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Home My WebLink AboutREPORT ESTF Public Comment 2021-12-13 PDFInstance Comments_for_ESTF_File_Upload ESTF Public Comment 08/27/2021 07:51:41 PM by Thoms R. Keck Implement EV charging incentives at least as good as the ones that Excel offers in Colorado in the link below. Accelerate the Town effort to replace electric meters with time-of-day rate capable meters to make this possible. https://ev.xcelenergy.com/ev-charging-programs ESTF Public Comment 08/30/2021 02:20:03 PM by Kendra Ryan For consideration in clean energy generation, I recommend a feasibility study be performed for a floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) project on Mary's Lake. FPV is a newer concept where solar panels are placed on floats above water bodies. The technologies (floating pontoons and solar PVs) are simple and proven. Compared to land systems, major site preparation is not needed, and installation is easy at sites with low complexity for anchoring/mooring. Generation per module is higher than land systems: the cooling effect of water improves module yields, there is less shading, and there is less dust on the panels reducing the need for cleaning. FPV is cost-competitive, has few financial risks for developers, and can be deployed quickly. As residents of Estes Park and co-owners of the consulting firm Sustainable Water & Energy, my husband and I are familiar with renewable technologies and vested in helping Estes Park succeed in the energy transition. We are happy to talk further about this, and help in other ways as well. ESTF Public Comment 09/03/2021 05:56:15 PM by Carly Lober The production and use of single use plastic bags uses a lot of fossil fuel energy, and becomes a solid waste issue when not recycled and goes into the land fill. With the passing of the Plastic Pollution Act 1162 it prohibits single use plastic bags in most retailers and polystyrene containers in restaurants in 2023. I would like to see the STF address this issue. That means that the STF with the Town Board, Chamber of Commerce, Visit Estes and with help from the CRC should advise, educate and help these businesses make these packaging changes, so they can be in compliance in 2023. Thank you, Carly Lober ESTF Public Comment 09/03/2021 06:35:16 PM by Rachel Ames Please consider incentives for energy efficient and affordable workforce housing. Each employee who works in Estes Park but lives elsewhere must commute in a single occupancy vehicle since there are no public transportation options. This can mean more than 70mi per person per day. These employees are unable to participate in our community, too, so everyone loses. Thanks. ESTF Public Comment 09/04/2021 09:32:56 AM by Anne Morris Build out safe and complete network of multi-use trails and focus on making Estes electric-bicycle friendly. Electric bikes are much more affordable to all economic classes and have the potential to reduce traffic and parking problems. Multi-use trails should be high priority so we--residents and visitors--can all get out of our cars! ESTF Public Comment 09/10/2021 08:58:14 PM by Barbara Quale Lifland I’m only a visitor but the resort I’m staying in doesn’t collect recyclable material of any type. Small plastic containers of toiletries were in the cabin rather than large wall-mounted, refillable dispensers. I haven’t seen collection containers anywhere I’ve been outside of the park and at least one restaurant automatically gave us plastic straws. I’m wondering about the community’s position on educating and supporting small businesses so they can help with something as basic as reduce and recycle. ESTF Public Comment 09/12/2021 01:24:00 PM by Al Stevenson I would like to see the option of compost drop off for all items that are compostable or biodegradable. I would also like to see wider acceptance of recyclable materials, especially plastics. Also, you might consider allowing residents to have goats in their yards to control grass and weeds without mowing. ESTF Public Comment 09/17/2021 01:32:49 PM by Christy Crosser As you gather information to make recommendations, have you reached out to young people? The school has an Environmental Club that is very active. I am recommending that you connect with the club, learn from the youth on what they think needs to be recommended. Thank you. ESTF Public Comment 10/12/2021 12:40:16 PM by Linda Walsh So very glad this committee is working for the town and the valley. Thank you. I was wondering where within your categories is fire mitigation addressed? Along those lines, is there any discussion about making our electrical grid more secure by burying communication and electrical wires? Thank you. Linda ESTF Public Comment 10/14/2021 02:56:56 PM by Vicky Henry Thank you for having public open comment "listening" sessions. I did attend the October 14 session and was impressed by the audience suggestions. I have 2 comments: 1. I am very supportive of the suggestions to connect Estes Park with a clean and ecologically responsible environmental commitment and reputation, and emphasizing that to tourists (and of course residents). This includes education for and easy access to recycling bins at hotels, B&Bs, VRBOs, in downtown and at all events. We should also require vendors at all events to use only environmentally friendly products with emphasis on recycling and composting. 2. I was very impressed by the LWV-EP emphasis and efforts on recycling at the recent Autumn Gold (Sept 2021). I had already volunteered for another task at that event, so could not personally help the LWV-EP that weekend. But their actions and visible efforts in recycling collection were very appreciated. I hope other organizations will also respond to build our Town's positive environmental reputation in that manner. ESTF Public Comment 11/01/2021 12:12:03 PM by Silent RE: Environmental Sustainability Task Force As long as you are associated with Michael Romero, publisher of The Estes Park Trail-Gazette, and The Estes Park Trail- Gazette, you are NOT interested in feedback, input, or Free Speech because Romero has a documented history of censoring legal American citizens who do NOT support his partisan political agenda. ESTF Public Comment 11/03/2021 07:06:02 AM by Marina Connors It would be a wonderful goal to make events in Estes Park zero waste events. ESTF Public Comment 11/11/2021 04:59:32 PM by Cathy Alper Right now, Estes Park is not involved in solid waste management. This means that the town have little power to make decisions that may improve how solid waste is handled in our community. We recommend that the town engage in a study to explore the long-term costs/benefits of taking more responsibility for solid waste: • At the transfer station and residential recycling center • For home and business collection of waste ESTF Public Comment 11/15/2021 06:48:54 AM by Marina Connors I will not be able to attend the public meeting this week, so instead am submitting this comment on line. I believe the town should formally take on the responsibility of working towards the goals of increasing recycling and waste diversion. In my opinion, this does not mean the town does the actual collection and disposal but that there is a staff person responsible for participating in and managing strategic municipal and community efforts for recycling and waste reduction. This may include policy development and implementation, program management and community engagement. This person would support sustainability efforts for the town but is specifically focused on solid waste. The League of Women Voters, Community Recycling Committee could be an active partner in supporting the town in these efforts, but should not be leading the recycling efforts of the town. ESTF Public Comment 11/20/2021 07:05:45 AM by Peri Ann Query When considering solar for our home the two companies contacted wanted to cut the trees closest to our home. I’m willing to have a less than 100% efficient system to keep the trees but they were unwilling to install a system this way. We have terracycle boxes to handle odd numbered plastic items. ESTF Public Comment 11/29/2021 12:09:43 PM by Elizabeth Spalding I would love to see the town budget for, and take over, the management of solid waste. I would love to see the town budget for, and hire, a full-time Sustainability Manager. immediately. Estes is not the only mountain town with challenges. We can learn from, and with, other mountain towns to protect our natural resources and support our local economy for everyone’s benefit. Our volunteers work really hard and have an impact but they can only do so much. ESTF Public Comment 11/30/2021 07:10:53 AM by christy crosser Trash: When I attend the music festivals at Planet Bluegrass (Lyons) they emphasize compost and recycling; however, the most recent event completely eliminated trash. 100% of what was sold and available was either compostable or recyclable. Any and all trash had to be carried out by festival goers. There were NO trach containers. Could we work toward this for our events? Could we work with businesses to be more eco-friendly? Please consider. Thank you. ESTF Public Comment 12/06/2021 07:24:59 PM by Carol Dreselly Please recommend environmentally sensitive building codes: in terms of new construction, asking stores to charge for plastic bags, more separate bike lanes, work more closely with Rocky Mountain National Park to be more open to EVs and bicycles, encourage builders to build smaller units and co-housing projects rather than McMansions, consider building a community year-round greenhouse, and offer material incentives to alternative energy upgrades by homeowners. Ms. Carol Dreselly ESTF Public Comment 12/08/2021 04:01:10 PM by Rod Morten Just curious has anyone on task force looked at the viability of putting apartment buildings next to the Fall River/Fish Hatcheries. Impact of potential 800 people on River-ie-fishing/sewage etc. impact of development-removal trees affecting birds nests. Impeding Elk/Moose/Bear grazing. So many more eco affects I can’t begin to list. Please be involved in reconsidering disruption of such an pristine place. Thx for your consideration-Rod Morten