Behind the Springs

The Colorado Springs Fire Department does so much more than fight fires! Typically fire related calls are only one percent of CSFD call responses. Jen and Ted speak with Sunny Smaldino, Safety Educator for CSFD’s Division of the Fire Marshal, about preventative measures for fire and general safe behavior. While we try to educate, we also want you to laugh, so hear some funny stories from students...

We’re getting a little more serious than usual to talk about the high number of traffic fatalities in Colorado Springs, and what our police officers identify as the major reasons. Listen to some frightening stories and life-saving tips from the lead of the Major Crash Team, Sgt. Jim Stinson. Jen and Ted will help provide you with a new appreciation for our police officers, the opportunity to refle...

Like a Phoenix the Colorado Springs Airport has risen from the ashes of a fire that ruined staff offices in 2018 to winning Colorado Airport of the Year in 2019! Jen and Ted speak with Dana Schield about airport improvements, businesses growing in the area, and of course… HALF PRICE HOLIDAY PARKING! www.coloradosprings.gov/podcast

It’s budget season and that impacts YOU! Find out about the priorities included in the 2020 budget from our Chief Financial Officer Charae McDaniel. She shares the most challenging part of her job and how you can get involved in the budget process. You don’t even have to love numbers to enjoy this episode!

This week we're talking to Colorado Springs City Council President Richard Skorman. Find out how a group of middle school kids helped get a law passed that was later adopted by other cities across the country. If you're not familiar with what city council does or how what they do affects your everyday life, don't feel bad! Just tune into this episode of Behind the Springs! We made i...

Pikes Peak! America’s Mountain! The one 14er to rule them all! Sandy Elliott, Operations Administrator for Pikes Peak—America’s Mountain, joins Behind the Springs to give an update about the new summit complex construction, the challenges of building a structure in the sky, funny stories from the mountain and of course Fast and the Furious. www. Coloradosprings.gov/podcast

Animals and mannequin feet are just a couple things the City’s Stormwater Enterprise has to deal with daily. Stormwater Manager Richard Mulledy joins Jen and Ted to talk about the City’s amazing stormwater infrastructure progress. Mulledy even fesses up to not having ditched playing in the ditches when he was a kid and tells the story that propelled him to the position he’s in today. https://color...

Jen and Ted take a quiz about our City streets with questions about 2C, PPRTA (Acronym Alert!) and everyone’s favorite subject in Colorado Springs… POTHOLES! We are joined by Corey Farkas, Manager of the Public Works Operations and Maintenance Division (AKA streets and other cool stuff). Learn about Corey’s background and how he has Olympic City USA running through his veins in more ways than crea...

Mayor John Suthers and Cultural Services Director Matt Mayberry talk about the history of Colorado Springs, which includes a unique zoo with Princess Alice as the headliner. The Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary) celebration for Colorado Springs is two years away, so what’s in the works for the big party?

Our City’s founder General William Palmer would be proud: We kick off the Colorado Springs podcast with a look at our parks department! Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Karen Palus and TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks) Manager Scott Abbott share information about a potential November ballot item that would bring more City rangers to our trails and open spaces, as well as some imp...

A local government podcast can only start one way… with a half episode. You'll get to know your hosts, Jen and Ted, as they talk about their backgrounds with the City and what the Colorado Springs Government podcast is all about (Spoiler alert: it’s going to be FUN!).  Are you ready to get into the local government podcast you never knew you needed?