John Scarffe, Central City. The City Council of the City of Central, Colorado, authorized submitting a Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) application for the Belvidere Theatre Rehabilitation during a regular meeting on November 19, 2019, in the Central City Hall. The Council also approved an ordinance updating traffic violation penalties and conducted a public hearing for the proposed 2020 budget. 

Community Development Director Ray Rears introduced a resolution supporting the submission of a DOLA Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Program Tier II Application for the Belvidere Theatre Rehabilitation Project and authorizing the City Manager to finalize and submit other grant applications related to the project. This would cover Phase I of the proposed two phases of the project, which would include the Shoofly portion of the building upstairs and downstairs, roof repairs, the front elevator, heating and ventilation, site work, façade restorations and reconstruction of the rear kitchen.

Rears said the Belvidere Theatre is a contributing historic building in the Central City and Black Hawk National Historic Landmark District. The project aims to fully rehabilitate the building as a combination community and cultural arts center and commercial property.

Previously, the City filed a Tier I application with DOLA to share the costs to finalize architectural and engineering plans. Rears said the application was awarded, architectural and engineering plans have been completed and are ready to be released for bid. 

The next grant round will be due on December 2, 2019. If the City is awarded the grant funds, the City and DOLA will enter into an agreement for DOLA to assist with the project. Per the resolution, the City Manager will be required to provide periodic updates to the Council about the project’s status, including other grant applications submitted and their award status.

According to the DOLA grant application, the City will be required to match 50 percent of the costs of the project. Estimated total project costs will be between $2,819,371 and $3,070,295. The City’s portion of these costs will be about $2,026,395, with an estimated $900,000 returning to the City from the sale of tax credits at the end of the project, making the actual City contribution estimated at $1,126,395.

“Funds to support the project are included in the 2020 City budget. The DOLA EIAF grant will pick up the remaining costs, up to $1,000,000, subject to award by DOLA and adjustments following the receipt of bids for the restoration work,” according to the meeting minutes.

The Council suggested beginning work on funding for Phase II and approved the resolution to submit the application. City Attorney Marcus McAskin introduced an ordinance to change the maximum jail sentence for traffic offenses to 364 days instead of one year, following changes in state law.

House Bill 19-1148, which became effective on August 2, 2019, reduces the maximum jail sentence for misdemeanors under state law by one day to avoid triggering federal immigration action. The Council approved the ordinance, according to meeting minutes.

City Manager Daniel Miera presented the Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Budget and Five-Year Capital Improvement Program. It provides a financial plan to fund the City’s general work program and capital expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year. 

The amended 2019 budget provided for the creation of a Special Revenue Fund credited with new revenues approved by the City voters in November 2018. The ballot measure authorized a 2 percent increase in the sales and use tax rates effective on January 1, 2019, to provide supplemental funding for public safety operations and related capital purchases.

These new revenues assisted with the costs of hiring and maintaining a paid firefighter and facility-related expenses, according to the meeting minutes. The City’s amended budget increased expenditures and ultimately increased revenues back to the general fund.

According to the year’s highlights, the General Fund remains the strongest in the Funds, where its proposed Ending Fund Balance accounts for nearly 74 percent of the total consolidated ending fund balance and just more than 75 percent of the consolidated unreserved fund balance.

The only existing debt that remains on the City’s debt service schedule belongs to the Transportation Fund loan, which will have an outstanding principal amount of $807,755 by the end of 2020.

The Council thanked the city manager and finance director for the excellent work on the budget. 

Originally published in the December 5, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)