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1. Is there a charge for copies of records from the City Clerk?

Yes, there is a nominal charge for copies, as well as research fees for those items that must be researched or items that must be retrieved from archives.

• Obtain a Records Request Form (PDF)
• View a list of document charges (PDF)

2. When does the City Council meet?

Regular City Council meetings are generally held the first and third Monday of each month, barring holidays. The Council meets on the fourth Monday of every month to address only Liquor Licensing issues. Special meetings may be called by any three members of the Council.

3. How do I find out if a special meeting has been called?

Notice of special meetings is provided through posting to this website, and through formal posting on the bulletin board in the main lobby of City Hall, 128 Main Street. You may also call the City Clerk's Office for information regarding any meetings at 719-269-9011.

4. Which Council member represents my District?

Once elected, all Council members represent you, however, the City Charter requires that four of the seven Council members reside in four separate districts of City limits. View the district map (PDF).

5. If I'm not on the Council agenda, may I speak at Council meetings?

The City Council agenda has an item on the agenda for Citizens to address them on items that are not on the agenda. Generally, you will be given 5 minutes to speak on a topic. A Citizens Request to Speak form must be filled out and submitted to the City Clerk prior to the start of the meeting, and speakers are requested to adhere to the Rules for Participation Policy (PDF) adopted by the City Council.

6. How to I review a copy of Council packet materials for each meeting?

Packet materials are attached to each item on the agenda for Regular City Council Meetings and are made available for review at the Public Library or the City Clerk's Office at 128 Main Street.

7. If I have an issue I want the Council to take action on, how do I get that item on a Council agenda?

Agendas for meetings are set based upon the need to address the business of the Council and/or City. Agendas must be posted prior to the meetings, and are set sometimes several days prior to the meeting taking place. Agenda items are determined based upon the Council's task list, prioritized assignments given to staff, and issues of business from citizens having filed applications based on the Code, City policies, state law, etc (such as a zone change applications, liquor license applications, street closure requests, etc.).

While meetings are open to the public, they are not considered public forums, and therefore, miscellaneous items typically are not added to any agenda for interactive discussion and/or action by the Council. For an item to be added to the agenda, the item must first be identified as bona fide City business which is within the scope of authority of the City and meets the City's goals, objectives, tasks and policies.

Public Hearing

Many items the Council and other boards consider must, by law, be considered in a quasi-judicial manner, such as within a public hearing. This means that the individual Council or board members may not discuss the issue and/or hear evidence or receive testimony on the topic outside of the public hearing. To do so requires that member to excuse themselves from any debate or vote regarding the topic. Though this may be frustrating to a citizen, Council and board members may very well need to "cut off" any conversation regarding a topic that would be considered within a public hearing, and ask the citizen to please attend the public hearing to provide evidence or testimony of their position regarding the issue.

Contact the City Clerk

So, how do you know if an item is or would be going to public hearing? Citizens may first contact the City Clerk's Office for a determination if the topic of interest to the citizen would be required to be dealt with within a public hearing. If it is, the Clerk will be able to identify that process for the citizen, and the individual Council or board members may not discuss the issue with the citizen. They must await the topic coming before the Council in a public hearing at which only information received within the public hearing may be considered by the Council in making a decision.

Contact City Council Members

Citizens with a concern or issue upon which there is no provision within the Municipal Code, any other standing law, or which falls under the public hearing arena, will be advised that they should contact individual City Council members for a determination if the Council wishes to adopt a citizen's idea or concern as a task/priority of the City.

8. If I can't attend a meeting, how can I know what happened?

City Council meetings and City Planning Commission meetings are broadcast live, and typically re-broadcast, on the City's Government Access Channel 19. Minutes are generated for both of these meetings, as well as the General Government and Public Works Committees and the Board of Adjustment. You may contact the City Clerk's Office 719-269-9011 for copies of minutes.