Newsletter August 27, 2015
In this issue:
Next CONO Membership meeting:
Wednesday, 
Sept. 9,  5:30 -7:30 p.m. 
*New! 5-5:30 pm Social & Snacks
Link to video presentation on
disaster preparedness:



CONO office, 309 S. Cascade Ave.

Open to the public! Listen to whats going on in your community and share neighborhood news!

Free parking is available in the juror lot across the street.

Shooks Run Trail

 Jackson to Jefferson, Fontanero to Wasatch.

 Full depth reconstruction, wayfinding signage, street crossing improvements, improve neighborhood access points.   



Sand Creek Trail

Airport Road to Hancock Expressway.

Retaining wall improvements, drainage improvement, wayfinding signage, corridor clearing.


Quick links
Join Our Mailing List
Send community calendar news to info@cscono.org
Neighborhood News:

Colorado Springs Farmers Market Schedule

Outdoor Summer Concert Series Schedule

Check out your neighborhood's website and/or email service or Nextdoor.com for your neighborhood info!

Submit your listing!
     
Board Member Spotlight
Rachel Beck
 
Rachel has worked in municipal government policy, research, and communication for 15 years. As a former public information officer for the City of Colorado Springs and Colorado Springs Utilities, and as a consultant, Rachel has helped citizens access their municipal government, understand community issues, and has helped craft initiatives to improve the region's infrastructure and land use. She is currently Policy and Communication Manager for the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, where she analyzes state legislation for the council's 16 local governments, administers its citizen oversight committee, and solicits public input for regional transportation and aging planning.
  She serves on the boards of the Patty Jewett Neighborhood Association and the Palmer Land Trust, represents CONO on the city's infill committee and the Development Review Enterprise, and is a past board member of the Colorado Springs Press Association. She is also an active community volunteer. Rachel holds a degree in English literature from the University of Colorado and enjoys skiing, biking, and traveling.
 
News
 
Trails And Open Space Coalition Ballot Proposition
VOTE YES FOR TRAILS!

WITHOUT RAISING TAXES, SHALL THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS BE PERMITTED TO RETAIN AND SPEND UP TO $2,100,000 FOR PARK TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE, THIS AMOUNT BEING THE ESTIMATED 2014 REVENUES ABOVE THE 2014 FISCAL YEAR REVENUE/SPENDING LIMITATIONS?
On August 11, City Council voted (8-1, Collins was the "no" vote) to place a measure on the November ballot to use $2.1 million in excess revenue to fix badly damaged trails. These are key segments of our trail system with cracks and holes that in some cases pose a safety risk. Some of these asphalt trails were built 20+ years ago. Asphalt generally lasts about 10 years. They will be repaired with concrete with a lifespan of 50 years. A four foot gravel trail will be added along the concrete creating a soft surface for runners and equestrians.
The eight projects include portions of the Homestead, Palmer-Mesa, Pikes Peak Greenway, Rock Island, Sand Creek, Shooks Run, Sinton and Skyline Trails. These projects made the cut because they're heavily used, in bad shape and no other source of funds is available to make repairs. Some of the projects will improve accessibility to neighborhoods and make the trails ADA compliant.
This will not begin to address the long list of maintenance needs and capital projects outlined in the recent master plan ($180M), but if passed it will improve key system trails.
To the side are some of the projects.

Community Calendar

Final Stakeholder Public Meeting for Hancock/ Academy planning study
Thursday, Aug. 27th, 2015
4pm- 6pm
Victory World Outreach Church
3150 S. Academy Blvd.
RSVP to assure appropriate accommodations
Click here for more details.

The Great Bicycle Carnival
Sunday, August 30, 2015
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
FREE

A day for family bike riding with a bicycle parade from 4 different starting locations that all end at the Popcycle Bridge with a carnival at Monument Valley Park!  Wear your tutu, cape or fun costume and make a day of great family bicycling fun at the park.  Bring a picnic and enjoy some music while kids participate in a fun and encouraging bike activities with their peers.
Bike parade routes will start at four different locations.  You will park the car (or ride your bikes) to the starting point and then join the bicycle parade in toward the Popcycle Bridge (on the Greenway Trail just north of Monument Valley Park).  *Locations are subject to change.*
Each parade route will be themed with fun entertainment along the way!  Bike decorations and costumes are highly encouraged!
Register here.
For more information click on this link.


Pikes Peak Summit Complex Scoping Letter

The City of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak - America's Mountain (PPAM), in partnership with Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) and U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (U.S. Army), are proposing to redesign and reconstruct the existing Pikes Peak Summit Complex located in the Pike National Forest in El Paso County, Colorado. The U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service), Pikes Peak Ranger District, is the federal lead agency for the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider and disclose the environmental effects of redesigning and constructing the Pikes Peak Summit Complex.   
  
T he official scoping comment period began August 21st, 2015 and ends September 21st, 2015. Click here for additional information on the project and how to comment.
  
The Forest Service values public participation. Comments, including anonymous comments, will be accepted at any time. Comments posted after the close of a designated comment period, however, may not be able to be given full consideration. Anonymous comments and comments submitted after the close of the final designated comment period will not provide the commenter standing for administrative review. Communications from the public regarding this project, including commenter's names and contact information, will become part of the public record.

Proposed city ordinance affecting Downtown, Old Colorado City Public Meetings
 
Proposed ordinance:
A proposed city ordinance has been created to maintain pedestrian safety, economic vitality and public rights-of-way in defined areas of downtown Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City.
The proposed ordinance would prohibit people from sitting, lying, reclining or kneeling on streets, sidewalks, trails and objects in the right-of-way which are not intended for sitting. Hours of the ordinance would be between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, extending to 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The ordinance would apply to the following commercial districts due to their concentrations of civic, commercial, historic, residential and recreational facilities:
  • Downtown commercial district: North/south borders - St. Vrain to Cimarron Street and I-25 to Wasatch Avenue on the east/west.
     
  • Old Colorado City Commercial District: Colorado Avenue between 21st and 31st Streets and Pikes Peak Avenue to Cucharras Street between 23rd and 28th Streets. 
Public meetings
The City of Colorado Springs will host two public meetings to discuss this proposed ordinance. The meetings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, September 3,at City Auditorium ( 231 E. Kiowa St.) and from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Westside Community Center ( 1628 West Bijou St.) .
 
More information
To read the draft ordinance, click here. For additional background, read the presentation slides that will be presented at the council work session here.


Volunteer Opportunities
 
Colorado Springs Health Foundation Seeks Volunteer to serve on its Board of Trustees
 
The City of Colorado Springs entered into a lease of the operations of Memorial Health System tot he University of Colorado Health (UCH). In connection therewith, the City established the Colorado Springs Health Foundation, whose mission is the provide grants to target immediate  health care needs and encourage healthy living in El Paso and Teller Counties.A 9-member Board of Trustees governs the affairs of the Colorado Springs Health Foundation. Trustees are nominated by the Mayor and appointment by a majority of the members of City Council. Find an application here. For questions contact: cdavis@cshf.net.


Volunteers Needed for the El Paso County Citizen Outreach Group (COG)
  
The El Paso County Board of Commissioners is seeking community-minded citizen volunteers to serve on the El Paso County Citizen Outreach Group (COG).

APPLICATIONS FOR THE OPEN POSITION ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, SPTEMBER 4, 2015
  
The Citizen Outreach Group, composed of county residents, advises the Board of County Commissioners on topics of concern, reaches out to citizens and facilitates communication between the Board of County of Commissioners and its constituents, and coordinates outreach events and activities to build citizen confidence in El Paso County Government.
The group consists of 15 members: ten regular representatives, two from each of the county's five commissioner districts, and five at-large representatives. District and at-large members serve for three-year terms, with terms limited to two consecutive terms.
Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 10:00 a.m. Meetings are held at various county facilities and locations are posted with agendas in the lobby of the County Office Building, 200 S Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Citizen Outreach Group (COG) is seeking one member to represent District 3.
The volunteer application is located here. Applicants are asked to reference the board and position they wish to represent and include a mailing address and daytime phone number. Send completed applications and letter of interest and/or résumés to:
  
Board of County Commissioners
Attn: Jessica McMullen, El Paso County Executive Administrative Assistant
200 S. Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2208
JessicaMcMullen@elpasoco.com
  
Applications may also be faxed to 719-520-6397 or emailed to webmaster@elpasoco.com. For further information call      719-520-6555.

El Paso County & CONO

bring you Citizens College!

October 2015

 

Saturday, October 17/Saturday, October 24

At Green Mountain Falls Town Hall.

  • These sessions of Citizens College will include a  presentation from the Town of Green Mountain Falls.
  • FREE to attend.
  • Lunch (included) with the County Commissioners.
  • Live Q&A with County Officials.
  • Video Presentations.
  • Limited Seating. Register Now.

Sign up online today; click here.

  For more information click here or contact CONO at 719-471-3105. 

NEW PANEL SERIES LAUNCHES
'Why do neighborhoods matter?'

The 3rd Tuesday of every month at CONO offices!
12 noon- 1 pm 
Bring a brown bag lunch 

*Next Panel September 15th on Code Enforcement

Other Topics Include:
Neighborhood Communications
Making your neighborhood fun
Advocacy-giving your neighborhood a voice
Preserving your neighborhood history
Organizing a Neighborhood clean up
Safety and Prevention- for children and seniors


CONO News & Membership Info:

Neighborhood Cleanup Application and Process:
Does your neighborhood need a clean up of debris, trash, weeds, litter? Do you need some assistance in organizing and funding a revitalization project?
CONO can help! Please fill out this application to see if you qualify. CONO and the Regional Building Department will help support neighborhoods to organize and fund qualifying projects. 
If you have another project you'd like to explore with us, please contact Sara Poe.

To all Members and Friends of CONO:
Please complete the form below and mail it with your dues for the year 2015 to the address on the bottom of the form. In order for us to keep our member associations and individual associates advised of meetings, development issues, and other matters of mutual concern, it is imperative that we have a complete and accurate mailing list.

Membership Application and Due Notice for  2015