City of Pueblo

Mayor Heather Graham and some her staff had the privilege of taking a tour with Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority through some of their Urban Renewal Areas around Pueblo. It is incredible to see, firsthand, the progress being made. Some of these Renewal Areas include Mitchell Park South, properties across the East Side, the Colorado Smelter Area, the Lake Minnequa Project Area, West Pueblo, the Lower West Side, Union Avenue, and the Downtown Expanded Urban Renewal Areas. If you live in Pueblo or have been through you've likely seen some of the progress being made with PURA's help and not known it. Things like Urban Streetscape improvements, such as the ones on B Street and the residential project underway on the East Side. Even though for some of these larger project areas the completion horizon is decades out, we're happy to see the improvements that will be made around Pueblo for years to come.

Continuing our Spotlight Series in our City Newsletter, next we have Steven Meier, Director of Pueblo Parks and Recreation. You can find this interview in full as well as other important City updates in our Newsletter. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gr2Yequ8 The most surprising thing about Steven Meier, City of Pueblo Parks Director, is that he does not think he is. But as he would say, “it’s my life, so I don’t find it surprising.”  There is gravel in his voice, fitting for someone trained in landscape architecture. Conversation flows from him like the river he would rather be on. He is patient in a way only an outdoorsmen can be. Meier has been in Pueblo, working for the public, for 39 years – 10 of those with Pueblo County and the rest with the City.  His career is one of the aforementioned patience; having made his way from Junior Planner to Parks Director. What has happened in between then and now is like one of the many nature paths he has help build around the city—winding, yet direct.  It started with a slew of applications sent out west. Meier received offers from a few different private sector firms and one from the public sector—Pueblo County.  As a Junior Planner with the County, he got his start working on zoning and land-use cases helping people navigate what they could and could not build on their land. “In a basement with no windows,” Meier adds pointedly. Where he sits now could not be more different, a park bench under pines and cottonwoods overlooking one of the ponds in City Park, ducks idly murmuring in the distance. It’s fitting. One of Meier’s first big projects with Pueblo County was making improvements and adding fields to the Runyon Field Sports Complex. He was younger then and as he describes the project one cannot help but feel the pressure of such a daunting task so early in their career.  In recounting this project, Meier remembers his first meeting with the County Commissioners, “In fact, I went to my first County Commissioner meeting, and they asked me what high school I went to. I was so young.”  Perhaps he has always had his cool demeanor or maybe the Landscape Architecture program at Kansas State University gave him the skills necessary to tackle the job. Likely a combination of both. Either way over the course of a decade, Meier’s mark was made with the County, and he shifted his direction to the City of Pueblo.  With Meier’s breadth of experience and history in Pueblo, it is hard to summarize all that he has helped do throughout the city. Park and river trails, landscaping, large building projects, such as the Police building, both skate parks, and of course parks planning; Meier's fingerprints can be seen all across Pueblo for those that have the eyes to see to them.  The City of Pueblo is lucky to have someone like Steven Meier.

Nail guns and saws sing the song of progress and we are loving it. The third Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority Workforce Housing Project is well under way in the historic East Side. This urban renewal project area is facilitating new investment through the construction of new housing. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) has been utilized to acquire two vacant lots owned by the City of Pueblo that were earmarked for affordable housing. The two parcels were rezoned to allow for the design to meet the modern needs and standards of building affordably while maintaining the character of the neighborhood. PURA contracted with Westover Homes to construct two stacked duplexes that will yield four 900 square foot units. The lower level consists of two, one bedroom, and one bath apartments, while the upper level consists of two, two bedrooms, two bath units. These units will be used for working families earning 60 to 120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). “PURA is committed to investments in new affordable housing for working families” said Jerry Pacheco, PURA’s Executive Director.

You may know that Black Hills Energy is proposing an 18% rate increase in our region. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the deciding government body of this rate increase, is visiting Pueblo to host two town halls. The town halls will be taking place in Memorial Hall, October 29 and 30 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Concerned citizens are encouraged to attend these town halls and make their voice heard regarding this proposed rate increase. Those giving testimony will have three minutes each to share their thoughts. The Tuesday, October 29, town hall will have Spanish and ASL interpretation available. If you live in the Pueblo region, be sure you and everyone in your circle don't miss this important opportunity to make your voice heard.

Join us for the Pueblo Economic Outlook Forum in the Fortino Ballroom at Pueblo Community College. on Friday, Nov. 8th., starting at 7:00 a.m. Learn about the trends in Pueblo’s Economy over the last two years and the work underway to position Pueblo for stronger economic growth during this FREE event. Event Schedule: 7:00-7:45 am – Continental breakfast 8:00 am – Presentations from community leaders including Dr. Tatiana Bailey, Founder & Executive Director of Data-driven Economic Strategies 9:30 am – Adjournment Get your Ticket Here: https://lnkd.in/gYQVHuiJ

Hey Pueblo you should have received your ballots in the mail with only over two weeks to go before Election Day! You'll see on your ballot as City resident, a few charter amendment questions from the City of Pueblo. While this might be confusing, we put together a short explanation video to help you determine an informed decision so you can choose how you wish to vote. https://lnkd.in/g4usDfnP

In an effort to highlight more of our staff and the hard work they do we have begun a Spotlight Series. This series along with other updates and important information is featured in our City Newsletter which you can sign up for here: https://lnkd.in/gr2Yequ8 In September we started with Naomi Hedden, Director of Purchasing for the City of Pueblo In speaking with Naomi Hedden, you are reminded of the depth of the people all around us. Something that is easy to forget. Especially so when they are responsible for a function of city government that rarely gets its due. Purchasing. It’s difficult to give a summary of what all they do down on Mechanic Street in their repurposed mercantile building. Not because it is some vague, convoluted department. It is the scale. They touch everything. “From pencil lead to fertilizer,” Hedden gestures around their storeroom. The Purchasing Department is an old building, like many near downtown it bears the marks of everything and everyone that has come through it. Something Naomi enjoys. There is a sense of wonder in her voice as she describes the building’s history. She points out the highwater line from the flood of 1921 and begins an anecdote of a horse needing to be rescued from the building post-flood. Before long she is maneuvering through the building and back to her office. “I thought you’d save the best for last,” Hedden says in jest when discussing her feature in our city newsletter. Hedden has been with the City of Pueblo as Director of Purchasing for 26 years. She is also one of the longest standing department heads. Four to five City Managers and two Mayors later, she is still here, along with a team nearing a century in combined tenure. “We have, probably, the smallest department in the city.” She continues, “it’s interesting and people say, we didn’t even know you existed.” And while that sentiment may feel like a gut-punch it does not seem to get her down. She still just wants her team to receive the recognition they deserve for the amount of work they do. When asked what might be surprising about the work her department does. Hedden was sure to highlight the scale. Anything that is purchased for the city comes through their office. “Everything that is involved in a project, and it’s a lot,” said Hedden. Making sure we have the right specifications, approvals and then we have to follow federal guidelines (on top of their own). Then after we do the bid, we have to make sure the documents are correct, that we have insurance and make sure we have everything done right up until the day the contractors start working.” To read the rest of the interview please sign up for our City Newsletter!