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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Town Board 1999-01-26ITown of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,January 26,1999 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado.Meeting held in the Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on the 26t day of January,1 999. Meeting called to order by Mayor Robert L.Dekker. Present:Robert L.Dekker,Mayor Susan L.Doylen,Mayor ProTem Trustees Jeff Barker John Baudek George J.Hix Lori Jeffrey William J.Marshall Also Present:Rich Widmer,Town Administrator Vickie O’Connor,Town Clerk Gregory A.White,Town Attorney Absent:None Mayor Dekker called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT: Patrick Cipolla stated that residents previously voted down the Town getting involved in housing;now EPURA and the Town are being asked to contribute funding toward a Housing Needs Assessment Survey being sponsored by the Forward Estes Park Foundation.Any housing being proposed should be for low-income people,as professional people have enough housing and the Town should not be concerned with them.Contribution to Forward Estes Park is proper if the following stipulations are made:(1)the study group should consist of a committee that includes not just Forward Estes Park members,but retired citizens,teachers,police—a reflection of the entire community,and (2)the study should be targeted at low income people only. Also,there should be a distinction between low income and affordable housing.We already have affordable housing,but we don’t have low income housing. George Hockman commented on unnecessary expenditures for surveys and studies that have been included in the Budget.The community is aware reasonably priced housing is needed,the issue doesn’t need additional study. In his opinion,there is no value in paying for additional surveys and then ignoring the results.Additionally,the Town doesn’t need to spend $20,000 for a campaign to educate the citizens on tourism,nor a paid Public Information Officer—the media is willing to advise the community on Town issues/projects without any cost to the Town.The Town Board may have a “PR”problem, but it won’t be solved by throwing money at the problem.Open discussion, with serious weight given to that discussion,should be followed prior to making decisions.There is an abundance of expertise in the community,and these residents may be willing to share their expertise without any cost to the Town.The previously reviewed Town Board Action Plan is a concern, although he is not opposed to planning ahead—Mr.Hockman supports the Board of Trustees -January 26,1999 .Page 2 west side bypass,but there is also a need to work on downtown traffic congestion and parking solutions.Thus,any EPURA projects should be postponed until the Long Range Transit Plan is completed.V TOWN BOARDCOMMENTS:V Trustee Baudek commented on a recent Letter .to the Editor regarding high Town taxes that are gouging the citizens,,especially low income and seniors. In his recent Property Tax Bill,Town taxes were $76.53,or $6.38/mo.,this amount is not gouging the citizens,and the Town Board has a goal to keep property taxes low and help low income and senior residents.In additiàn,the Town does have a Food Tax Rebate program which proyes the Town i concerned with low income and senior residents. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1.Town Board Minutes dated January 12,1999. 2.Bills. 3.Committee Minutes: A.Light and Power,January 14,1999 B.Public Works,January 21,1999: 1.Vehicle Replacement Policy Guidelines -Approval. Trustee Baudek commented on the Vehicle Replacement Guidelines that formalizes existing policy and that will provide data on which to make sound decisions.Staff was commended for their excellent work on this report.It was moved and seconded (Doylen/Jeffrey)the consent calendar be approved,and it passed unanimously. ACTION ITEMS: Mayor Dekker announced the resignation of Polly Gunn as Chairman and Member of the Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority.Ms.Gunn has expressed a desire to devote all her time tàwards fund-raising efforts for the Stanley Hall Project.Mayor Dekker noted that Ms.Gunn’s leadership on EPURA was extraordinary and the Town was a fortunate beneficiary of her expertise.With regret,the Town Board accepted the resignation,which is effective immediately. 1.Forward Estes Park Foundation (FEPF)Funding Request for Estes Park Valley Housing Needs Assessment.FEPF Member Don Pauley presented a formal request for funding assistance for the replication of the Estes Park Valley Housing Needs Assessment initially conducted in 1990.Thirteen organizations funded the 1990 Study and this study was responsible for the formation of the Building Authority and the Lone Tree Housing Project.Rosall Remmen and Cares,Inc.conducted the former study for $11,000,and a current estimate is $13-15,000.Contribution pledges include:FEPF $1,500,EPURA $3,000,and Park School Board of Trustees -January 26,1999 -Page 3 District $2,000.FEPF intends to contact other agencies to raise the additional $8,500 and their desire is to raise the funds by mid-end February,which will enable the new study to be conducted this summer. The new study will be similar in scope to the previous study and will include other issues such as child care and transportation issues. Trustee Doylen commented that when the Town was seeking grant funding for the Lone Tree Project,demonstrating a need for such housing was critical;housing is a community issue worth funding.Mr. Pauley confirmed that the 1990 study included an employee and employer housing survey,demographic profiles of the community, current housing availability,housing preferences,employers were surveyed for current and future needs,a unit count of housing that was provided by employers,and their interest in providing such housing, including their comments.The changing demographics and how they affect the work force here is data that is very helpful in obtaining funding such as Lone Pine and other projects.Trustee Barker questioned if the average cost of a home and the affects it has on residents would be included,and Trustee Jeffrey questioned whether salaries would also be included—Mr.Pauley was uncertain.Trustee Jeffrey stated that low income v.professional should be identified,i.e.teachers,general managers,and/or others who suffer financially—it is important to identify who the people are.Mr.Pauley commented there are two parts to the housing problem:seasonal housing for summer,and housing for semi professional/professional people who can’t afford to pay $200,000 for a house.Trustee Doylen stated that housing workers has a direct impact to the level of goods and services,and economics could suffer.Mr. Pauley confirmed that the study cannot be accelerated as the information will be gathered this summer;FEPF will require that the various segments of the community will be included in the study;and the Town did contribute to the 1990 study.ft was moved and seconded (Barker/Doylen)the PRPA allocation of funds to the Town in the amount of $3,000 to be used for community development be contributed toward this 1999 study.Trustee Baudek noted that the Town should indeed use caution in.having study after study,but the Town does have seasonal as well as low income housing needs,and as the magnitude is yet unknown,this study will gather the information for future assessment.Mayor .Dekker added that the study will also be a tool for future grant requests.Administrator Widmer confirmed that the importance,of this project should,not be placed on who ‘performs the study;but on its value for anyone seeking funding for housing.The motion passed unanimously.Mayor Dékker thanked Mr.Pauley for the presentation.•‘ 2.Tree Board Annual Report.Street/Park Supt.Speedljn identified his collea9u’es on the Tree Board:Jeff Barker,Dick ‘Lang,:Wendell Amos, Tim Rische and Russ Franklin,and intràduced Member Alice Gray who presented the’.1998 Tree Bàard Annual Report.‘The Board’s Mission Statement is:Trees are..a-vital natural resource in Estes ‘Park Our mission is to protect and promote our trees ‘for the present and’the future.”Estes Park is one,of 89 Tree Cities in Colorado,and’Tree City Board of Trustees -January 26,1999 -Page 4 signs have been installed on Highways 7,34 and 36.A brief discussion followed on the status of the pine beetle infestation. 3.Carry-over Resolution #4-99 for the 199$Budget to the 1999 Budget.Finance Officer Vavra presented and reviewed the Resolution that re-appropriates the 1998 encumbered funds to the 1999 Budget.It was moved and seconded (Hix/Marshall)Resolution #4-99 be approved,and it passed unanimously. 4.Reappointments -Building Authority.James Banker and James Durward were re-appointed to the Building Authority,serving 3-Year Terms expiring 1/01/02. 5.Town Administrator’s Report: A.Town Administrator Widmer briefed the Trustees on a clandestine drug operation that was discovered January 25th•Officer Scoff Roth observed a person and when contact was made,found that he was driving on a suspended driving license.When a search warrant was obtained,drug paraphernalia was found,and the perpetrator,as well as his passenger were arrested.Officer Alberts,Corporal Pass,Investigator van Deutekom and Larimer County Sheriff Sullivan/Larimer County Task Force participated in this example of good police work,and they were commended for their efforts. B.The Board received an update on the Marketing District Senate Bill #99-30.The Bill cleared the Finance Committee on a 5/1 vote, and it now moves on to the Appropriation Committee.Senator Matsunaka,CML,and others are providing assistance. Following completion of all agenda items,Mayor Dekker adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. 7,/ Vickie O’Connor,Town Clerk rt L.Dekker,Mayor