Mindy Leary, Central City. At approximately 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 141 Nevada Street, Central City, Colorado, the Central City Council held their regular meeting online only. 

The meeting can be accessed by dialing in by phone or online by visiting the Central City website at centralcity.colorado.gov/meetings.   

There was a call to order followed by roll call. Mayor Jeremy Fey, Mayor Pro-Tem Judy Laratta, Council members Jeff Aiken, Jackie Johnson and Kara Tinucci were present.

The Pledge of Allegiance was said and any additions and/or amendments to the agenda were made.

Regular Bill lists through April 6 were looked at, as well as the City Council minutes from April 6, 2021, where both were approved.

Action Items included New Business concerning Resolution No. 21-11:  A resolution of the City Council of the City of Central, Colorado, authorizing the conditional use of Leavitt Street for special events. 

Lisa Roemhildt, Community Development Planner and Main Street Advisor, wrote the motion to use the currently closed Leavitt Street for vehicular traffic and access to special events with an approved TUP (Temporary Use Permit). 

There are no legal issues and the environmental impact would be minimal. Continuous access does have environmental impact and in the past there have been incidences of idling buses causing fumes, a fuel spill and an antifreeze spill into a nearby creek, leading to its closure. If there are problems during the special event, then corrective actions would be taken onsite.

There was a public comment supporting the resolution. There is a prohibition against parking or idling on Leavitt Street. The resolution was approved 5-0.

New Business also included Ordinance No. 21-03: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Central approving a Lease Agreement with Purchase Option Addendum for certain property commonly known as 130 Main Street with Sprt Entertainment, LLC., as tenant, and conditionally approving the sale and transfer of said property to Sprt Entertainment, LLC, presented by Ray Rears, Community Development Director.

The proposed lease and subsequent conditional sale of the surplus property must be determined to be of benefit to the City and the specific benefits include: supporting economic activities in the City, revitalizing Main Street and promoting street activation, and permitting the proceeds of the sale to be placed in the City’s Public Property and Development Trust Fund to be used and spent for the future acquisition of other public property or to support the redevelopment/rehabilitation of the Belvidere Theater. 

If the necessary ordinance is approved by the City Council following the second reading and public hearing, tentatively scheduled for May 4, 2021 at 7 p.m., the City will be authorized to execute the Lease Agreement.

The property must be used as a casino and the tenant is responsible for all maintenance and improvements. The lease payments would be paid yearly in the amount of $180,000 for the years 2022 and 2023.

The possible sale in the amount of $1,940,000 would not happen until December 2023 and would include $490,000 in lease and deposit credits paid up until then. 

Laratta made a motion to approve the conditional sale of the subject property and to schedule the second reading and public hearing. All were in favor.

The last Action Item was FY 2021 Nonprofit Grant Funding – Requests for Advance Disbursements presented by City Manager Daniel Miera. 

For several years, the City has provided three nonprofit organizations-the Central City Opera (CCO), the Gilpin Historical Society (GHO) and the Gilpin Arts Association (GAA) with annual grants of $25,000 each to assist with operating expenses. In January 2021, GHO applied for its funds early and City granted its request shortly thereafter, so as to avoid the funds being de-obligated later in the year.

This week the City has received requests from CCO and GAA for early disbursement, and CCO would like to use their funds to improve the exteriors of their residential buildings, including roofing and painting.  

A motion was made to approve the requests and all were in favor.

Staff updates included  discussion on the Historic Preservation Community Grant Program. There was also discussion with the State’s decision to do away with the Covid dial, and how Gilpin County has decided to stay at its current level of precaution and maintain the mask order for at least another 30 days.

The meeting was adjourned at about 8:15 p.m. 

(Originally published in the April 29, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)