HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Community & Family Advisory Board 2021-03-04
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, March 4, 2021
Minutes of a regular meeting of the Community and Family Advisory Board of the Town
of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held virtually on Zoom, on the 4th day
of March, 2021.
Present: Laurie Dale Marshall
Jodi Roman
Nancy Almond
Sue Strom
John Bryant
Christy DeLorme
Rachel Balduzzi
Chris Douglas
Absent: N/A
Also Present: Cindy Younglund, Town Board Liaison
Jason Damweber, Assistant Town Administrator
Suzanna Simpson, Executive Assistant
Guests: Christy Crosser
Chair Dale Marshall called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE:
Trustee Younglund thanked Member Almond and all others who worked on the childcare
report requested by the Town Board.
APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY MEETING MINUTES:
It was moved and seconded (DeLorme/Almond) to approve the February meeting
minutes and the motion passed unanimously.
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION: GUEST CHRISTY CROSSER FOR SAFE
ROUTES TO SCHOOL:
Guest Christy Crosser presented a program on Safe Routes to School, a national
program that seeks to make routes safer and easier for students to walk, bike and roll to
school and back, as well as to other places around the community. She discussed local
challenges to the program including wildlife and highway crossings. The two projects that
Community and Family Advisory Board – March 4, 2021 – Page 2
the Town is engaged in are the Brodie Avenue sidewalk, which is complete, and the
Graves Avenue sidewalk. She encouraged the Community and Family Advisory Board to
participate in the design process for Graves Avenue. The board discussed ancillary
events related to the program, such as a bike rodeo and participation in the Estes Park
Police Department’s Safety Fair.
CHILDCARE REPORT REVIEW:
Member Almond provided a recap of the standout items from the data compilation,
including the drop in kindergarten enrollment and the low birthrate at Estes Park Health.
She added that Estes Park Health staff feels that it is related to a national trend where
more millennials having children prefer mid-level practitioners, such as midwives, which
are not available here. The data is not indicative of child population. Chair Dale Marshall
expressed interest in that data and wants to be sure that all parts of the community are
being served.
Chair Dale Marshall asked the board to share some recommendations that could be
presented with the report. The board discussed celebrating a success with Mountaintop
Preschool expanding and now at full capacity.
Assistant Town Administrator Damweber shared that there are funds available through
the Town’s Childcare Funding program. The board discussed the parameters of the
funding, advantages and disadvantages of the current program, and how to expand the
program to subsidize childcare to help both providers and parents. He shared that the
upcoming Comprehensive Planning process is an appropriate venue to make community-
wide childcare recommendations.
Seeing no board consensus on a recommendation, Chair Dale Marshall asked Trustee
Younglund if it would be acceptable for the board not to present a recommendation with
the report. Trustee Younglund suggested a deadline for review of data as the Town Board
would be looking for these recommendations.
MARCH 9 CHILDCARE REPORT TOWN BOARD PRESENTATION:
Assistant Town Administrator Damweber shared that the report presentation had been
moved from a study session to the Town Board meeting.
Community and Family Advisory Board – March 4, 2021 – Page 3
NEW BUSINESS
The board is due to elect officers. It was moved and seconded (Almond/DeLorme) to
nominate Laurie Dale Marshall to remain as chair of the Community and Family Advisory
Board and it passed unanimously.
Vice Chair Balduzzi announced that she would likely not renew her term on the board. It
was moved and seconded (DeLorme/Balduzzi) to nominate Nancy Almond for the vice
chair position and it passed unanimously.
Seeing no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5 p.m.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting of the Family Advisory Board will take place Thursday, April 1,
2021. The format will be virtual through the Town’s Zoom account.
Suzanna Simpson, Recording Secretary