Senior Planner Michelle Anthony began work as a secretary in the city’s Planning Department in June 1987 and will retire nearly 35 years later on Jan. 28. In the current absence of a planning director, she is the department’s ranking member.
After accolades from City Council members Tuesday, Jan. 18, Anthony said, “You’re trying real hard to make me cry,” adding, “anybody is replaceable” and “I’m glad to leave things in the shape they’re in.”
Mayor John Graham praised her for stability and consistency in preserving the city’s historic character.
City Administrator Denise Howell’s memo to council reads, in part, “Over the years, Michelle has brought several million dollars in grant funds to the community to save important pieces of Manitou Springs’ history from being lost or destroyed.” This list includes the Cliff House and the Spa Building.
Anthony helped create the Flood Recovery Center after the Waldo Canyon fire and subsequent floods beginning in 2013 and the Transportation and Parking Board, and spearheaded the Residential Parking Program.
“It’s fair to say that Michelle has had an involved and front row seat to some of Manitou Springs’ most interesting eras and events,” Howell also said.
Anthony will continue on the Manitou Springs Heritage Center Board and to volunteer there.
Council members joined in the praise for Anthony.
“How dare you retire?” Councilor Julie Wolfe joked. Councilor Natalie Johnson said, “I can’t imagine the city without you.” Mayor Pro Tem John Shada said that one cannot look at the city without seeing her mark.
During the Public Comment on Non-agenda Items portion of the agenda, Scott Harvey of Colorado Springs told council that the COVID pandemic is descended from the Spanish flu of 1918 and that all subsequent flu-like illnesses are as well. He cited a 2009 National Institutes of Health paper.
He added that a cardiologist called the pandemic “a chronic lifestyle-related disease.” He said that Manitou Springs can “elevate” lifestyle and nutrition to combat the situation.
Council unanimously approved the sale of Emerald Fields retail marijuana facility to Medicine Man Technologies Inc. LLC, doing business as Schwazze. Council had the option of scheduling a public hearing on the matter.
Schwazze, according to its attorney, will own 22 marijuana enterprises.
During that discussion, Councilor Nancy Fortuin raised the issue of U-turning traffic at the intersection of Manitou Avenue and Crystal Hills Boulevard. She told council that’s in her ward and residents are concerned.
City Engineer Dole Grebenik described his staff’s monitoring of the situation and provided statistics. Senior Planner Karen Berchtold told Fortuin that a 3-foot-by-1-foot sign has been installed to more clearly indicate the Emerald Fields entrance. Fortuin thanked Grebenik and Berchtold for their follow-up.
Electric Vehicle Task Force volunteers David Hurlbert and Nancy Wilson presented information about an electric vehicle infrastructure proposal. Colorado EV Coach Sonja Meintsma, Howell, Deputy City Administrator Roy Chaney and Grebenik are also on the task force.
They have met with the Urban Renewal Authority, the Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan District concerning infrastructure and locations for charging stations.
Hurlbert told “council that the arrival of EVs is not “if, but when” and “the sooner the better.”
He mentioned the city’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020 and said that Manitou has done well in reducing its stationary emissions. They have been reduced by 25 percent from 2005 levels, according to the proposal.
Two free slow-charge charging stations each are at the city pool and the Manitou Art Center. The task force recommends four charging stations in the Hiawatha Gardens parking lot and plans to apply for a Colorado Energy Office grant to accomplish this; the city would need to match 25 percent.
Two of the Hiawatha Gardens chargers would be Level 2 slow chargers, requiring four to 12 hours, and two would be Level 3 fast chargers, requiring 15 to 60 minutes.
Potential additional sites for slow chargers include parking lots and near streets, hotels and the Cog Railway. Potential additional sites for fast chargers include the Chamber of Commerce, parking lots and near streets.
The complete proposal can be found beginning on page 146 of the City Council agenda for Jan. 18, available on the City Council page: www.manitouspringsgov.com/201/City-Council.
Council gave first-reading approval to an ordinance regulating building heights and setbacks in the commercial zone, including the URA. The ordinance is seen as interim, pending the re-write of the entire zoning code, expected to be completed in August.
John Maynard of the URA board of directors spoke to oppose the interim ordinance. He said the ordinance is inconsistent with Plan Manitou and the urban renewal plan, and that it would discourage development in the URA area. Graham suggested that changes can be made to the ordinance before second reading and its required public hearing.
The interim ordinance passed 6 to 1, with Johnson in opposition.
Council also gave unanimous first reading approval to an ordinance repealing the housing code. The existing code is the 1997 Uniform Housing Code, which was adopted by reference.
As Anthony explained, the new code took a year to prepare in-house and is tailored to Manitou Springs. Second and final reading with a public hearing is expected Feb. 1.
Council will not meet Jan. 25.