Mindy Leary, Central City. On Tuesday, April 6, 2021, the Central City Council held a regular meeting online at 7:15 p.m. after a work session ended. In attendance were the Mayor Jeremy Fey, Mayor Pro-tem Judy Laratta, and council members, Jeff Aiken, Jackie Johnson and Kara Tunicci. Also present was City Attorney McAskin, City Manager Miera, City Clerk Bechtel, Finance Director Robbins, Community Development Director Rears, Public Works Director Hoover, Utilities Director Beard, Fire Chief Allen and Sheriff Armstrong.

First, there was a call to order, followed by roll call; no members were absent. Next, the Pledge of Allegiance was said and additions or amendments to the agenda were handled. “Item 8: Pending Topics” was deleted from the agenda. 

The Consent Agenda included Regular Bill Lists through March 9 and City Council minutes from March 16, 2021. The largest check was for the ambulance subsidy contribution in the amount of $12,658.72. No major changes to the minutes were made. Both items were heard and approved.

There was a second reading and public hearing for Ordinance 21-02, first read on March 16, establishing an administrative procedure to address alleged municipal campaign finance complaints and violations and amending Chapter 2, Article I of the Central City Municipal Code to add Section 2-1-40. 

The ordinance establishes a process for the City Clerk to resolve complaints involving municipal campaign finance matters, including appointing an independent hearing officer, as and when necessary.

The ordinance also authorizes the City Clerk to adopt rules and regulations as may be required to properly implement the provisions of the new Section 2-1-40, subject to the review and advance written approval of the same by the City Attorney.

The complaint process will not apply to any purported campaign finance violations related to statewide ballot issues, which are reserved for the Secretary of State.

There were no fiscal impacts, legal issues, conflicts or environmental issues.

The ordinance was approved.

Public Works Director Hoover’s biweekly memo listed the following public works activities since the last council update: performed maintenance and washing of snow removal equipment, plowed and removed snow, repaired signs and replaced air filters in all facilities with Merc 15 filters meant to be better for preventing the spread of Covid-19. 

A motorist hit a light pole on 12/28/21, knocking it down and disabling all the street lights on the south end of Central City Parkway. Sturgeon Electric replaced the pole on 4/1/21 and wires will be reinstalled as soon as possible.

The broken billboard on the Parkway is scheduled for early June. They are waiting on a crane that will take the old one out and install the new one at the same time.

The council will have the improvements to their audio/visual project in the council room beginning the week of April 19, most likely on Wednesday.

Meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

The next Central City Council meeting will be held online only on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 7 p.m. and can be accessed via https://centralcity.colorado.gov/meetings. 

(Originally published in the April 15, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)