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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Town Board Budget Study Session 2001-10-15BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO.RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 15, 2001 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TOWN BOARD BUDGET STUDY SESSION of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on the 15th day of October, 2001. Town Board: Attending: Also Attending: Mayor Baudek, Trustees Barker, Doylen, Gillette, Habecker, Jeffrey-Clark, Newsom All Town Administrator Widmer, Assistant Town Administrator Repola, Finance Officer Brandjord, Clerk O’Connor, Directors Hinze and Kilsdonk, Linnane and Police Chief Richardson Absent:None Mayor Baudek called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. PRESENTATION OF YEAR 2002 GENERAL FUND. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS. Town Administrator Widmer stated this is the second year of the 2001-2002 budget, and changes were presented an overview on the following: General Fund and Special Revenue Funds (Community Reinvestment, Museum, Conference Center, Conservation Trust, Special Events, Senior Center and Open Space), Park Entrance Estates, Catastrophic Loss, Medical Insurance and Fleet Maintenance. Budget assumptions:2002 Adopted 2002 Proposed Changes Sales Tax Revenue +4.5% General Expenses +4.5% Salary Increase: (3.8% Cost of Living Adj. & 1.8% Merit)+5% Medical Insurance +10% +5.6% +17% Trustees Habecker and Doylen questioned the 3.8% COLA as it appears this figure includes a portion of the medical insurance, and medical insurance is a separate line item, inflating said projection. Staff commented that projections are based on CML data—projections are based on the previous and future year; medical insurance fees may not be confirmed until February, 2002. Town Administrator Widmer confirmed that adjustments to funding projections will continue until the Budget is presented for adoption on November 13th. Town Board Goals for 2002_________I_____________________!!----------------- Housing Increase of $19,050/ HACOL Staff Contract) $270,190 Public Information Program (Newsletter) 15,600 Trustee Outreach 12,800 Competitive Compensation Policy (Adopted in 2000) Events Center/Ice Rink (dependent on successful election) Construction $ 289,240 6,124,793 BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO.RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town Board Budget Study Session - October 15 - Page 2 EPURA (no changes). Proposed Employee Changes 2002 Adopted Administration % FTE Human Resources Ass’t. (Thompson) $12,201 Protective Inspection Additional Bldg. Inspector Conference Center Events Center Manager 2002 Proposed Changes $45,000 base 60,000 base Town Administrator Widmer reported that the %-time Human Resources Ass’t. position is working very well and no changes are planned in 2002. Two additional personnel are being proposed: an additional building inspector due to the workload and an attempt to improve customer service. Trustee Barker noted that an “engineering stamp” is required on all plans, and that the Building Dept, also reviews all plans, thus, resulting in redundancy. Administrator Widmer noted that currently. Chief Building Official Birchfield conducts 20-25 inspections/day, and that ISO has pointed out that the target is 8 inspections/day. Additionally, there are sufficient funds for this additional position; and, due to natural attrition, this additional person may not be a permanent staff increase. Trustee Barker requested options be considered in the future to soive the redundancy issue. A final decision is not required at this time as the formal study sessions are scheduled November 1st and 6th. The second position is an Events Center Manager (dependent on a successful election). Following discussion, consensus was reached to move this position from the Conference Center Fund and piace it under the Special Events Fund. Community Dept. Dept. Update Trails Plan Qoint project.) 0 Knoll Properties Master Plan 0 $ 5,000 30,000 Trustee Gillette does not support 2002 funding for the Knoll Properties Master Plan, but would consider funding when the properties are paid for. Fish Hatchery Repair/Paint Engineering Copier (PW, Water, CD, LP split) Community Ser. Fundina 0 0 II $20,000 5,000 u Youth: Art Center AIR, $2500 PaCK, $5,000 Kreative Kids, $5,000 Kidpower, $2,500 Partners, $3,000 $18,000 Human Services Crossroads, $21,000 21,000 18,500Salud, $16,500 Housing 270,190 289,240 Transportation (3 days to 4)11,700 16,700 Food Tax Refund Park School District (EPHS 23,000 21,000 Stadium Project)0 5,000 Total $397,240 $427,290 BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO.RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town Board Budget Study Session - October 15 - Page 3 Trustees Barker and Doylen explained how the Community Services Subcommittee evaluated the various applications on their merits, justifying funding levels for each. The Food Tax Refund was reduced pursuant to a declining application base. Director Hinze requested that pursuant to the Town’s funding of the Arts (Village Band and Jazz Big Band) they provide a single performance at no charge - the date to be determined by Town staff. Discussion followed, with consensus reached to provide the grant without any Band obligations. Louise Olsen reported that the application from the Estes Valley Multicultural Group for $8,000 that was denied and she requested the Town consider funding in the future. As the Group is seeking grant funding, she requested the Town show support of the organization by writing a letter. Additional discussion followed on the duties/responsibilities of the new director position, language translation pool, and significant number of Hispanics and others the Multicultural Group is interested in serving. The Advertising Dept, funding level for 2002 Adopted was $846,230, and the 2002 Proposed Change funding level is $848,523. The increase is primarily under Professional Services. Police Dept. No change. Fire Dept. Administrator Widmer explained funding changes for a squad truck (2002 Adopted = $60,000) and how, with deletion of a new dive truck ($30,000), and cost-sharing with the EPVFD, a new squad truck is being proposed for a net increase of $35,000. Engineering Dept. Replacement of an Engineering computer for $3,500 was added to this budget. Street Dept. No change. The “parking lot aides and equipment” line item in the amount of $10,000 was discussed. Consensus was reached to allow the funding, however, additional discussion is warranted. Community Reinvestment Fund. This fund has changed significantly (from $1,688,870 to $2,509,711), however, the ending fund balance remains healthy. Mayor Baudek requested staff provide a plat of the new Prospect Ave./Stanley Ave. Hospital Road. Museum Fund. Due to donations, the Opening Reception Line Item under the Fall River Hydro has been reduced from $6,215 to $4,215. Conservation Trust Fund. No change. Special Events Fund 2002 Adopted 2002 Proposed Changes $36,000 20,000 5,000 Summer Rodeo Series 0 ($79,000 expense $43,000 revenue) Announcer’s Stand 0 Cycling Challenge Donation 0 Riverside Plaza Entertainment $12,000 Christmas Parade 25,000 Arena lights/poles 8,000 Stall mats 6,000 Grandstand Chairs 6,000 Fence rail 5,000 New funding includes the Summer Rodeo Series, and the Cycling Challenge. The funding request for the announcer’s stand was reduced from $30,000 to BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO.RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town Board Budget Study Session - October 15 - Page 4 $20,000. Mayor Baudek announced a recess at 5:13 p.m. Mayor Baudek reconvened the meeting at 5:17 p.m. Senior Center Fund. Funding was approved in 2002 to re-stain the building ($7,000) and irrigation ($15,000). Lar. Co. Open Lands Fund 2002 Adopted 2002 Proposed Changes Lots 1 & 3, Stanley Addn. Trails $100,000 $150,000 $119,230 Park Entrance Estates S.I.D. Fund. Proposing an additional $1,000 for drainage improvements. Medical Insurance Fund. No major changes proposed in deductions or benefits. Fleet Maintenance Fund. Discussion followed on the proposed Equipment Replacement Fund that formalizes longer-range assets thereby providing a more consistent approach for planning. Trustee Habecker favors reducing the reserve, in lieu of increasing it. Staff believes the Replacement Fund is a prudent approach for 2002. Fire Pension and Police Pension Funds. No changes. The Enterprise Funds will re reviewed at the next study session scheduled October 18th. Mayor Baudek adjourned the meeting at 5:41 p.m. Vickie O’Connor, CMC, Town Clerk APPROVED NOV 1 3 2001 TOWN OF ESTES PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES