John Scarffe, Black Hawk.  At their regular meeting on August 13, the Black Hawk City Council received two requests for comprehensive sign plans, a fire and police pension plan, and petitions to be included in Business Improvement Districts.

Vince Harris with Baseline Corporation submitted comprehensive sign plans for the Monarch Casino and the Bull Durham Casino. On June 20, the City of Black Hawk received an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a Comprehensive Sign Plan from YESCO sign company, on behalf of Monarch Casino. This application requests approval of a CSP with 921 square feet of sign area with 15 signs, where 2,601 square feet are allowed.

In total, Monarch Casino proposes 15 signs of varying sizes. Among the 15 signs are four Electronic Message Center (EMC) signs that will be utilized to advertise the casino promotions and activities. In addition to the EMC signs, the CSP identifies three projecting signs, wall signs, and a banner.

Three projecting signs extend into the public right-of-way. A license agreement exists to allow these projecting signs to extend into the public right-of-way. The banner sign, per the City of Black Hawk Sign Code, will not be counted toward the total sign area, and the frame will be painted the same as the building.

No window signs are being proposed with this CSP. The proposed signs will be placed at various spots on the building. The Council approved the comprehensive sign plan.

On July 15, the City received an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a Comprehensive Sign Plan from Corby Harrell, on behalf of the Bull Durham Casino. The intent of this submittal is to create a plan that will include existing signs and allow installation of new signs.

The Casino is permitted 128 square feet of sign area without a CSP and 217.6 square feet (with the 70% additional allowance) with a CSP. In total, Bull Durham Casino proposes ten signs totaling approximately 258 square feet. Among the proposed ten signs are two Electronic Message Center (EMC) signs that will be utilized to advertise the casino's promotions and activities.

The signs will be placed at various spots on the building. To permit the signs as proposed, in addition to the Certificate of Appropriateness, a variance must also be considered by Council to allow Bull Durham Casino to exceed the permitted sign area by approximately 40.4 square feet. The proposed CSP does not provide for any temporary banners.

Among the proposed signs, the CSP identifies several mural signs that will not be counted toward the total allowed sign area. The Council approved the comprehensive sign plan.

The Council received a request to indicate its support or lack of it for the Statewide Defined Benefit Plan (SWDB) Member Contribution Rate Election. The Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado (FPPA) has proposed a 4 percent member contribution increase to the fund.

The contribution would be .5 percent per year during the next eight years for a total increase of 4 percent. This is a member-only contribution and there is no obligation to the employer for an increase. The members in the state have voted in favor at 68 percent. Black Hawk Fire Department staff voted 60 to 40 against the proposal.

The next step in the process is for the municipalities to vote if they choose. There is no obligation for the City to enter a vote. A basic majority vote in favor of the increased employee contribution must be achieved for it to be successful.

Votes must be made by the municipalities by August 22 to be included in the process. The Board of Aldermen has the option to show support or not of this member increase through the approval or denial of the Resolution in the form of a motion. There is also an additional option in which the Board of Aldermen may disregard a vote of support or non-support by taking no action on the Resolution.

City Manager Jack Lewis said the opinion of Black Hawk staff was that the use of the funds was not sufficiently defined. The Council voted to reject the proposal for a rate increase.

The Council approved two petitions for the City Hall to be included in the Black Hawk Business Improvement District and the Silver Dollar Metropolitan District.

City Attorney Corey Hoffmann said that with new sign codes in place the districts have fewer places to hang signs.

They would like to use City facilities for posting places.

The resolutions will permit the building to be included in the districts. The petitions are accompanied by a deposit of $100.

The next meeting of the Black Hawk City Council will be at 3 p.m. on August 27, at 211 Church Street.