John Scarffe

Black Hawk

The Monarch Casino in Black Hawk plans to demolish its parking structure through mechanical means and an implosion, so the Black Hawk Fire Department asked for some technical assistance. Chief Don Taylor requested approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Denver Fire Department for that assistance, and he brought three other requests to the Black Hawk City Council during a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 3 p.m., at 211 Church Street.

“As fire department staff has not had the opportunity to be involved in the planning and actual implosion of a building or like structure, I do not feel I have the expertise in this area,” Taylor wrote in the request for Council action. Taylor was included with the Clark County Nevada Fire Department in their planning and implosion support for three structures last month, but he still thinks it is in the City’s best interest to seek outside technical assistance.

“I had two wonderful trips to Las Vegas,” Taylor said, “but I still don’t feel qualified.”

Denver Fire Chief Eric Tade has offered his staff to assist with technical consultation during the planning and implosion process. Taylor estimated the cost for assistance should not exceed $5,000, and the Council approved the ordinance.

Taylor brought the Gilpin County Hazard Mitigation Plan to the Council for adoption. “During the last year, the City of Black Hawk has been part of a joint effort with Clear Creek and Gilpin counties and their communities in the development of a natural hazards Hazard Mitigation Plan,” Taylor wrote in the request.

“This plan provides mitigation grant and recovery options to Gilpin County and the City of Black Hawk in the prevention (or reduction of impact) and recovery from a variety of potential natural disasters. The plan includes a 5-year action plan which identifies mitigation efforts (of which grant funding may be available to offset some costs).”

The City of Black Hawk has separate Mitigation Action Plans and courses of action in annexes within the document. “This will allow us to seek grants and federal disaster support independently or in conjunction with Gilpin County and Central City,” Taylor wrote. The plan has been reviewed and approved by the State of Colorado and FEMA.

Taylor said the Fire Department received an in-kind grant from the Denver Regional Council of Governments mitigation plan, and the department was able to take care of the matching funds. The Council adopted the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The next two requests Taylor brought to the Council were related to the adoption of a Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments. “Since my arrival in 2012 and with the support of City Council and budget, the Fire Department has instituted an aggressive physical fitness program which includes on duty fitness programs, peer fitness coordinators and annual physicals through Colorado State University,” Taylor wrote.

The program has seen a dramatic reduction to injuries, Taylor wrote. With the 2013 edition some minor adjustments were made in the standard, which have made him re-evaluate the fitness program. Their physical assessments through CSU did not include the department physician verifying by signature the employee was “Fit for Duty.”

“After reviewing the new standard, reviewing other department’s fitness standards and discussion with Employee Services, I am recommending we formally adopt this standard. The Standard is based upon the 13 essential functions of a firefighter as based upon research through the National Fire Protection Association, the IAFF, the IAFC and multiple other research partners.”

As a result, job descriptions will be changed to reflect the current employment standards for operational line positions, Taylor said. The significant change is the aerobic metabolic standard of 12 MET (Metabolic Equivalents) aerobic capacity, which will be, along with other health and medical evaluation criteria, the minimum standard for employment.

To meet the complete requirements of the standard, staff and new employees will have to be evaluated through both CSU and the current City medical provider SCL. For initial employment, costs will increase by about $500 per perspective employee. For existing employees, costs increase about $250 per employee, for a total increase in the budget of $5,000.

This new configuration of testing will allow the Designated Medical Provider (SCL) to provide written documentation of the Fit for Duty status of each operational member. “Adoption of this standard and the complete implementation of the standard is naturally the next step in our wellness program,” Taylor wrote. “The City will have 18 line firefighting staff that meet or exceed nationally accepted fitness standards which better enhances our response capabilities, increases safety and reduces insurance claims.”

The Council adopted the Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments and approved the revised job descriptions for the Fire Department.

The Council approved an ordinance authorizing the necessary steps toward the acquisition of properties on Maryland Mountain along the tramway grade alignment. It will allow the trail to be established. City Attorney Corey Hoffmann said this ordinance authorizes the city to acquire two additional pieces of property to complete the trail and open space area.

In addition to being involved in the demolition IGA earlier in the meeting, the Monarch Casino brought two requests for the Council. The Casino requested an amendment to the Certificate of Appropriateness for the Monarch Hotel Tower, 488 Main Street.

The applicant proposes to install a louver opening and vent pipes on a portion of the northern façade that faces North Clear Creek. A louver is a shutter device with horizontal slats that are angled to allow light and air, but to keep out rain and direct sunshine. The dimensions of the proposed louver are about 12 feet wide and 8 feet tall.

The purpose of this installation will be to provide an exhaust opening for the proposed generator to be re-located from the existing original parking garage in advance of it being demolished.

Monarch also requested a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) Amendment. The request outlines a proposed amendment to the previously approved COA for the Monarch Casino Parking Garage Site Development Plan at 488 Main Street. The proposed retaining wall would be located along the north side of the approved parking garage abutting Clear Creek.

The materials for the proposed retaining wall were not determined at the time of the original COA approval. The retaining wall has since been built. The applicant has now proposed an appropriate material for the proposed improvement and proposes to apply or adhere a ‘stone veneer’ to the vertical surface of the CMU wall.

The Council approved both of the Casino’s requests. The Black Hawk City Council met on October 12. The next meeting of the Council will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 211 Church Street.