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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Community Development & Community Services Committee 2012-01-26RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, January 26, 2012 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT / COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in Town Hall In said Town of Estes Park on the 26th day of January, 2012. Committee: Attending: Also Attending: Absent: Chair Levine, Trustees Elrod and Miller Chair Levine and Trustee Miller Interim Town Administrator Richardson, Directors Kilsdonk and Chilcott, Managers Winslow, Fortini, and Salerno, and Deputy Town Clerk Deats Trustee Elrod Chair Levine called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT. Linda Hardin, Town resident, stated that a business license application she submitted to operate her property as a bed and breakfast (B & B) had been denied based on zoning restrictions. She asked for direction from the Committee related to changing the regulations, which she stated are stifling the growth of B & Bs in the community, and said the E and E-1 Zoning districts are perfect settings for bed and breakfast accommodations. Dir. Chilcott said in order to address Ms. Hardin’s concerns it would be helpful to discuss the differences between B & Bs and vacation homes and the implications for property owners at a Town Board Study Session. Then if merited the Board may request the Estes Valley Planning Commission (EVPC) to draft a problem statement to revisit whether to make zoning regulations less restrictive and allow B & Bs to operate in additional residential areas. Chair Levine said the Committee recommends referring the topic to the full Board to provide direction to staff. Interim Town Administrator (ITA) Richardson said Ms. Hardin will be contacted and made aware of when the topic will be on the agenda. Rex Poggenpohl, County resident, said a Town ordinance related to B & Bs and l^^iati0n ®hould be considered during the upcoming discussion. He thanked Trustee Miller and Mayor Pro Tern Levine for their service to the Town and their vision for the Town and the entire Estes Valley. COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT- ROOFTOP RODEO PRCA SIZE DESIGNATION. Manager Winslow and Rooftop Rodeo Committee President Howell Wright provided the Committee with information related to the Rooftop Rodeo’s move from a small-sized to medium-sized rodeo. He said the categorization is based upon the dollar amount of the purse available to be won by the cowboys. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) uses a formula to determine the correct category-size for a rodeo. The increase in prize money to $3371 per event in 2011 caused the PRCA to move the Rooftop Rodeo into the medium-sized category. Manager Winslow said that higher purse money draws a larger number of higher quality contestants and provides an opportunity to promote and sell to a larger market. He noted that two national companies. Wrangler Clothing and Pendleton Spirits, have offered sponsorships to the Rooftop Rodeo, and added that greater public relations opportunities are available to medium-sized rodeos. He said Rodeo Committee representatives have presented or will present, at the Association of Rodeo Committees, and the Ram National Circuit Finals and said the Rooftop Rodeo was selected as a featured rodeo by Colorado vs. the World competition organizers at the National Western Stock Show, with information RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development / Community Services - January 26, 2012 - Page 2 distributed throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. 2012 budget implications related to the re-categorization include additional purse money ($8,200) and the potential for an increased number of stock ($8,200), bringing the budget to $40,000 for 2012. Staff anticipates an increase in 2012 revenues related to the re-categorization as well. Chair Levine noted that the increased size of the grandstands was a factor in raising rodeo ticket sales. Trustee Miller said that the Rooftop Rodeo has many loyal fans and asked if any new events had shown interest in coming to Estes Park. Manager Winslow said that staff has received four phone calls related to new rodeo-type events expressing an interest in Estes Park as a venue for their events. The Committee recommends approval of the Rooftop Rodeo remaining a PRCA-designated medium-sized rodeo for 2012, to be included as an action item on the February 14, 2012, Town Board meeting agenda. President Wright encouraged the Board to consider budgeting money to allow a Town Trustee or Administrator to travel with the Rooftop Rodeo Committee to receive an education on rodeo and see that Estes Park is exceptionally well-known and respected. REPORTS. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • j^useum Quarterly Report - Manager Fortini noted that museum attendance has increased and said a tour with Rocky Mountain Nature Association (RMNA) provided exposure to the museum to new patrons and an opportunity to build rapport between the museum and RMNA. He said a panel presentation on Bond Park will be held on February 18, 2012, and noted that this is the first of several presentations of this type being planned. He said the possibility of transferring a historic building to the museum site is currently being studied and said moving the structure, a foundation for the building, and utility hookups are among the issues being evaluated. • ^s^'tor Services Quartedy Report - Manager Salerno said the final quarter of 2011 showed a 12.8% visitation increase over 2010 due in part to high visitation during the month of October. She also noted that the number of telephone calls sou^rpUeSqthfSdft.Crerw c ith^m^re Pe0ple Using the internet as an information source. She thanked Sandy Osterman and all of the Ambassadors for their volunteer services at the CVB. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT- REPORTS. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. rpaff F?esPonse fo Citizen Problem Statement for Open Spanp - At the November 15, 2011 Triangle Meeting, Johanna Darden, Town resident requested that the Board consider the addition of a definition of “Public Open F^tapCcfp J t/i SnS yalley Devel°Pment Code (EVDC) to apply to the Tow^ of Estes Park. Ms. Darden s proposal stems from her belief that disagreement and confusion ex'sts as to what is or is not public open space and the need to apply this definition when making decisions pertaining to such space. Chair Levine -?hg|efd tha! rather than J'Pubiic open space”, the definition should read Pf. i'^iy-owaed open space”. Trustee Miller expressed his opinion that a dehnition such as this should apply to the Estes Valley, rather than just the Town and proposed consideration of an open space zoning district. He said that a definition should not contain language related to any funding mechanism, nor prohibit a municipality from using a resource in a way it considers to be best for ^e citizens of the community, and said it should be removed from the definition. Chair Levine stated that by including a reference to Larimer County Open Space Funds, the definition becomes a political statement. Director Chilcott informed the Committee that definitions related to open space RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development / Community Services - January 26, 2012 - Page 3 are currently contained in the EVDC and are well covered in the existing code, and noted that “open area” and open space” are used interchangeably in the document. She said when development or subdivision applications that trigger the requirement for open space are reviewed, the definitions currently in the code are used to identify areas with defined features to be dedicated as open space. Ms. Darden said the current definition is a watered-down generalization and the Town should consider having more than one definition of open space. Director Chilcott said staff’s conclusion is that the development code adequately defines open space, a variety of open space, and the situations requiring different types of open space whether it be for active recreation or passive recreation, whether publicly-owned or privately-owned, and open for access or not open for access. She said the proposed definition and discussion seem to be about the use of Larimer County Open Space Funds and said the development code is not the place for that to be addressed. Rex Poggenpohl, County resident, identified two issues related to the open space definition. He suggested generating a problem statement to update and further define how open space funds can be used, and a second problem statement to look at land use related to valley-wide open space. Greg Rosener, Town resident, said the proposed open space definition comingles issues and is too restrictive and limiting related to what can be done with the assets of the Town. He described the proposed definition as radical and overboard. Tom Gootz, Town resident, said in a recent survey 77% of people in Estes Park avor open space programs and the Town needs to be responsive to what the taxpayers want He said the current EVDC definitions appear to be adequate and provide guidance to staff, and said he prefers a flexible process related to open space rather than the creation of an open space zoning district. Trustee kLH0inIhdfh°Tt tha.t the SUrvey also indicated that residents were highly satisfied with the Town’s management of open space. y Y ITA Richardson said that staff has looked at management plans for publiclv- owned open space and contacted the Colorado GOCO office inquiring ffito the availabihty of funds for the development of a master plan that would9 adVess mpnnIsms and how they are used, policy application, and address the return Pto ?h« re and.°rd,nf c®s that manage open space. He said staff would return to the Committee to discuss the potential for development of a a untafirflliianrih’0Pen S?aCe n0Wand in ,hefuture- Hesaid Estes Parkhas and 9 because " 13 surrounded by national park and national forest and would require a community-specific plan. He said a plan should address management practices related to publicly-owned open space not about the acquisition of open space. Trustee Miller said the question of whether the Town needs a management plan must be answered. Director Chilcott recommended proceeding by looking at how Town-owned open space IS being rnanaged and the funding priorities for that open space whether through a capital asset management plan (CAMP) or a separately funded open space plan rather than tweaking the definition in the development code. Chair Levine spoke in favor of pursuing conversations with GOCO and asked that staff provide regular updates related to a management plan and include the public in the Procaas- He sa|d the Committee does not support the restrictive definition proposed by Ms. Darden and does not recommend it to the Board of Trustees. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development / Community Services - January 26, 2012 - Page 4 • Community Development Annual Report - Director Chilcott presented the first annual report for the Community Development Department which was organized by topic rather than division because of overlap in staff duties and core functions of the department. She noted that telephone calls related to development and permitting activity has increased, however, valuations remain low; and noted that 134 building contractor licenses had been issued in 2011. She reported that the backlog of code compliance cases is being reduced, with prioritization being utilized to improve case management. Rex Poggenpohl, County resident, complimented Director Chilcott on the annual report and her management of the responsibilities of the Community Development Department with a small number of staff members, and encouraged engaging in long-range planning in addition to dealing with short-term and daily issues. ADMINISTRATION. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • Public Information Quarterly Report — PIO Rusch noted that work continues throughout all Town departments on an action plan to address areas of concern identified by the 2011 Citizen Survey. She noted that the Citizens Information Academy will begin in February, and reported that the new Town website launched on January 18, 2012, and includes new features such as an A-Z list of services, an interactive Town calendar, and a user-friendly format. There being no further business. Chair Levine adjourned the meeting at 10:27 a.m. Cynthia Deats, Deputy Town Clerk APPROVED FEB 1 4 2012 TOWN OF ESTES PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES