Thank you and let’s take action: Mayor Jeremy Fey commends Central City Fire Chief Gary Allen for 50 years of service. [/caption]

The Central City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeremy Fey on April 2, at 7 p.m. In attendance was Mayor Fey, Mayor Pro Tem Kara Tinucci, Alderman Jeff Aiken, Alderman Marcia Enloe, Alderman Todd Williams. Also in attendance was City Manager Daniel Miera, City Attorney Marcus McAskin, City Works Manager Sam Hoover and Water Works Manager Jack Beard.

Consent Agenda: The Regular Bill through March 26, 2024, and the City Council minutes from March 19, 2024, were approved. City Manager Miera requested Action Item #11 regarding a coordination of staffing and services between the City and the CCDDA be tabled. The Council approved.

Ordinance No. 24-01: This Ordinance was a second reading and authorizes property owned by Central City to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to memorialize the transfer and grant temporary construction easements to CDOT for the project. Alderman Aiken asked if there was an updated draft. City Manager Miera informed him there is a video of a flyover by CDOT about original design and a finalized version should be presented at a future presentation. City Works Manager Hoover reported the construction will not impact the Central City Parkway exit, but it will affect two bridges after the exit. Work will also be done on an easement. The Resolution was approved unanimously.

Resolution No. 24-11: This Resolution approves the Downtown Development Authority (CCDDA) Plan. This plan authorizes the CCDDA to take action and execute the plan. A public hearing was held at 7:17 p.m. There were no public comments. Alderman Aiken brought up the stairs leading to High Street from Gregory are in need of repair. The Resolution was approved unanimously.

Resolution No. 24-12: This Resolution approves a Cooperation Agreement between the Central City Business Improvement District (BID) and the Downtown Development Authority (CCDDA). The taxing boundaries of the BID and the CCDDA overlap, therefore, the BID, the City, and the CCDDA have negotiated a Cooperation Agreement. Mayor Pro Tem Tinucci pointed out the creation of an Urban Renewal Board was against the original agreement between the City and the BID. The City needs the BID to approve the Resolution in order to move forward. The Resolution was approved unanimously.

Appointment of Belvidere Foundation Board: The Belvidere Foundation requires all members to reapply to the Board when their term expires. Peter Droege serves as President of the Belvidere Foundation and Barbara Thielemann is a Board member. Both of their terms expired in March. They wrote a letter to the City requesting to be reappointed to the Belvidere Foundation. The Foundation is also looking for two more Board members to join. The appointments were approved unanimously by the Council.

Authorization for Gilpin County Housing Needs Assessment: Gilpin County received a grant for $7200 from the City to address the housing needs in the area. The grant requires City Council approval. It was approved by the Council unanimously.

Staff Updates: City Manager Miera informed the Council a Planning Commission Zoning for BLM properties and annexation issues have been granted to the City. Also, the Black Hawk / Central City Sanitation Board is seeking interested parties to join their board. Anyone who is interested should send a letter of interest by April 22, 2024.

Public Forum: Deb Wray stated that the Central City Parkway is falling apart and inquired if it will be repaired after the quarry is opened. She also informed the Council that Eureka Street is so bad that people have to drive in the middle of the road. Miera agreed there are capital projects that need to be addressed. They may look into a Bond issue or community involvement to fix the roads. Wray complimented the Public Works Department for their great job on removing the snow during the massive snowstorm in March. Jack Beard explained Eureka Street is in a water basin and considered a wet road where water builds up under the road creating it to heave. The two options to fix the road require destroying the wetlands or to build the roadway up.

Council Comments: Mayor Pro Tem Tinucci likes the activity in the Elks Lodge. She pointed out the Lodge has the highest percentage of members for their City population in Colorado. Alderman Aiken announced the Gilpin County School District will have a dinner on April 20 at Ameristar to benefit the students who need scholarships. Tickets are $85. Mayor Fey loved the egg coloring activity at the Elks Lodge and the Main Street egg hunting activity. He also liked the Bunny Hop dance sponsored by the Belvidere Foundation at the Lodge. Fey commended Fire Chief Gary Allen for 50 years of service which brought applause. Fey thanked County Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth for her attendance at the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

The next Council meeting will be on April 16, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 141 Nevada Street, Central City. The meeting is open to the public or online at centralcity.colorado.gov/meetings.