The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) called a work session to order at approximately 4 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2024, exclusively online via Microsoft Teams. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the County’s legislative priorities, which were addressed by lobbyists Ed Bowditch and Jennifer Cassell.

Commissioners Susan Berumen and Sandy Hollingsworth were present, along with Attorney Brad Benning and County Manager Ray Rears. Commissioner Marie Mornis was unable to attend due to a technical issue.

Bowditch explained the relevant Colorado House Bills, saying that today was day 34 of this legislative session, that 430 bills have been introduced thus far and more are on the way this week.

HB 1089 has bipartisan support and would allow taxpayers to opt in to getting electronic notifications for vehicle renewals. The County Clerks Association supports this bill. Hollingsworth said she would support it if Gilpin’s Clerk and Recorder approves it.

Clerk and Recorder Sahari McCormick, attending online, said she supports it because it would be a more direct way to reach people. Berumen said it makes sense to streamline. The commissioners will, therefore, support the bill.

HB 1168 concerns equal access to public meetings and would require state and local public bodies to livestream their meetings by July 1, 2025. This bill will likely have its first hearing next week, said Bowditch.

Rears pointed out that the County already livestreams their regular meetings, but not the work sessions or budget workshops. Hollingsworth asked if, were Gilpin to lose power during a meeting, would the County then need to end the meeting. Bowditch said he would seek clarification on the issue.

Berumen also reminded everyone that the county as a whole sometimes has limited broadband capabilities, as when the City of Central had a complete internet outage. Bowditch and the commissioners agreed to monitor the bill.

SB 40 concerns state funding for Senior Services. This bill would require the General Assembly to annually adjust this line item in the budget for inflation. This has not been increased since 2018. Bowditch said the State Budget may only allow a minimal increase.

SB 22 would give counties the ability to regulate tobacco products and is pending consideration on the Senate floor.

SB 33 has to do with restrictions on short-term rentals, and has not had its first hearing. Bowditch reported that there has been considerable opposition to the bill, mainly coming from STR owners. It will either be heavily amended or become a study.

SB 72, concerning provisions to ensure that confined eligible electors at a county jail or detention center may vote, would require county sheriffs to collect ballots. Bowditch said it can be tricky figuring out which counties inmates are from and delivering the ballots.

Hollingsworth said they discussed this issue at CCI (Colorado Counties, Inc.), and that rural counties may not have the resources to implement such a system. Also, ballots are currently delivered upon request.

The commissioners decided to take the position of “amend.”

Cassell then went over some of the housing bills, most of which are still in flux.

HB 1175, the “First Right of Refusal Bill,” would give local governments the first right of refusal to purchase buildings for affordable housing.

Hollingsworth and Berumen said they think it is a good idea, so the board opted to support the bill.

HB 1107 would require a court to award reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing defendant in an action for judicial review of a local land use decision. Hollingsworth asked how much this might happen in Gilpin. Attorney Brad Benning reported he has only come across two cases in his entire career in the area.

Bowditch said it may only apply to the Front Range and they decided to monitor this bill.

SB 106 concerns legal actions based on claimed defects in construction projects and would both give a developer the right to remedy defects and set a higher threshold for unit owners to enter litigation.

The board agreed to monitor.

HB 1178 would give local government control of pesticide sale and use. Cassel is part of the coalition in opposition on this bill. “This has been a fight for years,” she shared.

It would take authority away from the state and hand it to local governments to regulate pesticide usage.

Cassell said the EPA would have to work with local governments. Rears recommended the County not get involved. Hollingsworth added that it can get complicated.

Hollingsworth asked about the status of SB-002, concerning the authority of a local government to establish a property tax incentive program.

Bowditch said it has a pretty good chance. Hollingsworth said, “I like incentives.”

The work session concluded at 5 p.m. The next legislative work session is scheduled for February 26, 2024, via Microsoft Teams. It can be accessed through the Gilpin County website at https://gilpincounty.colorado.gov/public-meetings/board-of-county-commissionersbocc meetings.