HomeMy WebLinkAboutPACKET Town Board Study SessionInformal discussion among Trustees and staff concerning agenda items or other Town
matters may occur before this meeting at approximately 3:45 p.m.
Town Board of Trustees Study Session
December 9, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Town Hall Board Room, 170 MacGregor Ave, Estes Park
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Meeting Participation
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Public comment
Public comments are not typically heard at Study Sessions, but may be allowed by the
Mayor with agreement of a majority of the Board.
Agenda
4:00 p.m. 2025 Parking Year-End Review
Manager Klein
4:30 p.m. Development Code Update: Residential Housing
Typologies
Presented by Eric Krohngold, Design Workshop
6:00 p.m. Trustee and Administrator Comments and Questions
6:10 p.m. Future Study Session Agenda Items
6:15 p.m. Adjourn for Dinner and Town Board Meeting
The Town Board Study Session and Regular Meeting dated
December 23, 2025 has been cancelled.
The Town of Estes Park is committed to providing equitable access to our services. Contact us
if you need any assistance accessing material at 970-577-4777 or townclerk@estes.org.
Report
To: Honorable Mayor Hall & Board of Trustees
Through: Town Administrator Machalek
From: Dana Klein, CPP, CCTM, Parking & Transit Manager
David Greear, PE, Public Works Director
Department: Public Works
Date: December 9, 2025
Subject: 2025 Parking Year-End Review
Objective:
Report on the 2025 paid parking program results and present the Public Works (PW)
staff recommendation for the 2026 paid parking program.
Present Situation:
As authorized by Ordinance 30-19 (2019) and Resolution 17-24, parking fees were
charged in 682 total spaces for 150 days from May 23 through October 19, 2025.
Adopted objectives of the paid parking program are:
1. Support the Town’s business districts by making parking available and by
encouraging economic development
2. Maintain adequate turnover of Town-controlled parking spaces
3. Encourage an adequate amount of parking availability for a variety of parking
users; efficient use of Town-controlled perimeter parking locations (Parking
Structure and Events Complex Park-n-Ride); and enhanced use of the Town’s
free shuttle system and other transportation alternatives
4. Reduce congestion in travel lanes caused by drivers seeking available parking
Proposal:
Since the adoption of the Downtown Parking Management Plan (DPMP) in January
2018, PW staff have been committed to a data-driven approach to parking
management. Similar to the content of this report in fall 2022, 2023 and 2024, if staff
were to make our recommendations for the 2026 program based solely on data and our
professional training, recommendations would be to implement Phase 3 of the DPMP
and expand the paid parking program into all downtown parking lots, limit the use of
Employee Permits in the busiest lots on the weekends, and implement demand-based
pricing on the weekends in the core of downtown.
There are also intangible and subjective factors—similar to those discussed during the
Town Board’s review of the 2024 and 2025 programs—that must be considered when
defining the scope of the 2026 program. Because the Board expressed interest in
evaluating the impacts of the Downtown Estes Loop (DEL) on downtown traffic flow in
2025, staff did not propose major changes or expansions to the 2025 paid parking
program. For 2026, staff intend to continue providing the same level of parking
management services as in 2025.
Staff anticipate returning to the Town Board Meeting on March 10 with a resolution to
set 2026 Paid Parking Program and Permit Fees. In the meantime, staff will continue
working with the Board on strategies for funding the Big Horn Parking Structure project
related to the Whimsadoodle, Inc. proposition currently in discussions. Options may still
be dependent on parking revenue for debt service as the discussions continue for that
project.
Advantages:
● Seasonal paid parking continues the Town’s commitment to implementation of the
Board-adopted DPMP and the four objectives of the paid parking program.
● Implementation is designed to accommodate diverse user groups (locals, visitors,
and employees), is phased/incremental, and is in line with other Colorado
communities supported by tourism-driven economies.
● Paid parking fees will continue to reduce future reliance on the General Fund for
parking management, future parking infrastructure (e.g., new Parking Structure
downtown) and the heavily subsidized Town’s free transit service, The Peak.
Disadvantages:
● Implementation of parking management in downtown Estes Park, especially paid
parking, has been vocally opposed by some residents and business owners;
however, Town staff are committed to continuing to build trust with the local
community and to communicating effectively to our guests about all parking
options.
● Change is difficult, especially when that change involves taking something that
has been free and assigning a fee to it. However, Town-owned parking is a
limited public asset that carries a tangible cost to build and maintain, and it
should be managed and priced in a way that manages demand in the most
equitable way possible.
Action Recommended:
Provide feedback on recommendations as Staff will be appearing before the Town
Board prior to March 15, 2026, with rate recommendation considerations for the 2026
season.
Finance/Resource Impact:
Current Impacts: In 2025, the program did meet its financial goals:
1. Program costs were fully covered by program fees.
2. Revenue overall through October 2025 is $818,458.75 and is projected to be
down approximately $41,000 from the 2025 budget estimate, due to lower
occupancy of some lots during weekdays in September and October.
3. We anticipate surplus revenues of $85,000 will be added to the Parking Fund.
Future Impacts: Due to the timing of the Town’s annual budgeting process, PW staff
projected no significant changes to the 2026 paid parking program from the 2023
program relative to income with $859,750 in anticipated revenue from paid parking fees,
permits and citations. Expenses were conservatively projected at $793,179.
Anticipating no additional revenues to the parking fund from the 2025 season available
for transit may present some challenges for transit operational funding. It is currently
anticipated that any 2025 revenues will be used for the design and construction of the
Big Horn Parking Structure (2025 Strategic Plan Objectives 5.A.1 and 5.A.2).
Level of Public Interest:
Public interest in seasonal paid parking continues to be moderate to high.
Attachments:
1. Presentation: 2025 Paid Parking Program Results
Seasonal Paid Parking Program
2025 Year-End Results
Dana Klein, CPP, CCTM
Parking & Transit Manager
Town Board
Study Session
December 9, 2025
Attachment 1
Presentation Overview
1.Current Program Overview
2.2025 Program Results
•Operations
•Data
•Financial Performance
•Customer & Community Input
•Key Takeaways
3.Next Steps / Q&A
Current Program
Overview
1.Support the Town’s business districts by
making parking available and by
encouraging economic development.
2.Maintain adequate turnover of Town-
controlled parking spaces.
3.Encourage an adequate amount of parking
availability for a variety of parking users.
•Efficient use of perimeter parking locations
•Enhanced use of the Town’s free shuttle
system and other transportation alternatives
4.Reduce congestion in travel lanes caused
by drivers seeking available parking.
* Defined in EPMC Ordinance 30-19
Paid Parking
Program Goals*
Dates:
•150 days
•May 23 – October 19, 2025 (daily)
Paid Parking Locations:
•Town Hall (224 paid stalls)
•Bond Park (73)*
•E. Riverside (41)
•Riverside (91)
•Wiest (132)
•Post Office (86)
•Virginia (19)
•Tregent (16)
Hours:
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
69%
31%
Percentage of Total Supply:
Free vs. Paid
Free Paid
2025 Program
* Impacted by special events – 14 during season
67%
33%
Percentage of Downtown Supply:
Free vs. Paid
Paid Free
Total paid stalls: 682
Total free stalls: 340
Total stalls: 1,022
2025
Parking
Map
2025 Program
Results
2025 Operational Focus:
Communications
•Weekly meetings with Regional Manager to
discuss program progress and enhancements
Parking Structure banner
Library partnership program
•New Permitting System roll out by The Car
Park
•Customer service in the field assisting visitors
with payment options and directions
•Updated payment signage to focus on
text2pay option.
PARKING STRUCTURE OCCUPANCY UP 42% OVER 2019
PEAK
OCCUPANCY:
PAID LOTS
Season Average:
2021 – 91%
2022 – 92%
2023 – 93%
2024 – 93.3%
2025 – 94%
2025 Results – Data (Peak Occupancy - Paid)
Key Definitions:
•Occupancy: Vehicles parked divided by the total number of stalls available.
•Peak Occupancy: Average of daily peak demand during the observation period (10am-5pm, 150 days).
•Average Occupancy: Average of daily occupancy during the observation period (10am-5pm daily over 150 days).
Season Average:
2021 – 79%
2022 – 78%
2023 – 78%
2024 – 74%
2025 – 75%
PEAK
OCCUPANCY:
FREE LOTS
2025 Results – Data (Peak Occupancy - Free)
2025 Results – Data (Weekday Peak Occupancy - Paid)
PEAK
OCCUPANCY:
PAID LOTS
(Mon-Thu only)
PARKING STRUCTURE OCCUPANCY UP 42% OVER 2019
PEAK
OCCUPANCY:
FREE LOTS
(Mon-Thu only)
2025 Results – Data (Weekday Peak Occupancy - Free)
PARKING STRUCTURE OCCUPANCY UP 42% OVER 2019
PEAK
OCCUPANCY:
PAID LOTS
(Fri, Sat, Sun)
**********
Bond Park Event
Closures: 14
2025 Results – Data (Weekend Peak Occupancy - Paid)
PARKING STRUCTURE OCCUPANCY UP 42% OVER 2019
PEAK
OCCUPANCY:
FREE LOTS
(Fri, Sat, Sun)
2025 Results – Data (Weekend Peak Occupancy - Free)
2021 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
LENGTH OF STAY
(DURATION)
72% PAID
FOR 2 HOURS
OR LESS
2025 Results – Data (Turnover)
T2 and ParkMobile
purchases during
season.
1 hr.
2 hrs.
3 hrs.
2021 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
LENGTH OF STAY
(DURATION)
2025 Results – Data (Permits)
In 2025, permitted
parkers occupied
a peak level of
15-18% of total
downtown supply.
Average of
157 out of 1,305
available spaces
were occupied by
permit holders.
1 hr.
2 hrs.
3 hrs.
2021 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
BUDGET
VS.
ACTUALS –
Contractor
Community & Customer Input
Feedback trending more positive
2025 Opportunities
●Presentation to CSOs
●All materials translated into Spanish
●Outreach to lodging partners – material drop-off throughout summer
●Purging of permit records eliminating duplicates
●Assisting with Farmers Market setup and takedown, traffic control
●Continued Library partnership
●Conducted end of season Permit Holder Survey
Library Partnership
●Multi-pronged approach, including:
○Library staff training
○Integration of library card sign-up/renewal
and Local Permit registration
○Coordination on library program timing,
location(s)
○Library board member and staff
involvement
2025 Highlight: Library Partnership
Thank You!
2025 Highlight: Permit Survey Results
2025 Highlight: Permit Survey Results
2025 Highlight: Permit Registration Satisfaction
2025 Highlight: Permit Survey Feedback
2025 Highlight: Permit Survey Parking Frequency
Key Takeaways
•It was a summer of constant change. Our field team did a great job of rolling
with the adjustments, answering tough questions and trying to help.
•Guests and residents are learning the system. Our customer service interactions
are trending much more positive/neutral and payment compliance is up.
•The current program was generally adequate (83.33%) on the weekdays (Mon-
Thurs); however most parking areas (paid and free) are consistently full on the
weekend, with occupancies at or near 100%.
•The program began to break down in the early fall months, specifically on Bond
Park event days in late August, September and early October. The parking
structure filled more days and for longer periods of time. Beautiful fall weather
for a fourth year contributed to the demand.
•Ridership on The Peak was up this summer, especially on the Red Route
(downtown trolley) due in part to route configurations.
Next Steps / Q&A
1.2026 Paid Parking Program Planning
2.Town Board Regular Meeting – March 2026
•Present 2026 Season Paid Parking and Parking Permit Fees
3.Board Q & A
The Town of Estes Park is committed to providing equitable access to our services. Contact us
if you need any assistance accessing material at 970-577-4777 or townclerk@estes.org.
Report
To: Honorable Mayor Hall & Board of Trustees
Through: Town Administrator Machalek
From: Steve Careccia, Director
Department: Community Development
Date: December 9, 2025
Subject: Development Code Update: Residential Housing Typologies
Purpose of Study Session Item:
Design Workshop, consultant for the Development Code update, is seeking direction on
housing typologies. Presenting will be Eric Krohngold, Senior Associate with Design
Workshop.
Town Board Direction Requested:
Provide staff and the consultant with direction on the desired types of housing, and their
appropriate locations, within Town, along with direction on potential areas of revision to
the Development Code intended to promote an increase in housing stock and diversity.
Present Situation:
The Development Code update started in February of this year. Since then, work has
progressed on the public engagement plan, including completion of two open houses,
several pop-up events, a community-wide survey, and two public deliberations.
Summaries of these public engagement activities, along with feedback received to date,
are being compiled for distribution to the community.
The Development Code addresses housing in several ways: by permitting specific
residential uses in certain zoning districts; establishing permitted residential densities;
and through development standards such as building setbacks, building heights, and
open space and parking requirements, among other requirements.
Proposal:
With the update to the Development Code, the consultant has been asked to review the
Code for areas that could be revised to allow a greater mix of housing that meets the
needs of the community while conforming to the Town’s vision and expectations for
housing. The consultant’s presentation will highlight some potential areas of revision to
the Code while also posing several questions to help clarify Town Board direction on
housing.
Advantages:
Some advantages of an updated Development Code include:
• A more search- and user-friendly document;
• Modernization and incorporation of current best practices;
• Increased efficiency in the development review process;
• Incorporation of newer development concepts and standards;
• Improved aesthetics; and,
• Implementation and alignment with the Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan.
Disadvantages:
There are no disadvantages to discussing this study session topic.
Finance/Resource Impact:
There are no financial impacts at this time. Financial impacts have been accounted for
with this year's budget.
Level of Public Interest:
Public interest has been and will continue to be high.
Attachments:
1. Presentation
The Town of Estes Park is committed to providing equitable access to our services. Contact us
if you need any assistance accessing material at 970-577-4777 or townclerk@estes.org.
Report
To: Honorable Mayor Hall & Board of Trustees
From: Director Careccia
Department: Community Development
Date: December 3rd, 2025
Subject: Development Code Update: Residential Housing Typologies Presentation
The presentation associated with this item will be included in the packet by Friday,
December 5th.
The Town of Estes Park is committed to providing equitable access to our services. Contact us
if you need any assistance accessing material at 970-577-4777 or townclerk@estes.org.
Future Study Session Items
January 27, 2026
•Development Code Update Engagement Summary
•Transit Year-End Review
February 10, 2026
•Vendor Fee Rate for Sales Tax Collection
•Plaque Honoring Civic Service/Art in Public Places
Items Approved - Unscheduled
•Joint Session with Fire District – Wildfire Resiliency Code
•Growth Management Areas Overview
•Police Department Facility Financing
•Commercial Loading Permit Post-Season Assessment
•Liquor License Process
Items for Town Board Consideration
•None