Cañon City launches Public Safety and Quality of Life committee; Feb. 18 set for first full meeting

Cañon City held the inaugural meeting of its Public Safety and Quality of Life Committee to outline the groups role in preparing policy recommendations and coordinating citizen input on safety and livability in 2026. Chair Amy Smisher said the committee will take a deeper dive into topics that would otherwise go to full council and stressed that the committee is a policy body, not an operational one.

Smisher told attendees the committee includes three council members, the mayor (who sits on all three new committees), and citizen appointees; she urged residents to submit letters of interest to Cindy Foster Owens by Jan. 30, saying the mayor expects to make appointments at the first February council meeting.

The committee heard short presentations from city staff about items they expect to bring forward in 2026. The Police Chief described a multi-stakeholder certified crime prevention model drawn from a Virginia template and said staff will present detailed materials at the committees February meeting. Parks Director Rex Brady briefed the group on parks and trails maintenance, a Red Canyon Park grant that will add campsites and infrastructure, and the citys purchase and planning for the Clark Station/Western Gateway property, with a public site-strategy workshop set for Feb. 19. Library deputy director Adam described goals to expand programming and grow the maker space but warned that physical space and staffing limit rapid expansion. Museum Director Lisa Stes described a Certified Local Government (CLG) historic-survey grant (drafts due Mar. 1), an expiring MOU with the Bureau of Land Management that will require council action, and planned events for the 150/250 commemoration.

Citizens attending stressed that crime and homelessness should be priorities for this committee. After discussing Open Meetings Act constraints and calendar conflicts, members agreed on a monthly cadence, typically the Wednesday following a council meeting at 4 p.m., and set Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. as the first meeting for the fully constituted committee. Smisher said the February agenda will include the Police Chiefs safe-cities presentation, crime statistics, homelessness, and items drawn from the Cañon City 2040 action plan.

The meeting was recorded for public access on YouTube and Channel 191; staff explained the room camera system used to capture speakers. The committee concluded with instructions on how staff will circulate materials in a manner consistent with Colorado open meetings law.