This wasn’t your typical forum. When Patty Jewett, Old North End and Mid-Shooks Run neighbors met with city candidates Wednesday night, they fired some new questions at Colorado Springs mayoral and at-large City Council aspirants in a rotation style that kept everyone on their toes.

Some were asked what they’d do to encourage infill development.

Council candidate Nicholas Lee noted that the average U.S. city’s density is 4,000 people per square mile, while Colorado Springs is at about half that number.

“Public transportation, roads, stormwater all become incredibly expensive with the sprawl we have,” Lee said, so incentives should be offered to those who would build within those spaces.

Mayoral candidate Amy Lathen cited the website fightblight.org and recommended relieving “certain tax burdens so other individuals can come and invest . so those areas that are blighted can come back into our neighborhoods.”

“Provide incentives,” said council candidate Jariah Walker. “Make it easier to develop in those areas.” For areas suffering the “Swiss cheese effect,” businesses filling the holes “can provide anchors and help these neighborhoods.”

Said council candidate Yolanda Avila, “Young professionals want to see more downtown – lofts, businesses, affordable housing. I would encourage that.”

What should be done about the growing homeless population living near downtown on the streets, in the library and in the parks?

“We have to take the issue out of the political spectrum and put it back in the hands of private and nonprofit agencies,” said mayoral candidate John Suthers, though “a couple of ordinances” could be passed.

The location of services is a big issue, Suthers said, as free meals for the homeless are provided too close to the library. It’s “not a pretty sight.”

Council candidate Tom Strand said, “I’m a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Veterans are near and dear to my heart. Clearly, I support the national initiative and mayor’s initiative (on homelessness). But we have to do more than give lip service.”

More mental health and other resources must be found, Strand said. “They’re human beings who need our support.”

Said council candidate Vickie Tonkins: “Let me reiterate. The job of government is to make sure you are safe and the infrastructure is in place. We need to talk to those who are experts in the private sector.”

“Nonprofits have the experience and knowledge,” said council candidate Longinos Gonzalez Jr. “Mayor (Steve) Bach had a five-year plan. Make sure there is funding for mercy beds and shelters, mental health and work programs. We should be trying to help them and use federal grants properly and effectively through nonprofits.”

Said Lathen: “We have to create an environment in this city where we have more jobs and opportunities for everyone.”

Fellow mayoral candidate Tony Carpenter said, “There’s an airport out east we don’t use. Structure housing. Set up some type of homes for them. I went down to the soup kitchen, and it’s unbelievable. We’ve got to move that from downtown.”

Candidates were asked about Colorado Springs Utilities’ plans to cut subsidies in half on June 30 for rooftop solar installments.

“I don’t believe the citizens of Colorado Springs should be subsidizing citizens who want solar,” said Councilman Merv Bennett, who is seeking re-election. Echoed Carpenter: “If you want solar, you pay for it. No subsidies.”

But council candidate Bill Murray said, “If we apply technology to every question heard tonight, we can come up with the solution.”

Another question posed at the Community Prep School meeting was whether to increase the city Forestry Department’s budget so more street trees can be planted.

“I was appalled when the council voted a couple of years ago to stop watering them, and many died,” said mayoral candidate Mary Lou Makepeace. “They should be brought up on criminal charges. But we’re already out of money.”

“I’m very supportive of more trees,” Bennett said. “We need to replace (the lost) trees. If, however, it’s fix a pothole or plant a tree, I’m probably going to defer to the pothole.”

“We’re bringing trees to an arid environment,” Murray countered. “Eventually they won’t have enough water. The answer is to be smarter about how we use the natural environment. A tree that doesn’t belong here doesn’t belong here.”

Should the Parks Department get a discounted water rate to compensate for its budget cuts?

Strand, a member of the Trails and Open Space Coalition, said he would like to support that but has learned it’s more complicated, as water then could cost more for others in the city.

“Colorado Springs Utilities handles those decisions,” Lathen said. “I want to take care of this. Can we work in partnership with the utilities so it’s not a subsidy affecting citizens?”

“We need to put out awareness on how we need to conserve our water,” Avila said. “It’s more about awareness.”

Another new issue raised was whether candidates would support extending broadband services throughout the city, if residents vote to opt out of Senate Bill 152. That 2005 law, pushed by telecommunications companies, restricts municipal high-speed broadband developments.

Walker gave that question the shortest answer of the night. “Yes.”

“I do not support utilities getting involved in this,” countered mayoral candidate Joel Miller. “If a private company wants to get involved . that’s the way to make this happen. It should be a free-market solution.”

Said council candidate Jesse Brown Jr.: “I would respect the vote of the people if they decide that’s what they want to do. The city should allow the private sector to offer broadband.”