The Black Hawk City Council limited the length of stays in lodging facilities during a regular meeting on March 13, 2024. The Council also approved renovations for the Lace House and Gregory Point.

City Attorney Corey Hoffmann introduced an ordinance amending the City of Black Hawk Municipal Codes regarding length of stay in lodging facilities. Hoffmann said lodging facilities are not for extended stay in excess of 30 days.

In the past month, the Council has prohibited short-term rentals in the City. The City Council recently requested the City Attorney to prepare this ordinance related to the length of stay in a lodging facility within the City limits.

Many properties in the City allow Lodging Facilities. These amended regulations will apply to all such accommodation in the city. This amendment is related to limiting the length of stay for any person to stay at the same lodging facility for longer than 14 days in a 30 consecutive day period.

Notwithstanding, a stay longer than 14 days in a 30 consecutive day period may occur when there is a written contract between the lodging facility for an onsite resident manager or employee to live at the lodging facility. Following are the two new amended definitions that will appear in the Black Hawk code if this ordinance is approved:

“Lodging facility means any hotel, bed and breakfast, apartment hotel, lodging house, motel, motor hotel, guest house, guest ranch, resort, mobile home, mobile home park, auto court, inn, trailer court, trailer park, campground or hostel providing transient accommodations where two or more rooms or accommodations are used for lodging.

“Lodging accommodation or Lodging facility means any hotel, bed and breakfast, apartment hotel, lodging house, motel, motor hotel, guest house, guest ranch, resort, mobile home, mobile home park, auto court, inn, trailer court, trailer park, campground or hostel providing transient accommodations where two or more rooms or accommodations are used for lodging, and shall be subject to the limitations on duration of occupancy under Section 6 247 of the Black Hawk Municipal Code.”

Staff from Baseline Corporation, in conjunction with the City Attorney, have prepared the ordinance amending Chapter 6 of the City Code related to Lodging Facilities and length of stay. Staff recommends approval of this Ordinance.

The Council approved the ordinance.

Tom Isbester, Public Works director, introduced an ordinance approving the 2023 FTA Section 5311 Grant for Three ADA Accessible BOC Replacement Buses, to be administered by the Colorado Department of Transportation, Division of Transit and Rail, for the Black Hawk and Central City Tramway.

Isbester said in 2002 they received a grant for two buses. At that time, they completed paperwork for three more buses at 80 percent of the cost. The Council approved the ordinance.

Matt Reed with Public Works introduced Amendment No. 1 to the General Contractor Agreement Executed on April 12, 2023, Between the City of Black Hawk and Roche Constructors, Inc., establishing the guaranteed maximum price of $497,058 for the Lace House rehabilitation project. Reed said they will renovate the Lace House for tours. Work will begin in late April.

“The Lace House is considered Colorado’s premier example of Carpenter Gothic architecture. It was restored in the late 1970s and opened for tours.

“In 2008, it was moved from its original location on Main Street to its current location in Gregory Point. It is the City’s vision to lead guided tours through the Lace House once again.”

The exterior of the Lace House is in excellent condition. However, all interior finishes must be restored to bring the Lace House up to museum-quality standards.

Structural, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing systems will also need to be modified to meet current building code requirements. The Lace House renovation project would restore the interior of the Lace House to a high-quality showcase of Black Hawk mining-era interior finishes.

The Council approved the amendment.

Reed introduced the General Contractor Agreement executed on April 12, 2023, between the City and Roche Constructors, Inc., establishing the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $1,708,558 for Construction of the Gregory Point Site Improvements Project.

The Gregory Point Site Improvements project includes: Replacing all deteriorating railings with new decorative metal railings; replacing damaged sections of stone retaining walls and concrete sidewalks; replacing all stand-alone light poles with “Hawk” light poles; adding exterior speakers and other audio equipment; adding a WiFi system and security cameras; and enlarging the patio area outside of the Barn.

While an elevator was originally proposed to reach the upper level of Gregory Point, this has been eliminated. Approval of this Amendment would establish the GMP for construction of the Gregory Point Site Improvements Project and authorize construction to begin. The General Contractor Agreement with Roche Constructors, Inc. was approved by City Council on April 12, 2023.

The Council approved the agreement.

The Council also approved the purchase of one Ford Ranger Pickup Truck in the Amount of $60,000 and three fully equipped marked Dodge Durango Police Patrol Vehicles in the Amount of $204,114.

The next meeting of the City of Black Hawk City Council will be on March 27 at 3 p.m. at 211 Church Street. For more information, go to https://www.cityofblackhawk.org/.