The City of Black Hawk City Council approved an agreement for city residents to gain free access to the Gilpin County Community Center during a regular meeting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at 211 Church Street. The Council also approved resolutions opting out of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program and amending the Community Restoration and Preservation Program Documents.

City Manager Stephen Cole introduced an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Board of County Commissioners of Gilpin County regarding the Gilpin County Community Center. The IGA memorializes the City’s payment of $25,000 for services provided to Black Hawk residents by the Gilpin County Community Center.

The County operates a Community Center that serves all residents of Gilpin County. The City of Black Hawk does not have its own community center, and Black Hawk residents rely on services provided by the Community Center.

According to the IGA, the City wishes to enter into an agreement with the County to obtain services from the Gilpin County Community Center on behalf of Black Hawk residents for the remainder of 2022 for a fee of $25,000. The agreement would automatically renew annually for a fee of $25,000, subject to annual appropriations.

Funding would cover the cost of memberships for adults and children living within Black Hawk’s city limits and includes funding for youth activities and recreation leagues for residents’ children. Either party may terminate the agreement for the subsequent year if notice is provided to the other party by August 1. The Council approved the IGA.

Cole introduced a resolution electing to opt the City out from participation in the State of Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. On November 3, 2020, Colorado voters approved the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act which included provisions for local governments to decline participation.

If the Black Hawk City Council opts out of the new program, the Council must formally decline to participate before June 30, 2022, via a majority vote at a public meeting and then deliver written notice to the Division of the Council’s decision.

“The staff is recommending opting out for the following reasons: the newly created Division of Family and Medical Leave Insurance is drafting rules, of which the impact on the City and its employees is currently unknown. If the City participates in the program, employees and the City must contribute to the fund in 2023 without employees receiving benefits.

“Employees would begin to receive benefits in 2024. The City must match the employee’s contribution if the City opts in.

“Currently, the City’s short-term disability plan is fully funded by the City. The City already provides FMLA leave as required by Federal law, and the City’s current short-term disability insurance plan provides comparable protection to employees at less cost to the City and no cost to employees.

“Although the first two years (2023 and 2024) have specific premiums set at 0.9 percent, shared equally by the City and the employee, subsequent years’ premiums may increase based on previous claims and administration costs. Although there are contribution limits to the City and employees, the uncertainty of these future costs is not desirable.

“If the City Council opts out, the City will provide benefits equal to or greater than those required by law. Staff recommends we continue our current benefits until such time as we can adequately evaluate the impact of opting- in on the City and employees.”

The Council approved opting out.

Cynthia Linker, Community Planning and Development director, introduced a resolution amending the Community Restoration and Preservation Program Documents by adopting the Historic Preservation Program Fund Guide to Programs and Rehabilitation Guide to Programs, revised June 2022. The City Council continually seeks to review the Community Restoration and Preservation Guide to Programs to assure that it operates in a manner consistent with the policies of the City. City Council previously adopted revisions in July 2017 and on September 27, 2017.

Since the last revision adopted in 2017, City staff determined that additional references to specific provisions of the Rehabilitation Grant and Historic Preservation Easement Program need to be modified and include providing updates to the definitions page to clarify standard terms and to incorporate program changes based on current and/or intended application. The June 2022 City of Black Hawk Community Restoration and Preservation Guide to Programs, as Revised for the Rehabilitation Grant and Historic Preservation Easement, shall apply to the projects commencing after the effective date of this resolution.

After some discussion, the Council approved the resolution.

Justin Quador, Senior Firefighter, was introduced to the Council. He is new to Black Hawk Fire. He has been in the fire service for 15 years and most recently at Adams County Fire, where he worked for six years.

He grew up in Littleton and graduated from Chatfield High School. He earned his Eagle Scout Award. He played collegiate baseball at Colorado Christian University, where he earned his bachelors’ degree in psychology, and he has an associate’s degree in fire science. He lives in Parker with his wife and daughters.

The next meeting of the City of Black Hawk Council will be on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. For more information, go to https://www.cityofblackhawk.org/.