HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Special Study Session 2022-11-10RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado November 10, 2022
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town of
Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in the
Board Room in said Town of Estes Park on the 10th day of November,
2022.
Board: Mayor Koenig, Mayor Pro Tem Webermeier, Trustees
Cenac, Hazelton, MacAlpine, Martchink, and Younglund
Attending: All
Also Attending:
Town Administrator Machalek, Assistant Town Administrator
Damweber, Town Attorney Kramer, and Town Clerk
Williamson
Absent: None
Mayor Koenig called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
WORKFORCE HOUSING REGULATORY LINKAGE FEE DISCUSSION.
Town Clerk Williamson reviewed the implementation of the fee with notices to be sent to
all vacation home licensees in December and the fee due by January 31. Board
discussion followed with comments summarized.
Mayor Koenig suggested the linkage fee be paused as a number of things have
changed since the fee was adopted in March 2022, including the voter approved Ballot
Issue 6E and Proposition 123 to provide funding for housing. She recommended an
abeyance of the ordinance/fee in 2023 be considered at the next Town Board meeting
to allow the new voter approved funds to be collected in 2023, and allow staff time to
develop a detailed plan for the funds prior to collecting the linkage fee.
Trustee Younglund commented the approval of the linkage fee was based on the need
for a funding source to address the lack of workforce housing and not for a need for a
certain dollar amount. The Board vote was further predicated on the need for additional
funding sources. She presented a chart that demonstrated an increase in lodging tax
collected by vacation homes since 2015, with 2022 estimated at over 45% of all lodging
taxes collected. She stated accommodations do not have an impact on workforce
housing units unlike vacation homes, especially those in residential zoning areas.
Trustee Martchink agreed and stated he would not support eliminating a funding source
to address the housing issue with a fee that was developed with the completion of a
legally defensible study. The impact on the individual property owners would be
minimal and was anticipated as a pass on fee to the end user. There are plans that
could be implemented, however, there are not funds to move them forward. Trustee
MacAlpine further agreed with moving forward with the linkage fee to begin addressing
the housing issue.
Mayor Pro Tem Webermeier stated he would be in favor of removing the ordinance
because the fee as set has inherent inequities. Not all vacation homers are the same
size but the fee established a one size fits all. The fee impacts vacation homes in the
town limits but not those in the unincorporated Estes Valley. He further commented
seconds homes may impact the availability of housing just as much as vacation homes.
He views the fee as a punitive measure to one segment of the community.
Trustee Cenac commented there are a number of issues with short term rentals that
impact the community such as the inequity between residential and commercial
property taxes, the transferability of vacation home licenses, and the licenses are held
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session — November 10, 2022 — Page 2
by property owners to increase the value of their homes and do not actually rent their
property. She stated concern with the fee as she sees it as a tax; the inequity for small
to large homes; and in town versus county properties. She commented the only way to
address the issue would be through a vote on an impact fee.
Trustee Younglund commented she has built the fee into her nightly vacation home fee
just as she has with other fees, utilities, advertising fees, etc. As we consider the impact
of the fee on the constituents, she stated we need to also address constituents needs
for workforce housing. She stated the January linkage fees collected could be used to
address a number of items already outlined by staff to begin addressing the housing
issue.
Trustee Hazelton stated she can see both sides and the need for housing by the
constituents. She noted the Board owns the decisions of previous votes and Board
decisions. She stated she would like to have the discussion with the community.
Trustee Cenac commented the previous vote approving the linkage fee was based on
the study which has not changed, and she does not view that enough has changed to
reconsider the Board's previous vote. Trustees Hazelton, Martchink and Younglund
agreed stating the circumstances around the funding sources and the study has not
changed; the vote was based on the study and a legally defensible fee; ample thought
and discussion has taken place on the issue; and the fee should be a pass -through
expense to the end user.
After further discussion, the Board consensus was to move forward with the
implementation of the workforce housing regulatory linkage fee in 2023.
There being no further business, Mayor Koenig adjourned the meeting at 5:34 p.m.
(dtckie Williamson, Town Clerk