The Edgewater City Council met for their bi-monthly business meeting last Tuesday, April 18th. All council members were present with Councilpersons Berg and Stierer attending virtually. As always, the meeting kicked off with the Pledge of Allegiance and approval of the Consent Agenda.
The first order of business was communications from City staff. Chief Sonstegard shared a story about a new employee of Edgewater Village he had met at the regular Friday Coffee and Conversations, who just a week later reached out to him on behalf of an elderly gentleman who had lost his phone. He said having met her and being able to help her just a short time later was “very emblematic of what we do in Edgewater.”
Next was an update from the Edgewater Sustainability Board. Folks were encouraged to attend this weekend’s Eco Edgewater event on April 29th, which is combined with the Spring Fiesta Event at Jefferson Junior/Senior High School. The Sustainability Board also welcomed their new social vibrancy member, Mercedes Valdez. Solar panel work has also started on the roof of the Civic Center.
The next item was Mayor Beltrone’s reading of the Arbor Day Declaration declaring April 29th Arbor Day in Edgewater. Following that Deputy City Manager gave a presentation titled “Everything I Really Need to Know I Learned as Deputy City Manager in 2022.” Her presentation, as well as the whole meeting, can be viewed on the City website.
The meeting was then opened for public comment on non-agenda items. Edgewater resident Larry Welshon took the podium and expressed concerns over the upcoming City Council retreat in Centennial, citing concerns about why the meeting was being held such a long distance away and asking if it will be transmitted by video. Mr. Welshon also expressed concerns about the Smart Cities Lab being funded by the World Economic Forum, which he feels has a nefarious agenda.
Up next was a resolution to approve the installation of a camera at the ballot drop box at the Edgewater Civic Center by Jefferson County. The camera is now required by the County, and the resolution would simply make that possible. It passed unanimously.
The meeting then moved on to the first reading of an ordinance establishing a local minimum wage. The ordinance would establish a local minimum wage in Edgewater. Each year it would increase 10% with the expectation that it will meet Denver’s minimum wage by 2029, after which it would keep pace with Denver. The ordinance also lays out remedies for any businesses not in compliance which include resolving the matter in municipal court, adverse action against the offending business’ license, and the ability of the employee to recover lost wages as well as pursue “liquidated wages” and recover attorney fees. A vote was taken will all council members voting ‘aye’ with the lone dissenting vote from Councilman Berg.
As always, the meeting closed with Mayor and Council comments, with the overarching theme being many thanks and accolades to Deputy City Manager Mills for all of her hard work.
The Edgewater City Council meets at 6:30 every other Tuesday in the Edgewater Civic Centers. The meetings are open to the public and can also be viewed online and live through the city’s (newly updated) website.
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