Thank you for taking the time to review this overview of 2023 City projects. We have made substantial progress in many areas, and we look forward to continuing that momentum into 2024.
Several things deserve to be highlighted. Ambulance service is now about six minutes away from your home. I hope you will not need this, but be assured that emergency medical services are much more reliable and timelier now. In February, the Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department started providing the service, resulting in greatly improved response times while offering both basic and advanced life support capabilities.
Community policing – when both the police and the community cooperate for safety and community spirit – has grown nicely. Our Police have instituted a “Crisis Response Team (MCR-1) to deal with chronic problems stemming from peoples’ behavioral health issues. A Police Officer and a Behavioral Health Clinician work together to address a person’s behavior for an effective, long-lasting result. It is better for the individual, more effective for the department, and in the long term, better and cheaper for the community.
We also had critical victories on paper in 2023 when plans and grant applications came together happily. Armed with blueprints and funding, the Carnegie Library Renovation and Expansion will start in February. The summer months will see a new auxiliary water tank augment our water system. It will fortify our water supply and let us attack decades of deferred maintenance on our existing tank. Major remodeling projects have been completed for the Administration and Planning Departments at City Hall. The Police Department is currently being remodeled.
In 2023, Manitou’s citizens received a huge boon as the City received over $5.1 million in grants and the like. That is roughly equivalent to five and a half years of property taxes, and City staff are to be commended for this remarkable windfall.
Our firefighters will train at a new facility this year, and elsewhere we plan to attack capital improvement projects. Happily, we will replace the portable toilets at the Hiawatha Gardens with modern bathrooms. The forest surrounding our City Reservoir has been thinned for fire mitigation that will safeguard our water supply.
As a community, we can be proud of what has been accomplished. We have much to look forward to.
On behalf of City Council and City Staff, I want to wish you all a happy and productive year.
Click here to read the Manitou Springs 2023 Annual Report
Leadership
We are a welcoming, accessible, and vibrant small community at the foot of Pikes Peak. We preserve and protect our heritage and natural beauty and are a renowned destination for arts, culture, recreation, lifelong learning, and wellness. – Plan Manitou (2017)
2024 City Council
City Administration
Denise Howell | City Administrator
Roy Chaney | Deputy City Administrator
City Council Report Card
Profile
Financials
Protecting Our Planet
Accomplishments
Projects
In 2023, we have completed more projects than we can showcase here. Below are some of the finished and ongoing projects you should be aware of!
FINISHED PROJECTS
World’s First Certified Municipal Pollinator
District
2023 Citizens Academy
Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Website Redesign
Public Engagement Plan
Carnegie Library Financial Campaign
2023 Community Survey
2022 Financial Audit
Pool & Fitness Center Feasibility Study
ADA Bathrooms at the Wichita Lot
Fiber Optic Installation on Manitou Ave.
Paving on Nine Roads
Chip Sealing on Nine Roads
13 Sidewalk Installations
Creek Walk Trail Phase III
Recreation Program Expansion
Fire Training Facility
EV Charging Stations at Hiawatha Gardens
Emergency Transport Services
City Hall Remodel
FREE Electronics Recycling day
ONGOING PROJECTS
Carnegie Library Remodel
ADA Bathrooms at Fields Park
Hiawatha Gardens Mobility Hub & Bathrooms
(PPRTA Capital Improvement)
Hiawatha Gardens Building Rehabilitation
Soda Springs Park Phase II
Ruxton Corridor Infrastructure Improvements
(PPACG)
ADA Bathrooms at the Pool & Fitness Center
ADA Bathrooms at Schryver Park
2024 Citizens Academy
Plan Manitou Update
Downtown Street Sign Improvement Project
Additional 1.1 Million Gallon Water Tank
Installation
Water Line Installation on Midland
Mesa Water Line Installation
Police Station Remodel
Investment Grade Audit
E Bike Voucher Program
Electric Tram Program
Dillon Parking Lot
Creek Walk Trail – Serpentine
Historic Preservation Commission (HPC)
Doug Edmundson – Chair
Susan Presti – Vice Chair
Joy Porter – Commissioner
Ann Nichols – Commissioner
Laura Kindseth – Commissioner
Bobby Jackson – Alternate Commissioner
Tammila Wright – Alternate Commissioner
Michelle Whetherhult – City Council Liaison
Chelsea Stromberg – Staff Liaison
Housing Advisory Board (HAB)
Alison Gerbig – Chair
Alea German – Vice Chair
Michael Quintana – Board Member
Amy Mogck – Board Member
Crystal Karr – Board Member
Barbara Bunn – Alternate Member
Nancy Fortuin – City Council Liaison
Chelsea Stromberg – Staff Liaison
Manitou Arts Cultural and Heritage Board
(MACH)
Ralph Routon – Chair
Neale Minch – Vice Chair
Marcus Medina – Board Member
Eli Blackshear – Board Member
Kinzey Watts – Board Member
Wren Almitra – Board Member
Nancy Wilson – Alternate Member
Jason Wells – Alternate Member
Judith Chandler – City Council Liaison
Rebecca Davis – Staff Liaison
Mobility and Parking Board (MAP)
Bill Koerner – Chair
Rolf Jacobson – Board Member
Karl Stang – Board Member
Corey Sutela – Board Member
Joy Porter – Board Member
Luke Harper Prince – Board Member
Susan Presti – Board Member
Natalie Johnson – City Council Liaison
Roy Chaney – Staff Liaison
Juan Alvarez – Staff Liaison
Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC)
Tim Beeson – Chair
Nancy Wilson – Vice Chair
Sheryl Cline – Committee Member
Anthony Maltese – Committee Member
Andrea Sutela – Committee Member
Judy Carnick – Committee Member
Robin Kovatz – Committee Member
Steve Bremner – Alternate Member
Judith Chandler – City Council Liaison
Gillian Rossi – Staff Liaison
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PARAB)/Tree
Committee
Danu Fatt – Chair
Tim Bresnahan – Vice Chair
Anthony Lane – Board Member
Christina Grow – Board Member
Rebecca Wood – Board Member
Colin McAllister – Board Member
David Crawford – Board Member
Candace Craig – Alternate Member
Jan Johnson – Alternate Member
Natalie Johnson – City Council Liaison
Gillian Rossi – Staff Liaison
Matthew Nelson – Staff Liaison
Planning Commission (CPC)
Alan Delwiche – Chair
Mike Casey – Vice Chair
Carey Storm – Commissioner
David Armstrong – Commissioner
Gloria Latimer – Commissioner
Justin Wilson – Commissioner
Stephen Graybill – Commissioner
Whitney Lewis – Alternate Commissioner
Megan Day – Alternate Commissioner
Julie Wolfe – City Council Liaison
Hannah Van Nimwegen-McGuire – Staff Liaison