Leadville City Council unanimously adopted the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, approved a $170,000 state grant application to fund an affordable housing planner, and received the Lake County Sheriff’s Office 2025 Annual Report at its March 17 regular meeting, while City Administrator Laurie Simonson raised concerns about mounting staff workload and introduced new accountability measures for future city programs. Council also approved the consent agenda, including the March 3 meeting minutes.
Wildfire Resiliency Code Adopted
Council voted unanimously on second and final reading to adopt Ordinance No. 2, Series of 2026, incorporating the state’s 2025 Wildfire Resiliency Code into the Leadville Municipal Code as Chapter 15.48. The code applies to new construction, additions of 500 square feet or more, and roofing or exterior siding replacements covering 25% or more of a structure.
Planning Director Chapin LaChance said six areas within city limits fall under the code: Brooklyn Circle, College Park, vacant school district parcels, and Phase 3 of the Rail Yard. Most of the city, including the historic district, is currently exempt. Requirements split into two categories: structure hardening through fire-resistant exterior materials, and site requirements including defensible space and minimum spacing between buildings and vegetation. Interior work, sheds under 120 square feet, and fences are exempt.
LaChance said no current conflict exists with historic preservation requirements, but if future hazard analysis expands designations into the historic district, the city would need to pursue an exemption with the state wildfire board. Fire Chief Dan Dailey noted that state enforcement support is available and the city will work with Lake County Building Department and third-party contractor Schumann’s CODA on compliance.
Housing Planner Grant Application Approved
Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 12, Series of 2026, authorizing Simonson to submit a $170,000 application to the Department of Local Affairs’ Local Planning Capacity Grant program to fund a Planner 2 position focused entirely on affordable housing for two years beginning July 2026.
The grant would cover 90% of position costs, with the city’s share estimated at $13,575 in 2026 and approximately $18,000 in 2027. LaChance said the city has 44 affordable units in the pipeline and is on track to meet its Proposition 123 commitment of a 3% annual increase through 2026. A 2024 Housing Needs Assessment identified a community need for 420 affordable units by 2029; the city is currently at roughly 10% of that goal.
Board of Adjustment Appointments
Council approved Resolution No. 13, Series of 2026, appointing council members Mitchell Dulleck and Gita Carey and Mayor Pro Tem Francisco Tharp to the Board of Adjustment, filling three vacancies. Council members Josef Edwards and Rebecca Thomas continue on the five-member board, which hears zoning variance applications during regular council meetings.
Asset Management Task Force Proposed
Council member Rebecca Thomas proposed creating a task force to inventory and assess all city-owned buildings, land, and infrastructure. The three-step proposal would compile a complete asset inventory, conduct a high-level condition assessment, and develop an asset strategy defining acceptable service levels for each property.
Simonson expressed support but asked that the bylaws task force — currently in final review with the city attorney — be completed before launching a new one, consistent with her broader “one in, one out” staffing principle. Council agreed to bring a formal resolution at the second April meeting. Community member Craig Gooch, whose career focused on municipal asset management, has agreed to participate.
Sheriff Presents Annual Report
Lake County Sheriff Heath Speckman presented his office’s 2025 Annual Report, noting the department grew from four certified deputies to 14 certified peace officers over his first three-year term. The office hired 12 new employees in 2025, opened six additional positions, established the E911 authority board with cost-sharing among all primary user agencies, and secured an intergovernmental agreement with Cheyenne County for centralized inmate housing.
Staff Workload Concerns, New Communication Forms
Simonson introduced revised council communication forms requiring all resolutions and ordinances to include estimated staff hours for both preparation and implementation, not just fiscal impact. She presented a list of more than 15 programs taken on since 2018 without always designating a responsible staff member — including the EV charging station, accommodations tax program, and wayfinding signs — each carrying hidden staff costs never formally assigned. Council agreed the policy change was appropriate.
Finance, Sales Tax, and Bills
Finance Director Crystal Hewitt reported overall sales tax up 5% over the same period in 2025 but cautioned against optimism. Accommodations and food service revenue is down 12% year over year, real estate rental and leasing down 13%, and city-specific accommodations tax receipts for fourth-quarter 2025 are running 33% below the same period last year. The 2025 audit is scheduled for the week of May 11. Council approved payment of bills.
Other Business
Animal Shelter Manager Caitlin Kuczko reported receiving a $6,000 spay/neuter grant for shelter animals and said a community spay/neuter event is planned to address historic kitten intake — 54 surrenders in 2025 compared to a prior average of 18.
Deputy City Clerk Ali Rudy said the office completed seven CORA records requests in January and February, including two large rail yard-related requests. She noted the short-term rental wait list has nearly doubled since October, now running approximately three years, and said the city is on track to implement the DocAccess ADA compliance tool for city website documents by mid-April at a cost of $3,500 annually.
Street Manager Tony Medina said the skijoring weekend snow removal and trash operations went smoothly, with improved trash management over the prior year, and said CDOT crosswalk work remains budgeted through July with additional city crosswalk painting planned for May. City Administrator Simonson, reporting for Police Chief Dan Trelka, said the event drew approximately 20,000 attendees over two days with zero arrests.
Fire Chief Dailey reported two structure fires since the last meeting — one on Poplar Street displacing approximately six residents and a minor fire at a downtown bike shop on Harrison Avenue. Ian Floyd was promoted to Firefighter/Engineer. Human Resources Director Alicia Galloway said the employee handbook is on track for second-quarter completion.
Planning Director LaChance noted the Philcrest modular housing project at 220 E. 11th Street began installation this week and that the city’s comprehensive plan remains on track for June adoption.
In council reports, a council member said a City Hall foundation and drainage rehabilitation grant application will be submitted April 1, with results expected in June. The Economic Development Corporation is hiring an economic development professional with interviews planned for mid-April. The Division of Reclamation and Mine Safety issued 84 technical review comments to CJK Mill on March 12; the company’s responses are due April 1.
Mayor Dana Greene reported that both the Sanitation District and Parkville Water District boards are actively exploring how to support affordable housing development within their regulatory constraints.
Council continued the Certificate of Appropriateness public hearing for the Wagner residence at 400 W. 6th Street to April 7, pending a Historic Preservation Commission recommendation. The next regular meeting is April 7.
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