Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Community and Family Advisory Board 2021-10-11 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 11, 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 in said Town of Estes Park on the 11th day of October, 2021. Committee: Chair Dale Marshall, Vice Chair Almond, Members Brown, Bryant, DeLorme, Douglas and Strom Attending: Chair Dale Marshall, Vice Chair Almond, Members Brown, Bryant, DeLorme, Douglas and Strom, Town Board Liaison Younglund, Assistant Town Administrator Damweber and Deputy Town Clerk Beers Absent: None Chair Dale Marshall called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. WELCOME NEW MEMBER. The Community and Family Advisory Board (CFAB) welcomed new member Patti Brown who provided an overview of her experience and background. PUBLIC COMMENT. Christy Crosser/Town of Estes Park Grant Specialist requested promotion and participation in Larimer County’s Child Safety Survey and would be sending information to staff for distribution to the CFAB. TRUSTEE AND STAFF LIAISON UPDATE. Liaison Younglund attended a ribbon cutting at the Trailblazer Broadband location and the Time Emporium Escape Rooms noting their family friendly challenge. She stated the 2022 Budget would be reviewed by the Town Board at the October 26, 2021 and November 9, 2021 meetings. Assistant Town Administrator Damweber stated a Town Board Study Session item has been scheduled for November 9, 2021 to discuss CFAB and the level of productivity, clarity and direction in directives from the Town Board. Chair Dale Marshall requested clarification on participation during the meeting and encouraged CFAB members to attend. Comprehensive Plan Engagement - Assistant Town Administrator Damweber presented the Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan Existing Conditions Snapshots produced by the CompPAC and plan consultant. He stated the plan focuses on land use and may contain elements which relate to the focus area of CFAB. The CompPAC would be holding additional engagement opportunities in November. More details related to the comprehensive plan are available at www.engageestes.org. 2021 Strategic Plan Check-In – An overview of the Strategic Plan objective was provided highlighting items which staff are currently working on related to workforce housing and childcare initiatives. The Town Board would be scheduling a Study Session to discuss a Town owned property with potential to be utilized as a childcare center. The proposed 2022 Budget incorporated Workforce Housing General Fund reserves which would be utilized to address workforce housing infrastructure at the Town owned Fish Hatchery property. 2022 Strategic Plan – Assistant Town Administrator Damweber reviewed the workforce housing and childcare related items in the 2022 Strategic Plan including: Negotiate development agreement with AmericaWest for Workforce Housing on the Fish Hatchery site; evaluate additional funding streams for the workforce housing reserve fund; participate in the County Strategic Plan childcare capacity team; and establish a reserve fund to fund investment in childcare. Discussion ensued regarding building height code Community and Family Advisory Board – October 11, 2021 – Page 2 changes and how the building height changes in the code could help address needs related to childcare and locations for childcare centers. Vice Chair Almond questioned the appropriate times to provide input from the CFAB regarding strategic plan objectives which relate to the CFAB focus area. An overview of Base Funding and Community Initiative Funding was provided to the CFAB. Workforce Housing – Assistant Town Administrator Damweber would meet with the workforce housing consultant AmericaWest to discuss the Town owned Fish Hatchery property site and workforce housing development. He stated a grant application has been submitted to the Department of Local Affairs which could be applied towards a housing needs assessment. At the September 14, 2021 Town Board meeting staff were directed to pursue a fee study related to the nexus between residential short-term rentals and workforce housing. MEETING MINUTES DATED JUNE 3, 2021 AND SEPTEMBER 2, 2021. It was moved and seconded (Almond\Strom) to approved the minutes dated June 3, 2021 and September 2, 2021 and it passed unanimously. ADVOCACY AT TOWN BOARD MEETINGS. Chair Dale Marshall and Member Brown would provide public comment during the October 12, 2021 Town Board meeting to provide a brief overview of CFAB efforts. DISCUSSION OF DRAFTED RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TOWN BOARD. Discussion ensued regarding CFAB recommendations and has been summarized: Whether the CFAB should identify and recommend a specific dollar amount for the Childcare Reserve Fund (CRF), based on a percentage of the known need in the community as identified in the Childcare Needs Assessment; how the Workforce Housing Reserve Fund amount was determined and if a similar method could be used for the CRF; would creating the CRF replace the annual $10,000 provided by the Town for childcare needs, and whether annual unallocated funds are rolled into the following year. It was moved and seconded (Brown/Almond) to bring forward recommendations presented by CFAB provided below in verbatim to the Town Board, and it passed unanimously: • Town Trustees shall direct Town Staff to develop policy that establishes a CRF within the Town Budget, as set as a goal in the current Strategic Plan, that has the ability to grow over time and may be utilized to increase childcare capacity and early education opportunities, and that shall be modeled after the existing Housing Reserve Fund. • Support the efforts of community partners by offering the services and expertise of Town Staff in the development of a comprehensive inventory of existing buildings, buildable spaces, and future development that could include a childcare component by offering the services and expertise of Town Staff. • Engage in partnership with community-based organization Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success (EVICS) Family Resource Center) to explore the viability of Town owned property located at 179 Stanley Circle for use as a childcare/early education site. CFAB was in agreement to provide the Town Board a summary of the discussions related to defining the term family. There being no further business Chair Dale Marshall adjourned the meeting at 3:20 p.m. /s/Bunny Victoria Beers, Deputy Town Clerk