Emily Richards

The meeting commenced with the introduction of the new Community Planning & Development Director. Agenda items included tenure awards presented to Historic Preservation Commissioners for their service milestones. Key action items involved the unanimous approval of Resolution 6-2026, approving the Drainage Facilities Easement Agreement with Club Vista Properties, II, LLC concerning drainage pond maintenance. The Council also approved Resolution 7-2026, authorizing the Mayor to execute a Quitclaim Deed for a newly registered elector on the Silver Dollar Metropolitan District board, and approved Resolution 8-2026, authorizing an addendum not to exceed $150,000.00 to the professional services agreement with LRE Water, Inc. for water rights engineering. The City Manager reported the intent of the Police Chief to retire effective March 1. The session concluded with an Executive Session to discuss personnel matters regarding the City Manager, legal advice on inter-governmental relations, and potential legislation.

The City Council meeting began with the swearing-in of two new Council members. Key actions included the annual requirement resolution establishing the City's website as the designated public place for posting meeting notices. The Council unanimously approved a resolution clarifying the boundary line agreement between the City of Black Hawk and King, Queens, and Jacks LLC concerning the Saratoga Casino Property and the Crook's Palace Property. Additionally, resolutions were approved for the reappointment of two individuals to the Board of Directors of the Gilpin Ambulance Authority, the approval of certain service agreements for Calendar Year 2026, and the approval of a contract with Grapes & Sons Excavating for on-call excavation services for Calendar Year 2026.

The meeting agenda included several action items requiring resolutions. Key topics involved approving the Drainage Facilities Easement Agreement between the City and Club Vista Properties, II, LLC, which addresses the maintenance of a detention pond related to a prior subdivision agreement. Another item was authorizing the Mayor to execute a Quitclaim Deed to transfer property interest to a newly registered elector qualified to serve on the Silver Dollar Metropolitan District Board of Directors, replacing a previous member. Finally, the Council was scheduled to approve the Tenth Addendum to the Professional Services Agreement with LRE Water, Inc., for water rights engineering and well design services, not to exceed $150,000.00. The agenda also noted scheduled HPC Tenure Awards.

The meeting agenda included an Elected Officials' Ethics Training followed by the Regular Meeting. Key actions involved the swearing in of two Council members, Cynthia L. Linker and René Wiley. Discussions and approvals covered several resolutions: establishing the designated public place for meeting notices, approving a boundary line agreement between the City and Kings, Queens, and Jacks LLC to clarify property boundaries near the Saratoga Casino and Crook's Palace properties, reappointing members to the Gilpin Ambulance Authority Board, approving various service agreements for Calendar Year 2026 (including one with Grapes & Sons Excavating up to $50,000.00 for on-call excavation services), establishing 2026 water rates with a 2.5% increase, granting easements to Colorado Natural Gas, Inc., approving a professional services agreement with JVA, Inc. for an Emergency Preparedness Plan study for the Hidden Valley Water Treatment Plant System (not to exceed $45,000.00), approving rehabilitation of 33 manholes on Miners Road up to $268,000.00, appointing Cynthia L. Linker to the Historic Preservation Commission, approving an addendum to the agreement with 5280 Strategies, LLC, and adopting the 2026 City Council, Holiday, and Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Schedules. The Council also approved the 2026 Workers' Compensation Insurance contract and amendments to commercial leases with Black Hawk Bean & Cream Ltd and JKQ Consolidated LLC. Following these actions, the Council declared a vacancy in the office of Alderman due to Alderman Armbright's passing and appointed Cynthia L. Linker and René Wiley to fill existing vacancies. The meeting concluded with an Executive Session to receive legal advice regarding City-owned land on Gregory Hill and other property matters.

The meeting agenda included reviewing conflicts of interest and public comments. New business items involved a review of the CLG Quadrennial Evaluation Form, the 2026 Annual Election for the HPC Chairman and Vice-Chairman, and annual reviews concerning the Certified Local Government (CLG) Program Overview and the Colorado CLG Handbook. Other topics included discussing goals for the Five-Year Cultural Resource Survey, updates on the Phased Reconnaissance Cultural Resource Survey and establishing next steps, and the status of the Lace House Local Landmark Designation. Community outreach involved upcoming webinars on supporting skilled preservation trades and historic resource surveys.