Mayor Fey called the Central City Council meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. In attendance were Mayor Jeremy Fey, Mayor Pro Tem Judy Laratta, Alderman Jeff Aiken and Alderman Kara Tinucci. Alderman Jill Story was absent.

Resolution No. 22-37: This agreement approves services between the City and Charles Abbot Associates, Inc. (CAA) for Building Plan Review and Inspection Services. Community Development Director Lisa Roemhildt explained the Resolution amends the agreement to add an Electronic Fire Plan Review to the scope of services provided by CAA. The Resolution was approved unanimously.

Resolution No. 22-38: This Resolution amends the City’s Comprehensive Fee Schedule. City Manager Daniel Miera explained a fire plan was not in the original agreement and a new fee schedule was amended to include a review fee of $125 per hour. The Resolution was approved unanimously.

Ordinance No. 22-10: This Ordinance on its first reading authorizes the sale and transfer of the city-owned property at 130 Main Street. RCI Holdings, Inc. submitted a formal letter of intent to purchase the building known as Scarlet’s. The City Municipal Code requires a second reading and a public hearing before the sale can be completed which will be held on November 15, 2022.

The Ordinance must also meet the requirement that the sale must show a clear and specific benefit to the City. The sale price set at $2.4 million dollars will go into the City’s Public Property and Development Fund. The Ordinance was approved unanimously.

Ordinance No. 22-39: This Ordinance amends the Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service Award Plan. Daniel Miera pointed out that there have been changes over the years since the Ordinance was first set in place in 2007 and the amendment would be more compliant with the standard to provide a high level of service to the community. The Ordinance was approved unanimously. Staff Updates: Miera reported that the City participated in a group letter along with Gilpin and Teller Counties to the Gaming Jurisdiction about the disbursements at the casinos. They requested a program to be put in place to collect more data that would identify revenue generated between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Council Comments: Mayor Pro Tem Laratta would like everyone to remember June 24, 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade and stated she felt people didn’t care about it anymore. She also felt half the country is in denial about political events and that democracy is on the line. She urged people to get out and vote. Alderman Aiken gave a shout out to Eric Miller for placing great pictures around town. Alderman Tinucci thanked Public Works for clearing the streets when it snowed on October 27. She commented on the Halloween activities in the community and reminded the public to support their local government and to go vote. Mayor Fey recognized the representatives from RCI who attended the City Council meeting and urged the public to get to know them before the second reading on November 15. Fey announced Earnest Van Deuchen (known as Dutch) will be performing Freaken Psyched for Hump Night Noise with Wooden Shoes at JKQ BBQ on Wednesday nights. The Mayor was concerned about low voter turnout so far and urged residents to vote. He wished Alderman Jill Story, who missed the meeting, a speedy recovery from her illness.

Public Forum: The Mountain-Ear Publisher Barbara Hardt announced they are raising funds to digitize historical archives for the paper and asked the community to assist with the process. They have a matching grant from the Press Association in December. Mayor Fey suggested Hardt present a formal request to the Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

The next City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. on November 15, 2022, at Central City Hall, 141 Nevada Street or online. Information can be found on the City website centralcity.colorado. gov/meetings.