Creek Council Joins the Bandwagon in Escaping State Anti-Gun Rules
Rick Langenberg
Fire bans, ambitious master plans and concealed weapons dominated discussion at last week’s Cripple Creek City Council meeting, as elected leaders grappled with a variety of topics in record speed.
In fact, the August 21 session marked one of the speediest sessions of the council in recent months. For months, the council has toiled over many development-related subjects.
Topping the list of big issues last week was a decision by the panel to rescind an earlier Stage 1 fire ban. At the request of Fire Chief Joe O’Conor, the council opted to follow the direction taken by Teller County and kill a ban on open burning that was originally imposed at the beginning of August.
This ban, which marked the first major mandatory fire ban imposed in several years, didn’t last long. As monsoon conditions resumed in the high country and across the Pikes Peak region, this trend provided some relief to Teller’s sizzling hot temperatures that originally led to the imposition of a brief fire ban. Teller had an extremely moist winter but hit an extended hot and dry spell in late spring and early summer, until the monsoon patterns recently pervaded in the skies above Teller.
Luckily, the Teller County region didn’t experience any major fires during this period, but the entire state suffered from a lack of available resources due to major blazes in other parts of the West.
Even with the lifting of the ban, officials caution that now is not the time to let your guard down. “Due to improving weather conditions and increasing fuel moisture levels, I recommend the city rescind our current Stage 1 Fire Ban. In making this recommendation, I must reinforce the need for everyone to stay cautious with open flames as the risk of wildfire remains. We will continue to monitor conditions and make further recommendations as circumstances evolve,” stated O’Conor in a staff report.
He reiterated this theme at the Aug. 21 council meeting, describing fire bans as a “necessary evil.” These bans often curtail tourism somewhat and pose some confusion for visitors.
While endorsing the latest request to eliminate the Stage 1 ban, O’Conor admitted that he could come back soon with a request to reinstate fire restrictions due to the fluctuating state of conditions in the Teller high country.
In fact, O’Conor told the council that officials are reviewing the possibility of handling these bans administratively, so fire experts and emergency responders don’t have to rely on the approval of elected panels, as often time isn’t on their side during the fire season
O’Conor didn’t get any arguments from the council, which would lose some authority under the proposal being mulled by O’Conor and city attorney Erin Smith and others.
“There are a lot of factors involved in these decisions (whether to implement a ban against open burning),” said the fire chief. Several council members inquired about the chain of command, when it came to designated bans.
Mayor Annie Durham stated that she had no problem in letting emergency service officials make the final calls, when it came to issuing fire bans and then rescinding them. She said she favored an administrative approach to these ban declarations, instead of waiting for council action.
These bans often follow a regional trend. For example, the latest ban had extended to all of Teller County and a good portion of El Paso County, with the issuing of the latest restrictions, and then the official rescinding of this action. Some nearby areas, such as Douglas County, however, remained firm on continuing a fire ban.
Stage 1 restrictions generally don’t generate that many complaints. But when counties and cities initiate Stage 2 and sometimes Stage 3 restrictions, property owner complaints often escalate. Plus, these latter more stricter bans are more difficult to enforce
Guns in Public Buttons
In another hot button subject that hit the council table last week, leaders addressed an issue that has commanded center stage in many communities: outlawing the carrying of weapons, concealed or not, into public buildings. This is part of legislation approved by state lawmakers. This law has sparked outcries from many residents, who view this as violating their constitutional rights. When this subject was addressed by the Teller County commissioners, the atmosphere got quite tense.
But under the latest bill, there does exist an opt-out mechanism.
According to City Administrator Frank Salvato, many communities in rural sections of the state are taking this direction. The Cripple Creek City Council decided to adopt the first reading of an ordinance, permitting Cripple Creek to opt out of the state’s weapon ban.
The council agreed full-heatedly with this move.
At the same time, several leaders, in a cautionary note, stressed that those carrying concealed weapons have to abide by their current permit obligations. Unlike the meetings held by the Teller County commissioners on this issue, capped by many emotional comments, and even stern concerns expressed by the elected leaders themselves, the ordinance passed the initial reading with little drama.
Public forums on this plan should get underway this fall.
Several contracts got the go-ahead, including a $235,000 agreement with one consultant, Kimley-Horn for a variety of plans related to this project.
Cripple Creek’s new master plan project will feature a regular comprehensive plan and zoning update, along with an economic development/marketing strategy and pro-tourism study. This latter section is being spearheaded by Full House Resorts, the owners of Bronco Billy’s and the Chamonix project.
City officials emphasize the Cripple Creek is getting one heck of a deal with this project, as most of the dollars for this effort are coming from state grants and by Full House Resorts. The town has not had a master plan update done since 2009.
