By Denise Howell, City Administrator
Fall is nearly upon us, and it has been a busy summer!
The city has been focusing on completing infrastructure improvement projects during warmer weather.
They include the MAPS project (on the west end of town), Soda Springs Park, Beckers Lane Bridge, Clarksley/Mountain View water and sewer line, and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements on Cañon Avenue.
I want to thank our residents, businesses and visitors for their patience and understanding as we continue to improve our infrastructure around Manitou Springs. It’s important to stay current so we have modern and maintainable roadways, water lines, sewer lines, gas lines and electrical conduit throughout our city.
This past year, Manitou Springs received numerous recognitions, including the third friendliest city in the United States, top 10 cities for the arts and top 15 small towns to visit, and we couldn’t have done it without you! Now the world knows what we all know: Manitou Springs is a special place and an amazing community.
Mobility continues to be our focus, as we look for opportunities to get visitors smoothly from one location to another. Our team is looking for additional opportunities for shuttles, parking, bike and pedestrian lanes, and other mobility options.
These ideas include the option of limited free residential parking in our downtown area. Stay tuned!
Road conditions continue to be a concern, and Public Works has implemented a system to prioritize which roads require the most attention. This ensures that the capital plan strategically attacks the streets in the worst conditions first and eventually results in maintained roadways throughout Manitou Springs.
This year, three roads were on the schedule to be paved and we are working promptly, despite the global asphalt shortage, to stay on track to get them paved before the weather becomes too cold. Potholes are always a concern, but our Public Works department has already filled 435 potholes this year alone.
If you have a pothole in your area, I encourage you to use the SeeClickFix app and report it. Go to bit.ly/3ggFx5g or download it for IOS at apple.co/2EkRQjK or for Google Play at bit.ly/2YkKbci.
You can report many issues throughout the city with this app, as well as track city staff’s progress while they work to resolve the issue. Working together, we can identify the areas that need attention!
Some of the key performance indicators through June:
435 potholes filled;
97 fire hydrants flushed;
29,419 instances of sewer and water preventive maintenance;
121 neighborhood services cases;
157 neighborhood services inspections;
322 property improvement permits;
16 Planning Commission applications, active and received;
549 Residential Parking Program permits issued;
5,191 parking citations;
4,733 pool patrons;
270 Park and Recreation work orders;
12,691 utility bills mailed;
1,462 late notices mailed;
230 business licenses issued and/or renewed;
31 liquor licenses processed;
30 agenda packets prepared;
80 press releases; and
1,152 times Manitou Springs has been mentioned in the media.
As you can see, staff is busy and works hard for this community. The city is fortunate to have dedicated, hard-working and customer-focused staffers who care about the community they serve.
The next areas of focus are to complete the infrastructure improvement projects, as well as our Code Rewrite Project.
Staff will present the proposed 2021 budget to City Council during an all-day retreat Saturday, Oct. 2. We encourage all interested individuals to stop by that day at Memorial Hall (606 Manitou Ave.).
I’m pleased to announce that our annual financials are doing extremely well, with a budgeted ending unassigned General Fund balance of $3,761,000 or 40 percent (five months) of operating expenditures. The city is in a much better financial position than it has been in the past.
The following is the 2021 projected revenue forecast for taxes, which provide 78.51 percent of the total $13,132,687 budgeted 2021 General Fund revenues of the taxes, sales tax is budgeted to provide 60 percent, or $7.9 million, of the total revenues for the General Fund. As a comparison, property taxes will provide 6 percent, or $744,000, of the total revenues.
Despite this improved unassigned fund balance, staff continues to maintain strict financial discipline.
I want to recognize city staffers for their hard work and dedication. They do an exceptional job at serving the residents, visitors and businesses of Manitou Springs.
Once a month, I am having coffee with any residents, business owners or visitors who would like to sit down and discuss opportunities and concerns or to just say hi. The next one is 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, in Memorial Hall/City Hall.
As always, my door is open and I am always looking to meet with residents to discuss whatever is on your mind.