Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Springs City Council President Susan Dellinger said Monday that the city's governing body is doing too much, too fast.

Tonight, the City Council is scheduled to discuss a temporary ban on demolition permit applications for historic structures, an issue that rose to prominence during a meeting with the city's Historic Preservation Advisory Commission last week. A temporary ban, or moratorium, would last for 90 days and could be implemented at tonight's meeting. Supporters such as Councilman Towny Anderson say a moratorium would allow city staff and council members to discuss historic preservation issues and decide whether to change city codes, and how to manage widespread growth in Steamboat Springs without further demolition of historic structures in the interim.

But Dellinger said the City Council is taking a reactionary role by addressing the issue so abruptly.

"I think we are in danger of elevating this to a priority that we have not yet assigned it," Dellinger said of the historic preservation debate. "We're kind of running and gunning, and I don't think the community can benefit that way."

If approved, the moratorium would be the second implemented by the council this year.

In February, the council implemented a 90-day moratorium on vacation home rental permits, in order to address public debate about homes that are rented to short-term vacationers in residential neighborhoods. The council extended that moratorium in April before approving a revised vacation home rental ordinance in late July.

Anderson said the vacation rental moratorium led to a positive result.

"The one thing we did do is put an enforcement mechanism in place - and the process, as contentious as it may have gotten, allowed people to be heard," Anderson said. "If the moratorium helps bring voices to the table, then that's great. That's what democracy is all about."

Also tonight, the City Council will decide whether to create an Employee Housing Fund in the city's budget, and discuss funding options for a proposed, $34 million recreation center that will appear on the ballot for Steamboat voters Nov. 6.