Ne City Council discussing historic preservation moratoriaum

New City Council members dive into hot-button issues
By Brandon Gee

Steamboat Springs — Loui Antonucci was named president of the new Steamboat Springs City Council, and Cari Hermacinski its president pro-tem, during a Tuesday night meeting that saw newly elected council members make their mark in Centennial Hall.

The council’s five new members were anything but timid in their first meeting.
“I think we got the community excited about big change,” Myller said. Hermacinski moved quickly Tuesday to overturn work of the previous City Council, requesting that City Attorney Tony Lettunich draft an ordinance repealing a moratorium adopted in September that bans the demolition of structures deemed historic. A citizen committee has been formed to re-evaluate the city’s current historic preservation ordinance, which has sparked widespread public debate. While opposing the moratorium, Hermacinski expressed support for the committee’s work. “I just don’t want that to happen under the auspices of a moratorium,” she said. No one who voted in favor of the moratorium remains on City Council.

Councilwoman Meg Bentley, who won a District 2 seat last week, said repealing the moratorium would undermine the work of the committee, which meets for the first time tonight.
“I think it’s a vote of no confidence to remove that moratorium right now,” Bentley said.
Magill, Antonucci and Quinn joined Hermacinski in support of her motion, while Ivancie, Bentley and Myller opposed it. The first reading of the moratorium’s repeal is scheduled for next week.