In the first of two addresses highlighting accomplishments over the past year and what’s to come, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade likened the past and future to a road map that seeks to smooth the potholes and cruise toward his vision of making the nation’s 39th largest city “safe, economically prosperous, culturally rich, welcoming and vibrant world-class American city on a hill that shines brightly.”

“… the road to greatness runs through Colorado Springs,” he said Monday during his “State of the City” address to City Council.

Here are a few highlights of this year’s work and what’s ahead under his 2024-2028 Strategic Plan that the city adopted in June.

The plan identifies public safety, economic vitality, infrastructure, housing solutions and community activation as priority areas — all things to be included in annual budgets.

Pass or fail? Residents split on Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade’s performance in Gazette poll

Where we’ve been

• Speaking of potholes, through the GoCOS phone application, the city received more than 6,000 requests to fill potholes, and more than 73,000 potholes have been fixed so far this year. That’s 8,000 more than last year at this time.

• Mobolade campaigned for city ballot measure 2C Road Improvements, which will be on the Nov. 5 ballot. Officials want to continue the sales tax for another 10 years to repave roads and fix adjacent concrete.

The city has repaved about 1,700 miles of roadway under the initiative and has about 5,000 miles to go, Mobolade said.

In the nine years of 2C’s existence, the city has doubled the amount of roads that are considered in good condition, the number of damage claims has been lowered by nearly 90%, and pothole complaints are down by one-third. The estimated savings to the city is $21 million per year, he said.

Colorado Springs mayor to deliver State of the City address twice this week: here’s what to know, how to watch

• Colorado Springs has a shortage of up to 27,000 housing units, according to a recent study by the nonpartisan Common Sense Institute, an independent research organization based in Denver. The city has allocated $1.6 million in U.S. Housing and Urban Development funds to 1,194 housing units that are either under construction or ready to lease.

“It is true we need housing of all types, for new college grads, for senior citizens, for our workforce pillars, teachers, nurses, police officers, firefighters,” he said. “We must increase the amount and variety of housing options so residents can choose the housing that is right for them.”

Although the city is not a housing developer, Mobolade said as mayor, he has a prime bully pulpit and often speaks with developers about the shortages. He and others also visited a manufactured housing plant in Buena Vista, which he said could be a future alternative.

• Reaching record-breaking traffic this year, the Colorado Springs Airport also is undergoing $40 million in upgrades to the terminal and has been expanding service and nonstop flights.

• Since 2023, Colorado Springs has led the state in the number of incentivized business projects, at 12, representing 1,700 jobs retained, 3,000 new jobs and $125 million in projected new city revenue.

• Of the “1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings” initiative that launched in May to reduce isolation and increase community connectedness, 700 have been held, as part of Mobolade’s and his wife Abbey’s mental health focus.

“It truly is changing the social fabric of our neighborhoods,” he said, adding that one participant said “Everyone wants to do this again.”

Where we’re going

• By early next year, the Colorado Springs Police Department expects to be at complete authorized capacity of 819 police officers. “This will be the first time since 2019 that we are at full strength,” Mobolade said, adding that the department will have hired 130 new officers this year.

The 2025 budget proposal includes 20 additional officers. “It means we are inching closer to better service and response times,” the mayor said. The preliminary budget also calls for more Homeless Outreach Team officers.

• The city’s Homelessness Response Plan continues to be finalized and will be released in about a month, Mobolade said. The focuses: enforcing laws, providing funding incentives for affordable housing, cleaning illegal campsites, prioritizing homeless people who are “high need,” offering more work programs for the homeless population and informing the public about what’s going on.

• Mobolade also announced a replacement for Steve Posey, the city’s former chief housing and community vitality officer who resigned in March unexpectedly and without giving a reason. Aimee Cox, who was appointed to direct the city’s HUD-funded programs and lead homelessness initiatives, has been hired out of 45 applicants, according to city officials. She’s the new chief homelessness and housing project officer. 

• While property crimes, robberies and traffic accidents have declined this year in the city, motor vehicle thefts, homicides and traffic fatalities have increased. Many are juvenile offenders. “A 15-year-old recently stole 27 cars in 11 months, and he was arrested 10 times,” Mobolade said. “Upon each release back to his parents, he would shrug his shoulders at officers and admit he would be stealing more cars tomorrow.“

Mobolade said in November the city will convene a legislative public safety summit with state lawmakers, nonprofits and businesses to discuss legislative strategies to keep repeat offenders off the streets.