From The Colorado Springs Independent (Pam Zubeck):
The Colorado Springs Utilities Board voted Wednesday to maintain the status quo of governance by hanging onto their jobs overseeing the billion-dollar enterprise.
The vote was 8-1, with City Council President Merv Bennett opposing the move. Bennett chairs Council, while Councilor Andy Pico chairs the Utilities Board.
Says Bennett in an interview: “I was disappointed on the vote. I’ve been really clear that we need to change the governance because of how much time it’s taking. It’s so technical. I spend 55 to 60 hours a week [on city business]. Utilities is so important to us that having a board whose total focus on that is important. City Council needs to focus on the city. My desire was to have an appointed board. But I will accept the decision of the group and move on. It’s possible a group might decide to petition something onto the ballot, and that’s OK.”
That “group” is the Colorado Springs Forward nonprofit, formed a couple of years ago with the mission to direct policy and politics in local affairs.