Colorado Springs city council spent much of the afternoon discussing measures for April’s municipal ballot. The issues include council pay, an elected Utilities Board of Directors, and an elected City Attorney. Before council began deliberating the issues though, Mayor Steve Bach suggested that instead of debating individual charter amendments, there could be an overall charter review.
"I think we could expedite that over six months, and bring charter amendments that hopefully would be on a consensus basis to the November ballot. I’m very concerned about a piecemeal approach to changing our charter."
Bach said the review would need to start immediately. As of late afternoon, the Trails and Open Space, or TOPS measure without the Maintenance of Effort portion passed 7-2. Councilors Jan Martin and Brandy Williams voted against the measure. Martin said she wanted the Maintenance of Effort to remain in place. The city council then moved on to discussing compensation, which has not yet had a vote. Councilors also confirmed the nine-member Drake Task Force, which begins meeting at the end of the week.
Update, 5:04 PM: Council compensation measure passes on a 5-4 vote with Councilors Bernie Herpin, Merv Bennett, Angela Dougan and Tim Leigh opposed.
