We thought $1 million might be a more palatable number to Manitou. John Graham
By William J. Dagendesh
At its June 13 work session, Manitou Springs City Council heard the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority present its funding proposal which, if approved, would go toward improving Hiawatha Gardens.
Rick Sonnenburg, PPRTA program and contracts manager, said if the PPRTA Board of Directors votes to allocate the additional funds, the money will go toward completing the mobility hub, restrooms and parking lot at Hiawatha Gardens.
“This informal proposal is expected to be ratified by the PPRTA board,” Sonnenburg said.
City Administrator Denise Howell said she first presented this issue to council in May, and that council directed Mayor John Graham to speak with and negotiate with the PPRTA.
“In 2006, we got a little over $2.2 million in an allocation to do the downtown redevelopment. Overall, we received $339,071, the difference from what we contributed over the last 18 years to what we have received,” Howell said.
She said the PPRTA team is proposing a one-time $600,000 payment to Manitou to make up the difference.
According to Howell, the 2020 Census reported that member population is: Calhan, 72; Ramah, 111; Green Mountain Falls, 646; Manitou Springs, 4,858; El Paso County, 202,291; and Colorado Springs, 478,961.
If Manitou decides to end its participation, the PPRTA sales tax will continue to be collected in that jurisdiction unless the board votes to exclude Manitou from the PPRTA boundary.
Under the current intergovernmental agreement, El Paso County and the city of Colorado Springs each will maintain one-third of the vote, and the other entities will split the remaining one-third of the vote. About 55 percent of that revenue is allocated toward a precise list of the capital projects appearing in the ballot issue.
The federal Census states that 35 percent of the revenue comprises the maintenance activities allocated to member governments based upon population, and that transit activities receive 10 percent of the revenue.
The PPRTA isn’t authorized to issue bonds or to impose motor vehicle registration fees or visitor benefit tax.
Over the past 18 years, the difference between collection and allocation is a total of $339,071 for an average of $18,837.27 per year. Final numbers for 2023 won’t be available until early 2024.
In a June 8 letter to council, Sonnenburg said Manitou has experienced a cumulative financial deficit. The PPRTA sales tax revenue generated within the city is less than the amount Manitou received from the PPRTA for capital projects and maintenance over the past 18 years.
The PPRTA Board of Directors is proposing a few elements that are subject to formal board approval. This includes a one-time payment of capital funds from the PPRTA’s capital revenue account in the amount of $600,000 to address the cumulative financial deficit and to be spent on Manitou’s eligible PPRTA-2 Capital projects, especially Hiawatha Gardens transit center.
“How did you arrive at the $600,000? What went into that (calculation)?” Councilor Judith Chandler asked.
Graham said Colorado Springs had mentioned about $325,000.
“We thought $1 million might be a more palatable number to Manitou. One of the county commissioners said, ‘Let’s split the difference,’ and we came up with $600,000.”
The PPRTA also has proposed a board commitment to study options for revising board practices or the Fifth Amendment and Restated IGA between the member entities to address the annual situations when Manitou experiences a financial deficit.
“There is no need to revisit the voting structure on the board of directors as there have only been three or so close votes in the PPRTA’s 18 years of existence,” Sonnenburg said.
Councilor Julie Wolfe voiced concern over money loss.
“It seems like, with the exception of the occasional influxes of money, we lose over $200,000 a year. So, $600,000 sounds great, but we will have lost that much in two and a half more years. At the moment, I am on the fence … it really is not a long-term fix,” Wolfe said.
Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Fortuin said she is pleased with the proposal, adding, “I think the genuine commitment is shown by the $600,000 if we get that.”
Councilors John Shada and Michelle Whetherhult also support the proposal.
“I think it’s a generous offer and I will endorse Rick’s letter,” Graham said.
Council also discussed the E-Bike Voucher Pilot program that would provide 125 vouchers worth $500 each to Manitou residents to use toward buying an E-bike. These would be Class I-III bikes — no mountain bikes and no retrofitting.
Along with Chandler, Bike Colorado Education Chair Joan Stang and Bike Safety Expert Karl Stang pitched the program to Council. Chandler had been directed to come up with an E-Bike voucher program.
The program was designed to enhance riders’ health and wellness, and decrease vehicular traffic congestion and carbon dioxide emissions. Also, the voucher program supports Plan Manitou goals and the Mobility and Parking Board’s mission/vision.
Last year, the city of Denver launched an E-bike incentive program that has grown in popularity with more than 5,500 Denver residents becoming E-bike owners and riders. The Rocky Mountain Institute calculates $1 million in cumulative annual financial savings, much of it in gas and electricity costs.
“I have been wanting to bring this program to Manitou since the Denver program was launched. I was thrilled to see that the data coming out of that program was encouraging with regards to E-bike usage and decreasing engine combustion, vehicle use and carbon footprint,” Chandler said.
No small municipality in Colorado has launched a voucher program. If adopted, Manitou would be the first small city to implement an E-bike voucher program, becoming a “Cycle City” that could attract more cyclists.
“Manitou has a congestion problem, so why not offer an E-Bike voucher program? The ability to replace car trips with bike trips is a major step toward reducing vehicular congestion and people competing for parking spaces,” Karl Stang said.
“A statistic from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2017 reported nearly 60 percent of household vehicle trips were just 6 miles or less, and 75 percent were 10 miles or less. Can you imagine the impact we would have as far as traffic mitigation and on our environment?” Joan Stang added.
Participants would have to apply online, sign a waiver and participate in a bike safety course and six months of data collection. Applicants would have to be at least 16 years old and provide proof of one-year residency. Only one voucher per household would be allowed.
Five bike shops — Ebike Sales and Rentals of Manitou, InclinE-bikes (Manitou), Colorado Springs Bike Shop, Old Town Bike Shop and Angletech — have been chosen for E-bike purchasing.
Wolfe said she would like to study statistics before getting more bikes and fewer cars on the road.
“I would be interested to see if it is a better use of our money to lease the vehicles for people to use, as opposed for them to buy,” Wolfe said. Council will discuss the topic further during a July 11 work session.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 20.