p class="articleBodySection">In Tuesday's meeting, the Florence City Council approved a request to proceed with posting of the City Manager job opening.

“The job opening is not finalized to be posted yet, but will be soon,” said Mayor Dick Upton. “When everything is in order, it will then be posted.”

Councilman Brian Allen asked if what they could read now was subject to change.

“I think we're just looking for your direction to go ahead and start the process of getting the job description put together, make sure it entails everything you guys are looking for just to start the process,” said City Clerk Jessica Hill.

In an unrelated matter, Mayor Upton proclaimed September as National Suicide Month. After he read it, Jessica Cobler talked about her son and others who committed suicide. In their honor, the fifth annual Out of Darkness Walk will kick off with registration at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 in Centennial Park. Everyone is welcome to participate.

In other business, the council tabled the public hearing for the proposed Event Plaza to be located on S. Pikes Peak Avenue.

“What staff is requesting is that we table the proposed public hearing on the plaza,” said City Planner Sean Garrett. “At this point, to move it forward, it'd be best to have some town hall meetings and open discussion on the decision. Then we can bring it back to council at that point.”

Mayor Upton said they will announce the town hall meeting as soon as it is finalized.

During the visitor's section of the meeting, several citizens spoke against the Event Plaza, which is proposed to be located between Railroad and Front Street in front of Florence Brewery and the Florence Pioneer Museum.

Resident Jane Chess said she thought there would be a public hearing about it during the meeting.

“I'm very against the permanent closure of that street,” she said.

Joanne Mohr agreed.

“I'm here about closing the street between the Brewery and the Museum,” she said. “We have problems already with parking on Front Street. If we close that street, we're going to lose more parking spaces. Then if the apartments are finished, which is great to renovate that building, the people need a place to park. Jerry and I am totally against closing the street also.”

In other business, the council also made the following decisions:

Approved the Verizon lease agreement.

Approved the purchase of Cemsites software.

Approved the deletion of Mike Patterson as signer at Sunflower Bank, Colorado Trust, Bank of the San Juan, Rocky Mountain Bank and Trust and MBS Multi Banking Securities Inc.

Approved special events permit for the Florence Pioneer Museum event to be held from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18.

Approved special events permit for Fremont Center for the Arts at the Florence Brewing Company from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18.

Approved agreement with Costell Professional Service.

Approved SRO contract with the RE-2 School District.