New Colorado Springs mayor updates status of 100-day blueprint Wednesday

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Six weeks after taking office, Mayor Yemi Mobolade held the first of what he promises will be monthly media briefings to detail the progress of his objectives for his first 100 days in office.

Mobolade spoke for around 45 minutes and took questions from his office at the City Administration Building downtown.

He's nearly halfway through his self-imposed "blueprint," a schedule for his first three days in office.

The mayor said that he has spent his first six weeks making administrative changes and forming teams of community leaders who will provide him with feedback in making decisions.

"I really want citizens to be part of the process," he said.

Mobolade elaborated more on his recent proposal with Police Chief Adrian Vasquez, to build a new police training academy.

"We’ve stepped into the realm of year-round academies," he said. "We’ve not done that before. In July and October, we have new classes. But understand that puts demands on our old and aging infrastructure that was already limited. Now, we’re trying to catch up and do more academies, and we also need the space. We're short 80 officers and despite the challenges of retaining current officers and recruiting new ones, the next two academy classes are full."

The mayor said that improved public safety remains a top priority for many citizens -- and for him, as well -- adding that he hopes voters in November will approve allowing the city to keep $5 million in surplus tax revenue (TABOR refund) to help pay for the facility.

"The refunds go to utility bills," he explained. "So, not every single resident would get a refund. Out of 300,000 households, 180,00 would go to utility accounts. The refund that anyone would get would be a very small amount."

Concerning two common citizen complaints -- potholes and homeless issues -- he said he shares those concerns and is doing what he can to address them.

"The challenges (with potholes and infrastructure) that we’re having right now, I don’t believe it’s budget," he said. "It’s staffing. You want to hire great people, and there’s a shortage. So, I’ll be meeting with our fleet crew this week, to make a case for why they should stay with the city. If we want good people to take good jobs, we have to be able to pay them more."

Because the mayor believes that mental illness is a key factor with people experiencing homelessness, he said that his wife will be part of an effort to find more resources in that regard.

What we’re doing well, is when the needs come our way, we’re responding quickly," he explained. "So, this goes back to my ask of residents to be our eyes and to report these issues to my office."

In his goal of obtaining more funding from the state and federal governments, Mobolade shared something he heard about during a recent trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with Colorado's Congressional delegation.

"It may may have been one of the appropriations-type bills," he said. "It's a specific one where each Congress person has the ability to submit ( a funding request for) a (local) shovel-ready project. That caught my attention. There is a very limited pot of money, and the cities that get those funding opportunities are the ones that are banging on the door of Congress -- and I want to be that mayor."

The mayor said that he's committed to working with the housing industry to find innovative ways to provide more affordable housing.

"The families who need it most are those making between $50,000 and $100,000 a year," he said. "There's really nothing out there for them."

After his briefing Wednesday, the mayor proudly showed off what he calls his "war room" -- a conference room filled with a big-screen TV, numerous computer monitors, whiteboards and large wall calendars where he and his staff meet to bring up ideas and plan strategy.

"This is where the magic happens," he smiled. "There's a lot to do, but I wouldn't trade this for anything."

Next month, Mobolade's schedule includes a retreat with the City Council to discuss issues, and a public safety summit involving the law enforcement community.

It all builds to mid-September, when his blueprint period ends and he delivers his first State of the City address.

The mayor also said that one of his reasons for holding monthly briefings is to keep his campaign promise of being accessible, transparent and proactive to citizens.

To follow the progress of Mobolade's 100-day blueprint in office, visit: https://coloradosprings.gov/100Days.