Central signs off on Parkway punch-list

Lynn Volkens

02/15/2007 - Central City Mayor Buddy Schmalz called February 6^th’s Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. following a half hour work session mainly to discuss funding requests. All Council members were present.  

Consent Items  

   The Aldermen approved $290,214 for expenses incurred during January and February, including $28,291 for the reservoir trail design and $13,783 for sand and salt to keep the City streets passable.

Teller House Liquor License

   Upon recommendation of City staff, the Council, acting as the City’s Liquor Authority, renewed the liquor license for Central City Opera House Association, doing business as the Teller House at a cost to CCOHA of $500.

Public Hearings

   The Council had two items for public hearing. There was no public comment for or against either one.

   With Approval of Ordinance 07-01, the Council granted inclusion of the rights-of-way properties along the Central City Parkway to the City of Central’s Business Improvement District. The properties are owned either by the City or the BID and are being added to the BID for statutory purposes.

   Under newly approved Ordinance 07-02, members of the city’s Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission will receive monthly stipends based on regular attendance at scheduled meetings. Members of these public service commissions will receive $50 for each month in which they attend a regular meeting and are allowed to miss one regularly scheduled meeting with pay. The ordinance came, said Mayor Schmalz, because under the old ordinance, “We (Central City) were paying for meetings we didn’t have.”

Noise and Events Ordinances

   Casinos should take note, they may soon need to monitor and turn down the volume of loudspeakers or other sound amplifying equipment that might be heard in residential areas. The Council moved Ordinance 07-03, to second reading and a public hearing scheduled for February 20^th. The ordinance revises Section 10-134of the Municipal Code dealing with disturbing the peace. Under the revision, noise levels can be deemed prima facie (at first sight) unreasonable and in violation of the City’s regulations.

   Ordinance 07-04 “goes hand in hand” with 07-03, Hailey informed the Council. It was also moved to second reading and public hearing for the February 20^th meeting. It amends the Municipal Code to add a Special Events and Demonstrations section to Chapter 11. Parades, athletic contests, street fairs, arts and crafts shows, carnivals, block parties, soap box derbies or any other outdoor events that occur on streets, highways, sidewalks or City-owned public property are governed under this section of the Code. Some will require an event permit and may be subject to a fee. There are exceptions such as parades of fewer than twenty pedestrians restricted to sidewalks and funeral processions. Events may also be subject to conditions concerning street closure, provision of first aid or sanitary facilities, crowd control, etc. Should extra monitoring or policing be required for such events, it can be billed to the individual organizations via the permitting process.   

Parkway Warranty Release

   Paul Cockrel, BID Attorney, had requested and subsequently received the Council’s final acceptance and a warranty work release to Ames Construction. Based on reports from Ground Engineering (addressing rock cut slope stability, settlement and asphalt distress), the Aldermen agreed the punch list items have been completed, the Parkway construction shows no signs of failing and is performing as expected. City Manager Lynnette Hailey commended Ground Engineering but also asked that Council make their approval contingent on legal review by the City Attorney to make sure all bases are covered. The Council agreed.

Parkway Lighting Contract

   Sturgeon Electric Company received approval of their contract to provide lighting services on the Central City parkway. They are to provide maintenance, repair and replacement of fixtures and photocells plus quarterly night inspections to make sure the lights are operational. Project total is $6,060. The contract expires on December 31, 2007, and will include the candy cane holiday lights.

New City Engineer

   Short Elliott Hendrickson, Incorporated (SEH) won the City’s business for engineering services. The City intends to terminate their agreement with RG Consulting Engineers (Murray McBride) upon completion of previously contracted projects that remain outstanding at this time. SEH will provide a scope of services relating to operation and maintenance of the City’s infrastructure (storm drainage, utilities, streets sidewalks and trails, street lights, traffic signals and signs, raw water diversion and collection, Chase Gulch Dam and Reservoir, pump station, water treatment plant, storage and distribution system, construction observation and administration, rock wall repair, etc.). Cost of work will be estimated per work order and progressively billed to the City. Hailey said this type of contract would routinely be handled by the City Manager and not brought before the Council, but she wanted the Aldermen to be aware of such contracts. There had been provisions added, she said, to include regulations on immigrant workers. The contract has no expiration date but includes a termination clause allowing either party to exit with ten days notice.

Building Inspection Services

   With the retirement of the City’s residential building inspector, Colorado Code Consultants, L.L.C. was awarded the contract to provide inspection of the City’s commercial buildings and Prospector’s Run residential properties. Services include inspection and compliance planning for new and existing projects within Central, including meeting with the designer/contractor at all phases of construction to clarify code requirements. CCC will also conduct grant evaluation inspections for the Historical Society as needed. Excluded from this contract is electrical work (inspected by the State of Colorado Electrical Board) and elevators/escalators within the City, as they are under the jurisdiction of the City’s elevator inspector. The City will pay a flat fee of $50 per inspection, ($100 for re-inspection) and various stipulated hourly rates for additional services. Hailey said a schedule to provide inspections on specified days would be created soon.

Elevator/Escalator Safety

   Per the Intergovernmental Agreement approved by the Council, the City will continue to participate in the Elevator/Escalator Safety Inspection Program DRCOG provides. The program covers all of the elevators/escalators within the City. The City pays the $3,640 fee for 2007 services, and is reimbursed by the individual businesses affected.

DRCOG Reps Change Places

   The City’s representatives on the Denver Regional Council of Governments switched places on that board so that Alderman Ron Engles is the City’s representative and Alderman Wiman will serve as the alternate.

 Fire Pension Board

   City Manager Hailey and Alderman Bob Spain were appointed to the Fire Pension Board, each to serve a four-year term. Mayor Schmalz and Finance Director Shannon Flowers also serve on the Pension Board, along with three members of the Fire Department. The Board supervises and disburses the Fire Pension funds. The Board meets once or twice a year.

Of Historical Interest…  

   In the interest of “enhancing residents’ lives…” and “fostering the sense of community,” the Aldermen revised their funding request policy to specifically include educational field trips for history students of all ages. The City anticipates historical interest not only from school groups but from senior citizen, people with special needs  and other such groups from the metro area. The excursions must pertain to the history of Central City and surrounding areas to qualify for funding. $10,000 from the Historic Preservation Fund has been dedicated to finance the visits. Aldermen said they’d like suggestions on additional ways to utilize the funding for historical education – one suggestion was providing books to libraries. Hailey told them they have the leeway to do that and also noted that language had been added to the policy to stipulate that such budget requests are discretionary, subject to budget appropriations and not an entitlement program.

Historical Booklets Purchased

   The Council agreed to purchase inventory of author Mary Taitt’s booklets, “Opera House Stories” and “Teller House Tales/ Taller Teller House Tales.” There are 146 in all and the City will pay $1,326 total for the lot, pulling the money from the Visitors’ Center Fund. The author retains the copyrights.

No “41” Problems Here

   The Aldermen declared Central City exempt from Amendment 41 by approving Resolution 02-07. The state amendment prohibits public officials and employees from accepting any gift or item having a fair market value in excess of $50. Upon review of the City’s Code of Ethics, the Council found the matter already addressed in Article IV, Chapter 2 and determined that their Code of Ethics, combined with Central’s Home Rule status, allows the exemption.

Slot Machine Plea Bargains-Not

   The Aldermen reviewed a new summons form for Municipal and County Court. The new combination form allows it to be used for either jurisdiction and saves City staff time, making the new procedure more cost effective. The form includes a plea agreement allowing the defendant 20 days from receiving the summons to pay the full fine and reduce their drivers license penalty points by half. The City Attorney had reviewed and accepted the new version of the form. Judge Frederic Rodgers approved a new fine schedule with a $6.00 per point increase. The City Manager said the City’s docket has been growing. The new plea agreement offered on the summons is aimed at reducing the number of defendants in court, thereby reducing the number of pleas sent to the City Attorney and the amount the City pays to the Attorney as a result of that. (Council members indulged themselves briefly exploring the option of putting a slot machine in the corner whereby violators could take a chance at reducing their fines with the pull of a handle. “I think we’re just going to stick to the standard form here,” said Mayor Schmalz, reining them in with good-humor.)

Funding Requests - Granted

   Former Central City resident Alexis Kragenbrink graduated from Gilpin High School in 2004 and is now attending Brigham Young University. She applied for, and was awarded, tuition funding through the City’s “Promise Program.” Her original request of $1,950 was reduced to $1,450 as the City of Black Hawk is contributing $500.

   Gilpin County School put in two requests for funding. The first asked for a contribution to the middle school spelling bee scheduled for February 22^nd. The Council agreed to provide $100 for prize money.

   Fourth grade teacher Campbell asked for $210 to fund a field trip for her class to visit the Hidee Mine Tour and participate in the Westward Ho program. The teacher noted that five of her 26 students are Central City residents. Council members approved the full amount of the request and agreed she and her class sounded “pretty cool.”

Keeping Cool on Water Issues

   Councilmen decided not join with the City of Black Hawk /Sanitation District in signing a joint letter regarding downstream users’ issues with the phosphorous content at the sanitation plant. “We all have a vested interest in this problem,” noted the Mayor and sending a letter from City officials when years of prior dealings have all been at the City Manager level was determined to be “something that may upset them more than it’s worth.” By consensus, the Aldermen decided to leave the matter in the hands of City staff and reserve the option of sending a letter at a later date, if necessary.

Rickville House/Rock Walls/Wind

   A bill of sale, as opposed to a deed, will suffice in the sale of the Rickville house, Councilmen directed Hailey.

   Rock wall evaluations are awaiting weather cooperation.

   Discussion about funding a study to explore wind-powered energy potential has been scheduled for a March 15^th  work session. The City has the opportunity to lease equipment for $500 per month to measure feasibility of the idea.

   The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Central City’s Council meets again on February 20^th.