CENTRAL CITY — There may not have been fireworks on the Fourth of July, but there certainly were at Central City's July 21 council meeting.

A packed council chamber watched as the evening opened with one of the most contentious moments of the current council's term.

Before the regular meeting even began, council members voted to require Mayor Jeremy Fey to recuse himself from an executive session involving the city's litigation over RCI-owned Rick's Steakhouse and Cabaret at 130 Main Street

RCI Hospitality Holdings, the Texas-based company that owns Rick's Steakhouse and Cabaret, has been involved in an ongoing legal dispute with the City over the business and has also backed a proposed ballot initiative related to adult entertainment regulations.

What followed was a meeting that swung between sharp political disagreements and hopeful plans for downtown. 

The meeting only grew more heated from there when residents later called for Fey's resignation. Meanwhile, another major topic of the night, a proposed three-event boxing series, drew broad support from both the public and the council.

Council forces Mayor's recusal

The tension surfaced almost immediately. Alderman Zane Plsek asked that Fey be recused from the executive session, saying the mayor had a conflict of interest because of his relationship with Eric Langan of Rick's Steakhouse and Cabaret. Fey pushed back, questioning where the allegations had come from and who had brought the issue forward.

The council voted 3-1 to require the mayor's recusal.

"This is not funny to me. This is my colleagues, my neighbors, accusing me of impropriety," said Fey.

"This is disgusting. You guys should be embarrassed. I'm not going to be bullied around by you." Fey said before leaving the executive session.

The executive session focused on legal advice regarding enforcement actions involving Rick's Steakhouse and Cabaret and the City's ongoing district court case.

When the regular meeting reconvened, Fey asked City Attorney Marcus McAskin to prepare guidance for a future meeting clarifying how individual council members should request legal work from the city attorney. McAskin said he wanted additional time to consider the issue before bringing it back to council.

The consent agenda passed unanimously.

Fey also asked that every vote for the remainder of his term (five months) be taken by roll call. Alderman Kathy Walker noted that any council member already has the ability to request a roll call vote on individual motions.

Boxing proposal earns applause

The tone shifted as the council turned to a proposal for a three-event boxing series on Main Street.

Residents, business owners, and casino representatives lined up to support the idea, saying Central City needs more attractions to draw visitors after years of declining activity.

Michele Roussel, who operates the Gilpin County Arts Association, said visitors frequently ask what there is to do besides gamble.

"I think it would be a wonderful thing," she said.

Monte Lobo owner Steve Boulter said every Main Street business except one had signed a letter supporting the temporary street closure. He said the Downtown Development Authority approved a $20,000 contribution and the Business Improvement District also voted in favor of supporting the event.

Easy Street Casino owner Jeff Hentschel disagreed. While he voted with the BID board to support funding, he said he personally did not believe the event would be financially successful and questioned using public money to help fund an event organized by someone outside the community.

City staff explained that the request included in-kind support such as barricades and stage setup, funding for security, temporary street closures, and an exemption from the City's noise ordinance.

Because approving the proposal required formal council action, the council first voted to add it to the agenda.

Organizer Daniel Hernandez then spent nearly an hour answering questions from council members.

Walker asked about the licensed boxing promoters involved in the events.

Plsek, while expressing support for bringing more events to town, questioned emergency medical planning, parking, vendor operations, state licensing requirements, and the event timeline. He encouraged Hernandez to coordinate with the Gilpin Ambulance Authority to ensure emergency services would not be interrupted if an ambulance transporting an injured boxer left the venue.

Fey said the boxing concept had originally been his idea.

"I reached out to Daniel to take it over because I didn't want to be involved in it because of all the political and social things going on with me right now," he said.

After nearly an hour of discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Spencer made the motion to approve the proposal, provided organizers meet all City requirements. The council voted unanimously, and the audience responded with applause.

The series is expected to feature both amateur and professional boxing matches on three Saturdays later this summer and early fall.

Other business

The council approved a change to the appointment process for the Downtown Development Authority, shifting appointments from the mayor, subject to council confirmation, to direct appointment by a majority vote of the council.

Fey voted against the ordinance, saying the change stemmed from disagreement over his decision to reappoint Eric Langan of RCI to the DDA.

"I think there needs to be some levels of distinction" between the mayor's role and the council's authority, Fey said. The ordinance passed 4-1.

The council also unanimously approved, on second reading, amendments to the City's short-term rental regulations. During the public hearing, resident Joyce White voiced concerns about parking, neighborhood noise, and oversight. Resident and opera orchestra member Bron Wright argued that allowing the Central City Opera to rent some of its vacant properties during the off-season would help maintain the homes and generate income.

Plsek said he shared concerns about parking but believes occupied homes are preferable to vacant ones.

On first reading, the council also approved amendments to the City's sexually oriented business ordinance that replace gender-specific language with gender-neutral definitions of nudity and semi-nudity. The ordinance will return for a second reading and public hearing on Aug. 4.

Work session

Earlier in the evening, Public Works Director Marc Johns updated the council on plans to replace the aging playground at Russell Park. Estimated costs have increased to between $300,000 and $350,000 after the city switched from wood mulch to a poured-in-place rubber safety surface, though staff hopes to reduce costs by completing some of the work in-house.

Residents demand mayor resign

If the boxing discussion briefly lightened the mood, the final public comment period brought the evening back to Rick's Steakhouse and Cabaret and Fey's role in the debate over sexually oriented businesses.

Several residents criticized Fey's support of a proposed ballot initiative involving the business and questioned his relationship with Langan.

Resident Deb Wray urged the mayor to resign, saying the petition effort was based on misinformation.

Another resident said Fey "only represents the needs of RCI" before also calling for his resignation.

Others defended Langan, saying businesses associated with the cabaret have helped bring customers to downtown merchants.

During council comments, Walker reminded the audience that Central City does not operate under a strong mayor form of government and that every member of the council has an equal vote.

Fey closed the meeting by returning to the issue that had dominated the night. "I have no conflict of interest," he said. "I've never benefited a single dime."

He acknowledged accepting flights from Langan, staying at his home, and considering him a friend, but said none of those experiences influenced his votes.

"I'm not going to resign," he said.

As several frustrated residents left the council chambers, Fey thanked the council for approving the boxing series and said his decisions have always been guided by what he believes is best for Central City.

The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m. 

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for August 4.