The Central City Council amended smoking regulations during a regular meeting on April 19, 2022, at Central City Hall. The Council also approved the final plat for the Roworth Heights Minor Subdivision and appropriations, to assist the City with completing Phase I of the Historic Belvidere Theater Restoration Project, and giving the City Manager the ability to complete the project.

City Attorney Marcus McAskin introduced an ordinance amending the City of Central Municipal Code concerning smoking regulations. He said this is the first reading of the ordinance.

On May 29, 2019, the Governor signed a House Bill amending the Colorado Indoor Air Act by prohibiting the use of electronic smoking devices, vape, or similar devices in most indoor public spaces, and further eliminating some of the indoor areas where smoking was previously allowed. The restrictions include offices and any place of employment, food service establishments, bars, gaming facilities, indoor sports areas, restrooms, lobbies, hallways and other common areas in public and private buildings, condominiums and other multiple-unit residential facilities.

According to the ordinance, it will be unlawful for any person to smoke in any indoor areas including public meeting places, elevators, government-owned or -operated means of mass transportation, taxicabs and limousines, grocery stores, gymnasiums, jury waiting and deliberation rooms, court rooms, child day care facilities, and healthcare facilities, including hospitals and health-care clinics.

The Council approved the first reading, and it will move forward to the second reading on May 3.

City Manager Daniel Miera and Lisa Roemhildt, interim Community Development Director, introduced a resolution conditionally approving the final plat for the Roworth Heights Minor Subdivision. Bonanza Land LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, has submitted an application for the Roworth Heights Minor Subdivision Plat.

The owner is proposing to construct five new single-family detached residences along Roworth and Spring Streets. The Planning Commission considered the application and recommended approval of the final plat to the City Council at a public meeting on April 6.

The Council approved the resolution.

City Manager Miera introduced a resolution amending the 2022 Budget and approving an Interfund Transfer and Supplemental Appropriations to assist the City with completing Phase I of the Historic Belvidere Theater Restoration Project. Per the direction of City Council during a work session on April 1, the proposed resolution secures the necessary fiscal year 2022 budget amendments that will provide sufficient appropriations to assist with achieving substantial completion in the construction of Phase 1 of the historic Belvidere Theater restoration project.

The proposed supplemental appropriations in the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) simply recognizes and appropriates grant funding and associated fund balances that have been available but not previously appropriated in the 2022 budget. The interfund transfer from the general fund to the HPF is part of a temporary refundable funding gap solution.

The amount to be transferred is coming from funds that are currently unreserved, unrestricted, and unassigned and held within the general fund ending fund balance. The interfund transfer will temporarily reduce the general fund balance by $1,000,000 from $2,297,374 to $1,297,374.

Following the interfund transfer from the general fund to the HPF, the total funds made available to the Belvidere Foundation grants by way of the supplemental appropriated will be $4,289,998.

Miera said that the resolution allows the City to proceed with the Belvidere project phase 1. In 2016, the City Council allowed the city and foundation to move the project forward, but in the 2022 budget zero dollars have been appropriated. That has been a line item for the preservation of the city.

The purpose is a short-term bridge loan to pursue other fundings. The repayment option is just over $4 million. The City is working on a grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA).

They will work with the Belvedere Foundation on the grants to have the funds go through that entity so those funds would be fairly taxed.

The Council approved the resolution, and said “it’s time to get going.” The Council also approved a resolution authorizing and directing the City Manager to take all necessary or appropriate actions to achieve substantial completion in the construction of Phase I of the Historic Belvidere Theater Restoration Project.

The Central City Council will meet next on May 3, 2022, at 7 p.m. at the Central City Administrative building, 141 Nevada Street, Central City, Colorado.