Colorado Springs City Council Votes to Recognize Pueblo County Permit Conditions

On April 14, 2009, the Colorado Springs City Council voted 8-1 in favor of a resolution to formally recognize the commitments in the terms and conditions of the Pueblo County 1041 land-use permit. The resolution will preserve our ability to construct the Southern Delivery System (SDS) Preferred Alternative - a pipeline from Pueblo Reservoir.

Council made the decision after hearing a presentation from Colorado Springs Utilities staff on the Pueblo County terms and conditions and public comments at a hearing held on April 9. Responses to the public comments and questions submitted are posted on the SDS web site.

"Where we are today is the culmination of more than a decade of planning," said Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Jerry Forte. "SDS will provide the water our city needs well into this century." Forte said the city is fortunate to have a Preferred Alternative and a back up plan through Fremont County.

Mayor Lionel Rivera thanked many individuals for their contributions, including Colorado Springs Utilities and City staff, members of the Pueblo and Colorado Springs City Councils, and Pueblo County and El Paso County Commissioners. Many other members of Council spoke about this opportunity as a significant milestone for the project, our communities and the region.

Following the vote, all three Pueblo County Commissioners spoke about the "historical vote." Commissioner Jeff Chostner stated, "This is an opportunity to re-establish the partnerships that Pueblo and Colorado Springs once had."

Councilwoman Margaret Radford, on her last day serving on the Council, acknowledged the challenges in obtaining permits to build SDS. She described the Pueblo 1041 permit as "historic". She also acknowledged the "spirit of friendship and cooperation that has developed with our neighbors in Fremont County."

"The County Commissioners, the County staff, the City of Florence, and the Boards of the Penrose Water District and the Beaver Park Company have all treated us fairly during our efforts to plan for an alternate alignment for the SDS on the chance that our preferred alignment could not become a reality," said Radford.

To formalize that commitment, she made a motion to ratify the City's obligation to follow through on commitments that have been made to Fremont County that are not directly related to the construction and use of the SDS within Fremont County. The motion passed unanimously.

Bruce McCormick, Chief Water Services Officer, reminded Council the issuance of a Pueblo County 1041 permit is not linked to a decision on the timing of construction of SDS. Colorado Springs Utilities has begun a business review of the project that will refine project costs and examine updated forecasting and water demand data. The outcome of this analysis will dictate project timing.