Mayor Jeremy Fey convened a regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Central at 7 p.m. in City Hall on August 3, 2021. With all present, Council quickly moved through the routine business preceding action items.

Gilpin County Commissioner Web Sill, made a brief statement in support of Michele Roussel as a candidate for the Council vacancy as an efficient volunteer with a strong work ethic at Gilpin Arts.

Finance Director Abigail Robbins then presented the results of the 2020 Audited Financial Statements. Over the course of the past months staff and Prospective Business Solutions have worked together to draft and prepare the finalized 2020 Audited Financial Statements.

State law requires the City to submit the audited financial statements to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs by July 31. The audited financial statements were submitted as required to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs on July 20th. It is customary for the auditor to review the statements with the Council and for the Council to accept the financial statements as presented in the form of a motion.

Uli Keeley, Prospective Business Solutions LLC, reviewed the audit and noted the unmodified opinion. Mayor pro tem Judy Laratta moved to accept the City of Central’s Audited 2020 Financial Statements and without discussion, the motion carried unanimously.

The Council next addressed a resolution to support the grant application for a Community Impact Grant from the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund for the completion of the Stairway to Heaven Project.

Community Development Planner Lisa Roemhildt explained that embracing outdoor recreation is supported within various City planning documents. The Central City Comprehensive Plan (2020) outlines support for outdoor recreation, particularly expanding outdoor recreation opportunities. Detailed projects are outlined in the Central City Trails Master Plan.

On December 1, 2020, City Council adopted the Trails Master Plan. This plan was funded in part by a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Planning Grant. The Trails Master Plan, informed by community input, identified three priority trail projects, one of which is a connection between Gold Mountain Village Apartments and the KOA Campground to the downtown core via an off-road connection.

As the City moved to implement the Trails Master Plan, the community was faced with the tragic loss of local firefighters Cody and ShelbyAllen. During a work session on January 19, 2021, City Council discussed memorializing this proposed trail area in memory of Cody and Shelby Allen, naming the project the Stairway to Heaven.

This trail will generally follow an existing water pipeline corridor from the apartments and the campground to Spring Street along a city water easement. It will be approximately 1/2 mile long, and would allow hiking and pedestrian uses. There will be one road crossing at Virginia Canyon Road. A painted crosswalk and signage will be installed to notify vehicles of potential pedestrians.

The not-to-exceed cost for the project is $179,022 including design and engineering, construction, in- kind support of city staff time and GIS services, and contingency costs. The grant amount requested is $136,711. The budget includes approximately 24% as a local match including $38,531.00 cash and $3,780.00 in kind. Additional funds may be secured from partners, increasing the competitiveness of the application and driving down the overall GOCO grant request.

This Project will likely require future phases including creation of a parking lot and development of a sidewalk from the pump station at 430 Spring Street to the downtown core. These may be funded in part by additional GOCO grants or Colorado Parks and Wildlife grants. The GOCO grant guidelines require Colorado Parks and Wildlife review. City Staff is working with the regional CPW staff to consider environmental matters.

Mayor pro tem Laratta moved to approve the resolution. Council discussion ensued, touching on the 2022 budget, a potential grant award in November, and input from Spring Street residents. Design of the project will begin if the grant is received. The motion carried unanimously.

Public Works Director Sam Hoover reviewed the background for a resolution to approve a Services Agreement with Harvey Contractors Inc., a Colorado corporation dba American Striping Company, to restripe longitudinal pavement markings on approximately eight miles of the Central City Parkway and four miles of collector and arterial streets, with a not-to-exceed amount of $48,822.41. $45,000 was included in the 2021 Transportation Fund to cover this expense. Harvey Contractors was the only firm responding to a June 28 Request for Proposals (RFP).

Once again, Mayor pro tem Laratta moved to approve the resolution, which passed unanimously.

A resolution amending the City’s Historic Preservation Paint Reimbursement Grant Program 2021 Grant Guide was brought to the floor by Lindsey Flewelling, Historic Preservation and Code Enforcement Officer (HPCEO). This amendment would add application deadlines to the Program adopted by Council in May, deadlines of September 1 and October 1, or until funds are exhausted, so long as projects are completed within the calendar year of the grant award.

The Program allows for a reimbursement of up to 50% of painting and paint preparation costs up to $2,000 for work completed by a licensed contractor for rated or contributing structures in the City’s National Historic Landmark District. The City also adopted the Grant Guide, which established requirements and procedures for participation in and reimbursement through the Program. Total funds for the program are budgeted at $25,000.

As of the July 20 meeting of City Council, three applications for the Program were received and approved, for a total of $5,804 in committed funds. At the City Council work session on July 20, Council directed Staff to revise the Grant Guide to remove the final deadline of August 1, 2021 and extend the program until funding is exhausted.

Mayor pro tem Laratta moved to approve the amended resolution. Council discussion included purchase of painting supplies and an option for work to be self-performed by the property owner. Ultimately, the resolution passed unanimously.

Staff updates included CDOT - WB I-70 to move forward, Division of Gaming Free Play Pilot Program to restart, and an update on vaccinations and Covid case count.

Council comments included opinions on implementing a mask policy, remembrance of Lew Cady, appreciation for attendance at Belvidere Pocket Park event, McShane roof deterioration, and a thank-you to the Council Candidates for stepping forward.

At 8:39 p.m., Mayor Fey adjourned the meeting.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2021 at 7 p.m.