Voters will decide in November whether to reshape Colorado Springs city enterprises, including the collection of a stormwater fee, after elections officials verified two Douglas Bruce proposals have enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.City Clerk Kathryn Young announced Monday the petitions turned in by Bruce have more than the required 11,470 valid signatures of registered voters.The first question would require all city enterprises to rely on “voluntary contracts,” a change aimed at the city’s Stormwater Enterprise, which requires property owners to pay quarterly payments based on impervious surface or face a tax lien. The city began collecting stormwater fees in 2007.The other measure would phase out payments from enterprises to the city over a 10-year period, notably Colorado Springs Utilities’ $26 million annual payment in lieu of taxes. The city also notes the measure would force an end to shared services such as vehicle maintenance, which saves the city and its enterprises money.Vice Mayor Larry Small called the measures “ridiculous,” while Councilman Jerry Heimlicher said educating the public to the impacts of the “deceptively simple” proposal is going to take a concerted effort by opponents and is likely to be expensive.”We’ll have to put them on the ballot,” Small said on Monday. Ending the in-lieu of payment by Utilities would drain $221 million from the general fund over 10 years, city officials have said.”That would be a big hit,” he said. “It’s pretty ridiculous.”Bruce disputes the city’s estimate, saying the reduction would be $148 million and constitute only a “moderate” tax revenue reduction of 3.5 percent over 10 years.”Their figures are wildly irresponsible,” he said. “I think that the voters will channel their anger in a positive way to correct this serious abuse of enterprise policy.”The proposals would apply to the city’s 11 enterprises: Colorado Springs Airport, Memorial Health System, Springs Utilities, cemeteries, Development Review Enterprise, Human Services Complex, parking system, Patty Jewett and Valley Hi golf courses, Pikes Peak Highway and stormwater.Young will present the certificate of sufficiency to the council next week. The council then can either adopt the measures or refer them to the ballot.

Chris Frey, right, of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox grounded out in the ninth inning for a final out during the Sky Sox 2-1 loss to the Fresno Grizzlies. Photo by