The Edgewater City Council met for their bimonthly business meeting Tuesday, May 2. The meeting was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance recited, the consent agenda approved and the meeting was off and running.
There were no communications from City staff this week. Paige Johnson, Edgewater’s Sustainability Coordinator, took the podium and introduced Andrea McCarthy for a presentation on the City’s EV (electric vehicle) Action Plan. The plan is nearing finalization after going through several focus groups and workshops stating Edgewater’s vision as “The City of Edgewater prioritizes sustainable and affordable electric mobility solutions and community collaboration in order to create an equitable, thriving, and resilient community.” The plan focuses strategy on four areas: residential, business, city fleet, and city policy. The residential strategy includes supporting charging for rental and multifamily properties and an electric bike rebate program. The business strategy will focus on identifying willing partners to install fleet, workplace and public charging as well as educating employees on the benefits of EV. The city fleet strategy would focus on phasing Edgewater’s fleet from internal combustion engines to EVs and the policy strategy focuses on education and code compliance and identifying city properties to install charging stations. The plan will be finalized in the coming weeks and implementation will begin in June.
The next item on the agenda was a mental health proclamation, as May is Mental Health Month, read by Mayor Beltrone. The meeting then was opened for the public to comment on non-agenda items. Two Edgewater residents took the podium. Both raised concerns that Edgewater’s City Council and Mayor were focused on more outward issues than Edgewater itself.
Next on the agenda was a second reading of an ordinance establishing a local minimum wage (the details of which can be found in the last city council recap). A vote was taken and the motion passed 5-1, with Councilperson Berg casting the dissenting vote.
Up next were interviews to fill the vacancy on the council. Because of Colorado’s “sunshine laws,” these interviews, as well as discussions about the applicants, are held publicly. There were five candidates in total. All were given the same set of questions and five minutes to respond. After there were follow up questions. It was a lengthy process, and anyone interested in the finer details can find a video recording of the meeting on the city’s newly designed website. Ultimately, Councilperson Conklin nominated Kali Janda, Councilperson Reid-Vanas seconded, and after some discussion a vote was taken with 5 ‘ayes’. Councilperson Berg abstained from voting. Welcome Councilperson Janda!
The meeting wrapped, as it always does, with comments from the Mayor and Council. The overarching sentiment was thanks and appreciation for the vacancy applicants. Edgewater City Council meets at the Edgewater Civic Center on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The meetings are open to the public and can be attended in person or virtually. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16.
The meeting summary is well appreciated! I have a question regarding the council member “abstaining” from voting on the matter of appointing a new city councilor. Did they truly “abstain” or did they “recuse” themselves from voting? There’s a big difference, and a bit concerning if they simply chose not vote. Was a reason given?