Anne Scarffe, Central City. The Central City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance about length restrictions of large vehicles like trailers and buses on Spruce Street and approved another Spring Street change order during a regular meeting at 7 p.m. on September 3, 2019, at the Central City Hall. The council also met for a work session at 5 p.m. to discuss a downtown parking study, a proposed railroad and mining museum and legislation about family leave. 

City Attorney Marcus McAskin introduced an ordinance amending the Municipal Code to add special vehicle length limitations on certain roadways. The amendment clarifies that in addition to commencing a civil action to recover damages to any street or parkway structure from the owner or driver of any vehicle, the city is also authorized to file a claim with the driver’s or owner’s insurance company.

McAskin recommended that the council approve the ordinance on first reading and schedule a public hearing and second reading on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at 7 p.m. The ordinance was presented to council and discussed at the August 20, 2019 work session, according to background. 

The ordinance is designed to address issues that have arisen related to oversize vehicles using Spruce Street between Nevada Street and Moriarty Lane. Additional streets within city boundaries may be added by the City Council in the future, as deemed necessary to protect public safety.

The ordinance makes it unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated a “prohibited vehicle” on the entire length of Spruce Street. A prohibited vehicle is defined as, “any motor vehicle exceeding 25 feet in length, including but not limited to any bus, recreational vehicle, vehicle plus trailer combination, or any other combination of motor vehicles and trailer, boat, storage container or other vehicle so that all units move together.”

The ordinance does not prohibit the operation of public service vehicles, a vehicle utilized for construction, repairs or maintenance or any vehicle authorized to occupy Spruce Street pursuant to a permit issued by the city manager, according to background. The ordinance establishes a minimum fine of $500 for violating the length limitations. 

Council members joked about how humorous it is to watch a large vehicle maneuver in the tight confines of the street. Alderman Jack Hidahl said a trailer on Spruce Street is a recipe for disaster.  The council approved the first reading of the ordinance. 

Sam Hoover from Public Works introduced a change order for additional work related to the city’s Spring Street Rehabilitation Project. The City Council previously awarded the Spring Street Rehabilitation Project to Avery Asphalt Corporation to execute the construction contract with the contractor in the amount not to exceed $313,275.50. 

The City Council has previously approved Change Order Nos. 1 through 3, which increased the total cost to $484,389.25. Additional work related to the Project was approved after the Council discussed the increased cost of work on city roadways, which have been upgraded for drainage and below ground cabling by Public Works. 

The council approved an alternate to the Main Street Commission, Shelby Ellis, for a four-year term. 

The council also approved a Public Records Request Policy, with the addition of having the city clerk or employee of the Clerk’s Office assisting the acquisition of original documents, and copying those documents for enquirers, maintaining chain of custody.

During the 5 p.m. work session, the council discussed a parking study done by Walker Consultants. Parking in downtown is perceived as not enough. The study suggested that a few changes could be made to alleviate the parking situation with better management of parking already in use. 

The council discussed businesses requiring their employees park further away from the business’ main entrance, and employees using current shuttle service to park remotely as well as rewarding customers who use valet with incentives, coupons or discounts.

 A railroad and mining museum, in the early planning stages for the previous train depot building, could use the train engine and cars currently aging by the Z Casino. A group of investors plan on restoring the equipment and creating a tourist opportunity to learn Central City’s mining and rail history. The steam engine needs to be assessed for usability, since it was built in 1896 and retired in 1946.  

City Manager Daniel Miera presented information on the Family Medical Leave Program that was not approved in Colorado’s legislature this year. He described the planned program, even though the plan would not affect the city. He said that the bill may or may not be re-introduced and may or may not be passed in the 2020 session but wanted the City Council to know about it.

(Originally published in the September 12, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)