HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2020-09-08Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,September 8,2020
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Estes
Park,Larimer County,Colorado.Meeting held in the Town Hall and Virtually in
said Town of Estes Park on the 8th day of September,2020.
Present:Wendy Koenig,Mayor
Patrick Martchink,Mayor Pro Tern
Trustees Carlie Bangs
Marie Cenac
Barbara MacAlpine
Scott Webermeier
Cindy Younglund
Also Present:Travis Machalek,Town Administrator
Jason Damweber,Assistant Town Administrator
Dan Kramer,Town Attorney
Bunny Victoria Beers,Recording Secretary
Absent:None.
Mayor Koenig called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.and all desiring to do so,recited
the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATION -RECOGNITION OF DR.JAMES DURWARD.Mayor Koenig
presented a proclamation recognizing Dr.James Durward and welcomed Susan
McMullen to provide sentiment toward the recognition.
AGENDA APPROVAL.
It was moved and seconded (Webermeier/Martchink)to approve the Agenda as
presented,and it passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
None.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS.
Trustee Cenac attended the Visit Estes Park (VEP)meeting where Kyle Patterson,Rocky
Mountain National Park (RMNP)Public Affairs Officer stated the goal of the timed entry
was to decrease park attendance by 40%per day which only reflected a reduction of 25%
due to afterhours visitation.The final timed entry date would be October 12,2020.The
Beaver Meadow Visitor Center would be closed to replace the HVAC system.The VEP
Operating Plan would be presented to the Board at a future meeting for approval.VEP
would be working with staff to incorporate virtual participation for Elkfest and expand the
event.She encouraged local businesses to contact VEP for masks which are available
for resale.
Trustee MacAlpine attended the Board of Adjustment meeting where a variance was
approved and would be presented to the Board at a future meeting.
Mayor Koenig attended the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA)meeting where
renewable energy portfolios were discussed.She stated approximately 50 members of
the service area provided comments to PRPA related to the presented portfolios.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
Town Administrator Machalek provided an update on the Cameron Peak Fire stating the
moisture and temperatures have helped contain the spread of the fire.Fire officials
anticipate the fire would remain in the current area for the next eight days.He stated a
dedicated incident management team (type 2)has been established in Estes Park
working in coordination with staff to manage planning operations,logistics and public
information needs for the southern portion of the fire.The fire team would be working on
creating defensive lines where the lire has the potential to reach Glen Haven and Estes
Board of Trustees —September 8,2020 —Page 2
Park.Fire information,mitigation and evacuation preparation resources can be found on
the Estes Valley Fire District website as well as on the Town’s website when available.
He presented the policy governance report for Policy 3.8 —Compensation and Benefits
Limitations reporting full compliance.
1.CONSENT AGENDA:
1.Bills.
2.Town Board Minutes dated August 25,2020 and Town Board Study Session
Minutes dated August 25,2020.
3.Estes Park Board of Adjustment Minutes dated August 4,2020 (Acknowledgement
only).
4.Parks Advisory Board Minutes dated February 20,2020 (Acknowledgement only).
5.Transportation Advisory Board Minutes dated May 12,2020 and July 15,2020
(Acknowledgement only).
6.Family Advisory Board Appointment of Chris Douglas for a term expiring April 30,
2023.
7.Acceptance of Town Administrator Policy Governance Monitoring Report.
It was moved and seconded (Koenig/Cenac)to remove Consent Agenda Item 6
as an action item,and it passed unanimously.
It was moved and seconded (Webermeier/Martchink)to approve Consent Agenda
Items 1-5 and 7,and it passed unanimously.
Consent Item 6 -Family Advisory Board Appointment of Chris Douglas for a
term expiring April 30,2023 Mayor Koenig questioned whether there are dedicated
local organization seats for entities such as Estes Valley Investment in Early
Childhood Success (EVICS)on the Family Advisory Board (FAB).Discussion was
heard regarding the proposed appointment and if it would replace the appointment of
Nancy Almond,previous EVICS Director,the effect on weighted vote by EVICS on the
Board,and the benefits of representation by local organizations.Staff confirmed FAB
has no dedicated seats for local organizations and stated the bylaws speaks to
membership consideration for key organizations such as EVICS.It was moved and
seconded (Webermeier/Cenac)to approve the appointment of Chris Douglas to
the Family Advisory Board for a term expiring April 30,2023,and it passed
unanimously.
ACTION ITEMS:
1.RESOLUTION 55-20 PURCHASE CONTRACT FOR THE THUMB OPEN SPACE.
Park Supervisor Berg presented the purchase contact for the Thumb Open Space.
The GOCO grant agreement for the Thumb Open Space was approved on April 28,
2020 through Resolution 24-20.He stated the approval of the purchase contract would
allow staff to continue with the land acquisition process.The Town contribution would
be paid with Larimer County Open Lands funds of $171,700,state lottery
Conservation Trust Funds of $70,000,and approximately $6,900 from the General
Fund from Streets and Parks division operations for proposed initial trailhead
improvements.Ongoing maintenance expenses for the trails are estimated to range
from $1,000 to $4,500 and would be addressed in the annual budgeting process.
Trustee MacAlpine questioned the timeline for the management plan.Staff responded
the plan would be completed within a year of the purchase as outlined in the contract.
It was moved and seconded (Younglund/Martchink)to approve Resolution 55-20,
and it passed unanimously.
2.ORDINANCE 11-20 PROPOSED ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE.Mayor Koenig
reopened the public hearing which was continued at the August 25,2020 meeting.
Board of Trustees —September 8,2020 —Page 3
The electric rates have been delayed for a year due to the COVID-1 9 pandemic.Staff
highlighted an enrollment and monthly charge for customers who opt out of smart
metering which is a new charge to cover the cost of visting those customers’premise
to manually read their meters.Director Bergsten provided clarification on potential rate
discrepancies between residental and commercial customers.Board questions have
been summarized:Questioned the total number of smart meters currently in use and
overall customers the Town provides service to;clarification on the rate increase by
percentage for residential and commercial customers;whether Estes Park has the
highest base rate in the country;whether the intent of the rate increase was to create
a surplus;what the effects would be if the increase does not pass,and the decrease
in transfer funds since the policy adoption.
Connie Phipps/Town citizen shared concerns for the rate increase and encouraged
the Board review the expenses which appear to be covered by current rates.She
recommended the Board change the budget to reflect the exact need and requirement
of the increase to rates.She stated higher fees are a hardship to customers and the
rate should be based on the cost associated to serve customers.
Additional discussion was held regarding the imbalance to rates if the increase was
not approved,bond reserve amount requirements,and the fund transfer amounts to
the General Fund.Staff would include the fund transfer trends to the Board during the
budget review in October 2020.
Mayor Koenig closed the public hearing and it was moved and seconded
(Webermeier/Cenac)to approve Ordinance 11-20,and it passed with Mayor Pro
Tem Martchink voting “no”.
3.INTERVIEW COMMITTEE FOR THE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD.It was moved
and seconded (Martchink/Webermeier)to appoint Mayor Pro Tem Martchink and
Trustee Cenac to the Parks Advisory Board interview committee,and it passed
unanimously.
Whereupon Mayor Koenig adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
//
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Wendy F’oenig,Mar
BurwjVTctoria Beers,Rèdording Secretary