Patrice LeBlanc, Central City. The council meeting on February 18, 2020, was called to order at 7:07 p.m. by Mayer, Jeremy Fey. Council members in attendance were Mayor Jeremy Fey, Mayor Pro Tem Judy Laratta, Alderman Jeff Aiken and Alderman Jack Hidahl. Alderman Jackie Johnson was absent; however, she was listening in on the speaker phone.  

The meeting started with a question from Mayor Fey in the Consent Agenda about the carpet expense listed on the expense report. City Manager Daniel Miera explained the carpet was for the Visitor’s Center. He had researched carpet products and selected a more durable carpet that was more expensive than some lesser quality carpets, but still was within the budget allowed. 

Resolution No. 20-01 had its second reading and public hearing. The first reading was at the meeting on February 4, 2020. Community Development Director Ray Rears presented the second reading to the Council. This Resolution adds fines and penalties for unauthorized removal of posted “Stop Work Orders” or continuing unauthorized work on property after having been served with a “Stop Work Order”. The purpose of the Resolution is to encourage compliance and to defray enforcement costs. The Council had no questions or comments to add and opened up a public hearing for the item. There were no comments from the public so the hearing was closed and voted on by Council. The Resolution was approved 4-0.

Ray Rears introduced the Trails Master Plan Steering Committee. The City was awarded the GOCO Grant in October 2019 for $47, 800 to create trails in and around Central City. Rears is creating a steering committee to oversee the project which would involve Council members, Black Hawk and Idaho Springs liaisons, Prospect Run residents and the BID. The commitment will involve four meetings scheduled until August 2020. Rears requested 1-2 Council members join the committee. Mayor Fey volunteered and Alderman Johnson had agreed previously to join the committee. Fey requested a public notice to get the word out to interested residents  and commented he didn’t want any decisions to be made by the committee. Rears assured him all decisions would be made through public meetings. 

Daniel Miera reported in staff updates that a new website was to be launched that week and should be up and running soon. Miera also reported on  the request for additional parking (2-3 spaces) to be added on Main Street. The Fire Department looked into the safely issues concerning the added spaces and determined there would not be enough room to get a fire truck through the street if vehicles were parked in those spaces. Fire Chief, Gary Allen,  explained the safety issue to the citizen who requested the additional parking spaces and he understood the concern. 

Public Works Director Sam Hoover explained the need for temporary barriers that were put at the end of Main Street. A vehicle recently hit the barrier in place while coming off of Central City Parkway and the Public Works Department had to install emergency barriers to protect the gas line on the outside of the Scarlett Building. An incident occurred in 2019 where a vehicle hit the gas line which resulted in a gas leak where all businesses had to be evacuated along Main Street. The cause for these accidents happen when cars are coming too fast on the steep hill of the Parkway and slide on the ice. Hoover explained the ice slicer doesn’t always stay on the road and the response time to get the product out does not always keep up with the roads freezing up. Alderman Aiken agreed and added storms come in too fast or temperatures drop too quickly and there is no time to react. Aiken recommended sanding the road along with the ice slicer. Hoover admitted this year seems to be a bigger issue than in the past and his team is working on solutions. 

Mayor Fey mentioned the Gateway Bridge Project that would divert traffic to Spring Street would alleviate the problem. He inquired if a speed limit with an odd number of 12 or 19 mph would get attention of drivers to slow down. Alderman Jack Hidahl, informed Fey speed limits are posted in increments of 5 mph and the speed limit at the end of the parkway is 15 mph. Hidahl added he would like to see Jersey barriers installed with plants that would add an esthetic look to Main Street. Hoover said he will be working with an engineer to consult on a safety barrier that would look good in appearance. 

Mayor Fey brought up an email he received from a resident concerning the Ordinance that prohibits large vehicles from driving on Spruce Street. The resident claims he now longer receives packages from delivery companies. Fey wondered if the staff could contact the delivery companies and alert them that they can deliver to residences on Spruce Street if their vehicles are shorter than 20 feet. Miera pointed out that even vehicles that meet the length criteria of the Ordinance still get stuck. Hoover added the height of the vehicle also is a factor.

Alderman Judy Laratta stated packages can be left at the Post Office where the resident can pick them up. Laratta remarked there are a string of lights along Main Street that are not working and inquired when they would be repaired. Sam Hoover answered they are working on getting the correct parts to repair the lights. 

Alderman Hidahl spoke in the Council Comments portion of the meeting and thanked the Public Works Department for their outstanding job of clearing the snow during the recent snow storm that dumped several feet of snow. He was impressed at how quickly the streets were cleared and the snow hauled away. Mayor Fey agreed with the work “ditto”. 

The meeting was adjourned as the Council moved into an Executive Session. 

The next City Council meeting will be on March 3, 2020, 7 p.m. at City Hall.