Patrice LeBlanc, Central City. The final Central City council meeting for 2019 was held on December 17 at City Hall. Before the meeting, there was a work session at 6 p.m. on the status of the Scarlett building. This structure was given over to the city by its owner and the city hired a firm to look at ways to use the facility. Arleen Taniwaki from Arland Land Use Economics presented a report on their market feasibility study done on the property. The goal of obtaining the property was to find a suitable use for it to generate activity along Main Street that best benefits the community. Recommendations for long term use included a casino, multi-use entertainment venue, retail spaces, a hotel, multifamily units, mixed use space. Some of the suggested outcomes would require a financial investment from the city for renovations. Taniwaki suggested the city might look into a private developer partner to fund the renovations. Short term use considerations for the Scarlett which would not require a huge investment were an escape room, haunted house, pop-up shops, event center, additional performance space for Central City Opera, a health care clinic, a spa, a salon and a temporary theater space while the Belvidere is being renovated. The council looked at parking issues along with demand for services. A decision will be voted on in early 2020.

The council meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Mayor, Jeremy Fey. 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 meeting began with five community organizations reporting on their activities in 2019. 

Lisa Roemhildt from Main Street reported the organization has received grants for the year from the Rural Technical Assistance Program and the Colorado Rural Academy for Tourism. In 2019 the committee organized a pumpkin patch, Tommyknocker Holiday event, Christmas house decoration contest, tours for school children and holiday decorum for the city. Main Street looks forward to 2020 to fill vacant buildings with art and offering outdoor movies in the summer. 

Lindsey Flewelling gave the report for the Historic Preservation Commission.  The report included the number of cases the commission reviewed and the actions that were taken on each case. The commission would like to focus on an outreach program that would inform property owners of the criteria for historic preservation and contact information in the form of educational materials. There continues to be an interest from residents for a grant program that assists in repairs on historic structures. 

Eric Chinn reported for the Central City Opera. The 87th Annual Summer Opera Festival took place in 2019. The operas featured this year were Madama Butterfly and Billy Budd. In addition, the Opera initiated Central City Opera Presents to bring innovated art experiences to new audiences. Other events included Central Presents Jazz Festival, Encore a Musical Revue and the Plein Air Festival. The Opera leased out space to JKQ BBQ at the Teller House and the William Stables Theater to Peak to Peak Players. 

Eric Miller reported for the Gilpin Arts Association. Miller summarized 2019 was the best year for the organization with increased revenue and membership, along with increased visitors to the gallery and attendance to events. Miller thanked the staff and board members for their commitment to the success of the gallery. He also thanked the city their financial support. The Association plans to have a juried art show and co-host the Plein Air festival in 2020. 

Gilpin Historical Society was represented by Deborah Wray. Wray reported the Society celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2019. They continued to operate the Museum, Coeur d’Alene Mine and gave historical tours. They held their 31st Annual Cemetery Crawl, and the 11th Annual Creepy Crawl brought in 900 people, making it the most successful event in years. Docents led 817 tours and the society held an ice cream social at the Stroehle House in Black Hawk. The society plans to increase marketing and advertising in 2020 in hopes of getting more people interested in the events. Wray thanked the council for their continued financial support. 

Resolution 19-35 approving the Service Agreement with One Way, Inc for residential trash disposal was approved 5-0.

Resolution 19-36 extending the engineering-related Professional Service Agreement with JVA, Inc. was approved 5-0.

Resolution 19-37 approving extensions for engineering-related Professional Services Agreement with Deere & Ault Consultants was approved 5-0.

Resolution 19-38 approving extensions of Professional Service agreements was resulted in a vote of 5-0.

Resolution 19-39 authorizing the acquisition of a pickup truck for use as an emergency response vehicle from Brandon Automotive, Inc was approved 5-0.

Council comments began with Alderman Hidahl requesting research on the Central City Parkway jurisdiction. Clear Creek County patrols some of the Parkway and gains revenue from speeding tickets. Hidahl would like to find out if they have a right to patrol the Parkway. He also requested an extension for the Belvidere Funding from the city that expires after 2020. The council will take up the matter next year. Alderman Johnson received feedback from the Sasquatch Gas Station located at the bottom of the Parkway. They were grateful for the maintenance on the road and felt the Parkway was being plowed more efficiently. Mayor Fey felt blessed and expressed gratitude for his first year as Mayor. Alderman Laratta relayed FedEx contacted her that they couldn’t deliver a package to her due to the street signs on her block and thanked the Public Works department for putting the signs up to stop unwanted traffic traveling the road. Alderman Aiken felt the council had accomplished a lot and made good progress in 2019. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. 

(Originally published in the January 9, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)