Mayor Jeremy Fey called to order the July 20, 2021, meeting of the Central City City Council at 7:05 p.m

The Consent Agenda was approved, including an item regarding the Historic Preservation Paint Reimbursement Grant Applications for 341 Gregory Street and 403 W 1st High Street.

There were two requests for funds from the Central City Promise Program, from Austin Boulter and Ashley Blondo.

Boulter is a fourth-time applicant of the Promise Program. He requested Promise Program funds in the amount of $5,000 for his continuing education at the University of Colorado in 2021. He has received previous Promise Program disbursements in 2018, 2019, and 2020 for a total of $15,000. The Promise Program Guidelines limit the amount that an individual can receive to a total of $20,000 or four years of funding.

The 2021 Budget has $20,000 allocated for the Promise Program. Granting Boulter’s request would leave a balance of $10,000.

Austin Boulter thanked Council and expressed how very helpful this scholarship has been to his college education. Mayor pro tem Laratta moved to award Austin Boulter with continuing post-secondary tuition assistance in the amount of $5,000. The motion was carried unanimously.

Ashley Blondo is a first-time applicant to the Promise Program. She requested Promise Program funds in the amount of $5,000. Blondo is continuing her post-secondary education at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. Granting Blondo’s request leaves a remaining balance of $5,000 in the Promise Program.

Ashley Blondo thanked Council and shared her college plans. Mayor pro tem Laratta moved to award Ashley Blondo with continuing post-secondary tuition assistance in the amount of $5,000. This motion was also carried unanimously.

Resolution 21-19 would approve an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) among the City of Central, the City of Black Hawk, and Gilpin County regarding a Maintenance Agreement for a command vehicle. This would allow the Fire Department to utilize a 2015 Ford Command Vehicle and to assist in maintenance costs of that vehicle.

The Colorado Homeland Security Grant Program provided grant funding to the North Central All-Hazards Management Region for the benefit of the members in order to improve local government’s emergency response capabilities. The regional members now desire to enter into an agreement to sustain the grant-funded vehicle by collaboratively funding a maintenance program.

The vehicle will be a shared asset between the participating agencies. The resolution provides for the participating agencies to collectively fund a maintenance program ensuring operational effectiveness for the future, and to establish guidelines for operating the vehicle and the procedures for approving acceptable expenses.

Funds for the project are appropriated within the Fire Department’s 2021 budget, as adopted by City Council. The total cost for 2021 is $200 per member and will increase to $350 per agency member beginning with the 2022 budget because of increased maintenance costs. Each member agency will review the assessment annually. The $200 assessment has been in existence since 2015.

Mayor pro tem Laratta moved to approve Resolution No. 21-19; the motion carried unanimously.

Staff updates included progress at the Belvidere Pocket Park, Paint Grant Program timeline and direction to staff to extend the application date, and update on vaccinations and Covid case count.

Council comments included vibrancy in the City, the status of the Knights of Pythias building, well wishes to Alderman Johnson, and community introspection to retain families. Mayor Fey presented Alderman Johnson a Certificate of Appreciation for her service.

In the Public Forum portion of the meeting, resident Rachel Schmalz thanked the Council for the Promise Program assistance she received while attending Hastings College and shared her plans to teach abroad. Chris Rork, Regional Director for Senator Hickenlooper, introduced himself and offered his support as a resource. And Ashley Blondo congratulated Alderman Johnson and wished her well.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.