're doing.

2468
03:51:03,450 --> 03:51:04,670
Could you state your name, please?

2469
03:51:04,810 --> 03:51:06,570
Yes, I'm sorry, Bernie Zerker.

2470
03:51:08,830 --> 03:51:16,010
It has been said that this is a world-class museum, and I just want to add a little bit

2471
03:51:16,010 --> 03:51:17,770
of emphasis to that.

2472
03:51:18,770 --> 03:51:27,010
There are two Leonardo da Vinci museums in Florence, Italy, one from the artisans of Florence,

2473
03:51:27,470 --> 03:51:31,190
the main one, and then another offshoot of that museum.

2474
03:51:31,190 --> 03:51:36,770
have attended both of those museums multiple times but I have to tell you that

2475
03:51:36,770 --> 03:51:44,210
what these folks have done here in this space far far exceeds either one of

2476
03:51:44,210 --> 03:51:51,690
those museums so the claim that it is a world-class museum is not not at all

2477
03:51:51,690 --> 03:52:00,970
unfounded it is a fact this is a beautiful beautiful place by multiple factors as

2478
03:52:00,970 --> 03:52:06,510
As a longtime resident, no, I wasn't born and raised here, but I've been here for 50

2479
03:52:06,510 --> 03:52:07,070
years now.

2480
03:52:07,710 --> 03:52:14,710
I think that qualifies me for not for residency, but I didn't go to high school here, I'm

2481
03:52:14,710 --> 03:52:14,890
sorry.

2482
03:52:18,210 --> 03:52:24,930
But this is one of the greatest things that has happened in Pueblo in that 50 years.

2483
03:52:24,930 --> 03:52:31,690
have strongly supported economic development all of these years and has a contractor have

2484
03:52:31,690 --> 03:52:40,130
profited from those economic development efforts but the thinking that and the way the statute

2485
03:52:40,130 --> 03:52:47,810
has been changed to allow for tourism development as an economic development tool I think is a brilliant

2486
03:52:47,810 --> 03:52:55,350
move. I support the Division Museum personally and I would encourage each of you to support

2487
03:52:55,350 --> 03:52:58,250
the museum and to vote yes. Thank you.

2488
03:53:05,670 --> 03:53:11,950
Good evening. I know you guys are tired. My name is Trisha Burton and unlike the last guy,

2489
03:53:12,130 --> 03:53:18,250
I did go to high school here and I have two boys at South Plain Football and one at Corwin. So,

2490
03:53:18,250 --> 03:53:23,850
Brian, I just want to bring that perspective here professionally. I spent the last 21 years working

2491
03:53:23,850 --> 03:53:27,830
in the sciences and high-periodic chemical manufacturing facility right here in Pueblo.

2492
03:53:28,330 --> 03:53:33,210
Through that experience, I've seen firsthand how exposure to science, technology,

2493
03:53:33,470 --> 03:53:38,590
engineering, and innovation can be in shaping a young person's future, excuse me.

2494
03:53:39,090 --> 03:53:42,690
As a mother, this project is especially meaningful to me.

2495
03:53:43,110 --> 03:53:47,530
My three boys are thriving in Pueblo city schools, strong students, athletes,

2496
03:53:48,190 --> 03:53:52,830
and I care deeply about creating opportunities that help young people see what's possible for

2497
03:53:52,830 --> 03:53:55,210
for the future right here, right here in the city.

2498
03:53:55,950 --> 03:53:58,650
That same spirit is why I believe the museum matters so much.

2499
03:53:58,810 --> 03:54:02,070
The STEAM education opportunities, this will bring to Pueblo students and families,

2500
03:54:02,290 --> 03:54:08,550
have the potential to inspire curiosity, creativity, and future career pathways, and a truly meaningful way.

2501
03:54:09,770 --> 03:54:12,650
As the first one in North America, I love that.

2502
03:54:13,130 --> 03:54:13,550
I love that.

2503
03:54:13,950 --> 03:54:20,230
This project also has a potential to become a meaningful tourism destination for Pueblo, as I've already been mentioned many times.

2504
03:54:20,230 --> 03:54:25,810
I met someone who grew up in Pueblo, and built my career here, raising my family here.

2505
03:54:26,330 --> 03:54:30,250
I deeply care about creating opportunities for the next generation and

2506
03:54:30,250 --> 03:54:36,290
supporting projects that bring pride, innovation, long-term growth to our city.

2507
03:54:37,270 --> 03:54:42,250
I believe we're called to invest in our communities and in our children and this project reflects that spirit.

2508
03:54:42,750 --> 03:54:44,870
So just respectfully ask for a vote of yes.

2509
03:54:45,410 --> 03:54:45,950
Thank you.

2510
03:54:45,950 --> 03:54:47,410
Thank you.

2511
03:54:54,030 --> 03:54:55,630
Okay, that closes the

2512
03:54:56,350 --> 03:54:57,490
on the phone chat.

2513
03:54:58,250 --> 03:54:59,970
You wouldn't do

2514
03:55:00,000 --> 03:55:02,820
I have to go up here, because I don't know if you'll let me speak when I get over there.

2515
03:55:04,900 --> 03:55:29,980
President A.L.F. and members of council, tonight you find yourself at a two-way stop. One direction leads to a new way of thinking on our community while the other leaves us here, stagnant and status quo. We can build a community that attracts visitors, families, entrepreneurs, educators, employers, and investors. We can strengthen downtown specifically in your district, Councilor Latino. We can create places that people want to

2516
03:55:29,980 --> 03:55:33,080
to experience with the amenities and family fun experiences.

2517
03:55:33,660 --> 03:55:39,060
And we can stop acting as though Pueblo's best option is simply to defend the status quo and

2518
03:55:39,060 --> 03:55:43,160
keep nearly $70 million of untouched potential in the bank.

2519
03:55:44,180 --> 03:55:53,840
That is the choice behind the item, R3 that is proposed tonight, the Economic Development Agreement for Project ED-2602, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America.

2520
03:55:53,840 --> 03:56:00,100
America. It proposes an $885,000 place making investment from the existing half-cent sales

2521
03:56:00,100 --> 03:56:05,720
economic development fund for a divine public purpose that will result in a public economic

2522
03:56:05,720 --> 03:56:11,480
development benefit. In its first 30 days open to the public, the museum welcomed more

2523
03:56:11,480 --> 03:56:17,100
than 7,000 paying visitors, with 55% of them traveling from outside Colorado, including

2524
03:56:17,100 --> 03:56:22,620
guests from 39 states and seven countries. The museum also hosted nine educational field

2525
03:56:22,620 --> 03:56:27,780
trips, has four additional field trips scheduled, served more than 200 students, and preparing

2526
03:56:27,780 --> 03:56:33,660
to launch a growing lineup of classes, workshops, camps, and school partnerships inspired

2527
03:56:33,660 --> 03:56:34,800
by Leonardo da Vinci.

2528
03:56:35,440 --> 03:56:40,320
The question before City Council tonight is not whether one business or activity is entitled

2529
03:56:40,320 --> 03:56:41,100
to public funding.

2530
03:56:41,460 --> 03:56:41,940
They are not.

2531
03:56:42,540 --> 03:56:47,880
The question is whether this project meets the criteria council adopted, whether it advances

2532
03:56:47,880 --> 03:56:53,500
is a genuine public purpose and whether the agreement contains safeguards needed to protect public taxpayers.

2533
03:56:54,360 --> 03:56:58,600
Placemaking means the process in act of creating high quality public spaces and

2534
03:56:58,600 --> 03:57:02,880
amenities that encourages people to want, live, play, and work in our community.

2535
03:57:03,580 --> 03:57:09,260
You approve the criteria ordinance with the change of a five to two vote on February 23rd.

2536
03:57:09,440 --> 03:57:17,020
As a result of the approved changes, up to 15% of the uncommitted sales tax fund improvements can now fund economic catalysts,

2537
03:57:17,020 --> 03:57:21,820
economic leakage place making, the DaVinci Museum represents one of these.

2538
03:57:22,660 --> 03:57:27,380
A primary job means employment resulting from a regional tourism project approved by

2539
03:57:27,380 --> 03:57:32,540
the Colorado Economic Development Commission, which qualifies for state sales tax increment

2540
03:57:32,540 --> 03:57:35,720
revenue pursuant to the Colorado Regional Tourism Act.

2541
03:57:36,320 --> 03:57:36,940
Well guess what?

2542
03:57:37,360 --> 03:57:41,740
That was approved by the Economic Development Commission in February of 2025.

2543
03:57:42,580 --> 03:57:46,800
Approving the proposed DaVinci Museum, a place-making project, is just one of many

2544
03:57:46,800 --> 03:57:51,560
of the tiny steps in our new direction, and I ask for council to support this tonight.

2545
03:57:52,300 --> 03:57:56,240
I see a past city councilman sitting in the office in the audience tonight,

2546
03:57:56,440 --> 03:58:01,580
councilman Larry Attencio, and councilman Attencio used to always lead with saying,

2547
03:58:01,860 --> 03:58:03,220
think bigger, Pueblo.

2548
03:58:03,640 --> 03:58:05,900
And so tonight, I hope we can do that.

2549
03:58:06,200 --> 03:58:06,680
Thank you.

2550
03:58:13,510 --> 03:58:15,090
Do you want to speak in favor?

2551
03:58:15,390 --> 03:58:15,770
Come on down.

2552
03:58:27,970 --> 03:58:33,750
Hello, council. I'm Tara Chorheal. Thank you so much for your time tonight. I know that you've had a long night.

2553
03:58:35,070 --> 03:58:40,730
This is a project I support, and I worked for the museum watching it grow from day one.

2554
03:58:41,610 --> 03:58:49,990
Many said this museum wouldn't happen. Not only did it happen, but within two months more than 13,000 visitors have visited the museum.

2555
03:58:49,990 --> 03:58:57,630
and on a very lean budget, the museum has managed to consistently get positive press coverage

2556
03:58:57,630 --> 03:59:01,070
regionally and all across the state as well as nationally.

2557
03:59:02,550 --> 03:59:07,970
Never did I expect to see nursing homes bringing tours of seniors to the museum,

2558
03:59:08,750 --> 03:59:14,430
many in wheelchairs, nor did I expect to see those in the disability community coming in tours.

2559
03:59:14,430 --> 03:59:19,810
our children who struggle with ADHD playing for hours in the back of the museum.

2560
03:59:22,620 --> 03:59:26,120
Lord, did I expect to see so many groups coming in from Colorado Springs?

2561
03:59:27,900 --> 03:59:32,440
The restaurants nearby have called staff at the museum asking that their

2562
03:59:32,440 --> 03:59:37,240
hours are because they've had to increase their weight staff to handle load of

2563
03:59:37,240 --> 03:59:41,160
visitors that are coming in to the restaurants after they go to the museum.

2564
03:59:47,760 --> 03:59:48,360
I

2565
03:59:48,360 --> 03:59:51,220
spend the other half of my time here in Pueblo, I grew up here.

2566
03:59:52,780 --> 03:59:59,980
I am taken aback by how many people in Denver knew about this museum, and I love Bragg.

2567
04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:29,840
Thanking that I've been part of it. It is a huge attraction for some of the people in Denver. And friends in Colorado Springs list a few of the museums that they have, that this museum is so much better. But thinking ahead, if you want to fast forward to November, there's a strong chance that public voters along with all of the voters along the front range passenger rail district will decide if they're going to bring the Colorado

2568
04:00:29,840 --> 04:00:35,300
connector known as Cocoa the Train to Pablo and the stops there will go all

2569
04:00:35,300 --> 04:00:40,200
the way from full Collins along Mount Loveland all the way out to Boulder with

2570
04:00:40,200 --> 04:00:47,980
Mansor and Lucille down to Denver, Colorado Springs and then to Pablo and there

2571
04:00:47,980 --> 04:00:52,620
is no doubt in my mind that although we have some seasonal attractions like the

2572
04:00:52,620 --> 04:00:58,760
State Fair and the Cherry Festival and a handful of other museums the

2573
04:00:58,760 --> 04:01:01,460
The Division Museum is in close walking distance

2574
04:01:01,460 --> 04:01:05,240
to putting in a depot where that transition will stop.

2575
04:01:05,700 --> 04:01:08,040
The Division Museum will be limited

2576
04:01:08,040 --> 04:01:11,560
or just attractions bringing people from all over the state

2577
04:01:12,100 --> 04:01:15,260
and with this I urge you to support the Division Museum.

2578
04:01:15,520 --> 04:01:15,900
Thank you.

2579
04:01:23,330 --> 04:01:26,070
Is there anyone else wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance?

2580
04:01:29,910 --> 04:01:32,430
Saying none, is there anyone here wishing to speak

2581
04:01:32,430 --> 04:01:33,610
against this ordinance?

2582
04:01:36,250 --> 04:01:36,770
Out of order.

2583
04:01:36,770 --> 04:01:37,590
Have

2584
04:01:41,460 --> 04:01:45,800
us Martinez and just a point of order mayor Graham did not say her name for the record

2585
04:01:46,900 --> 04:01:53,360
Okay, so elections have consequences folks and it was posted on Facebook that Mr. Grayo or Guayo

2586
04:01:54,300 --> 04:02:00,880
With a video said that they will not be asking for any taxpayer money whatsoever

2587
04:02:02,420 --> 04:02:08,160
Wow, if she was on Moray Povage light detector proven that's a lie and also

2588
04:02:08,160 --> 04:02:10,380
So I'll get into it in a minute.

2589
04:02:10,820 --> 04:02:13,640
They have also got some grant money, yeah.

2590
04:02:14,760 --> 04:02:20,780
So this item is the most BS item that has ever been on council agenda.

2591
04:02:21,400 --> 04:02:30,210
They don't need our hard earned taxpayer dollars in this to fund it.

2592
04:02:30,530 --> 04:02:35,830
Named after someone, if he was probably born hundreds of years of later,

2593
04:02:37,110 --> 04:02:38,450
he would be in the Epstein files.

2594
04:02:41,680 --> 04:02:44,060
Because it's out there, you could look it up.

2595
04:02:44,720 --> 04:02:46,260
Mr. President, point forward to it.

2596
04:02:46,260 --> 04:02:47,540
When he was born,

2597
04:02:50,010 --> 04:02:53,390
he did have a factuation for little boys.

2598
04:02:54,270 --> 04:02:55,870
Will the museum teach that?

2599
04:02:56,250 --> 04:02:57,290
No, they won't.

2600
04:02:57,330 --> 04:02:57,950
Not the truth.

2601
04:02:58,150 --> 04:03:01,410
And all of this is not the real McCoy.

2602
04:03:01,750 --> 04:03:05,690
It is funny that all of a sudden a link that I have,

2603
04:03:06,810 --> 04:03:08,830
that link has disappeared.

2604
04:03:09,270 --> 04:03:11,770
But it's good thing I posted on Facebook and copied it.

2605
04:03:11,770 --> 04:03:18,670
because it has a list of donors, wow, and the consultant which is Senator Alamartinus,

2606
04:03:18,670 --> 04:03:22,370
I wonder if that's the same Senator Martinez that was on council in the past.

2607
04:03:23,050 --> 04:03:27,530
And just to list a couple of them donors is the high paying mail in our Dandy Rose.

2608
04:03:27,770 --> 04:03:32,870
He's also the president of the Board of Directors of Southern Colorado Foundation.

2609
04:03:33,390 --> 04:03:38,350
It also bill and bar Vidmar donated, but it's unclear on how much these people donated.

2610
04:03:38,350 --> 04:03:38,610
We need it.

2611
04:03:40,290 --> 04:03:45,890
Quiet back there, Mr. Martinez, you're not in charge of the meeting.

2612
04:03:46,210 --> 04:03:49,590
So here, I just need you to finish your time.

2613
04:03:49,730 --> 04:03:50,590
My time is ticking.

2614
04:03:51,270 --> 04:03:51,590
Go ahead.

2615
04:03:52,930 --> 04:03:56,730
This has scam and con artists in all over this.

2616
04:03:57,150 --> 04:04:08,090
Joe and company shouldn't have to pay for the cafe, the build out, the marketing, the furniture, everything that they're asking for for the $885,000.

2617
04:04:08,090 --> 04:04:14,010
An employee told me last week that in the first 60 days 11,000 tickets were sold depending

2618
04:04:14,010 --> 04:04:20,570
on the amount that were sold, say 55% of them were children and 45% were adults, I'm just

2619
04:04:20,570 --> 04:04:29,210
estimating. That is $137,500. If that stays on track, they would get about $825,000 within

2620
04:04:29,210 --> 04:04:36,710
the first year, just a ticket sales. A grant request was filled out on 228.26 by Sarah

2621
04:04:36,710 --> 04:04:43,130
Al Martinez, like I stated, and that was for almost $15,000 which they were awarded.

2622
04:04:43,230 --> 04:04:43,630
Thank you.

2623
04:04:43,970 --> 04:04:46,870
Is there anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance?

2624
04:04:49,140 --> 04:04:49,640
Come on down.

2625
04:04:58,080 --> 04:04:58,680
Get your button.

2626
04:04:59,200 --> 04:04:59,560
Get your button.

2627
04:05:00,000 --> 04:05:29,980
It's not easy being the one against something, but I'm Nikki Hart, and I'm a taxpayer standing up for what voters meant this fund to support, and that is jobs. Your decision tonight is bigger than one museum. It is the first major test of a fundamentally expanded interpretation for a fund public has relied upon to create jobs. Future applicants will point to this choice and ask why they shouldn't receive the same incentives, and how do you say no?

2628
04:05:29,980 --> 04:05:35,960
to one if you say yes to one. The mayor asked what changed last week and the

2629
04:05:35,960 --> 04:05:40,500
short answer is that the facts changed and they continue to change as you've

2630
04:05:40,500 --> 04:05:45,640
seen tonight. The museum's funding representations and their visitor numbers

2631
04:05:45,640 --> 04:05:52,000
change almost daily. The mayor herself manufactured the vacancy and she is the

2632
04:05:52,000 --> 04:05:56,400
one that pressured pure to evict PBR in order to give this space to the museum.

2633
04:05:57,460 --> 04:05:59,920
That is on the record.

2634
04:06:01,000 --> 04:06:06,040
Serious governance and fiduciary concerns emerged, and the city conveniently established

2635
04:06:06,040 --> 04:06:11,260
a new half-sent funding pathway shortly before the museum applied for their funding.

2636
04:06:12,220 --> 04:06:18,660
Last August, I left the project, along with four others, including two board members and

2637
04:06:18,660 --> 04:06:20,060
the organization's bookkeeper.

2638
04:06:20,800 --> 04:06:26,000
At the time, I shared my concerns directly with the museum's board and the mayor's office

2639
04:06:26,000 --> 04:06:32,200
through Haley Sue Robinson. I'm speaking out now because the museum's request for public funding,

2640
04:06:32,680 --> 04:06:38,500
not because I oppose the museum itself. I supported the original version and I still do believe

2641
04:06:38,500 --> 04:06:45,680
that a steam-focused attraction can be valuable to public and our youth. But there's some things

2642
04:06:45,680 --> 04:06:53,920
that still remain questions. For example, there was no RFP for this project. This was done privately

2643
04:06:53,920 --> 04:06:58,040
and people submitted at the mayor's request, it was not open to the public.

2644
04:06:58,700 --> 04:07:04,880
Finage is not an eligible use of the funds or a project value according to the half-send fund.

2645
04:07:05,440 --> 04:07:11,440
And how can a competitive bid exist as fund criteria mandates when the agreement allows reimbursement back to April?

2646
04:07:12,960 --> 04:07:19,000
Project Valcon faced significant scrutiny over their jobs, but this museum is being openly supported.

2647
04:07:20,340 --> 04:07:24,200
This museum is not the question tonight, the funding and the jobs are.

2648
04:07:26,180 --> 04:07:31,440
Build the jobs economy first, and you will be able to watch and see how much pueblo can afford to build together.

2649
04:07:32,340 --> 04:07:37,560
That will be a significant milestone for our community, and you can quote me on that, Mayor.

2650
04:07:39,040 --> 04:07:45,620
And I do want to warn the city that should this pass tonight, and you decide to vote for this funding.

2651
04:07:45,620 --> 04:07:55,960
I am providing warning that this will be tapered, challenged, because I will uphold what these voters said and council cannot override that original job's purpose.

2652
04:07:56,780 --> 04:08:01,180
And I do have the RTA handout for you guys so that you can actually see what that meant.

2653
04:08:06,990 --> 04:08:09,950
Anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance,

2654
04:08:13,820 --> 04:08:16,560
saying none the hearings closed is their motion to approve?

2655
04:08:16,560 --> 04:08:23,260
Who said that? Councillor Gomes is there a second? Second by Councillor Latino.

2656
04:08:25,890 --> 04:08:26,270
Questions?

2657
04:08:27,090 --> 04:08:27,750
Councillor Dante.

2658
04:08:32,440 --> 04:08:40,620
This is a great facility, great organization. And it's true that most

2659
04:08:40,620 --> 04:08:42,420
everything that was said is true.

2660
04:08:44,660 --> 04:08:47,920
But I need to look at my foodishary responsibility.

2661
04:08:49,160 --> 04:08:55,560
And that means if I were a bank and was loaning $885,000, what would I want?

2662
04:08:55,980 --> 04:08:58,020
I would want bank statements.

2663
04:08:58,620 --> 04:09:00,060
I would want tax returns.

2664
04:09:00,460 --> 04:09:01,460
I would want the budget.

2665
04:09:03,100 --> 04:09:10,600
Some things that I've seen that I'm worried about is that memberships.

2666
04:09:10,840 --> 04:09:13,680
I've not seen one membership and I've asked three times.

2667
04:09:14,440 --> 04:09:16,120
I even took my grandchildren there.

2668
04:09:16,120 --> 04:09:23,260
I've been there twice as an adult, once as a grandmother, and they never approached me for membership.

2669
04:09:25,000 --> 04:09:28,580
CSAT, they haven't applied to CSAT, you can.

2670
04:09:29,700 --> 04:09:35,120
Also, I've heard that there's, like was said earlier, the RTA has $17 million.

2671
04:09:36,020 --> 04:09:45,960
Are they able to apply for that $17 million or are they using what was left from the previous

2672
04:09:45,960 --> 04:09:47,900
as PBR.

2673
04:09:51,240 --> 04:09:59,680
I'd also like to know who I'd like to hear from the actual operators, which

2674
04:09:59,680 --> 04:09:59,960
I did.

2675
04:10:00,000 --> 04:10:09,620
Good tonight. And I'd also like to see detailed information on their capital improvements, their

2676
04:10:09,620 --> 04:10:17,780
renovations, their remodel. What does that look like? Who the actual owner is?

2677
04:10:20,360 --> 04:10:21,160
I would

2678
04:10:21,160 --> 04:10:28,760
just like to get more information, and because of that, I would like to postpone this and

2679
04:10:28,760 --> 04:10:35,220
and get an actual work session and get the information that I need to make a good decision

2680
04:10:35,220 --> 04:10:42,100
on this. I'm not saying I'm against it. I'm not saying I'm for it. Not until I actually

2681
04:10:42,100 --> 04:10:49,360
do all my research, am I going to be able to say exactly what I'm going to do. Thank

2682
04:10:49,360 --> 04:10:54,180
you. Councillor Gomez. Yeah. I guess for me,

2683
04:10:54,180 --> 04:10:58,520
You know, everybody on this Council is so supportive of the idea of this facility.

2684
04:10:59,080 --> 04:11:02,420
I know I'm on I have an art background, there's a lot of mural work, not just here,

2685
04:11:02,500 --> 04:11:08,760
but Chicago and Florida and I've done a lot of work in the city, but what you don't do,

2686
04:11:09,720 --> 04:11:12,340
maybe it's my background and law enforcement, you don't lie to me.

2687
04:11:13,500 --> 04:11:19,820
Okay, when I had two prominent speakers on behalf of the museum, specifically get up there

2688
04:11:19,820 --> 04:11:23,700
and it's on video, we don't need any funding from the city.

2689
04:11:23,700 --> 04:11:28,280
We can handle this ourselves. That's a problem for me, okay?

2690
04:11:28,800 --> 04:11:37,220
When you give me your word that you don't need and you're going to move forward and that's what you get me to bite into and then you come back later on

2691
04:11:37,220 --> 04:11:42,860
And ask for 1.85 million. What am I supposed to do with that with my fiduciary responsibility to this taxpayer?

2692
04:11:43,280 --> 04:11:44,460
I'm supposed to ignore that

2693
04:11:45,280 --> 04:11:46,280
Is that what you want?

2694
04:11:47,000 --> 04:11:53,340
And when I just throw our hands up and say say whatever you want we have nine other museums that are subsidized in the city

2695
04:11:53,700 --> 04:11:58,680
Let's see where we are, nine months from now, seven months from now, in reference to the numbers

2696
04:11:58,680 --> 04:12:05,220
they're giving us currently. Of course, they're expanded. Wait, let's see if they contract.

2697
04:12:05,820 --> 04:12:10,140
Let's see what the actual numbers are going to, because we're going to get set up again. And that's

2698
04:12:10,140 --> 04:12:16,880
what I feel like. I was set up, because I really believe I want this to work, believe me, I really do.

2699
04:12:17,480 --> 04:12:22,600
But the mistake you made with me, I don't know what the rest of the council, you lied to me. Thank you.

2700
04:12:23,760 --> 04:12:24,640
Thank you.

2701
04:12:25,400 --> 04:12:26,580
Anybody else?

2702
04:12:28,880 --> 04:12:29,820
Councillor Hernandez?

2703
04:12:30,380 --> 04:12:31,420
Carla, can you come back up?

2704
04:12:33,060 --> 04:12:33,400
Please.

2705
04:12:33,840 --> 04:12:34,340
Thank you.

2706
04:12:37,050 --> 04:12:40,530
Can you pull up your budget?

2707
04:13:03,250 --> 04:13:03,510
Okay.

2708
04:13:03,750 --> 04:13:07,210
Can you tell me what

2709
04:13:09,230 --> 04:13:12,950
the timeframe is for each of these items?

2710
04:13:17,200 --> 04:13:20,480
I cannot, but someone from DaVinci probably could.

2711
04:13:20,480 --> 04:13:27,640
I do know that some of these may have already been started, which is why in the agreement

2712
04:13:27,640 --> 04:13:32,880
you see, because this has gone through council a couple of different times, their original

2713
04:13:32,880 --> 04:13:38,820
application was filed back in April, which is why we put in the agreement that expenses

2714
04:13:38,820 --> 04:13:42,600
would date back to April because this process has taken some time.

2715
04:13:43,140 --> 04:13:45,420
So some of these things are already underway.

2716
04:13:45,420 --> 04:13:50,820
Okay, so I do not know specifically where they are in the process, but I'm sure somebody

2717
04:13:50,820 --> 04:13:53,060
from DaVinci could probably answer that question.

2718
04:13:53,580 --> 04:13:59,580
Okay, so the next question ahead was, I don't see gift shop on this budget.

2719
04:14:13,030 --> 04:14:14,410
The gift shop is part of the ask.

2720
04:14:14,570 --> 04:14:20,450
So the gift shop was part of the ask, so I'm not sure where that falls in with these numbers.

2721
04:14:20,710 --> 04:14:23,150
So would that be something that would be backpapelied?

2722
04:14:23,150 --> 04:14:26,270
That may be something that was back all the way from April, yes.

2723
04:14:26,270 --> 04:14:32,030
Can you tell me how much revenue Da Vincius has generated in the two months and two weeks?

2724
04:14:34,840 --> 04:14:41,860
So with the information that was provided to City Council with the ordinance, there was some graphs and.

2725
04:14:42,100 --> 04:14:44,940
Yeah, I didn't get any number, they're had numbers, but not a total number.

2726
04:14:51,180 --> 04:14:54,760
The reason I'm asking now, I'm not trying to cause trouble for anybody.

2727
04:14:55,000 --> 04:14:59,960
But on, I think it was when the mayor did her press conference, she read.

2728
04:15:00,000 --> 04:15:29,660
I'm offering 7,000 and then I've heard 11,000 today and then 13,000 as well. So I'm just trying to figure out what those actual numbers might be. I think I can speak to my number. So the 7,000 isn't a dollar amount. It's number of visitors. Absolutely. But I took this from their press release from several weeks ago. So the higher numbers are probably the more accurate numbers. So do we have, do we know how much revenue that they've raised?

2729
04:15:29,660 --> 04:15:31,920
in those from those 13,000?

2730
04:15:31,920 --> 04:15:32,460
Yes.

2731
04:15:32,460 --> 04:15:38,160
It looks like here in the information it was,

2732
04:15:48,780 --> 04:15:51,340
I'm not seeing revenue, all I'm seeing is

2733
04:15:51,340 --> 04:15:56,000
numbers of visitors and the information that I have.

2734
04:15:59,050 --> 04:16:05,890
Was anyone here from Davinci that can give us the numbers or give Councillor Hernandez

2735
04:16:05,890 --> 04:16:06,530
the numbers?

2736
04:16:20,920 --> 04:16:26,900
I did not bring the numbers that you're asking for now with me tonight, but I can tell

2737
04:16:26,900 --> 04:16:28,520
I don't know why the discrepancy of numbers.

2738
04:16:28,700 --> 04:16:34,720
The first numbers you received when we first applied were like the first 30 days.

2739
04:16:35,260 --> 04:16:39,860
Then you began to see numbers like 11,000 in the first 60 days.

2740
04:16:40,440 --> 04:16:42,660
And the last number was-

2741
04:16:42,660 --> 04:16:43,640
The 13,000?

2742
04:16:43,720 --> 04:16:49,820
Yeah, oh, yes, and it was, those were dated August the 10th.

2743
04:16:49,840 --> 04:16:54,220
Now out of those, like I said, I'm sorry I don't have that information with me.

2744
04:16:54,220 --> 04:17:01,200
But we have absolute numbers from ticket sales, from gift shop sales,

2745
04:17:01,500 --> 04:17:07,720
zip codes for more they come from our system documents, all of that, and I can provide that.

2746
04:17:08,220 --> 04:17:13,840
So as one of the earlier people said, ticket sales are only a piece of what happens.

2747
04:17:14,020 --> 04:17:20,540
The other things that have to happen are the gift shop, and we're trying to add the coffee cafe.

2748
04:17:21,140 --> 04:17:22,600
And that will be a revenue source.

2749
04:17:22,600 --> 04:17:28,560
and the impact of having all of these together will help get us closer to the goal.

2750
04:17:29,340 --> 04:17:40,580
But so, can you, Joe, can you tell me what your annual expected revenue from ticket sales or from end or gift shop sales are going to be?

2751
04:17:43,020 --> 04:17:46,360
It's always been projections because of the moment and so on.

2752
04:17:46,920 --> 04:17:53,760
We have projected 40,000 tickets sales per year.

2753
04:17:53,760 --> 04:17:54,180
Okay.

2754
04:17:54,680 --> 04:18:01,940
And the gift shop revenue we anticipated in our budget is at 200,000.

2755
04:18:02,180 --> 04:18:05,400
Okay, so what is the $40,000 ticket sales?

2756
04:18:05,600 --> 04:18:07,140
What is that equate to in dollars?

2757
04:18:08,220 --> 04:18:16,760
You know, depending on memberships and we have sold very nearly 200 memberships and

2758
04:18:16,760 --> 04:18:21,160
they vary from dual memberships to grandparent memberships and so on so forth.

2759
04:18:21,160 --> 04:18:29,620
I do not have all of that in my mind, I certainly can provide it, but it goes into our budget for the year.

2760
04:18:29,900 --> 04:18:30,480
Okay, thank you.

2761
04:18:30,560 --> 04:18:43,600
The other question I had is, so with regards to OEDA, to the RTA, they have a placement qualifications from OEDA, correct?

2762
04:18:44,440 --> 04:18:50,980
From RTA, why haven't, if they have that designation, why have they not applied for

2763
04:18:50,980 --> 04:18:52,820
or OIDF funds, for RTA funds?

2764
04:18:54,140 --> 04:18:55,060
So they could.

2765
04:18:55,500 --> 04:18:58,680
They would have to go back up to the state

2766
04:19:00,860 --> 04:19:03,420
because the city of Pablo has roughly.

2767
04:19:03,780 --> 04:19:04,560
Nine million left?

2768
04:19:05,280 --> 04:19:06,180
I don't think it's that high.

2769
04:19:06,420 --> 04:19:07,860
I think it's about four million dollars.

2770
04:19:08,060 --> 04:19:09,480
I feel all the bond payments have been made

2771
04:19:09,480 --> 04:19:10,500
into the future.

2772
04:19:10,860 --> 04:19:12,440
So I think it's about four million dollars.

2773
04:19:13,140 --> 04:19:16,100
But that money is also could be potentially used

2774
04:19:16,100 --> 04:19:17,060
for the aquatic center.

2775
04:19:17,320 --> 04:19:19,140
So you have some-

2776
04:19:19,140 --> 04:19:27,640
But I have the minutes from the meeting and I'm going to read you exactly what it says.

2777
04:19:29,050 --> 04:19:31,520
That staff recommended the approval of the change in use.

2778
04:19:31,980 --> 04:19:36,180
The commission then hereby approves the change in use in the public convention center facilities,

2779
04:19:36,680 --> 04:19:42,640
partially funded by the RTA award, previously occupied by PBR University to allow the facilities

2780
04:19:42,640 --> 04:19:57,520
to host DMNA, subject to the DMNA in period providing annual reports on out of store state visitation and other information as requested by Oedit or required by the terms of the RTA resolution one as previously amended.

2781
04:19:57,520 --> 04:19:59,980
So when we talk to thank you when we talk

2782
04:20:00,000 --> 04:20:05,440
We talked to, oh, where did it last Wednesday night? Last Wednesday night, we talked to Jeff and

2783
04:20:05,980 --> 04:20:11,720
Jay, and Eve, right? They expressed to me that they didn't think that it would be an issue for

2784
04:20:11,720 --> 04:20:17,920
divinity to get some of that, some of those dollars. They said it couldn't fast track it, so

2785
04:20:17,920 --> 04:20:21,760
it wouldn't be an immediate thing, but it also wouldn't be a long process for them to receive those money.

2786
04:20:21,860 --> 04:20:27,840
So I'm wondering when we got this designation in February or why we didn't do it at that time.

2787
04:20:28,440 --> 04:20:40,400
Those avenues were never explored to come and ask the city for additional funds through or edit through the RTA because of the additional phase of the river walk, meaning the aquatic center.

2788
04:20:40,740 --> 04:20:40,880
Okay.

2789
04:20:45,720 --> 04:20:50,340
Just one last thing, Carla, can you go to your 14-485-1?

2790
04:20:52,200 --> 04:20:58,260
I just have a question with regards to, let's, it's 7B, excuse me.

2791
04:21:01,160 --> 04:21:10,200
I don't disagree with your statement, whether it fits or not, I just don't have a, I don't have enough information.

2792
04:21:10,600 --> 04:21:15,340
I'm not an attorney, you are, so you're the city's attorney, so, you know, I'll have to take your word for it.

2793
04:21:15,400 --> 04:21:21,120
The only thing that I don't understand is when you go to be, it says, employment resulting from regional tourism.

2794
04:21:21,600 --> 04:21:24,000
The part that's missing for me is the employment part.

2795
04:21:25,880 --> 04:21:31,560
So the primary job is to have employment resulting from regional tourism projects.

2796
04:21:32,000 --> 04:21:39,680
So when it's part of the regional tourism district and we have, they are employing people.

2797
04:21:40,300 --> 04:21:47,340
In the past, we have never, because if it's part of the regional tourism project, we have

2798
04:21:47,340 --> 04:21:50,760
not tied it to specific jobs in the past.

2799
04:21:51,000 --> 04:21:51,620
Okay, gotcha.

2800
04:21:51,620 --> 04:21:53,740
Joe, how many employees are currently employed?

2801
04:21:54,100 --> 04:22:02,960
And I just add, what happens, I think what you need to understand is when tourists come into town, and they buy things,

2802
04:22:03,700 --> 04:22:07,900
it takes service people to serve them.

2803
04:22:08,000 --> 04:22:14,580
And I think that must have been part of the reasoning about how tourism creates jobs.

2804
04:22:14,580 --> 04:22:15,140
the employment.

2805
04:22:15,460 --> 04:22:15,620
Yes.

2806
04:22:18,820 --> 04:22:21,240
And again, what were you asking?

2807
04:22:22,980 --> 04:22:23,980
How many employees do you have?

2808
04:22:24,140 --> 04:22:24,400
Thank you.

2809
04:22:25,040 --> 04:22:31,380
Right now, I believe we are at 14 or 15 FTEs.

2810
04:22:31,820 --> 04:22:34,240
In other words, we have-

2811
04:22:34,240 --> 04:22:35,300
Do you have some part-time symptoms?

2812
04:22:35,440 --> 04:22:35,620
Six.

2813
04:22:35,980 --> 04:22:36,140
Yes.

2814
04:22:36,680 --> 04:22:41,860
Because we're open seven days a week, we have to alternate that and some people are only working

2815
04:22:42,620 --> 04:22:51,120
1332 hours and we will take that depending on that but right now we are I think 14 or 15

2816
04:22:51,120 --> 04:22:52,640
FTEs okay.

2817
04:22:53,300 --> 04:22:58,600
And so if I could also expand a little bit Councillor Hernandez so typically when you have

2818
04:22:58,600 --> 04:23:03,340
a primary job they're creating something and they have a service that is then marketed

2819
04:23:03,340 --> 04:23:08,720
outside of the community right so when you have people that are working in this type of

2820
04:23:08,720 --> 04:23:14,920
industry. They're not creating a service. The service is performed here. All right. So it's different

2821
04:23:14,920 --> 04:23:19,440
than the primary job that you think about because they're not creating something that is shipped

2822
04:23:19,440 --> 04:23:25,000
outside of the city or a service that is shipped outside the city. The thing that is outside the

2823
04:23:25,000 --> 04:23:30,440
city, the new money that's being brought in are the tourists that are being imported to the city.

2824
04:23:31,060 --> 04:23:34,800
So they're employees. So the outside dollars that are coming in. Right. It's the outside dollars

2825
04:23:34,800 --> 04:23:41,820
that are coming in. So, the customers are being imported for the jobs to service them.

2826
04:23:42,100 --> 04:23:42,240
Right.

2827
04:23:42,640 --> 04:23:49,780
Okay, so it's a little bit different model, but it's still employees that are servicing them.

2828
04:23:50,040 --> 04:23:57,240
And I just the last question, can you tell me that there was mention tonight of where we sit with regards to table?

2829
04:23:58,040 --> 04:24:00,100
Where do we sit with regards to table?

2830
04:24:00,100 --> 04:24:10,320
So, this is our ordinance, we have interpreted it, it's our voter approved initiative.

2831
04:24:11,020 --> 04:24:18,580
And so, any citizen can bring a table challenge to it, they'd bring it in district court,

2832
04:24:19,140 --> 04:24:27,580
and then the district court judge would determine whether or not it has been interpreted, but it

2833
04:24:27,580 --> 04:24:28,660
hasn't been challenged.

2834
04:24:28,660 --> 04:24:30,540
So people can bring a table challenge.

2835
04:24:30,660 --> 04:24:39,380
This one because it's a voter approved initiative, it wouldn't be a typical table challenge.

2836
04:24:39,380 --> 04:24:45,360
Does that change with regard to the fact that it was a council that changed the criteria and not the citizens?

2837
04:24:45,980 --> 04:24:54,700
So the voters approve City Council to create the correct area when they approve the ballot.

2838
04:24:54,700 --> 04:24:59,900
the ballot directs them to the ordinance which allows City Council to create the

2839
04:25:00,000 --> 04:25:09,940
The criteria and regulations to determine how the money is spent. And so that's been in the case for a very long time.

2840
04:25:10,920 --> 04:25:24,320
The criteria has been developed and changed over the years. It was codified in 2012 into the code. And it's been amended a couple of different times.

2841
04:25:24,320 --> 04:25:27,200
Okay, that's it. Thank you.

2842
04:25:27,200 --> 04:25:28,220
Councillor Latino.

2843
04:25:30,120 --> 04:25:37,240
Yes, the museum is in my district and I'm obviously

2844
04:25:40,540 --> 04:25:43,960
very pleased with what's going on.

2845
04:25:44,680 --> 04:25:49,220
It's obviously a catalyst for this community in terms of a draw.

2846
04:25:49,220 --> 04:26:02,090
But I've had nine museums in the city and county Pebble lobby meet today with regards to the finances.

2847
04:26:03,130 --> 04:26:10,230
The Heritage Museum, the Rosemond, the Wisebroad, Risebrood, Aircraft Museum, which had a big event this past weekend.

2848
04:26:11,690 --> 04:26:18,470
The Bule Children's Museum, Pebble Railroad Museum, Railway Museum, the San Francisco Arts and Conference Center.

2849
04:26:18,470 --> 04:26:21,450
Rosemite Carriage Museum, the Alpube Museum,

2850
04:26:22,350 --> 04:26:23,890
and we have the Home of Heroes Museum.

2851
04:26:28,250 --> 04:26:37,280
I really want to help, but I just can't approve the request.

2852
04:26:37,520 --> 04:26:38,120
I just can't.

2853
04:26:39,950 --> 04:26:43,830
We've got coffee shops, the sacred bean right down the street.

2854
04:26:44,150 --> 04:26:46,350
We've got the solar roast up here.

2855
04:26:47,470 --> 04:26:54,090
We're competing against our own community with city money.

2856
04:26:54,090 --> 04:27:03,630
And that doesn't sit well in a free enterprise, in a republic or democratic environment.

2857
04:27:04,910 --> 04:27:06,390
It doesn't work.

2858
04:27:07,390 --> 04:27:09,670
And so that's where I am.

2859
04:27:09,850 --> 04:27:17,430
I guess I need more information, but based on the contacts that I've had and the fact

2860
04:27:17,430 --> 04:27:23,630
that we're dealing with other organizations in this community, at this point in time I

2861
04:27:23,630 --> 04:27:24,630
I can't support it.

2862
04:27:26,970 --> 04:27:40,800
So what I would, how I respond to you, Councillor Lutino, is that all the other museums can apply for funds from the House and Sales Tax under the place making if they meet the criteria.

2863
04:27:41,740 --> 04:27:52,920
So you folks change the criteria. If they meet the criteria, they can also apply. Currently, the city does fund these other museums and subsidize them.

2864
04:27:52,920 --> 04:28:00,980
So, the city is subsidizing these other museums that you mentioned, it's just not out-of-the-half-since-sales tax fund.

2865
04:28:01,940 --> 04:28:10,640
And so, the city's already doing that through rent subsidies for the railroad heritage museum.

2866
04:28:12,240 --> 04:28:16,720
I think they pay $10 a year in rent to the city.

2867
04:28:16,720 --> 04:28:21,900
So that's a pretty large subsidy from the Rail and the Heritage Museum.

2868
04:28:22,600 --> 04:28:27,660
I've also provided you with information about the art center.

2869
04:28:28,120 --> 04:28:36,120
The city of Pueblo has given the art center over $1.7 million in the last five years out of the general fund.

2870
04:28:36,480 --> 04:28:38,560
Really with no strings attached.

2871
04:28:38,820 --> 04:28:45,640
It was just non-departmental ask that came forward to city council, that city council funded.

2872
04:28:45,640 --> 04:28:50,920
This agreement before you looks much different tonight because there's actually milestones

2873
04:28:51,620 --> 04:28:55,960
that this museum has to meet in order to keep this money.

2874
04:28:56,440 --> 04:29:01,720
That is not the case for maybe the other nine museums that you have spoken about.

2875
04:29:02,340 --> 04:29:09,080
And when you and I spoke earlier today, we had also talked about how if these museums were

2876
04:29:09,080 --> 04:29:15,520
able to put a collective application together when it comes to increasing tourism, that

2877
04:29:15,520 --> 04:29:23,380
But that is something that City Council could also support, as long as it was to fall within the criteria of the ordinance that you voted to change.

2878
04:29:24,580 --> 04:29:33,800
But just so you know, all of these museums are receiving or have received a subsidy as big as $1.7 million to the art center.

2879
04:29:34,360 --> 04:29:44,340
Not only did the art center just receive 1.7 from the city, last year the Urban or No authority also gave them $400,000 in which they've been working to do their.

2880
04:29:44,940 --> 04:29:47,160
expansion that you currently see going on.

2881
04:29:47,580 --> 04:29:50,300
So there has been a lot of public funds that have been

2882
04:29:50,300 --> 04:29:52,520
vested throughout the community,

2883
04:29:52,820 --> 04:29:54,980
throughout all of our great museums that you spoke about.

2884
04:29:55,520 --> 04:29:59,780
Well, it's my understanding also that the museum

2885
04:29:59,780 --> 04:29:59,960
Let's go.

2886
04:30:00,000 --> 04:30:18,000
On B Street, they're in the process of buying that building. They have submitted an L.O.I. to city council in which we did this and executive session a few weeks ago. Right. I met with them last week. I got that. Yes. Okay. Thank you.

2887
04:30:18,000 --> 04:30:25,700
You know, it was a fun, point changes hard, changes really hard, and I think it's hard

2888
04:30:25,700 --> 04:30:26,440
on everybody.

2889
04:30:27,550 --> 04:30:36,240
You know, in February and there were several meetings before February, you know, I personally

2890
04:30:36,240 --> 04:30:41,580
argued passionately to change the criteria ordinance.

2891
04:30:42,060 --> 04:30:46,580
I thought that this is literally a way forward for this community.

2892
04:30:47,300 --> 04:30:51,340
We've been hearing for years and years and years.

2893
04:30:51,940 --> 04:30:53,540
We need to be doing something.

2894
04:30:53,740 --> 04:30:55,660
This pet co is not working out.

2895
04:30:56,020 --> 04:30:58,680
The way that we spend our lives, not working out,

2896
04:30:59,220 --> 04:31:00,600
we need to do something.

2897
04:31:00,860 --> 04:31:03,240
So, low and behold, we do something,

2898
04:31:03,500 --> 04:31:05,380
and then all health breaks loose.

2899
04:31:06,820 --> 04:31:06,980
Right?

2900
04:31:07,380 --> 04:31:08,840
Now it's a disaster.

2901
04:31:10,520 --> 04:31:11,080
And

2902
04:31:13,220 --> 04:31:16,720
the reality is we made a bold move.

2903
04:31:16,720 --> 04:31:24,880
five city councilors in February said we want to change this. We want to change, we

2904
04:31:24,880 --> 04:31:28,980
want to have a paradigm shift within the city of Pueblo when it comes to economic

2905
04:31:28,980 --> 04:31:38,140
development. There are other ways to make money within a community and just because it's

2906
04:31:38,140 --> 04:31:45,900
a museum doesn't mean it shouldn't be blackball because it's has museum on it. What does

2907
04:31:45,900 --> 04:31:47,200
Does it bring to the community?

2908
04:31:47,440 --> 04:31:53,500
You had person after person come up here and tell us what does it bring to the community?

2909
04:31:53,660 --> 04:31:56,100
It brings a whole heck of a lot to the community.

2910
04:31:56,560 --> 04:32:02,020
Even those against are not against the museum, just against the way that we're attempting

2911
04:32:02,020 --> 04:32:03,300
to give them some money.

2912
04:32:03,920 --> 04:32:09,520
But if it qualifies, under the change of the criteria ordinance, and five counselors out

2913
04:32:09,520 --> 04:32:12,700
of seven said, we want to change that criteria ordinance.

2914
04:32:12,700 --> 04:32:18,160
We want to change the way that Pueblo does business when it comes to economic development

2915
04:32:18,160 --> 04:32:21,340
that I think you need to put your vote or your mouth is.

2916
04:32:27,780 --> 04:32:31,240
And people are going to be mad.

2917
04:32:31,760 --> 04:32:34,780
People are going to be mad and they're going to say you shouldn't have done that.

2918
04:32:34,960 --> 04:32:37,760
And then there's going to be people that are going to say that's the best thing you could

2919
04:32:37,760 --> 04:32:38,460
have ever done.

2920
04:32:38,700 --> 04:32:40,320
That's the way every vote goes.

2921
04:32:40,320 --> 04:32:45,320
It's not just this vote, nobody's ever going to agree on everything.

2922
04:32:45,800 --> 04:32:49,920
This meets the criteria that City Council put in place.

2923
04:32:50,620 --> 04:32:57,740
It meets the criteria that was changed in 2011 when City Council says we're going to long

2924
04:32:58,520 --> 04:33:02,000
urban renewal $14 million for RTA projects.

2925
04:33:03,980 --> 04:33:09,920
I didn't see a plethora of people standing in line to say that's a misuse of the money

2926
04:33:09,920 --> 04:33:10,880
I never saw that.

2927
04:33:11,580 --> 04:33:17,280
I never saw when we decided during the pandemic when Councillor

2928
04:33:17,280 --> 04:33:18,380
Winner said, you know what?

2929
04:33:18,680 --> 04:33:23,740
I think we ought to take $5 million out of the half-cent sales tax fund and loan it to

2930
04:33:23,740 --> 04:33:24,180
businesses.

2931
04:33:25,160 --> 04:33:29,440
There was nothing written in the criteria ordinance that said we could do that, but we said

2932
04:33:29,440 --> 04:33:30,200
yeah, you know what?

2933
04:33:30,300 --> 04:33:32,760
We think we should do that because it's the right thing to do.

2934
04:33:35,330 --> 04:33:41,150
So I mean, you can get all twisted up, all twisted up on the way things, on how you want

2935
04:33:41,150 --> 04:33:45,830
to interpret something, but the reality is it fits the definition.

2936
04:33:46,330 --> 04:33:54,930
It fits the definition, it's a good project, and we have invested, invested, a tremendous

2937
04:33:54,930 --> 04:33:58,050
amount of energy for this to be successful.

2938
04:33:58,770 --> 04:34:01,430
So let's not throw them to the Wolf City Council.

2939
04:34:01,670 --> 04:34:08,190
Let's not say this isn't worthy of, you know, when they came to town, we said it's worthy,

2940
04:34:08,190 --> 04:34:10,830
But now that they want some money, we say they're not worthy.

2941
04:34:11,150 --> 04:34:13,250
I don't know why somebody says they don't need money,

2942
04:34:13,390 --> 04:34:14,650
and then they do need money.

2943
04:34:15,050 --> 04:34:19,990
But my goodness, this is exactly what we set out to do

2944
04:34:19,990 --> 04:34:21,950
when we made that vote in February.

2945
04:34:22,310 --> 04:34:24,190
So I'm supporting you.

2946
04:34:27,700 --> 04:34:28,180
Not really.

2947
04:34:29,120 --> 04:34:30,480
Thank you, Mr. President.

2948
04:34:32,600 --> 04:34:34,660
I have been able to tour the museum,

2949
04:34:34,660 --> 04:34:36,920
and I think it's a wonderful asset to the community.

2950
04:34:36,920 --> 04:34:42,000
And of the 20 people that testified on this today,

2951
04:34:42,240 --> 04:34:50,260
you went over and over about the actual programming that is being done in this facility.

2952
04:34:50,580 --> 04:34:57,100
However, only $250,000 of the proposed budget is for programming that is presented today.

2953
04:34:57,380 --> 04:34:59,980
We don't have any information on-

2954
04:35:00,000 --> 04:35:28,980
How much money it's actually made? We don't, Mr. Arrigo himself could not bring good data to us today to tell us any of the information. This is your money. And yes, city council stood here in February, 30 days into being sworn in and 60 days out of an election that you voted for a certain thing when you voted to put this fund back and it meant for primary jobs. We decided as a council.

2955
04:35:28,980 --> 04:35:37,320
to change that? And so my question to you is to the 12,000 voters who did not approve

2956
04:35:37,720 --> 04:35:43,840
with this five of the council decided are those 12,000 voters going to be okay with us

2957
04:35:43,840 --> 04:35:51,060
funding this project way it is we didn't even had a word from the community when that decision

2958
04:35:51,060 --> 04:35:57,500
was made in February. So my proposal is I would like to move that we postpone this vote

2959
04:35:57,500 --> 04:36:06,440
and invite Mr. Arrigo himself to come before the council and provide us with, you're asking for city money Mr. Arrigo

2960
04:36:06,440 --> 04:36:17,400
and so I think that the fair thing to do at this point in time is I would be willing to offer a work session come September the 8th

2961
04:36:17,400 --> 04:36:25,160
where you can come with answers and speak to the public about all of the things that you're proposing

2962
04:36:25,160 --> 04:36:37,340
giving us the numbers that have come through, your financials, all of that is important for us to maintain the fiscal, the fiduciary duty to the voters who are going to be spending their money.

2963
04:36:37,800 --> 04:36:48,820
And what's being proposed now is only from what, and this was just given to us today, as we're getting ready to make a vote of what the anticipated budget looks like.

2964
04:36:48,820 --> 04:36:52,900
So just to answer some questions, I think that's fair to the community.

2965
04:36:53,800 --> 04:37:00,020
There's also questions around what happens, this is only according to this ordinance, seven years.

2966
04:37:00,280 --> 04:37:08,040
So what happens after seven years, then who owns the renovations that your taxpayer dollars are paying for?

2967
04:37:08,400 --> 04:37:16,960
So I just feel like, at this point, there are several voices on the council today that still don't have all the information.

2968
04:37:16,960 --> 04:37:22,820
And the other piece, too, is I feel like you need to answer to the community when,

2969
04:37:23,020 --> 04:37:26,900
twice, there's work from the museum that you are not going to come and

2970
04:37:26,900 --> 04:37:29,640
ask the city for money to fund the project.

2971
04:37:30,360 --> 04:37:35,980
So, if we can, we have to defend, or why we're doing that when that was what was

2972
04:37:35,980 --> 04:37:37,540
happening at the beginning of it.

2973
04:37:37,700 --> 04:37:42,180
So, that is the, I feel a fair approach at this point to give us the information

2974
04:37:42,180 --> 04:37:44,880
that we need to make the decision.

2975
04:37:44,880 --> 04:37:51,040
So I would like to be fair to be fair alone and I understand what Councilor Reeves Gomez is saying

2976
04:37:51,040 --> 04:37:53,100
But when this all started

2977
04:37:53,100 --> 04:38:01,400
What was sent over to city council was a complete breakdown of the the venturing museum all the projections

2978
04:38:01,400 --> 04:38:10,900
Everything was in our packet when this when this all began if we didn't read it. I can't tell you this verified

2979
04:38:11,560 --> 04:38:13,840
That's what I we can get a lot of information

2980
04:38:13,840 --> 04:38:18,680
I guess, so again, you're calling him a liar and just saying that whatever their

2981
04:38:18,680 --> 04:38:23,480
thrown us is lies and we're going to have to sit here and micromanage. Could you please

2982
04:38:23,480 --> 04:38:27,400
have your accountant, your checkbooks and all your bring all your money, all your cash,

2983
04:38:27,520 --> 04:38:32,620
everything that you have, so city council can see exactly what you have. I mean, that's

2984
04:38:32,620 --> 04:38:36,280
what we're asking. But that's all you ask of everybody who's asking for city dollars. It's

2985
04:38:36,280 --> 04:38:42,740
not outrageous request. The original had it open.

2986
04:38:42,740 --> 04:38:51,140
So the original packet that was originally submitted had all that information and the other thing just to respond to you Councillor Ruiz Gomez

2987
04:38:51,140 --> 04:38:55,380
Is everything that's in the building all the fixtures all of the improvements

2988
04:38:56,180 --> 04:39:01,760
Become the property of urban renewal and stay with the building so all of that stays with the building

2989
04:39:01,760 --> 04:39:06,540
It's a public building and those those assets then become public assets

2990
04:39:07,320 --> 04:39:12,540
So the improvements all the money that's being invested in that building is going to improve

2991
04:39:12,740 --> 04:39:13,640
a public asset.

2992
04:39:14,900 --> 04:39:16,700
Well, we have a, we need to take care of business.

2993
04:39:16,880 --> 04:39:18,500
We have a motion to postpone.

2994
04:39:18,660 --> 04:39:20,140
Can I like the, I like the make of a comment.

2995
04:39:20,180 --> 04:39:23,720
We, you will be able to, there's a motion that we have

2996
04:39:23,720 --> 04:39:28,520
to deal with, a motion to postpone to when September 48th.

2997
04:39:28,820 --> 04:39:30,800
September, thank you, Mr. President.

2998
04:39:31,040 --> 04:39:33,420
September 14th, and I will put this on the work session

2999
04:39:34,280 --> 04:39:35,000
September 8th.

3000
04:39:35,000 --> 04:39:37,660
Is there, I would invite Mr. Arrigo back to answer.

3001
04:39:37,680 --> 04:39:41,280
Is there a second on, second by Councillor Dante?

3002
04:39:41,280 --> 04:39:43,700
say, comments, Councilor Gomez.

3003
04:39:44,400 --> 04:39:47,620
What you're asking me to do is be complicit.

3004
04:39:48,420 --> 04:39:52,040
The half-set sales tax dollars were not for this.

3005
04:39:52,220 --> 04:39:56,420
The primary definition of a primary job is not being any of this.

3006
04:39:56,520 --> 04:39:59,900
And you're asking me to be complicit with that when I know

3007
04:40:00,000 --> 04:40:29,760
I'm not doing it because it's, I'm going to share something that shocked me. I got a call from somebody that was very close to you, and then you're, I'm not going to give his identity away. But when he made a statement to you, I couldn't quite figure it out. And his statement to me was basically Mr. Eurego, you're not going to be able to afford to the one that you're asking for. I couldn't figure it out at first. I figured it out and he said, you're going to regret it. It was at 1.87 million.

3008
04:40:29,760 --> 04:40:32,720
The next day, it's shaved down by a million dollars.

3009
04:40:32,940 --> 04:40:36,420
Why did you ask for 1.8, and then shave it down to a million dollars?

3010
04:40:36,540 --> 04:40:37,940
Why did you ask for it in the first place?

3011
04:40:38,340 --> 04:40:42,300
If you'll allow me to answer that.

3012
04:40:42,740 --> 04:40:49,400
When we first applied for the 1.8 you're talking about, there were two sections.

3013
04:40:50,500 --> 04:40:56,260
One was the capitalization that exists, the 885,000.

3014
04:40:56,260 --> 04:41:01,540
the other remaining amount was for personnel, for employees.

3015
04:41:02,540 --> 04:41:10,640
And what happened was it took so long for that process to happen, we were already opening,

3016
04:41:10,920 --> 04:41:13,160
and we were already hiring employees.

3017
04:41:13,860 --> 04:41:23,820
And what we were told was our original application would not allow us to count the people that

3018
04:41:23,820 --> 04:41:25,020
we had already hired.

3019
04:41:25,020 --> 04:41:34,220
We were looking at 25 people over a two year period for employment and we had already

3020
04:41:34,220 --> 04:41:39,700
hired this 14 FTE and they said well no you now you have to hire 25 more.

3021
04:41:40,380 --> 04:41:46,020
The circumstances change they wouldn't allow us to count the people that we had already

3022
04:41:46,020 --> 04:41:46,560
hired.

3023
04:41:47,040 --> 04:41:54,560
Therefore I said we can't possibly do that, it's not logical, it's not responsible and

3024
04:41:54,560 --> 04:42:01,080
And so will you consider just the capitalization of what we're doing to finish remodeling the

3025
04:42:01,080 --> 04:42:08,680
building and have a greater impact with the programs that we're creating, the spaces

3026
04:42:08,680 --> 04:42:17,080
that you're talking about, Councilman Dante, part of it is to have spaces to increase

3027
04:42:17,080 --> 04:42:25,400
that programming for steam and depending on how the construction goes, all of that construction

3028
04:42:25,400 --> 04:42:32,180
belongs to the building and belongs to the city. Everything we've put in so far and everything

3029
04:42:32,180 --> 04:42:37,380
we're talking about here that's construction, it's part of the building and belongs to the city.

3030
04:42:37,460 --> 04:42:42,200
I don't think you would do anything else here in the questions we're asking you because you're asking

3031
04:42:42,200 --> 04:42:47,540
this council to accept everything you're saying. We have the mayor who just basically admitted

3032
04:42:47,540 --> 04:42:53,060
that it's going to probably be another 1.7 million subsidy museum down the road here. I

3033
04:42:53,060 --> 04:42:59,540
don't want to do that. I don't think so. I'm talking about the other. Let me finish. The other

3034
04:42:59,540 --> 04:43:06,000
museums were having subsidies up to 1.7 million. Do you say that or not? I did. But this, not this

3035
04:43:06,000 --> 04:43:07,220
That's the museum counselor Gomez.

3036
04:43:07,660 --> 04:43:08,600
You know, we're not here.

3037
04:43:09,740 --> 04:43:12,220
On other sub-city, is that City Council closed.

3038
04:43:12,220 --> 04:43:13,620
I'm not gonna take the risk on that, bet.

3039
04:43:13,820 --> 04:43:15,420
I'm sorry, this is what you have to do.

3040
04:43:15,580 --> 04:43:17,520
That's why you have a fiduciary responsibility.

3041
04:43:18,180 --> 04:43:20,280
We have, I'll be honest with you, mayor.

3042
04:43:20,840 --> 04:43:24,380
You have, we have to depend on a city council attorney.

3043
04:43:24,740 --> 04:43:26,400
We have one dismissal after the other.

3044
04:43:26,640 --> 04:43:29,720
I'm not feeling really good about our legal attorney, I'm sorry.

3045
04:43:30,280 --> 04:43:32,460
We're going to take another, we're going to get caught again.

3046
04:43:33,200 --> 04:43:37,640
We're going to get caught again and we just had to do this missiles on two pet pet go votes

3047
04:43:37,640 --> 04:43:42,300
We got a fraud a fraud vote coming up. We're sitting here like none of this stuff matters

3048
04:43:42,300 --> 04:43:46,480
Well, it matters to me. I'm not going to violate my oath to me

3049
04:43:46,480 --> 04:43:49,840
Not just the oath to the city. I'm telling you this is

3050
04:43:50,580 --> 04:43:53,780
If what it came to us straight up said this is what we need to do up front

3051
04:43:54,280 --> 04:43:58,700
This is oh, we don't we do actually need some help. We don't need funding

3052
04:43:58,700 --> 04:44:01,980
That's what you set us up for, and that's what we bid on.

3053
04:44:02,280 --> 04:44:03,940
This is your fault, not ours.

3054
04:44:11,050 --> 04:44:11,490
I

3055
04:44:14,110 --> 04:44:16,790
really want to find a reason to vote yes for this.

3056
04:44:17,470 --> 04:44:20,190
I really do, because I think it's a great thing for public.

3057
04:44:20,450 --> 04:44:26,630
I think it's, and as far as museums are concerned, my grandkids have been there and they came

3058
04:44:26,630 --> 04:44:28,190
back and reported to me how wonderful it was.

3059
04:44:28,190 --> 04:44:29,810
They just had an outstanding time.

3060
04:44:29,810 --> 04:44:36,190
What I'm having a problem with is not having enough information, not having enough numbers,

3061
04:44:36,210 --> 04:44:41,210
which is our fiduciary responsibility before we make a decision on something.

3062
04:44:42,070 --> 04:44:52,850
If you've had 13, 14,000, whatever, 13,000 visitors to the museum, we don't know how much money that, what does that mean?

3063
04:44:53,390 --> 04:44:58,570
So when I ask, why I want to know how much money it is because then I can extrapolate that out for the whole year.

3064
04:44:58,570 --> 04:44:59,970
So then I can decide from

3065
04:45:04,820 --> 04:45:27,100
We're going to have to ask for some more money. That's all I'm asking. I just want to know how those numbers extrapolate out over the year so that I can feel comfortable with my vote. That's all I'm asking.

3066
04:45:27,100 --> 04:45:40,100
Councilman, as you heard earlier, ticket sales, gift shop sales, and coffee shop sales will never support the type of 501c3 that we have.

3067
04:45:40,260 --> 04:45:44,920
That doesn't, that is the nature of what happens.

3068
04:45:45,220 --> 04:45:50,040
We have to continually look for grants and look for programs and so on.

3069
04:45:50,680 --> 04:45:53,600
It's, that's the nature of the business.

3070
04:45:53,600 --> 04:46:09,900
I don't care if you're this symphony, if you're the art center or whatever, you always have to look for supporters and sponsors and people that will align with education and children and so on, and we will always be doing that.

3071
04:46:10,320 --> 04:46:22,980
And the sustainability happens with the impact that we can make, the money that we're asking for as a revenue source to the coffee shop.

3072
04:46:22,980 --> 04:46:28,240
It would we did have originally to expand the gift shop and we we would do that

3073
04:46:29,000 --> 04:46:38,100
Also, we expand the programming in the science technology engineering art and math area and that will allow us to have

3074
04:46:38,100 --> 04:46:42,880
More programs that we can charge for and so it is

3075
04:46:43,280 --> 04:46:44,980
It is impactful

3076
04:46:45,580 --> 04:46:46,200
by

3077
04:46:46,200 --> 04:46:53,000
by investing money in that now to have a quicker impact on what we're trying to do to grow.

3078
04:46:53,340 --> 04:46:59,240
So you think that with this $855,000, whatever the amount is, that you think that that's going

3079
04:46:59,240 --> 04:47:04,600
to help you to get started, get going, get through the door, and then you have other

3080
04:47:05,560 --> 04:47:08,640
sources of funding to carry you through the next year.

3081
04:47:09,760 --> 04:47:16,820
Absolutely that this gives us an impact much quicker than it would any other way.

3082
04:47:17,300 --> 04:47:23,900
Based on the numbers that we've given you, I think we told you that these projects

3083
04:47:23,900 --> 04:47:28,040
would eventually happen just more slowly.

3084
04:47:28,720 --> 04:47:34,940
And that this amount of money, the way the agreement is written, we would have to fulfill

3085
04:47:36,960 --> 04:47:44,440
the spending in 18 months, some of these things take like the signage and so on and so forth.

3086
04:47:44,860 --> 04:47:46,060
They're six months out.

3087
04:47:46,580 --> 04:48:01,640
It's hard to determine those things, but those things will help us be more visible on the river walk, be more impactful for the rest of the tourism, so on and so forth, and give us a revenue source with the coffee cafe,

3088
04:48:01,640 --> 04:48:04,920
and so that will help us make an impact quicker.

3089
04:48:05,800 --> 04:48:06,320
Thank you.

3090
04:48:06,620 --> 04:48:07,140
Mayor Graham.

3091
04:48:08,080 --> 04:48:10,400
So I've heard a lot from City Council tonight

3092
04:48:11,060 --> 04:48:12,640
about how unprepared you are.

3093
04:48:13,580 --> 04:48:18,780
We have had multiple executive sessions.

3094
04:48:19,520 --> 04:48:21,920
You have said in meetings with these people

3095
04:48:21,920 --> 04:48:23,840
you have all seen the application.

3096
04:48:24,580 --> 04:48:28,140
This process has been going on since April.

3097
04:48:29,160 --> 04:48:31,060
For the three of you tonight that said

3098
04:48:31,060 --> 04:48:34,120
that you are not prepared because you have not got your questions answered?

3099
04:48:34,300 --> 04:48:36,200
That is because you have not answered questions.

3100
04:48:37,020 --> 04:48:40,860
You have me available, Councillor Isgoma, as you met with me on Friday.

3101
04:48:41,180 --> 04:48:42,600
You didn't ask one question about this.

3102
04:48:43,200 --> 04:48:44,360
You didn't ask about their funding.

3103
04:48:44,980 --> 04:48:46,620
You didn't ask about their ticket sales.

3104
04:48:46,840 --> 04:48:51,200
You didn't ask about how much the tickets are who's coming into this museum.

3105
04:48:51,880 --> 04:48:56,660
Councillor Dante, I speak to you every Monday before City Council, and we go over the agenda.

3106
04:48:57,040 --> 04:48:58,380
And you ask for specifics.

3107
04:48:58,380 --> 04:49:03,380
I'm surprised that these questions that you have tonight have never been asked before.

3108
04:49:03,820 --> 04:49:09,520
The only one of you that has even reached out to me to ask for documentations as it

3109
04:49:09,520 --> 04:49:14,020
regards to the RTA, what this funding looks like, is President Alif.

3110
04:49:14,440 --> 04:49:20,420
Not one of you has reached out to say we want to know what their financial situation is.

3111
04:49:20,640 --> 04:49:22,340
We want to know how many tickets are sold.

3112
04:49:22,340 --> 04:49:30,840
That's on you. That's not on these people. That is disrespectful and disappointing that you're not doing your jobs.

3113
04:49:30,980 --> 04:49:31,940
Mr. Perry, please.

3114
04:49:35,160 --> 04:49:45,830
Very same time, if these specific members of City Council who are willing to sign $65 million out of this account,

3115
04:49:46,230 --> 04:49:52,010
to one project, no freaking question asked, that is mind-blowing to me.

3116
04:49:52,010 --> 04:49:59,670
It is your job to ask the questions and prepare yourself for these meetings to drag this on now, too

3117
04:50:00,000 --> 04:50:10,080
10 o'clock at night because you're not prepared for your city council meeting to hear from your people. Mr. President, can I have a point of order please? I'm not done.

3118
04:50:12,360 --> 04:50:22,280
I think that we've got your point across on preparedness. I

3119
04:50:24,970 --> 04:50:31,510
don't think I have. Because we're still here and we're still asking for this to be taken. We're talking, I think.

3120
04:50:31,510 --> 04:50:38,650
to be able to mail that like they're asking the question I have here and I listen to them.

3121
04:50:38,930 --> 04:50:40,870
I think that please listen to me.

3122
04:50:42,950 --> 04:50:47,230
You have made a motion to table this because you said you're unprepared as you do

3123
04:50:47,230 --> 04:50:50,870
with every ordinance that you don't want to vote on. That's not acceptable.

3124
04:50:56,070 --> 04:51:00,070
You have the information and you've had it.

3125
04:51:01,130 --> 04:51:09,990
Since April, it's unfair, it's unfair to bring them through the ringer tonight, ask for their checkbook and their financials.

3126
04:51:14,040 --> 04:51:14,760
Councillor Bosses.

3127
04:51:15,200 --> 04:51:15,920
Thank you, Mr. President.

3128
04:51:18,920 --> 04:51:21,700
I just like to say thank you for what you said, Mr. President.

3129
04:51:22,460 --> 04:51:25,500
You know, you definitely have a second gig ready for you as a motivational speaker.

3130
04:51:25,740 --> 04:51:27,600
I think after this you had it ready to run through a wall.

3131
04:51:27,720 --> 04:51:29,560
I really appreciate some of the points you brought up.

3132
04:51:29,780 --> 04:51:33,380
And Mayor Graham, you saw a couple of mine because I've been waiting so patiently to speak.

3133
04:51:33,380 --> 04:51:36,340
You know, the best word I could use is disappointed with tonight.

3134
04:51:37,440 --> 04:51:41,340
You know, whether you agree with funding or not, I just feel so hard-broken for you, Mr.

3135
04:51:41,440 --> 04:51:41,760
Arrigo.

3136
04:51:41,880 --> 04:51:46,440
You have put so much effort and time and energy into this great asset for the community.

3137
04:51:46,900 --> 04:51:54,860
And, you know, regardless of the funding, I'm very disappointed that all this has just happened.

3138
04:51:55,100 --> 04:51:56,780
And, you know, you're very not deserving of this.

3139
04:51:56,980 --> 04:52:00,740
You're very generous and gracious individual, and the museum is going to be a great asset.

3140
04:52:00,840 --> 04:52:03,360
Regardless of whether or not you get the funding, I think you'll be successful.

3141
04:52:03,360 --> 04:52:05,800
and I really hope that you can get the funding,

3142
04:52:05,920 --> 04:52:07,060
but I'm just really disappointed

3143
04:52:07,060 --> 04:52:08,580
with how this whole system has gone.

3144
04:52:09,240 --> 04:52:11,180
You know, a lot of us when we were elected,

3145
04:52:11,340 --> 04:52:12,420
we were hoping for change.

3146
04:52:12,620 --> 04:52:14,040
The community was hoping for change.

3147
04:52:14,180 --> 04:52:15,840
We talked about this at our round table

3148
04:52:15,840 --> 04:52:17,960
when the newly elected were at our first round table,

3149
04:52:18,140 --> 04:52:18,820
the four of us together.

3150
04:52:19,000 --> 04:52:20,400
I remember us talking about change.

3151
04:52:21,120 --> 04:52:22,740
On that meeting, when you were new,

3152
04:52:22,900 --> 04:52:24,980
whether or not you thought you were doing the right thing

3153
04:52:24,980 --> 04:52:28,000
or whatever it was that you said a few minutes ago,

3154
04:52:28,620 --> 04:52:30,260
you know, you wanted change, the people wanted change.

3155
04:52:30,400 --> 04:52:31,300
We implemented change,

3156
04:52:31,300 --> 04:52:35,160
And now we have an opportunity to try to do some change.

3157
04:52:36,680 --> 04:52:43,060
Who knows if it will work, but you don't know if you don't try, and you miss 100% of the opportunities you don't try, unfortunately.

3158
04:52:43,440 --> 04:52:47,620
And I think this is something that we should look at trying.

3159
04:52:47,860 --> 04:52:49,280
We need to try something different.

3160
04:52:49,680 --> 04:52:52,540
The main priority of the fund still remains primary jobs.

3161
04:52:52,820 --> 04:52:59,360
And again, like stated by the mayor, I've never seen this kind of scrutiny towards any other project.

3162
04:52:59,360 --> 04:53:03,800
when the amount's asked for astronomically larger than this, it's very unfortunate.

3163
04:53:04,300 --> 04:53:10,460
And looking ahead, the agenda going forward, let's see where's the agenda for

3164
04:53:11,760 --> 04:53:16,240
Mr. Martinez. Might as well get this schedule on a work session as well,

3165
04:53:16,400 --> 04:53:18,880
because Mr. Martinez has been to three or four work sessions.

3166
04:53:19,240 --> 04:53:24,280
We've talked about this idea for over a year, and he's been begging and waiting.

3167
04:53:24,420 --> 04:53:27,680
This is the reason we changed this, but if we need more information from him,

3168
04:53:27,680 --> 04:53:33,600
I mean, let's get this going now so that we don't have to postpone that as well because as that gentleman spoke about during public forum,

3169
04:53:34,500 --> 04:53:39,340
these COs aren't held up by the city, it's CDI, and we need to put this infrastructure and we need to try new things.

3170
04:53:39,580 --> 04:53:41,780
He said it was going to generate over $200,000 a year.

3171
04:53:42,020 --> 04:53:43,660
Imagine how fast we're going to recoup the money.

3172
04:53:43,820 --> 04:53:45,720
I mean, why don't we try things?

3173
04:53:45,840 --> 04:53:53,140
I mean, I understand wanting some information, but again, when we sat me in Mr. Hernandez and in those executive sessions,

3174
04:53:53,140 --> 04:53:59,400
We've got presented all the financials, all this information with the jobs and all the entire breakdown he gave presentations

3175
04:53:59,400 --> 04:54:02,800
And I'm pretty sure you've given another presentation to this council prior to that

3176
04:54:03,520 --> 04:54:08,340
Regarding some of this information or you know back then when the museum wasn't asking for funding

3177
04:54:08,340 --> 04:54:16,500
You know I in the end of it, you know, we have a vote to make you know and we can stand here on our personal biases or you know

3178
04:54:16,500 --> 04:54:22,680
But legal's opinion is allowed by many councils prior to this elections prior to this. It's a legal thing

3179
04:54:23,140 --> 04:54:27,480
If you don't like it for personal bias, I don't think that's right, but you're entitled to your vote.

3180
04:54:28,220 --> 04:54:36,080
And, you know, again, my apologies to you in the community for hurting this asset, I think, with the reputation we're providing right now.

3181
04:54:36,160 --> 04:54:37,860
And I do apologize on behalf of myself.

3182
04:54:41,230 --> 04:54:42,610
Thank you, Mr. President.

3183
04:54:44,970 --> 04:54:50,870
I don't believe that we have heard anything since June 12th when this museum opened.

3184
04:54:50,870 --> 04:54:58,350
And yes, maybe we had time, but now is the time where we're asking more questions.

3185
04:54:59,070 --> 04:54:59,970
It doesn't matter.

3186
04:55:02,240 --> 04:55:29,200
The point is now, now the time is, this is, where are you now with the financials? That's what the public is wanting to know. And if you don't care about where, this $800,000 don't are just saying okay, fine. But this is not for a lack of presentation. I am not going to

3187
04:55:29,900 --> 04:55:34,780
Say what was said in executive session, but I haven't seen anything.

3188
04:55:36,480 --> 04:55:37,860
That's why we're asking now.

3189
04:55:38,280 --> 04:55:40,600
And yes, I will own that maybe up to now.

3190
04:55:41,300 --> 04:55:45,820
We're asking these questions, but in the end of the day, mayor grab respectfully.

3191
04:55:46,580 --> 04:55:48,420
I don't, I want to hear from Mr. Rico.

3192
04:55:49,000 --> 04:55:51,720
I don't want to hear a defense from you.

3193
04:55:52,060 --> 04:55:53,860
You are mayor, you represent our city.

3194
04:55:54,800 --> 04:56:05,760
This is about understanding from this gentleman who his organization is coming to us asking for city dollars and tax payer dollars.

3195
04:56:06,480 --> 04:56:08,080
So that is where I'm kind of at with it.

3196
04:56:08,560 --> 04:56:10,720
The public wants to believe where I'm prepared.

3197
04:56:11,680 --> 04:56:21,100
It's fine, but I want to hear from the person who's requesting the funding and I think we've heard over and over this case for this.

3198
04:56:21,100 --> 04:56:29,340
We're just fine, like I'm not opposing this, I am just trying to say, like we want to hear from you and your organization and we have not

3199
04:56:30,340 --> 04:56:39,100
Can you tell we have we and that's why I'm offering the work session to do that and to open up that conversation so that you and your organization

3200
04:56:39,550 --> 04:56:45,940
Can make a case to us as the council as to how why the funding that we are

3201
04:56:45,940 --> 04:56:50,240
The funding in question is about capitalization and

3202
04:56:50,240 --> 04:56:57,460
expanded on remodeling and expanding the building and remodeling the building.

3203
04:56:57,780 --> 04:57:04,100
I did not bring financials which would show our budget between now and

3204
04:57:04,100 --> 04:57:06,340
the end of the year and that sort of thing.

3205
04:57:06,460 --> 04:57:07,820
Everything has been projections.

3206
04:57:08,600 --> 04:57:11,100
Now I didn't bring those books with me tonight.

3207
04:57:11,100 --> 04:57:21,420
the part that you're asking is about the money that we're asking for, it has to be spent

3208
04:57:21,780 --> 04:57:24,440
on the items that we have provided for you.

3209
04:57:25,500 --> 04:57:29,140
And we have to account for that and be transparent about that.

3210
04:57:29,540 --> 04:57:35,620
It has nothing to do directly with how many tickets we've sold or how many things are sold

3211
04:57:35,620 --> 04:57:36,360
in the gift shop.

3212
04:57:36,360 --> 04:57:45,220
But it has to do with can we meet the requirements of where we spend the money that we're asking

3213
04:57:45,220 --> 04:57:45,620
for.

3214
04:57:46,280 --> 04:57:51,880
And it's all on signage or on developing equipment and that sort of thing.

3215
04:57:52,360 --> 04:57:57,380
So would you be willing to come and have a better conversation and bring that to us to have

3216
04:57:57,380 --> 04:57:59,000
a conversation with us?

3217
04:57:59,280 --> 04:58:00,040
What that looks like?

3218
04:58:00,520 --> 04:58:04,460
Lots of folks said we'd like to see more financial information.

3219
04:58:04,460 --> 04:58:16,580
It was given to you specifically line by line by line in the original request and the fact

3220
04:58:16,580 --> 04:58:20,380
that you haven't seen it, I'm not sure it was provided.

3221
04:58:21,360 --> 04:58:25,140
We just saw the budget for this particular ordinance this evening.

3222
04:58:25,860 --> 04:58:30,620
The budget you saw tonight, but all the information he's talking about was in the original

3223
04:58:30,620 --> 04:58:36,860
application which council has been provided. But that was the original application. This

3224
04:58:36,860 --> 04:58:40,820
is the budget that we're barely seeing with the expenditure. I don't know.

3225
04:58:44,270 --> 04:58:44,790
Councillor

3226
04:58:44,790 --> 04:58:52,690
Hernandez. No, I apologize if we've come off, if I come off rough on you, I can't apologize

3227
04:58:52,690 --> 04:58:58,250
for anybody else. That certainly is not my intent. My intent is to make sure that the voters

3228
04:58:58,250 --> 04:59:10,890
members of the city, the people who voted for this have sent sales tax feel like I'm managing the fiduciary responsibility I have to make sure that we're not giving money away that we shouldn't be given away.

3229
04:59:11,410 --> 04:59:17,050
And that's why I ask the questions that I ask with regards to what your revenues are right now.

3230
04:59:17,050 --> 04:59:27,930
I mean, I don't know and I apologize if that offends people to want to know what kind of money a business is making that's asking us for money.

3231
04:59:28,050 --> 04:59:37,810
We've done it with every other entity that has come to ask for money.

3232
04:59:37,810 --> 04:59:40,690
We have asked these same questions.

3233
04:59:41,890 --> 04:59:47,010
Councillor Boston scolded somebody who was before work session because they hadn't gone

3234
04:59:47,010 --> 04:59:47,870
through the process yet.

3235
04:59:48,330 --> 04:59:53,490
I would love to have you in work session so that we can ask these questions and we can

3236
04:59:53,490 --> 04:59:57,950
get better answers so that we can make that, yes, vote.

3237
04:59:58,210 --> 04:59:58,970
That's all I'm asking.

3238
04:59:58,970 --> 04:59:59,650
Thank you.

3239
04:59:59,650 --> 04:59:59,810
Bye.

3240
05:00:00,000 --> 05:00:24,600
I'm not trying to offend anybody, and Mayor, you left me out, thankfully, of your criticism because I have asked questions. I'm trying to find additional funding through it. I'm trying to find more money for the museum. I'm not against the museum. I want this museum. It's important to me, but we have to find the right funding for it, and that's all my concern is whether it's this or whether it's funding from somewhere else.

3241
05:00:26,730 --> 05:00:27,390
Thank you.

3242
05:00:38,660 --> 05:00:45,800
I'm not trying intentionally upset you, but I do want to make sure that over the seven

3243
05:00:45,800 --> 05:00:51,560
years that you have to pay this back that you're capable of doing that.

3244
05:00:52,340 --> 05:00:55,640
And I've read everything that was given to me.

3245
05:00:55,640 --> 05:01:02,000
and all I'm asking for is the most current information.

3246
05:01:02,560 --> 05:01:06,040
The most current tax returns, you know.

3247
05:01:13,280 --> 05:01:15,640
No more outbursts, please.

3248
05:01:16,480 --> 05:01:20,480
I mean, City Council sat here and listened to everybody's testimony.

3249
05:01:21,140 --> 05:01:22,060
We didn't interrupt.

3250
05:01:22,560 --> 05:01:23,700
We didn't yell at you.

3251
05:01:23,700 --> 05:01:25,560
We didn't do anything else like that.

3252
05:01:26,020 --> 05:01:29,040
Please allow the same respect for City Council.

3253
05:01:29,700 --> 05:01:30,860
No more outbursts, please.

3254
05:01:32,120 --> 05:01:32,740
Councillor Donta.

3255
05:01:33,680 --> 05:01:34,420
Let me finish.

3256
05:01:34,640 --> 05:01:39,000
If I was a bank and was asking for a loan,

3257
05:01:39,560 --> 05:01:40,960
which I've done it several times,

3258
05:01:41,520 --> 05:01:46,440
I've been asked for two months of bank statements,

3259
05:01:46,860 --> 05:01:48,340
two years of tax returns.

3260
05:01:48,940 --> 05:01:52,240
It's not something that's not been done.

3261
05:01:52,980 --> 05:02:03,160
And that's all we're asking is to see exactly what your financial capabilities are because you're asking for money from us.

3262
05:02:03,340 --> 05:02:10,400
I will be happy to provide that information and if it's in a work session, we have all of that information.

3263
05:02:10,960 --> 05:02:14,880
I just, I don't have it with me, I have it up to date.

3264
05:02:14,880 --> 05:02:23,300
We have our information, our projected budget for 2025, the end of the year.

3265
05:02:23,860 --> 05:02:32,460
Our budget for 2026 is under development because we're not sure exactly where we're going to be there.

3266
05:02:32,880 --> 05:02:41,520
But we have the projections that we made before now, but we have actual information, bank statements,

3267
05:02:41,520 --> 05:02:45,000
Bank balances, number of tickets sold, all of those things.

3268
05:02:45,000 --> 05:02:46,320
I'd be happy to provide that.

3269
05:02:46,580 --> 05:02:49,700
I just didn't happy happen to bring it with me tonight.

3270
05:02:50,000 --> 05:02:51,800
I'm not upset that you didn't bring it tonight.

3271
05:02:52,040 --> 05:02:53,040
I didn't expect that.

3272
05:02:53,260 --> 05:02:55,680
That's why we were trying to postpone it.

3273
05:02:56,060 --> 05:02:58,700
So there's a motion to postpone and there's a second.

3274
05:03:00,440 --> 05:03:02,400
So if you guys want to vote on that,

3275
05:03:03,240 --> 05:03:07,280
before we, yeah, before we all go crazy,

3276
05:03:07,540 --> 05:03:09,900
like this, and like this quote from the City Council.

3277
05:03:09,900 --> 05:03:10,420
Sure.

3278
05:03:11,100 --> 05:03:11,880
Councillor Gomez.

3279
05:03:12,700 --> 05:03:13,700
I'd like to ask the attorney.

3280
05:03:13,920 --> 05:03:17,140
Are you the city attorney for the mayor, are you the council?

3281
05:03:18,180 --> 05:03:18,920
What is your role?

3282
05:03:19,180 --> 05:03:21,300
And what happens when we're on different, how does that work?

3283
05:03:22,700 --> 05:03:24,800
I am the city attorney for the city.

3284
05:03:25,180 --> 05:03:27,020
I represent the best interest of the city.

3285
05:03:28,060 --> 05:03:36,420
But what does, so if we have a division on a difference of opinion, how do you, I'm just

3286
05:03:36,420 --> 05:03:39,500
curious, how do you feel in reference to primary jobs?

3287
05:03:39,500 --> 05:03:44,520
What's your definition? Do you think we're meeting the definition of the primary jobs in the half-centred sales tax fund?

3288
05:03:44,760 --> 05:03:45,220
Yes or no?

3289
05:03:45,660 --> 05:03:50,260
So the definition is in the ordinance that City Council has approved.

3290
05:03:50,740 --> 05:03:53,880
I have shown you the ordinance and I have given you my legal opinion.

3291
05:03:54,600 --> 05:03:56,180
You're asking us to violate it?

3292
05:03:57,040 --> 05:03:59,340
I have never asked you to violate it.

3293
05:03:59,400 --> 05:04:03,680
I have told you what the definition is and I have given you my legal opinion.

3294
05:04:03,680 --> 05:04:07,400
You've been wrong on the definition. The definition is plainly spelled out.

3295
05:04:08,460 --> 05:04:12,720
We're not meeting the basic requirements of the Hessian Stucks and you know it.

3296
05:04:13,220 --> 05:04:16,460
Mr. Gomez, with all due respect, you are not an attorney.

3297
05:04:16,460 --> 05:04:16,980
You're right.

3298
05:04:17,000 --> 05:04:18,440
I have been an attorney.

3299
05:04:18,660 --> 05:04:20,660
I've been practicing for 30 years.

3300
05:04:20,800 --> 05:04:21,380
I don't care.

3301
05:04:21,620 --> 05:04:23,460
So I have read it.

3302
05:04:23,460 --> 05:04:25,900
I understood it and I've given my opinion.

3303
05:04:27,440 --> 05:04:30,540
We've lost many more cases than we've won.

3304
05:04:30,860 --> 05:04:34,060
We haven't lost a single case, Mr. Gomez.

3305
05:04:40,620 --> 05:04:41,300
Okay,

3306
05:04:44,580 --> 05:04:47,720
there's a motion to postpone any other questions.

3307
05:04:47,860 --> 05:04:48,600
What about me?

3308
05:04:48,920 --> 05:04:49,180
Joe.

3309
05:04:56,160 --> 05:04:57,680
This is something else.

3310
05:04:58,840 --> 05:04:59,980
It really is.

3311
05:05:00,000 --> 05:05:02,220
Again, again,

3312
05:05:04,710 --> 05:05:31,290
the organization in terms of what's being asked by council members here, my colleagues, is not something that should be looked at in a light manner. And we're asking the right questions. We're talking about money, we're talking about other organizations in this community. We're talking about the DaVinci museum, the only one in North America,

3313
05:05:31,290 --> 05:05:35,610
America, which we all brag about, it's the only one in North America, okay?

3314
05:05:36,790 --> 05:05:40,410
However, we've got to be responsible for finances, too.

3315
05:05:41,150 --> 05:05:42,190
That's our responsibility.

3316
05:05:42,990 --> 05:05:48,490
And what I've had the calls that I've had in the last week from people that are intelligent

3317
05:05:48,490 --> 05:05:56,910
people, not just somebody that just make a comment because they don't like somebody.

3318
05:05:56,910 --> 05:06:03,050
They're making comments because they have an understanding of what's going on in terms of finance, okay?

3319
05:06:04,650 --> 05:06:09,330
Again, I'm not going to support this now. I need more facts. That's where I am.

3320
05:06:10,230 --> 05:06:15,170
Okay, there's a motion to close point with a second. It's called for the vote

3321
05:06:21,220 --> 05:06:25,280
passes five to two. Mr. Clerk, item R4.

3322
05:06:30,350 --> 05:06:35,010
Item R4, an ordinance submitting to the eligible electors, we

3323
05:06:46,340 --> 05:06:48,220
still have to have a meeting, so

3324
05:06:50,400 --> 05:06:51,840
Mr. Court, go ahead.

3325
05:06:52,340 --> 05:07:00,400
Item R4, an ordinance submitting to the eligible electors of the City of Pueblo, Colorado at the coordinated election to be held November 3rd, 2026.

3326
05:07:01,080 --> 05:07:19,400
The question related to the imposition of an additional 1.25% sales and use tax for parks and recreation and adoption of ordinance number 11240 to implement the tax introduced August 20 or August 10th, 2026 by Councillor Selene and Marie Scobens.

3327
05:07:23,040 --> 05:07:25,680
We just have an elected official who has just threatened.

3328
05:07:27,880 --> 05:07:29,760
I'm going to let everybody get out of here,

3329
05:07:31,960 --> 05:07:32,380
can we?

3330
05:07:37,100 --> 05:07:40,240
You walked up to the dais and go ahead.

3331
05:08:15,420 --> 05:08:18,920
Mr. Clerk, will you read R4 again, please?

3332
05:08:19,520 --> 05:08:19,780
I will.

3333
05:08:20,700 --> 05:08:24,220
R4 in ordinance submitting to the eligible electors of the City of

3334
05:08:24,220 --> 05:08:28,780
a couple of Colorado at the coordinated election to be held on November 3, 2026.

3335
05:08:29,440 --> 05:08:38,140
A question related to the imposition of an additional 1.25% sales and use tax for the parks and recreation.

3336
05:08:38,800 --> 05:08:48,100
And the adoption of ordinance number 11240 to implement the tax introduced August 10th, 2026 by councillor Savuina Ruiz-Gomens.

3337
05:08:48,260 --> 05:08:49,880
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have a staff report.

3338
05:08:49,880 --> 05:08:52,100
Yes, thank you, President.

3339
05:08:52,880 --> 05:09:01,100
President Alif, members of Council, Madam Mayor, this is going to be one of four ordinances

3340
05:09:01,100 --> 05:09:08,500
that you're going to see here tonight that's going to, excuse me, propose a 0.25% sales

3341
05:09:08,500 --> 05:09:11,720
and use tax increase.

3342
05:09:12,920 --> 05:09:15,900
This one is for parks and recreation.

3343
05:09:17,280 --> 05:09:24,000
You may recall that the mayor presented at a work session, a couple weeks ago, presented

3344
05:09:24,000 --> 05:09:28,640
several ideas for you for sales and use tax.

3345
05:09:29,340 --> 05:09:35,520
City Council gave some comments to those, and so staff went back and revised these ordinances

3346
05:09:35,520 --> 05:09:36,960
based upon your comments.

3347
05:09:36,960 --> 05:09:56,000
The parks and recreation is a 2.5% sales and use tax revenues that would be deposited in a dedicated parks and recreation sales and use tax fund and use solely for parks and recreation purposes within the city.

3348
05:09:56,780 --> 05:09:59,980
Such purposes shall include, but not be limited to you part-

3349
05:10:04,240 --> 05:10:28,840
The funding will be used to maintain and enhance parks and recreation programs, including but not limited to the kitty ride, swimming lessons, swimming pools, youth tennis, and other spurting programs. The funding will also help maintain and improve park facilities, community centers, trails, and open spaces. If approved by the voters, the new rate would take effect January 1st, 2027,

3350
05:10:28,840 --> 05:10:53,820
and would be permanent and so section 18.18-5 the city charter provides that an ordinance adopted by the electoral vote cannot be repealed or amended except by electoral vote with the result that the dedication and the new revenues to parks and recreation purposes is locked into the code and may not be redirected by city council without subsequent voter approval.

3351
05:10:53,820 --> 05:11:02,340
So this one went through very little change because you folks had the least amount of comments about Park from Recreation.

3352
05:11:03,380 --> 05:11:08,900
So that concludes my staff report about this and I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have.

3353
05:11:09,220 --> 05:11:10,240
Thank you for that report.

3354
05:11:10,820 --> 05:11:11,840
This is a public hearing.

3355
05:11:11,980 --> 05:11:14,480
Is there anyone here wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance?

3356
05:11:16,160 --> 05:11:19,360
Seeing none, is there anyone in here wishing to speak against this ordinance?

3357
05:11:31,580 --> 05:11:35,460
I don't know how to follow what just happened, but I'll try my best.

3358
05:11:36,460 --> 05:11:43,920
This is not how local government makes Pueblo great again, I started off with that on purpose.

3359
05:11:46,020 --> 05:11:55,120
If it is time for all of us to pull together and demand the City Council and the mayor not

3360
05:11:55,120 --> 05:12:02,840
to increase our taxes, or they could resign and leave Pueblo and move to Denver if you

3361
05:12:02,840 --> 05:12:04,900
like higher taxes,

3362
05:12:07,370 --> 05:12:12,670
let someone else take your seat that won't vote to put a higher tax

3363
05:12:12,670 --> 05:12:19,730
on the ballot. We the people only need four council members to shut down the regime.

3364
05:12:21,050 --> 05:12:27,670
If this goes to the ballot and passes, this would be a forever tax. There is no sunset

3365
05:12:28,080 --> 05:12:35,070
in this, unlike what the zoo proposed last time. There is a sunset on that. So you guys probably

3366
05:12:35,070 --> 05:12:38,910
would have amend this to put a sunset if you guys want on the ballot.

3367
05:12:38,910 --> 05:12:43,650
But we already pay for parks and rent.

3368
05:12:43,890 --> 05:12:45,370
That's already in the annual budget.

3369
05:12:47,640 --> 05:12:54,360
No need and I'll take a page out of Mayor Graham's book to rub Peter to pay Paul.

3370
05:12:55,520 --> 05:12:59,160
Peter is the people, Paul is the city.

3371
05:13:02,680 --> 05:13:09,000
This will hurt everyone and how you guys say you always want to expense small businesses.

3372
05:13:09,520 --> 05:13:16,380
They're to pay taxes up the ones who I know several of them, and they gripe to me because they know I come here.

3373
05:13:17,380 --> 05:13:28,900
So if this is placed on the ballot, and if it passes which I hope it doesn't, our tax rate will go to 7.85%.

3374
05:13:31,220 --> 05:13:37,440
But if the zoo tax also passes, it'll go to 8.01%.

3375
05:13:37,440 --> 05:13:50,240
And with those two taxes, if passed, it would be 5.8% increase, not a 1% increase, 5.8% increase.

3376
05:13:51,220 --> 05:14:03,740
Springs pays 8.2% in sales tax, but within all of, in Al Paso County, if you do that, it's 9.2% they are a lot richer than us.

3377
05:14:05,260 --> 05:14:10,700
Council Rock, which is talked about quite a bit, which has a much better budget.

3378
05:14:11,060 --> 05:14:12,640
It's not in the shans like us.

3379
05:14:13,840 --> 05:14:15,760
A lot richer, high-paying jobs up there.

3380
05:14:16,680 --> 05:14:26,600
It's 8.1%, greatly, which we're compared to quite a bit, 8.4%, if you include all of

3381
05:14:26,600 --> 05:14:33,260
Wild County in unincorporated 8.835% this is all from Google.

3382
05:14:35,280 --> 05:14:46,900
Denver 9.15% including Denver County 9.75% Boulder which were compared to again,

3383
05:14:46,900 --> 05:14:59,980
One block richer though, kind of 9.195% including Boulder County, 9.585% Aurora, 8.5%

3384
05:15:00,000 --> 05:15:16,740
9%, including parts of Aurora, which is in parts of Adams County, 9.75%. But unlike Pueblo, you have 15 seconds, Mr. Martinez. Okay, I'll look against the other one because this wasn't running, so I didn't know. Thank you, Mr. President.

3385
05:15:19,360 --> 05:15:23,240
Is there anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance? Come on down.

3386
05:15:35,320 --> 05:15:42,380
Good evening, council. My name is Larry Atensio. Every city that Mr. Martinez mentioned,

3387
05:15:42,380 --> 05:15:45,240
It has a lot more money, there are a lot richer than we are.

3388
05:15:45,840 --> 05:15:51,420
Everybody here knows that Pueblo is one of the poorest cities, one of the poorest counties in the state of Colorado.

3389
05:15:53,260 --> 05:15:55,780
Each one of these ordinances is the quarter cent sales tax.

3390
05:15:56,040 --> 05:16:05,900
If you put everyone on the ballot and everyone passes, that's almost $24 million that you're going to be taken out of the buckets of the city of Pueblo.

3391
05:16:06,580 --> 05:16:11,420
If you believe the seven of you and administration believe that the people of

3392
05:16:11,420 --> 05:16:19,700
Pueblo, your constituents are the problem and then you're asking them to fix the

3393
05:16:19,700 --> 05:16:25,460
problem. You're way out of line what you're doing, fiduciary. I keep hearing that

3394
05:16:25,460 --> 05:16:30,600
that word every time you turn around. Yeah, I'm fiduciary. I'm fiduciary. You're not

3395
05:16:30,600 --> 05:16:35,780
taking care of fiduciary and worth a darn. If you put this on the ballot and

3396
05:16:35,780 --> 05:16:40,620
And they pass, you're taking $24 million out of the pockets of the people of

3397
05:16:40,620 --> 05:16:42,040
Pueblo, your constituents.

3398
05:16:42,840 --> 05:16:51,820
And then you're going to be thinking about that $1 million speeding traffic lights, whatever

3399
05:16:51,820 --> 05:16:52,420
they're going to be.

3400
05:16:52,780 --> 05:16:57,460
That's going to be another million dollars, that's $25 million, $26 million that you're going

3401
05:16:57,460 --> 05:17:01,160
to be taking out of the pockets out of the city of Pueblo.

3402
05:17:02,280 --> 05:17:03,220
Think about it.

3403
05:17:03,220 --> 05:17:26,660
But if you think your constituents can afford $26 million to put into a budget that you guys approve which you should be your fiduciary responsibility is to make sure that the services that you provide are equal to the amount of money that they give you, but you need to turn another $26 million?

3404
05:17:26,660 --> 05:17:34,180
$1.00? You're in the wrong business people. And it's just another thing. You should know

3405
05:17:34,840 --> 05:17:42,980
the answer to every question that somebody sitting here asks you and every question that

3406
05:17:42,980 --> 05:17:46,200
each one of you ask, you should already know the answer to.

3407
05:17:47,120 --> 05:17:51,460
Thank you. Is there anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance?

3408
05:17:51,460 --> 05:17:55,940
comments. Seeing none, the hearings close. Is there a motion to approve?

3409
05:17:56,520 --> 05:18:01,240
Motion to approve. Is there a second? Second, Councillor Dante. Any questions?

3410
05:18:02,240 --> 05:18:06,060
Councillor Boston. Thank you, Mr. President. I would just like to make

3411
05:18:06,060 --> 05:18:12,900
a statement about something that was said. I feel in my position that I was elected into,

3412
05:18:13,280 --> 05:18:17,600
I should never deprive the voters their right to voice their opinions on something like this.

3413
05:18:17,600 --> 05:18:20,320
I think this is much bigger than us on the dius.

3414
05:18:20,820 --> 05:18:24,960
So when it comes to ballot measures, whether I'm for or against it, sitting in this seat,

3415
05:18:25,300 --> 05:18:30,360
I'm not going to deprive the people their right to voice their opinion because we are elected

3416
05:18:30,360 --> 05:18:35,520
to represent you, but not on every issue I think our opinions should be blind in the sand.

3417
05:18:35,760 --> 05:18:41,300
So it doesn't mean I want to raise taxes, but I'm going to endorse putting all these on

3418
05:18:41,300 --> 05:18:45,460
the ballot to allow the citizens to voice their concerns or their opinions on the matter.

3419
05:18:45,460 --> 05:18:48,240
and I just wanted to say that.

3420
05:18:48,580 --> 05:18:50,580
Any other questions, Councillor Latino?

3421
05:18:51,020 --> 05:18:53,580
Oh, I just wanted to stay in the...

3422
05:18:53,580 --> 05:18:55,300
My predecessor got up and left,

3423
05:18:55,640 --> 05:18:58,040
and didn't give me an opportunity to talk to him about

3424
05:18:58,040 --> 05:19:01,440
what he didn't do, and how much money he took

3425
05:19:01,440 --> 05:19:04,040
when he left here from the city,

3426
05:19:04,560 --> 05:19:06,080
into the thousands, okay?

3427
05:19:07,040 --> 05:19:09,920
A severance package of $13,000, something like that.

3428
05:19:10,820 --> 05:19:11,340
And that's sad.

3429
05:19:12,120 --> 05:19:14,500
That's a guy that did nothing on the east side for 12 years.

3430
05:19:14,500 --> 05:19:17,620
members, and I can guarantee you people will say that.

3431
05:19:18,100 --> 05:19:18,420
Thank you.

3432
05:19:18,560 --> 05:19:23,000
Senator Gomez, it's interesting that one of the only taxes I know of the citizens got

3433
05:19:23,000 --> 05:19:27,980
together and decided to give the privilege of an economic development jogging on it.

3434
05:19:28,060 --> 05:19:34,440
The time was PEDCO, and it was a half-cent sales tax, but I cannot support any raising of

3435
05:19:34,440 --> 05:19:34,860
taxes.

3436
05:19:35,160 --> 05:19:42,120
I have too many people in my district that can't afford food, that can't afford to pay

3437
05:19:42,120 --> 05:19:42,880
their light bill.

3438
05:19:43,240 --> 05:19:48,820
And we're going to say, oh, it's only 0.2, 3, 0, 0, 2, 5, it's only the point that's

3439
05:19:48,820 --> 05:19:49,340
four different ways.

3440
05:19:49,460 --> 05:19:51,840
Let's break it up and make it another shot at it.

3441
05:19:52,240 --> 05:19:57,160
These attempts, we're telling you, I think even if you want to vote for, it's going to

3442
05:19:57,160 --> 05:19:59,480
go to the ballot, it's going to, if it goes to the ballot,

3443
05:20:00,000 --> 05:20:28,940
They're going to vote it down, but I don't think why we're going that way. Why don't we keep on doing this tax avenue where we're going to tax our constituency that have had it? They don't want any more taxes. Maybe you're not listening, but I am. Councillor Dante. I'm in agreement with Roger, but what I have to say is that even if I don't agree with these taxes, it's not my position to tell all my constituents

3444
05:20:28,940 --> 05:20:32,880
months, you know, what they can do and what they can have.

3445
05:20:33,200 --> 05:20:37,640
If they vote them on down, they vote them on down, but at least I'm going to give them

3446
05:20:37,640 --> 05:20:38,960
the option to do that.

3447
05:20:40,740 --> 05:20:41,800
Any other questions?

3448
05:20:43,000 --> 05:20:43,680
Councillor Hernandez.

3449
05:20:44,420 --> 05:20:49,580
Ms. Sykes, can you tell me with regards to the Parks and Recreation Department, is there

3450
05:20:49,580 --> 05:20:53,820
a breakdown as to how this 4 to 6 million will be spent?

3451
05:20:54,480 --> 05:21:01,120
There is not a specific breakdown other than it would be dedicated to parks and recreation purposes

3452
05:21:01,120 --> 05:21:07,460
So it would have to be used specifically for parks and recreation was is parks and recreation currently underfunded?

3453
05:21:08,640 --> 05:21:14,500
So it is currently underfunded and that's why programs had to be cut

3454
05:21:14,500 --> 05:21:23,000
That was one of the things that the mayor was looking at cutting for this summer. Do you remember how much in dollar figures which cut from parks and recreation this year?

3455
05:21:24,200 --> 05:21:25,080
47,000.

3456
05:21:25,720 --> 05:21:29,500
Okay, so we kept 47,000, but we're going to ask for $6 million in return.

3457
05:21:30,320 --> 05:21:34,240
So that's not meant as a, please don't do that.

3458
05:21:34,520 --> 05:21:40,140
It's a serious question, because what I want to know is if we get $6 million for the budget,

3459
05:21:40,920 --> 05:21:48,200
and we only lost 47,000 from the last budget, where is the additional spending going to go?

3460
05:21:48,260 --> 05:21:48,460
Sure.

3461
05:21:48,620 --> 05:21:49,660
That's what I was trying to ask.

3462
05:21:49,660 --> 05:21:54,140
So, no, I understand, because I know you sat in on the parks and

3463
05:21:54,140 --> 05:21:59,700
rack and we talked about all of the delayed maintenance for

3464
05:21:59,700 --> 05:22:04,900
the pools, for the parks, the only source of fun that they get

3465
05:22:04,900 --> 05:22:10,000
right now for capital improvements within any parks is going to be for

3466
05:22:10,000 --> 05:22:12,000
the lottery funds or the CTE funds.

3467
05:22:12,620 --> 05:22:18,460
No general funds go to that, so I would envision being able to fully

3468
05:22:18,460 --> 05:22:21,680
fund all of their requests when it comes to capital.

3469
05:22:22,860 --> 05:22:27,260
Are there any other capital improvement programs thought about four parking

3470
05:22:27,260 --> 05:22:29,460
recreation like for many centers?

3471
05:22:29,820 --> 05:22:30,360
They submit.

3472
05:22:30,780 --> 05:22:34,940
Yeah, they submit a whole slew every year of different.

3473
05:22:35,140 --> 05:22:39,660
If you look in the capital five year plan, you can see all of the projects that they have

3474
05:22:39,660 --> 05:22:41,880
submitted over the last five years that haven't been funded.

3475
05:22:42,440 --> 05:22:46,620
So the council chose to fund any of those capital needs they could.

3476
05:22:46,620 --> 05:22:56,260
You could increase the amount of programs, bring back the tennis program, have it more often, grow the programs.

3477
05:22:56,820 --> 05:23:01,280
All of those things would fall under this specific need.

3478
05:23:02,020 --> 05:23:02,560
Thank you.

3479
05:23:02,740 --> 05:23:03,400
That's all I have.

3480
05:23:04,640 --> 05:23:05,320
Councilor Grande.

3481
05:23:06,500 --> 05:23:10,020
I have a question in relation to what he was asking.

3482
05:23:10,020 --> 05:23:38,560
So if we see a need in, like, let me just put out what I'm thinking, if we see a need in all the parks, not just one park that they've got kitty, kitty our playgrounds, but they don't have the older like basketball goals for the older kids, they don't have any options in these neighborhood playgrounds.

3483
05:23:38,560 --> 05:23:42,360
It would be an option for us to say this is what we want.

3484
05:23:42,740 --> 05:23:43,080
Absolutely.

3485
05:23:43,760 --> 05:23:44,000
Okay.

3486
05:23:44,320 --> 05:23:45,360
Thank you.

3487
05:23:45,800 --> 05:23:47,000
Any other questions?

3488
05:23:47,880 --> 05:23:48,780
Call for the vote.

3489
05:23:59,030 --> 05:23:59,350
Fails.

3490
05:23:59,610 --> 05:24:00,150
4-3.

3491
05:24:03,410 --> 05:24:05,130
Mr. Clerk, R-5.

3492
05:24:08,180 --> 05:24:14,020
R-5, an ordinance submitting to the eligible electors of the city of Pueblo at the coordinated

3493
05:24:14,020 --> 05:24:19,100
election to be held November 3, 2026, a question relating to the imposition of an additional

3494
05:24:19,100 --> 05:24:26,600
1.25% sales and use tax for the roads and related infrastructure, committing to completing

3495
05:24:26,600 --> 05:24:33,340
certain high priority projects within five years after implementation of the tax, repealing

3496
05:24:33,340 --> 05:24:39,320
ordinance number 9217, the Pueblo Street repair utility enterprise, and adopting ordinance

3497
05:24:39,320 --> 05:24:47,080
number 11241 to implement the tax, introduced August 10, 2026 by Councillor Salina Ruiz

3498
05:24:47,080 --> 05:24:52,980
comments. Thank you for that report. Thank you president A.L.F. members of council

3499
05:24:52,980 --> 05:24:53,640
Madame Mayor.

3500
05:24:56,000 --> 05:24:59,980
This is an ordinance that would put on the ballot for the

3501
05:25:00,000 --> 05:25:28,780
Voters to decide whether or not to approve a point to 5% sales and use tax increase that would be dedicated specifically to roads and related infrastructure purposes within the city. This ordinance also repeals the public street repair utility enterprise and it commits to completing certain high priority projects within the first five years after implementation of the tax.

3502
05:25:28,780 --> 05:25:37,880
And it lists those dedicated roads and infrastructure within the ballot question.

3503
05:25:39,240 --> 05:25:45,720
So part of this is the repeal of the street repair utility enterprise.

3504
05:25:45,720 --> 05:25:51,580
It was created on December 16, 2017 by ordinance 9217.

3505
05:25:53,060 --> 05:26:03,340
If you recall, that enterprise was billed on the water bills for households.

3506
05:26:04,200 --> 05:26:10,800
And then on October 9th, 2018, Council set the initial monthly service fees.

3507
05:26:11,100 --> 05:26:17,220
And then by later ordinance on November 22nd, 2021, City Council has suspended the payment

3508
05:26:17,220 --> 05:26:25,820
of the monthly street repair utility enterprise, a service charge, and has suspended that service charge every year since then.

3509
05:26:26,600 --> 05:26:33,740
And so this tax essentially would take the place of that utility enterprise.

3510
05:26:36,300 --> 05:26:44,280
The roads that were identified in this are specific roads that were part of that 2022.

3511
05:26:47,920 --> 05:26:57,640
street infrastructure study that Andrew Hayes spoke about at his work session, not too long ago.

3512
05:26:58,640 --> 05:27:02,260
And they are listed in the background paper as well.

3513
05:27:03,140 --> 05:27:09,080
And these projects have been identified as high priority, pursuant to the findings in that capital improvement plan.

3514
05:27:10,330 --> 05:27:12,380
And that completes my staff report.

3515
05:27:12,740 --> 05:27:14,980
I am happy to answer any questions that you may have.

3516
05:27:14,980 --> 05:27:20,000
Thank you for that report. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance?

3517
05:27:20,920 --> 05:27:22,740
Come on down turn

3518
05:27:32,790 --> 05:27:33,730
your mic on please

3519
05:27:34,430 --> 05:27:36,410
Betty Joe are gone. I'd like to speak on

3520
05:27:37,130 --> 05:27:40,990
this ordinance and your support. I

3521
05:27:40,990 --> 05:27:46,210
Worked for the city and the streets apartment for quite a long time. I

3522
05:27:46,210 --> 05:27:49,950
Get daily calls about part-holes about

3523
05:27:51,050 --> 05:27:51,530
this

3524
05:27:52,130 --> 05:27:53,450
condition of our streets

3525
05:27:54,310 --> 05:28:03,370
And I tell him over and over, we were doing the best we can with the manpower we have and the equipment we have and the material we have.

3526
05:28:04,790 --> 05:28:20,310
I urge you guys to vote to put this on the ballot, let the public decide if they want this tax or not because they're the ones who's calling me on a daily basis saying, hey, when you're going to fix this, when you're going to fix this, when you're going to fix this.

3527
05:28:20,310 --> 05:28:28,950
a lot of these roads should have been fixed long time ago, but because of our budget being so short we just don't do it.

3528
05:28:29,230 --> 05:28:36,370
We just don't have the money, our street workers, they go out and they patch as much as they can over and over and over again.

3529
05:28:37,670 --> 05:28:47,270
But I think it's something that when we voted to put that tax in, the utility tax back before we were suspended.

3530
05:28:47,270 --> 05:28:51,550
Yes, it was $2 a month per residents.

3531
05:28:52,350 --> 05:28:54,330
It was making a change.

3532
05:28:55,190 --> 05:28:59,810
So I think it's important that you guys vote to allow this tax to go on there.

3533
05:29:00,510 --> 05:29:03,190
I know nobody wants another tax.

3534
05:29:03,490 --> 05:29:11,730
I don't want another tax, but I really think it would make the city of public look a lot better when we have these visitors come to town.

3535
05:29:11,730 --> 05:29:18,770
And they're not hitting potholes or streets that are blown out because they're just not money to fix the streets.

3536
05:29:19,410 --> 05:29:20,110
Thank you.

3537
05:29:20,350 --> 05:29:24,150
Okay, is there anyone else wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance?

3538
05:29:26,200 --> 05:29:29,040
Saying no, is there anyone wishing to speak against this ordinance?

3539
05:29:35,370 --> 05:29:36,570
Two more times come up here.

3540
05:29:37,010 --> 05:29:47,510
Albus Martinez again, so if this goes on the ballot and if it is approved, it'll be that saying 7.85%

3541
05:29:47,510 --> 05:29:55,970
80 sales tax withdrawal hurts small businesses, it'll be including with a zoo of 5.8% increase, not a 1% increase.

3542
05:29:56,210 --> 05:29:59,710
So that misimension needs to be fixed at the top level.

3543
05:30:00,140 --> 05:30:29,420
And I remember when Mayor Graham was on council, she voted twice to dismiss and vote down the fee on the water bill. I've asked it several times for this to come back to council or work session, and adjust it because it was not fair to a small business paying $25 per month, and Walmart, Target, other big block stores to pay $100. Make that make sense. The math is a math and right there. And I would say it should be different.

3544
05:30:29,420 --> 05:30:36,940
for gas station and for Walmart, two different ones.

3545
05:30:38,020 --> 05:30:44,820
And then with the residential, it was $3, make it $350 or $4, or whatever.

3546
05:30:45,240 --> 05:30:48,040
Yes, we hate that, it was only bringing in about $2.5 million.

3547
05:30:48,180 --> 05:30:54,740
If we adjust it, make Walmart, Target, King Super's Safeway pay $500 more.

3548
05:30:55,200 --> 05:30:58,160
We could do that map like that.

3549
05:30:58,160 --> 05:31:04,280
So we could probably give $4 million, $5 million, which would almost equate this up to $6 million.

3550
05:31:04,860 --> 05:31:07,980
It should not be paid by the tax payers with this.

3551
05:31:08,820 --> 05:31:16,360
And there was a list of about 14 roads and only five of them would get paid less amount of school that's less than 50%.

3552
05:31:16,360 --> 05:31:23,180
But any who to go back to these taxes, again, this has no sunset whatsoever, it's a forever tax, unless it goes back to the ballot.

3553
05:31:23,180 --> 05:31:46,980
Aura, 8.5% within incorporated Adams County, which is part of Aura, it's 9.75% and they do have tax ballot measures on there, but they have a sunset, parks and wrecks, 30-year sunset, it's a 0.129% for fire in 911 operation, it's a 0.064% again, 30-year sunset.

3554
05:31:46,980 --> 05:31:53,560
And for roads, bridge, repair, et cetera, almost like this one, it's 0.132%.

3555
05:31:53,560 --> 05:31:58,120
Yes, I know that they're rich up there, they have, what, 400,000 people.

3556
05:31:58,280 --> 05:32:03,640
We have 110,000, so it's four times bigger, four columns, 8.3% tax.

3557
05:32:04,200 --> 05:32:09,760
Veil with 9.5% within Eagle County of Veil right there, 11.9%.

3558
05:32:09,760 --> 05:32:14,000
Of course, that's an expensive place to live.

3559
05:32:14,260 --> 05:32:16,080
Aspen, another expensive mountain place.

3560
05:32:16,080 --> 05:32:19,660
10.35% and Pick and County is right there.

3561
05:32:19,800 --> 05:32:21,460
It's 10.65%.

3562
05:32:21,460 --> 05:32:26,300
And Tensil said earlier, we are the poorest city

3563
05:32:26,300 --> 05:32:28,980
with 25,000 population or more.

3564
05:32:30,860 --> 05:32:34,480
And no, springs has a 9% poverty level.

3565
05:32:34,680 --> 05:32:36,640
Castle Rock, 3.8%.

3566
05:32:36,640 --> 05:32:38,400
Greeley, 15.1.

3567
05:32:38,700 --> 05:32:39,900
Denver, 11.2.

3568
05:32:40,120 --> 05:32:43,280
Boulder is iffy right here with the numbers.

3569
05:32:43,500 --> 05:32:45,420
21.5% Aurora.

3570
05:32:45,420 --> 05:32:58,840
All right, 11.9% property level, four columns, 15.8, veil, again, high mountain area, low property, 6.5%, 10.6% in Aspen, again, we don't know where that place is.

3571
05:32:59,440 --> 05:33:04,660
But right here, not everyone ranks in the big dough, $150,000 or more.

3572
05:33:05,360 --> 05:33:12,800
Not everyone could afford to live downtown, not everyone could afford to drive a Mercedes or Range Rover.

3573
05:33:12,800 --> 05:33:16,360
or not everyone was born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

3574
05:33:17,240 --> 05:33:20,100
And I know, Ms. Dante said this earlier, but I don't want to hear.

3575
05:33:21,560 --> 05:33:23,440
Let the constituents vote on this.

3576
05:33:24,180 --> 05:33:27,160
How many emails have you guys got to put these tax on ballot?

3577
05:33:27,320 --> 05:33:28,120
How many phone calls?

3578
05:33:28,600 --> 05:33:30,380
How many runnings in the store?

3579
05:33:30,980 --> 05:33:31,840
Probably zero.

3580
05:33:32,640 --> 05:33:33,320
Produce that.

3581
05:33:34,260 --> 05:33:37,020
As many times as I've been coming up here, almost nine years.

3582
05:33:37,780 --> 05:33:42,240
For public form, I have not heard one single person say we need a tax for

3583
05:33:42,240 --> 05:33:51,800
this or we need a tax for that zero during public forum now it gets tossed around every

3584
05:33:51,800 --> 05:33:57,620
time and Mr. Gomez at this earlier for this your duty responsibility with your oath of

3585
05:33:57,620 --> 05:34:04,140
office to the taxpayers that elected you to this seat we are your boss although some of

3586
05:34:04,140 --> 05:34:09,460
you guys live out my district I would entertain a phone call email you guys all have my phone

3587
05:34:09,460 --> 05:34:13,420
number. Let's sit down. I don't drink coffee, but I'll drink a cup of tea.

3588
05:34:14,720 --> 05:34:20,240
Let's repeat this and vote this down. This isn't the way to do it.

3589
05:34:20,520 --> 05:34:26,840
Let's redo this street utility fee, put it on a work session within the next two months

3590
05:34:26,840 --> 05:34:30,160
because this would have to get voted on in November or December.

3591
05:34:30,380 --> 05:34:34,620
Change the amount for the big box stores and the gas stations, thank you.

3592
05:34:35,040 --> 05:34:35,600
Right on time.

3593
05:34:35,600 --> 05:34:38,280
Is there anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance?

3594
05:34:38,900 --> 05:34:39,460
Saying none.

3595
05:34:39,680 --> 05:34:40,220
The area is closed.

3596
05:34:40,620 --> 05:34:41,860
Is there a motion to approve?

3597
05:34:42,040 --> 05:34:42,520
Motion to approve.

3598
05:34:42,960 --> 05:34:43,580
Councillor Gomez.

3599
05:34:43,860 --> 05:34:44,500
Is there a second?

3600
05:34:44,660 --> 05:34:44,940
Second.

3601
05:34:45,740 --> 05:34:46,240
Councillor Dante.

3602
05:34:47,220 --> 05:34:48,280
Any questions?

3603
05:34:49,160 --> 05:34:50,400
Let's call for the vote.

3604
05:34:51,020 --> 05:34:51,680
I have a question.

3605
05:34:52,720 --> 05:34:53,740
Councillor Dante.

3606
05:34:54,780 --> 05:34:55,260
Okay.

3607
05:34:56,180 --> 05:34:59,960
Can you tell me if the enterprise, I can't-

3608
05:35:00,000 --> 05:35:23,520
Has money in it, or is it closed? I believe it has money in it. It is not closed. Do you know how much? I do not know the exact amount. The money in there is for existing projects, so not capitalists that I gave you. It's appropriated. Yes. Okay. That's what I mean. No.

3609
05:35:25,760 --> 05:35:28,440
Well, I do have a few things to say.

3610
05:35:29,360 --> 05:35:37,500
I was driving to City Hall today and I'm looking at the roads and these roads have been

3611
05:35:37,500 --> 05:35:43,700
patched and they're cracks and so they've been patched but they're breaking open.

3612
05:35:44,680 --> 05:35:46,260
So they're still cracked.

3613
05:35:47,080 --> 05:35:57,320
We need road repair and I really feel that the constituents need to be able to vote on

3614
05:35:57,320 --> 05:36:05,440
On this also, when I was campaigning, this was one of the main things between this, road repair and homelessness.

3615
05:36:05,760 --> 05:36:07,540
Those were the two things that they wanted.

3616
05:36:08,600 --> 05:36:11,080
And so, I really believe this should go on the ballot.

3617
05:36:11,860 --> 05:36:12,460
Thank you.

3618
05:36:13,220 --> 05:36:13,980
Councillor Gomez.

3619
05:36:14,580 --> 05:36:16,460
I don't think it matters if it goes on the ballot or not.

3620
05:36:17,000 --> 05:36:21,480
I think what we're not looking at is there a possibility, priorities that should have been addressed,

3621
05:36:21,480 --> 05:36:26,420
or the mismanagement of government of the budget? Is that a possibility? Not in

3622
05:36:26,420 --> 05:36:33,300
public law. I'm just telling you, what message are we not getting? They do not want taxes here.

3623
05:36:34,000 --> 05:36:37,120
I can't support this. I don't understand why we're doing this.

3624
05:36:38,060 --> 05:36:39,120
Councillor Hernandez.

3625
05:36:39,260 --> 05:36:41,000
How long has the road utility been suspended?

3626
05:36:42,200 --> 05:36:45,300
The road utility has been suspended since 2021.

3627
05:36:46,040 --> 05:36:49,020
So it's about what, four years, then four full years?

3628
05:36:49,020 --> 05:36:49,720
five.

3629
05:36:50,020 --> 05:36:50,580
Five.

3630
05:36:50,820 --> 05:36:51,060
Five.

3631
05:36:51,060 --> 05:36:51,500
Five, four years.

3632
05:36:51,920 --> 05:36:55,340
So that would have been, I would have been about 12 million.

3633
05:36:56,920 --> 05:37:01,860
So obviously I wasn't around here that what was the rationale behind suspending that?

3634
05:37:02,080 --> 05:37:09,160
So the reason we have to suspend it is because the fee has to be rationally related to the expenses.

3635
05:37:09,540 --> 05:37:10,380
That's not the reason.

3636
05:37:10,480 --> 05:37:11,620
What was suspended though?

3637
05:37:12,000 --> 05:37:17,780
It was suspended because the ballot measure for revenue for roads past for de-brucing.

3638
05:37:17,780 --> 05:37:23,140
So part of the previous administration, when they passed the ballot measure to de-brews,

3639
05:37:23,780 --> 05:37:30,220
they wanted to use $5 million of the de-brews funds a year in order to pay roads.

3640
05:37:30,720 --> 05:37:35,140
At the time it was presented to the City Council, if we were taking in money hand over fist,

3641
05:37:35,380 --> 05:37:38,540
because we were de-brewsing and not returning money back to the citizens.

3642
05:37:39,160 --> 05:37:46,800
That they felt that they could put a moratorium on collecting that $3 because we were collecting people's returns.

3643
05:37:47,280 --> 05:37:52,280
Okay, so we're talking about $2.5 million a year that we're, that we were collecting.

3644
05:37:52,540 --> 05:37:52,800
Yeah, right.

3645
05:37:52,800 --> 05:37:57,440
But in order to do the enterprise, we have to do a study in order to come up with the fee.

3646
05:37:58,200 --> 05:38:00,280
Council arbitrarily set the fee last time.

3647
05:38:00,480 --> 05:38:02,240
We can't arbitrarily set the fee.

3648
05:38:02,420 --> 05:38:09,000
It has to be reasonably related to the service being provided by the enterprise.

3649
05:38:09,000 --> 05:38:10,540
The people being collected from, right?

3650
05:38:10,540 --> 05:38:10,720
Yes.

3651
05:38:10,720 --> 05:38:20,400
And so when the study has come before Council to approve the study, Council has voted down the cost to do the study.

3652
05:38:21,220 --> 05:38:24,780
So that is the other reason why we don't have the enterprise fee.

3653
05:38:25,100 --> 05:38:27,400
Thank you. Any other questions?

3654
05:38:34,420 --> 05:38:39,350
We have to wait for Councillor Latino or not.

3655
05:38:55,120 --> 05:38:56,740
Okay, let's call for the vote.

3656
05:39:05,730 --> 05:39:06,890
Fails, four to three.

3657
05:39:10,100 --> 05:39:11,960
Mr. Clerk, item R6.

3658
05:39:15,450 --> 05:39:20,090
Item R6, an ordinance submitting to the eligible electors of the city of Pueblo, Colorado,

3659
05:39:20,090 --> 05:39:24,090
at the coordinated election to be held on November 3rd, 2026.

3660
05:39:24,090 --> 05:39:31,430
A question related to the imposition of an additional 1.25% sales and use tax rate for

3661
05:39:31,430 --> 05:39:49,630
for non-profit entities and key contractual entities with priority given to the contractional obligations O to key contractual entities and the adoption of ordinance number 1-1-2-4-2 to implement the tax introduced August 10th, 2026 by Councillor Selina Ruiz-Gomez.

3662
05:39:50,430 --> 05:39:51,410
Thank you, Mr. Clark.

3663
05:39:51,710 --> 05:39:52,330
We have staff report.

3664
05:39:52,710 --> 05:39:55,130
Thank you, President A.L.F. members of Council, Madam Mayor.

3665
05:39:55,590 --> 05:39:59,830
The City of Pueblo Presently imposes the sales and use tax three to three and

3666
05:40:02,020 --> 05:40:29,800
That rate consists of 3% base rate together with voter-approved increments, dedicated capital improvement projects and police personnel and operating needs. The city does not presently have a dedicated revenue stream for payments to nonprofit entities and non-departmental, what I'll call key contractual entities. Such expenditures are presently supported through the general fund and through limited fees and charges. The proposed ordinance refers to the voters a question of whether to impose an additional

3667
05:40:29,800 --> 05:40:45,600
1.4% sales and use tax rate, the revenues from which would be deposited in a dedicated nonprofit and key contractual entities, sales and use tax fund, and use solely to make payments to key contractual entities and nonprofit entities for the purposes within the city.

3668
05:40:46,620 --> 05:40:58,700
Moneys and the fund would be first applied to the contractual obligation of the city owes to key contractual entities and the balance appropriated by the City Council to nonprofit entities under criteria the City Council would establish.

3669
05:40:58,700 --> 05:41:06,220
Key contractual entities are those partners with which the city contracts to maintain city property and provide public services

3670
05:41:06,220 --> 05:41:12,260
such as the Humane Society the Pike speak region you'll a mountain park and the nature center so

3671
05:41:12,820 --> 05:41:13,860
This is one

3672
05:41:14,560 --> 05:41:19,660
City council has talked about a lot about non-departmentals is what we call them

3673
05:41:19,660 --> 05:41:22,040
during budget season

3674
05:41:22,040 --> 05:41:26,760
When we started putting this together, I talked to finance and

3675
05:41:26,760 --> 05:41:31,100
non-departmental covers a lot of different things in the finance world.

3676
05:41:31,480 --> 05:41:41,660
And so we came up with key contractual entities as a defined term to refer to those non-departmentals that provide those key services for the city.

3677
05:41:42,060 --> 05:41:47,780
And that term is defined in the ordinance to be those entities.

3678
05:41:47,780 --> 05:41:54,720
We don't name them specifically, but we define them as those entities that provide those key services.

3679
05:41:55,820 --> 05:42:01,000
And so, that concludes my staff report, and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

3680
05:42:01,260 --> 05:42:02,240
Thank you for that report.

3681
05:42:02,460 --> 05:42:06,120
This is a public hearing, is there anyone here wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance?

3682
05:42:07,120 --> 05:42:09,960
Saying none, is there anyone here wishing to speak against this ordinance?

3683
05:42:10,700 --> 05:42:13,820
You got a minute, 20.

3684
05:42:16,900 --> 05:42:22,400
Avis Martinez again, so I would want to know how many other cities are having

3685
05:42:22,400 --> 05:42:29,180
a slush fund from the taxpayers to pay for nonprofits that, when if this goes to the ballot

3686
05:42:29,180 --> 05:42:36,940
and we and the voters approve it, then we're not going to get anything out of it by donating

3687
05:42:37,580 --> 05:42:46,480
And I think it sounds illegal for the contractional ones to get priority over other non-profits to me that that doesn't make any sense.

3688
05:42:47,060 --> 05:42:48,580
But again, same numbers.

3689
05:42:49,120 --> 05:42:51,980
But I know Mr. A. Liff brought up Black Hills.

3690
05:42:52,340 --> 05:42:53,740
That's going to tax this all.

3691
05:42:54,140 --> 05:42:58,860
Here's this real quick to take up some of my five minutes from last year, two years ago, my bad.

3692
05:43:01,140 --> 05:43:01,900
If it wants to play.

3693
05:43:07,980 --> 05:43:09,420
Yeah, it's not going to play right now.

3694
05:43:09,420 --> 05:43:16,860
But any who, we were against the tax, well, rate hike right there because we couldn't afford it.

3695
05:43:17,240 --> 05:43:19,120
We know we are a poor city.

3696
05:43:20,220 --> 05:43:21,560
We can't fix that right now.

3697
05:43:21,960 --> 05:43:26,460
That's why we need other people to bring a business in here like Project Falcon.

3698
05:43:27,060 --> 05:43:34,280
But any who, please do what you guys just did on the prior two ordinances.

3699
05:43:34,280 --> 05:43:41,340
because I haven't heard one person come up here saying nonprofits need more taxpayer dollars via tax.

3700
05:43:43,040 --> 05:43:49,880
I've never heard any other city and any other state, any other state, so I'm not saying that there isn't a tax for nonprofits.

3701
05:43:50,880 --> 05:43:54,100
But this one is upside down inside out.

3702
05:43:54,640 --> 05:43:58,100
This is probably the most ridiculous tax that I ever heard of.

3703
05:43:59,620 --> 05:44:04,260
Are we going to tax people to walk across the street, but let me see if this plays again.

3704
05:44:04,260 --> 05:44:09,440
and I probably have the volume off, but hopefully I could play it.

3705
05:44:10,900 --> 05:44:12,020
We just kind of fought this.

3706
05:44:12,440 --> 05:44:12,900
You know it.

3707
05:44:13,240 --> 05:44:13,900
I know it.

3708
05:44:14,080 --> 05:44:14,780
The people know it.

3709
05:44:15,500 --> 05:44:17,800
And we see how this photo is going.

3710
05:44:19,040 --> 05:44:20,680
Please make it 70.

3711
05:44:21,500 --> 05:44:26,860
Unless if you guys could produce any emails that you guys have without a

3712
05:44:26,860 --> 05:44:39,860
Kora saying from Joe Schmoh to Joe Latino or Roger Gomez or Miss Dante or Mr. Hernandez or whoever would you guys vote in favor of this tax or the people could vote on it?

3713
05:44:40,700 --> 05:44:41,340
We don't have it.

3714
05:44:43,880 --> 05:44:45,880
I don't think that you guys have many.

3715
05:44:47,620 --> 05:44:51,060
It's ridiculous and this was a hidden agenda by the mayor.

3716
05:44:51,580 --> 05:44:53,640
She never campaigned on taxes.

3717
05:44:53,640 --> 05:44:59,900
We all campaigned on safety, every one of us, in this

3718
05:45:00,000 --> 05:45:26,840
This would take away from safety. And how Mr. Tensei always says, think bigger, web low. What I'd like to tell him is just think. And four of you guys are really thinking tonight. I'm surprised that I'm agreeing with Mr. Gomez. Love you, though. I love all you guys, so I'll be back on the next one. Is there anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance? Saying none, the hearing is closed. Is there a motion to approve?

3719
05:45:27,780 --> 05:45:30,120
Councillor Gomes, is there a second? Second.

3720
05:45:30,520 --> 05:45:34,720
Councillor Dante, any questions? Councillor Dante.

3721
05:45:37,480 --> 05:45:45,820
This is too wordy. I have one suggestion. Take the word contractual out of the third line

3722
05:45:45,820 --> 05:45:51,240
from the bottom and it would sound a lot better as if it passes.

3723
05:45:54,270 --> 05:45:55,370
Did you understand what I was

3724
05:45:55,370 --> 05:45:55,590
saying?

3725
05:45:55,590 --> 05:46:00,570
So you want key contractual entity is too wordy?

3726
05:46:01,230 --> 05:46:03,590
No, there's just one word.

3727
05:46:04,450 --> 05:46:06,490
In the ballot or in the.

3728
05:46:07,050 --> 05:46:08,150
In the subject line.

3729
05:46:09,130 --> 05:46:13,690
In the subject ordinance, which is pretty much the same as the actual ballot.

3730
05:46:14,410 --> 05:46:21,070
It says on the third line it starts with contractual obligations owed to key contractual entities.

3731
05:46:21,070 --> 05:46:31,370
Yeah, that first contractual in that line if you take that out it would sound a lot better. Okay. All right any other questions?

3732
05:46:32,230 --> 05:46:33,590
Let's call for the vote.

3733
05:46:40,960 --> 05:46:42,220
Fails four to three.

3734
05:46:43,100 --> 05:46:46,420
Madam Clerk, Mr. Clerk, it's late.

3735
05:46:47,140 --> 05:46:50,180
Mr. Clerk, item R7,

3736
05:46:53,900 --> 05:46:58,580
item R7, an ordinance submitting to the eligible electors of the City of Pueblo, Colorado,

3737
05:46:58,580 --> 05:47:03,140
at the coordinated election to be held November 3, 2026, a question related to the imposition

3738
05:47:03,140 --> 05:47:10,640
of an additional 1.25% sales and use tax, right, for the Department of Fire and Technology

3739
05:47:10,640 --> 05:47:16,740
related to public safety purposes and the adoption of an ordinance number 11243 to implement

3740
05:47:16,740 --> 05:47:22,300
the tax. Introduced August 10, 2026 by Councillor Salina Ruiz-Gumman.

3741
05:47:22,660 --> 05:47:24,680
Thank you, Mr. Clark. We have a staff report.

3742
05:47:24,680 --> 05:47:27,820
Yes, thank you, President Nailiff, members of the Council, Madam Mayor.

3743
05:47:28,920 --> 05:47:35,580
This is a background to approve a quarter percent sales tax increase as stated before.

3744
05:47:35,800 --> 05:47:40,760
The city does not presently have a dedicated revenue stream for the Department of Fire or

3745
05:47:40,760 --> 05:47:42,860
technology related to public safety.

3746
05:47:43,900 --> 05:47:48,340
Such expenditures are presently supported through the general fund and through limited fees and charges.

3747
05:47:48,780 --> 05:47:54,140
The Department of Fire strives to comply with the National Fire Protection Agency, which

3748
05:47:54,140 --> 05:48:00,300
which provides that frontline equipment should be in reserve status after 15 years due to technology and safety.

3749
05:48:00,900 --> 05:48:07,480
One apparatus costs more than $1.2 million and lead time to build it is two years.

3750
05:48:08,040 --> 05:48:12,780
Currently, the department has three frontline vehicles older than 15 years that need to be replaced.

3751
05:48:13,500 --> 05:48:20,040
Once the outdated fleet vehicles are replaced, the department will need to replace one apparatus per year to maintain standards.

3752
05:48:20,040 --> 05:48:26,820
Additionally, the department must properly manage aging equipment on every apparatus to keep it updated and reliable.

3753
05:48:27,340 --> 05:48:32,340
Department spends an average of $150,000 annually to maintain aging equipment.

3754
05:48:32,800 --> 05:48:39,420
Outdated equipment and apparatus impacts response times which directly impact accreditation and

3755
05:48:39,420 --> 05:48:41,340
potential insurance rates for the community.

3756
05:48:42,000 --> 05:48:45,840
These are some examples of how the money could be used to voters approve the tax.

3757
05:48:45,840 --> 05:48:50,520
Dedicated tax revenue will allow the Department to address equipment and apparatus needs,

3758
05:48:50,720 --> 05:48:53,940
maintain its accreditation and improve overall service to the community.

3759
05:48:54,640 --> 05:49:00,320
Public safety also depends greatly on technological solutions and equipment,

3760
05:49:00,620 --> 05:49:03,980
including portable and mobile radios for emergency communication.

3761
05:49:04,380 --> 05:49:10,020
Medical devices such as cardiac heart monitors and controlled substance storage,

3762
05:49:10,020 --> 05:49:17,020
Radio communication towers, drones for fire response as well as in-car computers, printers, and modems.

3763
05:49:17,380 --> 05:49:22,820
Software application support, fire call services, automated dispatch systems at each station,

3764
05:49:23,740 --> 05:49:27,540
record management, medical response, fire training, and scheduling, and

3765
05:49:27,540 --> 05:49:29,060
rostering among other tasks.

3766
05:49:29,840 --> 05:49:36,120
Recently, the fire department identified the need to modernize their wild land fire response efforts by incorporating drones and

3767
05:49:36,120 --> 05:49:41,420
systems that detect fires and hot spots improving early action along rivers, plains, and within our community.

3768
05:49:42,020 --> 05:49:48,220
Maintaining the systems with up to date technology is expensive for the city, but it is an absolute necessity to keep our community safe.

3769
05:49:49,660 --> 05:49:59,880
So the proposed ordinance refers to the voters, the question of whether to improve impose an additional one quarter percent sales and use tax that concludes my staff.

3770
05:50:00,000 --> 05:50:07,760
Any other report? I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you for that report. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here wishing to speak in favor of this ordinance?

3771
05:50:11,710 --> 05:50:31,350
Say none. This hearing is now closed. No. Is there anyone here wishing to speak against this ordinance? Come on down. I was Martinez for the final time tonight. Everybody in the chat is probably saying, well, who? So I'm on the fence on this one. Public safety, and I have the most respect for cheap,

3772
05:50:34,170 --> 05:50:48,690
So if we could amend this to say a five-year sunset and we all know public safety is number one, and of course the Fire Department probably needs it more than the other ones.

3773
05:50:48,950 --> 05:50:55,630
So if one of you guys can amend it, say a five-year sunset, then more people might vote for it if it goes to the ballot.

3774
05:50:56,230 --> 05:50:58,070
I want to try and play this again.

3775
05:50:58,070 --> 05:51:08,080
can acknowledge yesterday, Black Hills provides electricity to some of the poorest communities in Colorado and charges the highest electric rates in our city.

3776
05:51:08,100 --> 05:51:10,540
Point of order, Mr. Martinez, what is that?

3777
05:51:11,220 --> 05:51:23,700
It's when, and you guys were talking about the Black Hills energy rate that you guys were against it because we are one of the poorest cities, those are her exact words, almost two years ago.

3778
05:51:24,060 --> 05:51:25,220
Yeah, we get that.

3779
05:51:25,220 --> 05:51:40,480
So amend this to say a five-year sunset, and I may or may not vote for it, and I know plenty of firefighters that they're all wonderful because they all have a wonderful boss in this uber.

3780
05:51:43,340 --> 05:51:48,320
So this will be on your guys' conscience to vote this up or both this down.

3781
05:51:50,800 --> 05:51:58,000
And we have people that say that they are conservatives, but according to this vote tonight

3782
05:51:58,000 --> 05:51:59,600
it seems that they're opposite.

3783
05:52:00,620 --> 05:52:05,020
So I'll leave you by saying don't tread on me.

3784
05:52:05,260 --> 05:52:05,800
Thank you.

3785
05:52:06,160 --> 05:52:11,380
Is there anyone else wishing to speak against this ordinance, saying none the hearings closed

3786
05:52:11,380 --> 05:52:12,540
as their motion to approve?

3787
05:52:13,440 --> 05:52:14,000
Councillor Gomez.

3788
05:52:14,000 --> 05:52:14,880
Is there a second?

3789
05:52:16,460 --> 05:52:17,020
Councillor Latino.

3790
05:52:17,660 --> 05:52:18,240
Any questions?

3791
05:52:18,700 --> 05:52:18,800
Yep.

3792
05:52:19,540 --> 05:52:20,200
Councillor Gomez.

3793
05:52:20,500 --> 05:52:23,300
I'm just trying to figure out how I'm logically going to explain this to my constituency.

3794
05:52:23,640 --> 05:52:25,300
That's been so opposed to taxes.

3795
05:52:25,440 --> 05:52:27,060
I'm just maybe going to give me an answer mark.

3796
05:52:27,600 --> 05:52:31,380
I mean, I don't understand why we're supporting any of these taxes.

3797
05:52:31,780 --> 05:52:32,300
I'm just curious.

3798
05:52:32,700 --> 05:52:36,580
Is there any advice or something you can pass on to me how I can explain this?

3799
05:52:37,780 --> 05:52:38,180
No.

3800
05:52:38,580 --> 05:52:38,700
Good.

3801
05:52:38,920 --> 05:52:40,520
Because we haven't passed any of them.

3802
05:52:41,320 --> 05:52:42,020
Thank you.

3803
05:52:46,040 --> 05:52:46,560
Is that it?

3804
05:52:46,560 --> 05:52:46,620
Yep.

3805
05:52:47,340 --> 05:52:47,500
Okay.

3806
05:52:47,720 --> 05:52:48,560
Any other questions?

3807
05:52:49,020 --> 05:52:49,380
Me.

3808
05:52:50,020 --> 05:52:50,820
Councillor Gontay.

3809
05:52:51,160 --> 05:52:51,680
Of course me.

3810
05:52:53,000 --> 05:52:53,220
What?

3811
05:52:54,060 --> 05:53:02,120
I just want to say that I think this is a very important tax to pass due to the fact that

3812
05:53:02,120 --> 05:53:12,080
we in Pueblo could end up just like us and acres and for us not to have the equipment to

3813
05:53:12,080 --> 05:53:18,900
put it out would be a really bad thing and I know nobody wants taxes but sometimes you

3814
05:53:18,900 --> 05:53:25,980
just need to have something you don't like for your safety. Thank you.

3815
05:53:27,780 --> 05:53:31,220
Councillor Gomez, I'm good. Thank you. No? Thank you.

3816
05:53:31,740 --> 05:53:39,020
If I had a $20 bill for every time Mr. Martinez came up and told us that we need to send it

3817
05:53:39,020 --> 05:53:47,560
back to the voters. I'd have a lot of money, a lot of money. So, there is a question

3818
05:53:47,560 --> 05:53:55,700
on conservatives. I have never, ever, supported attacks ever, ever in my life, ever. But I

3819
05:53:55,700 --> 05:54:06,340
voted to move these forward the three previous times. Only because City Council cannot impose

3820
05:54:07,440 --> 05:54:16,600
We don't have that power to impose a tax, but does the community have a right to decide whether they want to tax themselves or not?

3821
05:54:17,880 --> 05:54:31,500
I think so, but we're past that, but I just wanted to clarify when you talk about my conservatism, I've never, ever one time, supported a tax increase.

3822
05:54:31,500 --> 05:54:38,040
But I've always supported the community's right to make a decision on something that I can't make a decision on.

3823
05:54:38,580 --> 05:54:41,240
So, that's how come I vote yes.

3824
05:54:43,920 --> 05:54:48,320
I just want to thank the council people who did support these.

3825
05:54:48,320 --> 05:54:51,540
These took a long time from my staff to be able to put together.

3826
05:54:52,000 --> 05:54:57,440
We took a lot of feedback from city council and from the community on things that they wanted to see forward.

3827
05:54:57,440 --> 05:54:59,960
and to not...

3828
05:55:00,000 --> 05:55:28,220
Allow this to pass to the voters. What I will say is your phones will be ringing because every time somebody calls my office now and says, why isn't this being paved? Why aren't we funding the zoo? Why aren't we funding HSPR, the additional funds that they asked for the city this year? Because we don't have the money. And city council had the opportunity to put it to the voters tonight to allow the voters to make those decisions.

3829
05:55:28,220 --> 05:55:32,260
do they want the tennis programs, do they want the pools open next year?

3830
05:55:33,000 --> 05:55:39,780
So I appreciate you, President Alif, and your stance tonight on at least letting the,

3831
05:55:41,500 --> 05:55:48,340
what he said, and also letting the taxpayers be able to make the decisions on how their

3832
05:55:48,340 --> 05:55:51,660
dollars are going to be spent in the next coming years.

3833
05:55:51,900 --> 05:55:52,200
Thank you.

3834
05:56:03,780 --> 05:56:15,360
I'm not going to make a vote on something, so I don't want taxes either, but I always think you should have a dog in the fight to say what you want.

3835
05:56:15,360 --> 05:56:18,160
All right, let's call for the vote.

3836
05:56:27,560 --> 05:56:29,520
It passes five to two.

3837
05:56:33,190 --> 05:56:37,290
If there's anybody at home watching, I know there's probably four or five people.

3838
05:56:37,790 --> 05:56:40,870
Remember that shelter pets make the best pets.

3839
05:56:42,190 --> 05:56:56,870
And please, whatever you do, if you get a pet, go to HSPPR, go to Pause for Life, go to

3840
05:56:56,870 --> 05:57:00,890
those pets. In span, neuter your pets and put one of them tags in them so we can find

3841
05:57:00,890 --> 05:57:05,310
them if they get lost. And with that, we are now a recording

3842
05:57:13,410 --> 05:57:13,830
soft.