by Zach Thaxton
z.thaxton@krdo.com
Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ZachThaxton

COLORADO SPRINGS - Douglas Bruce claimed victory Tuesday night with voter passage of Issue 300, the ballot issue he authored that aimed to eliminate city enterprise fees.  One of those fees is the Stormwater Enterprise, which charges businesses and homeowners a fee for the amount of impervious surface on their property.  It appeared Bruce's victory was short-lived Wednesday morning as Mayor Lionel Rivera and other members of City Council publicly stated that the specific language of Issue 300 made no mention of the Stormwater Enterprise, and that it would continue as usual.  Bruce immediately threatened to sue.

In a press conference at his home Wednesday morning, Bruce said that Issue 300 specifically targeted the Stormwater Enterprise, and that if Council tries to block implementation of the new law banning it, he will proceed with litigation.  "I'm not looking forward to litigating," Bruce said. "We had an election. We won the election. They lost. They need to get over it."  Councilman Scott Hente told NEWSCHANNEL 13 Wednesday afternoon "As I read Issue 300, nowhere in there does it mention Stormwater at all."  But Hente also conceded that the Issue, as interpreted by voters, was meant to put an end to the Stormwater Enterprise.  "It appears to me that the wishes of the voters is to get rid of the Stormwater Enterprise," Hente said, "and I'm of the mind to probably go along with them on that."  Councilman Daryl Glenn also broke ranks Wednesday, telling the Gazette he will recommend adopting a resolution repealing the Stormwater Enterprise.  Bruce urges voters to pressure the rest of Council to follow suit.  "I hope that people will get on the phone and tell their so-called representatives to honor the results of the election."