[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6488897,"mediaKeyId","5444728-71936faefcd1909fe0bba14c4b2b2404","parentId",5444728,"title","Mayor proposes 1% citywide sales tax increase for roads and ballot measure to expand PEDCO spending criteria; council raises concerns","audioSeconds",3919,"startMs",3849000,"endMs",7768000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5444728-71936faefcd1909fe0bba14c4b2b2404&start=3849&end=7768","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5444728-71936faefcd1909fe0bba14c4b2b2404/thumbnail_3849000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6488897/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Mayor-proposes-1-citywide-sales-tax-increase-for-roads-and-ballot-measure-to-expand-PEDCO-spending-criteria-council-raises-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488897-854b5b4976af778284c0fa144104c8b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771212189&Signature=LWhFqrPetlFUiK6nT3gskwpE6MQP~5lMvmJiPArrQLKncAc5~M~hU8mXCNjDnuTRA~8i8LlJt4QNPZloLM7Yyw0PRB6ccN9EIuC~a-GpCbZel50pj0MNmFVNQC94WRe8pdRndRuz45kwyGNPuTh7HzRhNQ55JKH5MvnLpWaKCwBVBirx1KGN4vJzB01f23Nj8nDJ2MJq6k0KnJsqakTd3jWdwDEXpkk66WaDZgzMVGhxmtA55t5IdyTmn~lvWYDIhD5OYFiWkGh28Ujt08c7atC~yc9RRjWlOtRIVgkGoAkOh1T5vSjt-MLNypxwreNazjs6wW75zkN9vsntbc0uCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pueblo City, CO","date","2025-07-22T21:24:46.973Z","article","City staff presented two proposed measures for the Nov. 4 ballot: a citywide 1% sales‑tax increase and a ballot question to extend and revise the city’s existing half‑cent PEDCO sales tax. The measures drew extensive council debate about strategy, language and likelihood of voter approval.

City staff said the proposed 1% increase would raise the city sales tax from 3.7% to 4.7%, producing an estimated $26 million annually based on 2024 collections; staff proposed dedicating the first year’s receipts to road projects slated for 2026–2029. “This proposal, if passed by city council, would be on the November 4 ballot,” city staff said during the presentation. Staff noted the city’s sales tax had not been raised in more than 50 years and that existing capital funding for streets had declined in recent years.

On a separate ballot item staff described a proposed amendment and extension to the half‑cent economic development sales tax (the PEDCO fund). The proposal, city staff said, would extend the tax for five years (from its current 12/31/2026 expiration to 12/31/2031) and broaden the ordinance’s allowable uses to include three new criteria: an “economic catalyst project” definition, language to address “economic leakage” (money spent outside the city) and “placemaking” (public amenities to attract residents and visitors). Staff said those additions mirror tools used in other municipalities and would broaden what the city could support while maintaining a focus on primary jobs.

Council debate was robust and divided. Councilor Forrest summarized the concern of several members, saying the PEDCO criteria changes had been rejected by council previously and asking why the administration was now taking the previously rejected ordinance to voters. President Hill and other council members urged a negotiated compromise with PEDCO and suggested the current presentation risked creating an internal split that could harm voter support. Council members also questioned whether the city could realistically attract large retailers such as Costco or Bass Pro and whether the ballot language used “buzzwords” that could confuse voters. Councilor Boston said putting the question to voters was appropriate but urged clear, concise language and better outreach.

Val, the city’s tax expert, explained the consumer impact: “it would be 1p on every dollar,” describing the 1% increase plainly for residents. City staff also explained that the 1% increase would need to be “debruced” (subject to TABOR/debrucing rules) when added to the ballot language.

Councilors discussed timing and political strategy. Multiple council members and administration officials said PEDCO leadership had been engaged in previous months and that PEDCO requested the issue be put to a public vote because the proposed changes alter the ordinance significantly. Several council members asked for a compromise option and additional work with PEDCO before finalizing ballot language.

Ending: Staff said the ballot measure language was being prepared for first reading and that council would consider it for placement on the Nov. 4 ballot; council members asked for additional meetings with PEDCO and suggested refined, less technical ballot language would help public understanding.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session-July 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff proposed a 1% citywide sales‑tax increase to fund roads and a ballot measure to extend and broaden the half‑cent PEDCO economic development tax; council members raised strategic and language concerns.","taxTitle","Pueblo City, Pueblo County, Colorado","taxId",4964,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6488903,"Palmer Land Conservancy proposes farmland project and asks council to explore Pueblo Mountain Park easement",840,2198000,3038000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5444728-71936faefcd1909fe0bba14c4b2b2404&start=2198&end=3038","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5444728-71936faefcd1909fe0bba14c4b2b2404/thumbnail_2198000.jpg","/articles/6488903/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Palmer-Land-Conservancy-proposes-farmland-project-and-asks-council-to-explore-Pueblo-Mountain-Park-easement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488903-387c82c33a5cf553744f77cebd925bc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771212189&Signature=UGYPxOztc2cyam3z7BMeGKRG3trkYTIKEzmsaAv3s9A9TZ6E8X2h6yyiw2qzP-W1uWAOLsGtkZ~mprQC5BW-8QfM0sj1N0umiGtGrVmee1Wv~0GT~FLnw2EnYNTBb2du~CAv~usuAG~gJLNNeheabX~dhh5CfCfdOMFS9aliz7Vz379Kf8Tx8eSTei6owEHj1LjBszajzSXXY06kHXvRihGFbzX7o61uIRvwiaRy7UyMpAWdOrkSJeYk3sfCVw4VYAr6M~ViVarD4uAh5Mie4KOojaKe2V22BQzwvAzAuzE0~p1CNfy8iTLtZKnP6UYjgs7gHouvSWhHyRNfKGK5nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Palmer Land Conservancy representatives presented an overview of local conservation work Monday and asked the Pueblo City Council to begin exploring a potential conservation easement for the city‑owned Pueblo Mountain Park.

Dylan O’Hare, senior conservation manager, said Palmer is Pueblo’s local land trust and has conserved about 140,000 acres across its service area, with more than 100,000 acres in working farms and ranches. He described the Bessemer Farmland Conservation Project, which Palmer has led for roughly 10 years in eastern Pueblo County to respond to planned “dry up” of irrigation on parts of the Bessemer Ditch. Palmer said Pueblo Board of Water Works purchased roughly a third of Bessemer Ditch shares (about 5,000 shares) in 2009 and leased the water back to farmers; those leases are scheduled to expire in 2039.

O’Hare described Palmer’s legal and water‑management work to keep productive farms in irrigation, saying the conservancy closed on a 620‑acre farm in Avondale this year and is leasing it to a local farmer while working to “reunite this highly productive farm…with permanent water shares” so the farm will not dry up after 2039. He said the conservancy’s approach aims to protect the city’s water security while preserving local agricultural economies.

Jolene Collins, Palmer’s community engagement manager, summarized youth and outreach programs Palmer runs or supports in Pueblo: the fifth annual Bike the Bessemer event on Oct. 4, Generation Wild (a Great Outdoors Colorado‑funded program aimed at getting kids outside) and “Bikes and Birds” programming to connect children with outdoor recreation and birding. Collins said Palmer is also fiscal agent for the Generation Wild initiative and is collaborating with the Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center and nine core program partners.

On the Pueblo Mountain Park — a 600‑acre site the city purchased in 1920 — O’Hare asked the council to consider a conservation easement to “ensure that Pueblo Mountain Park is here for citizens of Pueblo for generations to come.” He explained what a conservation easement is: “a voluntary and legally binding agreement between a landowner and a certified conservation easement holder…meant to protect conservation values,” and said the upfront due diligence and drafting costs for an easement typically range from about $75,000–$100,000. Palmer told the council it intends to fundraise the upfront cost if the city wishes to proceed.

Council members asked for clarification about easement terms, financial implications and how community input would be used; Palmer said the city, as landowner, would define the specific allowed and prohibited uses and that Palmer would provide technical support and community engagement.

Ending: Palmer asked to continue individual briefings with council members and to provide more detailed due‑diligence information about a possible conservation easement for Pueblo Mountain Park; council members confirmed interest and asked for follow‑up information.","Palmer Land Conservancy briefed the council on a decade‑long Bessemer Farmland Conservation Project, a recent 620‑acre acquisition in Avondale, Generation Wild youth programming and a request to discuss conservation easement options for the city‑owned Pueblo Mountain Park.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6488907,"CAE Pueblo Training Center outlines expansion plans, mechanic school and airline pipeline",1692,448000,2140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5444728-71936faefcd1909fe0bba14c4b2b2404&start=448&end=2140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5444728-71936faefcd1909fe0bba14c4b2b2404/thumbnail_448000.jpg","/articles/6488907/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/CAE-Pueblo-Training-Center-outlines-expansion-plans-mechanic-school-and-airline-pipeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488907-66fdc0da53c76797ccc2b0a138caa2c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771212189&Signature=Xwnv0bJKYDiZf1j46KOkhNyXQcriB8FRPNBVUgvw5wlGR8Zovr7JKRMnbu7ujzhdYtnTpn3YpysmdsgGgmqcfqF52euZfdQQ3z8U-y41KsyJV1Xca3uy-WagtHdm2ssbnz6SzX1FeoIOXQFQD0LF~wl8RByFPrUrHHmQIPVTecmc7iGToPoF4hLWnbGIHH7dr2l-bvPE7CQ0dZ3X~NJan3PMZp8TKt6wvNlwnMx6wrufAKEQL-inxtvhGTfFpKx-hWeWqqirU1PpqXqH8oBronvnBLuBiCEQYvgDQauQgE0e0mTj49EIT-FmAT95Lmm7tA7LGrEdxgiLxMHfaKovrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mark Maryak, director of flight training at CAE Pueblo Training Center, told the Pueblo City Council on Monday that the center intends to broaden its training portfolio beyond Air Force introductory flight training, and described near‑term workforce and facility plans.

“We exist to make the world safer,” Maryak said, summarizing CAE’s mission. He told the council the Pueblo campus sits on about 48 acres, operates a fleet of 62 Diamond DA20 aircraft and has trained about 25,000 U.S. Air Force aviators since the program began in 2006.

Maryak said CAE is pursuing several community‑facing expansions: an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic school in partnership with Pueblo Community College and Colorado State University Pueblo to produce skilled maintenance workers; expanded civilian pilot training modeled on CAE’s Phoenix facility that can take ab initio students through private, instrument and certified flight instructor (CFI) ratings; and new international contracts including a pending training agreement with the German Air Force. He added that CAE Phoenix has asked whether Pueblo could host airline‑training pipelines and said, “If I came to you in 6 months or a year and ask you if you could take on an airline, yes, we can do that here.”

Maryak described changing Air Force requirements that are shortening or lengthening training blocks: the center is shifting from about seven weeks of training to programs that could keep students in Pueblo for roughly four and a half months. He said that will increase infrastructure needs — especially ramp and parking space — and that some capital investment would be required as the center seeks to capture more market share of military and coalition training.

He provided workforce and output figures: the center employed about 179 people at the time of the presentation (down from a peak around 220), has operated more than half a million flight hours in total, and in busy years has trained as many as 1,000–1,200 students in seven‑week courses. For the proposed A&P program Maryak estimated an initial intake of about 250 students per year, noting that some phases of CAE’s pipeline historically reached far higher throughput.

Council members responded positively. Councilor Flores asked about the company’s ownership history; Maryak described prior corporate sales and said CAE acquired the program in the most recent transaction. Councilman Boston and Councilwoman Maestri thanked Maryak for pursuing local workforce opportunities. Maryak said he expects employment to grow beyond 250 staff as new programs ramp up, and said his organization is working with local partners — including PEDCO, PCC and the Chamber of Commerce — to identify capital and partnership needs.

Ending: CAE Pueblo described concrete education and training proposals that city officials said they would support in follow‑up; staff and CAE said further discussion with PEDCO and educational partners will define funding and implementation steps.","CAE's Pueblo Training Center described plans to broaden training—including an airframe & powerplant (A&P) mechanic program with local institutions, potential airline pilot training and growing international partnerships—while noting ramp and facility needs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6488911,"City reports parks festival, public-safety stats, and large cleanup and graffiti-removal totals",346,67000,413000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5444728-71936faefcd1909fe0bba14c4b2b2404&start=67&end=413","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5444728-71936faefcd1909fe0bba14c4b2b2404/thumbnail_67000.jpg","/articles/6488911/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/City-reports-parks-festival-public-safety-stats-and-large-cleanup-and-graffiti-removal-totals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488911-40cadf8a501b5b44cc5c6834c0927cf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771212189&Signature=a2DCsVwQFLm0vv3xaG5NpSYnCgJkQMkWC3m6bUrE-qU75g5i4F2dbIEYpxw~fOh59RmijtlHZI-zSBXB9hvypvhT0HnIpXMCsI-u9ITF3JlEydwrsWNqwXIwA8ZFbLRHajNkPVrmU1xbliwNfzVI-MC6rJEzqJUzWJHO7wFGVTeaeA-Smlot0UjUy4U06SNDEtK4KV~EXK8GFOu1FYfZhszPc-oHl7zhtHRNVpu-OelIgru9-TS2rvpnaLOyxst~XlA~3hZRvDIW9wfFvI5EmRkCqAYYpQXYQqfPlY~8al2uPVKc8yJMF-olAjmoJGJqfP7Ov1UcACRNl-AgZagC3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff provided multiple community updates Monday night, including openings on the Pueblo Homeless Commission, upcoming Parks & Rec events and detailed public-safety and cleanup figures.

Brian McCain, chief of staff, told the council there are two openings for “a community business leader” to serve two‑year terms on the Pueblo Homeless Commission and that residents may apply at pueblo.us. He also previewed Parks & Rec events: the Still City Arkansas River Festival on Saturday, July 26, running 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; free shuttle service to multiple parks during the festival; and a ribbon cutting and grand reopening at Elizabeth Street Parkway on Thursday, July 31, at 1 p.m.

McCain summarized police activity and investigations, saying Pueblo Police officers wrote six curfew citations in parks over the recent weekend — three adults and three juveniles — and that the youngest cited was 12 and out at about 12:20 a.m. He said police have written 66 loitering citations since April and that “self‑initiated calls for the patrol division were up 27% over the prior week.” He also reported the rearrest of a man who broke into a downtown bar twice; that suspect “currently remains in jail and on a $10,000 cash surety bond.”

Police recently detained a frequent dirt‑bike/motorcycle rider who has been observed driving dangerously; McCain said that rider was charged with reckless driving, exhibition of speed, operating an unregistered vehicle, displaying fictitious plates and operating without a motorcycle endorsement. He also said an investigation remains active into a downtown shooting and encouraged anyone with information to contact Detective Medina at (719) 553‑3296 or submit an anonymous tip to Pueblo Scribe Stoppers.

McCain described the administration’s cleanup work and gave year‑to‑date and recent totals: Mike Purdy’s team has completed 53 homeless‑camp cleanups in 2025 so far, including 28 in Bessemer (about 53% of the city total in McCain’s tally). He said the team removes graffiti measured in “lines” and gave the council the program’s metric: “a line is basically, if you imagine a 2 by 2, 2 and a half by 2 and a half foot square… That counts as 1 line.” McCain reported 17,996 graffiti lines removed this year, and that Bessemer accounted for 5,246 lines (about 29%) while the East Side accounted for 4,157 lines (about 23%).

McCain also provided a snapshot of cleanup work since July 1 in primarily Bessemer and the East Side: 9.41 tons of trash collected, 2,859 needles, 211 tires and 75 shopping carts. He said staff are continuing to compile annualized figures and will share updates with the council.

Council members asked clarifying questions and thanked staff for the report; McCain concluded by reminding the public of a Neighborhood Safety Night scheduled for Aug. 2 from 4–8 p.m. on Allen Hamill Avenue.

Ending: The update covered public events, enforcement statistics and cleanup metrics; several council members offered praise and the administration said it will continue to refine and circulate yearly totals.","City staff updated the council on Parks & Rec events, two Homeless Commission openings, police activity including curfew and loitering citations, and city-led cleanup and graffiti-removal numbers through mid‑July.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor proposes 1% citywide sales tax increase for roads and ballot measure to expand PEDCO spending criteria; council raises concerns

Palmer Land Conservancy proposes farmland project and asks council to explore Pueblo Mountain Park easement

CAE Pueblo Training Center outlines expansion plans, mechanic school and airline pipeline

City reports parks festival, public-safety stats, and large cleanup and graffiti-removal totals