Colorado Springs council dissolves resident engagement program in unanimous vote
The council repealed a 2014 program after saying it no longer served a legislative function, while city staff continue resident outreach and volunteer recruitment through the regular boards-and-commissions process.
The Colorado Springs City Council voted 9-0 on Sept. 8 to repeal the 2014 resolution that created its resident engagement program, formally dissolving a program intended to involve residents in policy discussions and recruit volunteers for city boards, commissions and committees.
The council’s Resolution 75-26 says the program was created with “appropriate intent” but no longer served a legislative function after a review and stakeholder process. The program also sought to increase participation among underrepresented minorities.
The council expressed gratitude to the program’s volunteers. The Sept. 8 meeting recording shows the unanimous vote.
City staff continue outreach
The city’s regular process for recruiting residents to boards and commissions will continue. At an Aug. 24 work session, the city’s Boards and Commissions Program Administrator said the former program’s practical functions had been absorbed into her paid staff position. Those functions include outreach, explaining available boards and commissions, helping residents apply and directing them to meeting information.
The administrator said the former program had been inactive since December 2021. Residents can contact her and apply for open positions through the city’s boards, commissions and committees application page, while the city also uses community events and partnerships to identify potential applicants, according to the Aug. 24 work-session presentation.