City balances recognition, regulation, and citizen input during a full November 6 session
High Country Advocate State Report
WOODLAND PARK — The November 6, 2025, Woodland Park City Council meeting opened in ceremonial fashion and ended with lengthy deliberations on a contested land-use request, blending community celebration with practical governance.
Boy Scouts Lead Pledge; Veterans and Businesses Recognized
A local Boy Scout troop began the meeting by leading the Pledge of Allegiance, earning thanks from Mayor Kellie Case for representing Woodland Park’s youth.
The first two proclamations centered on veterans and local enterprise. Enrique Camacho, a thirty-year U.S. Army veteran and owner of Model Citizens Coffee, accepted proclamations designating November 3–7 as National Veterans Small Business Week and November 29 as Small Business Saturday.
Camacho described how veterans “return with an entrepreneurial bug,” urging residents to support those “who once wore the uniform and now wear the badge of entrepreneurship.” He credited the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center and the Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce for consistent advocacy and invited citizens to the Veterans Small Business Conference at the Great Wolf Lodge.
Mayor Case read both proclamations into the record, emphasizing the city’s appreciation for veterans’ continued service “in boardrooms, workshops, and marketplaces across our region.”
Sales and Lodging Tax Report
Avery Stein, the city’s Sales Tax Accountant, delivered the August 2025 revenue update. Year-to-date collections were up 1.9 percent over the previous year, totaling about $5.68 million. The month of August alone rose 1.3 percent, while lodging tax remained down 36 percent, a trend Stein attributed to the post-short-term-rental adjustment.
Councilmember Jeffery Geer questioned the ongoing lodging-tax decline, asking whether the reduction reflected normalization after the surge in short-term rentals. Stein confirmed that decreases should level out early next year.
Citizen Comment: Traffic Safety in Greyhorse Ranch
Resident Austin Clark of Greyhorse Ranch HOA spoke during public comment, citing rising safety concerns at the intersection of Black Bear and Greyhorse. Increased delivery traffic and speeding have created unsafe conditions for pedestrians and children, he said.
Clark asked the city to reconsider a prior decision not to conduct a traffic study. “To say a study cannot be done because there is no data yet—when the only way to gather that data is through a study—creates a frustrating loop of inaction,” he told the council, calling for collaboration to collect traffic data and explore stop signs or speed humps.
Mayor Case thanked Clark for his remarks, noting that staff would review the issue.
Public Hearing: Brewington Right-of-Way Vacation Denied
The most detailed portion of the evening focused on Ordinance 1510, a request by Andre Brewington to vacate a portion of South Fairview Street between Chester and Foster Avenues. Brewington sought to combine the right-of-way with a small triangular parcel he owns to build a single-family home.
Senior Planner C.J. Davis and Planning Director Karen Schmink presented extensive historical documentation showing that the land originated from an 1889 subdivision and was split by the 1970 dedication of Woodland Avenue. They explained that the small triangle—less than 3,000 square feet—was a remnant parcel created by that road construction and does not meet zoning or utility standards.
Schmink added that the parcel’s slope, setbacks, and lack of water service “severely restrict its potential for development,” and staff recommended that the city retain the right-of-way as open space.
Brewington disagreed, stating that staff’s conclusions were “arbitrary” and that he sought to “build a home for my family” while eliminating a “forgotten scrap of land” used by campers. He also challenged staff’s map revisions, arguing that the legal division should favor the “nearest property in proximity.”
Neighbor Josh Smith, owner of 112 Foster Avenue, opposed the vacation, citing safety concerns at the icy intersection. “I’ve watched people slide through there multiple times. To put another driveway in majorly concerns me,” he said.
After discussion about property division, topography, and water-main costs, the council voted 5–1 to deny Ordinance 1510. Councilmember George Jones cast the sole vote in favor.
Ordinance Clarifies Rules for Nuisance Vehicles
Police Chief Chris Dysler introduced Ordinance 1509, updating language in Chapter 10.08 regarding removal and disposal of nuisance vehicles. The change adds the word “any,” allowing officers to address inoperable or abandoned vehicles on both public and private property.
Dysler emphasized that enforcement would remain complaint-based and “guided by common sense.” Councilmember Seth Bryant questioned whether the rule could apply to a vehicle left in a driveway for several days, to which Dysler responded, “The intent is not to tow a homeowner’s car while they’re on vacation.”
The ordinance passed unanimously.
Council Advances Meeting Time Change
The council next approved Resolution 936, officially moving regular meeting start times from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. City Attorney Nina Williams explained the procedural process, noting that changes to the Council’s Rules of Procedure require formal resolution.
The vote passed 4–2, with Councilmembers Nakai and Bryant opposed.
Reports Highlight Food Drive and Civic Engagement
During reports, Mayor Case discussed the new Teller County Cares Food Initiative, a collaborative effort by county officials, nonprofits, and schools to assist residents affected by suspended federal SNAP benefits. Food drives at Walmart and the Little Chapel Food Pantry are planned through late November.
Councilmembers praised the community’s response and acknowledged voter approval of recent city charter amendments—including extended petition review time, clarified committee term limits, and a two-year residency requirement for candidates.
Outgoing City Clerk Suzanne Leclercq introduced Monica Mendoza as her successor and thanked the council for years of collaboration.
Councilmember Steve Smith concluded with announcements from the Parks and Recreation Department, including youth basketball registration, tree-lighting plans for December 5, and an upcoming community concert at the Ute Pass Cultural Center.
A Meeting of Recognition and Reflection
By evening’s end, councilmembers expressed gratitude for the city’s volunteers, veterans, and residents who engage in civic issues—from small-business support to local traffic safety.
As Mayor Case adjourned the meeting, she summed up the sentiment of the night: “Woodland Park continues to show what happens when neighbors and local government work together.”
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