Patrice LeBlanc, Central City. The Central City Council meeting convened on October 15, 2019, at 7:15 p.m. Council members in attendance were Mayor Jeremy Fey, Mayor Pro Tem Judy Laratta, Alderman Jeff Aiken, Alderman Jack Hidahl and Alderman Jackie Johnson. 

The council addressed Resolution 19-28 approving an agreement for Municipal Prosecution Services. This resolution is a result of a notice from the Law Office of Donna M. Stewart Inc. to terminate services with the City of Central. The firm Michow Cox and McAskin LLP has offered to fill the role as interim prosecutor by appointing Christiana McCormick, which may turn into a more permanent role. Markus McAskin is the attorney for Central City and his firm has been used in the past for code enforcement, traffic cases and other areas. Alderman Johnson was glad to have a firm that is already familiar with Central City to be handling its legal affairs. Municipal court cases are currently scheduled every other month and compensation is set for $800 per court session for Prosecutor’s attendance with an annual compensation ranging $16,000-$20,000 depending on the number of cases on the docket. Resolution 19-29 was voted on and passed 5-0 by the council. 

The Council heard the first reading of Ordinance 19-09 which amends the Municipal Code to change the maximum jail sentence for criminal offenses under the City’s Municipal Code to three hundred sixty four days instead 1 year. The ordinance follows previsions set forth by state law in which House Bill 19-1148 became effective on August 2, 2019 to reduce the maximum jail sentence by one day. The purpose behind this change is to avoid triggering immigration action. The impact from this bill should be minimal to county and city governments. All courts have been asked to make this revision so there is no conflict with federal revisions. Alderman Hidahl requested verification in the wording of the ordinance which state all offences or criminal violation. City Manager Daniel Miera pointed out any violation that is not considered criminal is considered a civil matter. Mayor Fey commented the city cannot take on criminal cases as they don’t have a public defender. Miera added the city is not set up to handle these cases in-house with the requirement of custody, paperwork and a small jury pool of residents to choose from. Sheriff Kevin Armstrong explained policy how the department patrols activity in Central City and directs all court cases to the county courthouse. The first reading passed 5-0. A second reading of Ordinance 19-09 is anticipated to occur on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. 

The city council was asked to approve Amendment 3 in Resolution 19-29 that is an agreement between the City of Central and the Business District. The purpose of Amendment 3 is to identify the specific circumstance under which the City will require a property owner to submit a Petition for Inclusion to the City Council for consideration to: annex any commercial property, seeks to lease or purchase property from the City for commercial purposes, seeks an access permit to the Central City Parkway, or seeks to rezone, subdivide in the future. Amendment 3 is a result of progress made between the City and the Business Improvement District (BID) to come to agreement on commercial enterprise. The BID has already approved the Resolution. Alderman Laratta thought the Resolution was a good compromise between the City, BID and the bond holders. The resolution passed 5-0. 

In staff updates: no applications for renting the space above the Visitor’s Center have been submitted. Mayor Fey asked to get the word out there is space available for commercial use on the 2nd floor of the Visitor’s Center. Interested parties can contact the city for information.  The Managerie, a long time business on Main St. is closing, however a new business, Hally Mercantile is expected to fill that space. There is no update on the Vacancy Ordinance, however the council expressed concerns about the nuisance of vacant buildings and the break-ins that occur. 

Alderman Hidahl announced there will be a meeting with the County Commissioners on Nov. 12 from 1-2 p.m. Hidahl also brought up an idea of a joint effort between the city and the county to obtain qualified contractors in the area as there is a great need for these services but no one is available. Alderman Johnson agreed, stating contractors price gouge the residents because there is no other option. Suggestions of a government program to train local residents in construction trade or using a clearinghouse could solve the problem. Creating a youth program to work on historic preservation properties or developing a trade school and offering tuition were other options discussed. 

Alderman Judy Laratta presented Fire Chief Gary Allen with a check and thanked him for his service. She accredited him with saving her life. 

Mayor Fey thanked Barbara Thielemann for her work on the Pumpkin Patch through Main Street committee, and also on her involvement with the Gilpin County Art Fundraiser. Alderman Johnson thought the Pumpkin Patch event was fun with good vendors, trunk or treat, bounce house and quality but inexpensive pumpkins. 

Deb Wray, President of the Gilpin Historical Society, spoke to the council in the public participation section. She requested assistance from the city to pay the docents who give tours throughout the city which includes the Visitor’s Center, Teller House, Opera House, etc. Wray explained these groups receive a donation from the Historical Society and this allows them to keep track of the number of traffic to these buildings to help them with their grant requests. She also thanked the city for its continued support in publicizing the Historical Society’s events through their media resources. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. 

(Originally published in the October 24, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)