Leadville City Council said goodbye Monday night to City Administrator Laurie Simonson — the city’s first-ever administrator — in a meeting that also approved $235,421 in housing authority funding, adopted revised rules of order, and continued a building code update to a May 26 special meeting. The council convened at 6 p.m. on May 19, 2026, approved the agenda as amended, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The Historic Preservation Commission’s annual award presentation, originally on the agenda, was rescheduled to a future meeting. Councilmembers Joey Edwards and Shannon Grant were absent.
Administrator’s Final Meeting Draws Community
Public comment opened with a succession of speakers thanking Simonson, whose last council meeting this was. Former Mayor Greg Labbe, who created the city administrator position during his tenure, addressed the council directly. “The city is, in my opinion, very solid,” he said. “This was all you.” Representatives from Leadville Main Street, the Tabor Opera House Preservation Foundation, Professional Firefighters Union Local 869, and Lake County government each offered remarks. Lake County Manager Candace Bryans, participating online, described the personal sacrifice the role demands and said she hoped retirement would restore balance in Simonson’s life.
Simonson delivered her final department report from the dais, offering observations on the city’s pending workload — multiple intergovernmental agreements, ordinances in queue — and the qualifications she believes the council should seek in her replacement: experience negotiating intergovernmental agreements, drafting ordinances, and a strong background in community planning. She closed with farewell remarks drawing on Abraham Lincoln’s Springfield farewell address and the television show Ted Lasso, urging staff to “be curious, not judgmental.”
Deputy City Clerk Ali Rudy separately announced her resignation, telling the council she and her husband are relocating to Wyoming. Her remaining weeks will focus on preparing transition materials for her successor. Mayor Dana Greene said Rudy had “leveled up the function of the Deputy City Clerk’s Department.”
Housing Authority Receives $235,421
Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 19, releasing $235,421 in accumulated accommodations tax revenue to the Leadville Lake County Regional Housing Authority. The disbursement includes $150,000 directed to the authority’s impact fund — money accumulated during prior years when the housing authority had no need for it — and $85,421 for the authority’s 2026 executive director salary. Mayor Greene noted accommodations tax revenue is running below last year, attributed the gap to a slow winter season, and said she planned to raise the matter with the housing authority.
Rules of Order Adopted
Council approved Resolution No. 17, adopting revised City Council Rules of Order after a discussion that included input from the city attorney’s office. The council amended the document to clarify the process for bringing new business before council, requiring use of an existing council communication form for new business or task force proposals.
Left out of the rules document, after discussion, was any codification of limits on council members contacting city staff directly. Mayor Greene said she favors the existing barrier, noting that even informal questions carry implicit pressure on staff, and the group agreed the policy is better set by the city administrator. The question of whether council members should route legal inquiries through the city administrator was resolved the same way — Simonson recommended the current informal approach of keeping her apprised to manage costs, without a formal rule.
Building Code Update Continued to May 26
The second reading and public hearing on Ordinance No. 3 — updating Title 15 of the municipal code to adopt 2024 international building codes, developed jointly with Lake County — was continued unanimously to a special meeting on May 26. Planning Director Chapin LaChance said a required public notice had a problem with its second publication, making the continuation necessary. A state deadline of July 1 means the ordinance must be effective before that date or the city would be required to adopt a more stringent energy code. No public comment was offered before the hearing was closed and continued.
New Officer Sworn In; Department Running Lean
Council swore in Dakota Hanson as a new Leadville Police Department officer. Hanson came from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office; his father also serves with the department. Police Chief Dan Trelka told council the department currently has five sworn officers covering shifts. Two drug investigations over the past two months produced search warrants; several individuals are now facing state charges and two face federal charges. Trelka said violent crime has dropped significantly, though property crimes continue.
Hanson is expected to be road-ready by July 1. A Community Service Officer named Destiny graduates from the police academy the same day. The department has two open positions — a detective sergeant and a patrol officer. Trelka said he is considering leaving one unfilled to ease budget pressure heading into the next budget season.
Department Reports
Street Manager Tony Medina reported that cold weather has slowed patching and line striping. Crews have been maintaining equipment and cleaning the city cemetery ahead of Memorial Day. The department is coordinating with Lake County on shared use of a striping machine and continuing outreach to CDOT about crosswalk striping on Harrison Avenue. Mayor Greene reported that student government representatives recently spoke with a state representative, who then contacted CDOT, and the city is on CDOT’s list for work this summer.
HR Director Alicia Galloway reported open positions across departments, including the city administrator and deputy city clerk roles. The animal shelter has filled its assistant manager vacancy. The fire department is close to selecting a candidate for a new administrative position. Galloway was selected for a scholarship to attend the Colorado PRIMA risk management conference in Steamboat Springs in August, one of four recipients statewide.
The finance department reported city sales tax is up 8.6 percent compared to the same period last year, outpacing a statewide average increase of about 5.5 percent among municipalities surveyed through the Colorado Municipal League. Accommodations tax is down, attributed to the slow winter. The annual audit has been rescheduled to the week of June 29 after a family medical emergency sidelined the finance director during the originally scheduled visit.
LaChance reported active buyer interest in both phases of the Leadville Rail Yards development. Rail Yard Phase 3, formerly tied to modular housing developer State & West, is being pursued by a new developer proposing a project with an affordable housing component supported by the Regional Housing Authority. The comprehensive plan’s first public draft, published April 28, is in its final public comment period. A Planning and Zoning Commission adoption hearing is set for June, with a council resolution expected before July 7.
Fire Chief Dan Dailey was absent. Mayor Greene reported the department held a ceremony at Fire Station 2 recognizing staff advancements and marking the upcoming retirement of Operations Chief Dave McCann, who leaves July 4.
The consent agenda — approval of the May 5 meeting minutes — passed without discussion. Council also approved payment of bills.
Public Contention: Parking Pad, Park Bathrooms
A resident told council she opposed its earlier approval of a 35-foot concrete parking pad at 400 West 6th Street, designed to accommodate an RV. The Historic Preservation Commission had voted unanimously against the project before council approved it 4-2. “Approving the 35-foot cement pad for an RV seems to conflict with what we are saying is important in this community,” she said.
Steve Prestash raised concerns about a conflict of interest involving a council member who is a realtor serving on the city’s asset management committee, arguing the committee’s focus on street improvements would benefit property values rather than middle-income residents and that he had been improperly excluded from the committee.
At the close of the meeting, Prestash returned to raise concerns about Zeitz Park’s public restrooms, describing a pattern of misuse for drug activity over the past year. He said conditions have improved following court actions and law enforcement activity, but called for security cameras at the facility. He also raised a separate concern: on a recent Friday when staff was unavailable, the locked restroom went unaddressed for more than an hour despite calls to the police department and city administration. He called for a structured on-call protocol for such situations.
Other Business
Luke Finken told council he and his wife have formed a 501(c)3 — the Leadville History Hub — to coordinate a year-long celebration of the city’s 150th anniversary on February 18, 2028. Organizations including Ski Cooper, the Leadville Trail 100, and Boom Days have expressed support. Finken said he is seeking a common press kit and branding from the city.
A council member reported attending a Lake County Build-A-Generation Youth Coalition summit at the high school, where students presented on the lack of mental health resources and the need for “third spaces” — gathering places outside of home and school. The council member said the presentations reinforced the community case for the proposed community center.
The next regular council meeting is June 2. A joint work session with the Lake County Board of County Commissioners is tentatively set for June 30. The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
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