Central City Council met for a regular meeting on July 6, 2021, and attended to a substantial amount of business for the City.

They began by hearing the second reading of Ordinance 21-04, regarding the City’s powers to choose a single provider for trash service and levy fees for collection. The City chose One Way, Inc., as provider for residential waste disposal, and will charge a fee for such service. In the past, this service has been free of charge, but budget constraints and COVID impacts created the need to make this change. The Ordinance passed unanimously.

Second, the Council appointed 2 regular and 1 alternate members to the Main Street Central City Commission. Regulars were Shirley Voorhies and Deb Wightman, and as Alternate, Ashley Martin. Quoting from the Commission’s website (at https://centralcity.colorado.gov/main-street-commission), the purpose of the organization is this: “Main Street Central City is a city commission and part of the Colorado Main Street® Program, a program dedicated to revitalizing traditional downtown districts within the context of historic preservation. The program uses an approach that advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of central business districts based on their traditional assets of unique architecture, personal service, local ownership and a sense of community.”

Resolution 21-17 was presented, regarding the temporary closure of Main Street for the Central City Beer Festival. The event is scheduled for August 28, and the proposed road closure would be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Resolution was unanimously approved.

Also presented for discussion was Resolution 21-18, for permission to close Main Street and Spring Street for the annual Hot Rod Hill Climb. Closures would be from noon to 9 p.m. on September 17, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on September 18. The Resolution was unanimously approved.

The petitioner, Mike Nicholas, representative for the event, stated that he would be asking for financial assistance from the City at a later date. Such assistance has been granted in past years, and has been pivotal to the event’s fiscal success. Council members commented that there were no funds specifically allocated for the event, but that they would wait for Mr. Nicholas’ request to hold further discussion.

On June 20, Central City Opera submitted an incomplete application for a special event permit which would allow for the closure of Main Street on July 17, 20, 22, and 28, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for performances of the one-act opera Dido & Aeneas. The application had previously been denied by City Council based upon deficiencies, which were, first, failure to notify Central City Business Improvement District (“CCBID”) and local businesses 45 days in advance of the event; and second, failure to collect and submit letters of administrative approval from CCBID and all directly adjacent and active businesses.

Following extensive discussion, and the receipt of advice from legal counsel, the Board approved the appeal by a vote of 3 to 2. The road closures will allow an audience of approximately 120 per performance, instead of 60 – which seats have already sold out.

During discussion, the issue of the closure of the Opera House parking lot arose, and a representative for the Opera announced that the lot would be reopened for use by the public by July 11, at 8 a.m. It was explained that the closure had been for reasons of COVID measures, as the musicians and stage personnel are members of a union, and cautionary measures have not yet been lifted, notwithstanding State rules. For union members, social distancing is still mandatory, with a distance of 25 feet required to be maintained between individuals. The parking lot space was needed in order to be able to build stage components, and handle costume, hair, and makeup preparations.

Mayor Jeremy Fey read a Proclamation regarding St. James Methodist Church, announcing its 163rd anniversary, and inviting the public to participate in various commemorative activities and events in the coming months. The events were not named; information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.

Councilmember Johnson discussed her resignation, which had been announced at the previous meeting. Her service will end at the conclusion of the meeting scheduled for July 20. The Board and legal counsel discussed the two means of filling a vacant seat – appointment, or special election. In the interest of fiscal responsibility, as well as time, the decision was to appoint a replacement.

A schedule of deadlines was agreed upon, which is as follows: Letters of Interest should be turned in to Mayor Fey (jfey@cityofcentral.co) by July 27; potential appointees should attend the regular meeting scheduled for August 3, at 7 p.m.; and the appointment will be made at the regular meeting scheduled for August 17.

All members of the Board expressed appreciation for Ms. Johnson’s service. Mayor Fey added that he hoped that those who knew Councilmember Johnson would use this opportunity to introspect and consider the good example she had been, of a citizen, a woman, and a mother.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:29 p.m.

The next regular meeting will be held on July 20, 2021, at 7 p.m., at 141 Nevada Street, Central City. The meeting agenda and packet items are available a few days before each meeting on the Council website, located at: https://centralcity.colorado.gov/government/city-council.