Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Family Advisory Board 2018-04-05RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, April 5, 2018 Minutes of a regular meeting of the Family Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in Room 203 of the Estes Park Town Hall on the 5th day of April, 2018. Present: Laurie Dale Marshall Nancy Almond Courtney Hill Bin Greer Jodi Roman Marion Stallworth Susan Strom Rachel Balduzzi John Bryant Karen Randinitis Also Ron Norris, Town Board Liaison Present: Travis Machalek, Assistant Town Administrator Suzanna Simpson, Administration Executive Assistant Adam Shake, Estes Park Economic Development Corporation Randy Hunt, Community Development Director Carlie Bangs, EVICS, Trustee -elect Absent: Maria Jimenez Chair Greer called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Chair Greer announced his resignation from board and upcoming move out of Estes Park, as he and his family are leaving town to explore other opportunities. He noted the struggles of raising a family in Estes Park and expressed his frustration that we were not further along as a community in trying to accommodate families. He went on to express his appreciation to the Family Advisory Board, Trustee Norris, and Assistant Town Administrator Machalek for their leadership and diplomacy. The community is invited to a celebration April, 21 and 22 from 1 to 8 p.m. 373 MacGregor Ave. #2. This is open to public. Member Hill expressed appreciation for all Bin and Maisie have done for the community. Community Development Director Code Update Community Development Director Hunt gave a presentation on Estes Valley Development Code issues as they pertain to childcare facilities. Director Hunt relayed that the current code considers three types of childcare arrangements — a Daycare Center, which is institutional, Family Home Daycare, both small and large, with small being eight or fewer and large being more than eight. The discussion also included explanations of principal and accessory uses, zoning districts, and permitted uses. There was lengthy discussion about the provisions and potential barriers to childcare within them, specifically the provisions requiring an S2 special review for a Daycare Center. Director Hunt will attend another meeting to continue this discussion and Trustee Norris suggests inviting the Chair and Vice -chair of the Estes Valley Planning Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Family Advisory Board — April 5, 2018 — Page 2 It was moved and seconded (Strom/Greer) to approve the March 1, 2018 meeting minutes and the motion passed unanimously. TRUSTEE LIAISON REPORT Trustee Norris encouraged the members to meet with the incoming trustees. He encouraged the board to remember their function and role as an advisory board and take advantage of opportunity to bring forth needs and ideas, and to please understand that it is a political process. WORKFORCE HOUSING UPDATE The Town continues to work with America -West Housing Solutions on negotiations for the Dry Gulch and Fish Hatchery projects. The Dry Gulch project will likely occur first. The Town is also taking a closer look at the Strategic Plan items that relate to workforce housing and the recommendations of the Housing Needs Assessment. Adam Shake reminded the group that the League of Women Voters is holding their third and final forum on workforce housing Tuesday, May 1 at Town Hall and that the EDC is working on a white paper for developers who are interested in pursuing workforce housing in the area. There was discussion among the board on the Wind River project, its potential childcare component, covenants and contractual requirements of developers when they build a workforce housing project, and property management of workforce housing developments. Executive Assistant Simpson encouraged the group to view the status of current development applications on the Town's website at estes.org/currentapplications. NEXT STEPS ON CHILDCARE FOCUS AREA Assistant Town Administrator Machalek shared that at Monday's Estes Park EDC Childcare Services Committee (CSC) meeting there was a discussion about the lack of focus on after school welfare for children aged six and older, and that the CSC is hoping that the Family Advisory Board will look into this important issue, as well as research potential public funding opportunities for a childcare facility. He relayed that Town staff is working on a short summary of public funding mechanisms for the CSC and that these would also be sent to the Family Advisory Board. Member Almond stated that she believed the community would benefit more from a larger childcare facility in a centralized location over smaller individual sites, and as such, she did not feel the code provisions were the best use of the board members' time. Discussion ensued regarding proposed uses for the Stanley Park property. Assistant Town Administrator Machalek stated that the entire property is going through another master planning process. The Family Advisory Board would be interested in seeing how childcare can fit. Chair Greer stated that research on making the codes easier for childcare made sense and could only serve to make the concept more approachable. Member Hill voiced concern about conflicting messages with a central child care facility versus codes that will allow scattered facilities. Member Almond reiterated that she would rather focus resources on how to fund a central location. Assistant Town Administrator Machalek stated that it is not necessarily an either/or decision. Member Dale Marshall stated that code changes speak to change in culture and could be very beneficial to the community — she feels both are a priority. She would like to hear more from families and get the board out there more to know that they are working for them. Vice -Chair Stallworth mentioned that the board is interested in hearing from Breckenridge. Assistant Town Administrator Machalek will reach out and invite Jennifer McAtamney (Town of RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Family Advisory Board — April 5, 2018 — Page 3 Breckenridge Program Administrator — Child Care) to Estes Park. Discussion ensued on barriers to childcare, subsidies, funding, and the merits of a large facility over smaller providers. It was moved and seconded (Stallworth/Roman) to appoint board members to work on researching the current code provisions and determine whether it should be a priority for the Family Advisory Board. Members Roman and Balduzzi volunteered to begin conducting the research and the motion passed unanimously. It was moved and seconded (Almond/Stallworth) to form a committee that will work with the EDC's CSC to develop a case for a central childcare location including potential funding sources and scenarios. Members Almond, Bryant and Dale Marshall volunteered to serve and the motion passes unanimously with Chair Greer abstaining. OTHER BUSINESS Need to elect a new Chair and Vice -Chair at the May meeting. Vice -Chair Stallworth thanked Chair Greer for his service to the Family Advisory Board and she would like to stay in the loop as the work of the board gains momentum. She thanked the board and stated that she is excited for all that has been accomplished and what will be accomplished. Member Hill requested that the board revisit the scheduled time to see if Vice -Chair Stallworth's schedule could potentially be accommodated to allow her to reapply for the board. Vice -Chair Stallworth stated that she would reapply if the board agreed to a time that her work schedule would permit her to attend. Executive Assistant Simpson will send out a Doodle poll with possible times. Next Meeting The next meeting of the Family Advisory Board will take place Thursday, May 3, at 3:30 p.m. in Room 203 at Town Hall. With no other business to discuss, Chair Greer adjourned the meeting at 5:34 p.m.