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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Town Board 2007-02-27Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, February 27, 2007 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Town Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 27th day of February, 2007. Meeting called to order by Mayor Baudek. Present: Also Present: John Baudek, Mayor Bill Pinkham, Mayor ProTem Trustees Eric Blackhurst Dorla Eisenlauer Richard Homeier Chuck Levine Wayne Newsom Town Attorney White Randy Repola, Town Administrator Jacquie Halburnt, Deputy Town Administrator Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk Cynthia Deats, Deputy Town Clerk Absent: None Mayor Baudek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the Pledge of Allegiance. INTRODUCTION OF DEPUTY TOWN ADMINISTRATOR. Administrator Repola introduced Deputy Town Administrator Jacquie Halbumt. SWEARING -IN CEREMONY. Commander Wes Kufeld briefed the Board of Trustees on Police Officer Aaron Hulme's background and a Swearing -In Ceremony was conducted by Town Clerk Williamson. PUBLIC COMMENT. None. TOWN BOARD COMMENTS. Trustee Levine welcomed members of this year's Citizen's Information Academy (CIA) to the meeting and thanked them for the time and effort they are investing in learning about Estes Park town government. Trustee Eisenlauer commented that she enjoys seeing the decorative lights at the intersection of Highways 34 and 36 as they add to the beauty and character of the downtown area. Trustee Pinkham stated that he has received positive comments from the public regarding the acquisition of Hermit Park and that he will be involved in the development of a management plan beginning March 7, 2007. 1. CONSENT AGENDA (Approval of): 1. Town Board Minutes dated February 13, 2007 and Study Session Minutes dated January 29, 2007. 2. Bills. 3. Committee Minutes: Board of Trustees — February 27, 2007 — Page 2 A. Utilities, February 16, 2007: a. Light & Power Policy Manual — Update 2006/2007 Rates. b. Low Income Energy Assistance Act Exemption Resolution 3-07. c. Water Policy Manual — Update 2007/2008 Rates. d. Contract HDR for Peak Demand and System Development Fee Studies - $39,520. B. Public Safety, February 22, 2007. 4. Estes Valley Planning Commission, only). 5. Estes Valley Board of Adjustment, only). 6. IMA 2007 Service Agreement. 7. Deputy Town Administrator contract. January 16, 2007 (acknowledgement February 6, 2007 (acknowledgement It was moved and seconded (Eisenlauer/Blackhurst) the Consent Agenda be approved, and it passed unanimously. 1A. PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA (Approval of): Mayor Baudek opened the Public Hearing for all the following Consent Agenda Items: 1. CONSENT ITEMS: A. SUPPLEMENTAL CONDOMINIUM MAP 1. Sundance Condominiums Supplemental Map #5, Unit 7, Tract 69B of the 1st Replat of Tract 69, Fall River Addition, Brian Murphy, LLC/Applicant. B. REZONING 1. Stonebridge Subdivision, Metes & Bounds, 1043 Fish Creek Road, Rezoning of proposed Lot 1 from RM — Multi -Family Residential to 0 — Office, Rock Castle Development Co./Applicant — Applicant request continuance. C. PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION 1. Stonebridge Preliminary Subdivision, Metes & Bounds, 1043 Fish Creek Road, Rock Castle Development Co./Applicant. — Applicant request continuance. It was moved and seconded (Pinkham/Homeier) Consent Agenda be approved with Planning Commission conditions of approval, and it passed unanimously. 2. ACTION ITEMS: 1. PUBLIC HEARING: CHANGE OF LOCATION FOR A BEER & WINE LIQUOR LICENSE HELD BY SWEET BASILICO CAFE INC. dba SWEET BASILICO CAFE, FROM 401 E. ELKHORN AVE. TO 430 PROSPECT VILLAGE DR. Mayor Baudek opened the Public Hearing and reviewed procedure. Town Clerk Williamson stated the applicant requested withdrawal of the initial application approved in November of 2006 because they were unable to finish construction at the new location within 60 days of receiving State approval. Therefore, a new application was filed with the Clerk's office. Comments were Board of Trustees — February 27, 2007 — Page 3 heard from Raul Perez/Applicant. Mayor Baudek closed the public hearing. Stating that the Board of Trustees finds that the reasonable requirements of the neighborhood are not met by the present liquor outlets in the neighborhood and that the desires of the adult inhabitants are for granting the change of location for the beer and wine liquor license, it was moved and seconded (Levine/Newsom) the Change of Location for the Beer and Wine Liquor License held by Sweet Basilico Cafe Inc. dba Sweet Basilico Cafe be approved, and it passed unanimously. 2. WIND ENERGY SURCHARGE RATE CHANGE. Mayor Baudek opened the Public Hearing. Utilities Dir. Goehring stated Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) reduced the wholesale rate for renewable energy from $.024/kWh to $.012/kWh. Mayor Baudek closed the public hearing. Town Attorney White read Ordinance #5-07. The ordinance contains an emergency clause allowing it to take effect and be in force immediately after its adoption and the signature by the Mayor. It was moved and seconded (Homeier/Pinkham) Ordinance #5-07 be approved, and it passed unanimously. Mayor Baudek commented that the price of wind energy might rise due to clean energy requirements. 3. MARY'S LAKE SUBSTATION UPGRADES. Utilities Dir. Goehring reviewed the need for upgrades of the substation as well as the distribution system to provide system wide redundancy. The substation upgrades are projected to cost $3,860,000 with PRPA paying $360,000 and the Town paying $3,500,000. The distribution system upgrades are estimated to cost $2,000,000 with bids to be presented to the Utilities Committee in 2008. Financial implications of the project were discussed including the need for a bond issue to pay for the upgrades, the length of the debt service required, and future electric rate increases. Dir. Goehring stated that these upgrades will have the capacity to provide reliable service until 2040 or beyond if growth rates are slower than anticipated. Staff is requesting a formal letter be sent to authorize PRPA to proceed with the project. It was moved and seconded (Newsom/Levine) to authorize the Light and Power Department to send Platte River Power Authority a formal letter to proceed with the Mary's Lake Substation upgrades at a cost not to exceed $3,500,000, and it passed unanimously. 4. RESOLUTION #4-07 RE -APPROPRIATION OF 2006 ENCUMBERED FUNDS TO THE 2007 BUDGET. Finance Dir. McFarland presented a resolution re -appropriating 2006 unexpended funds to the 2007 Budget and stated that these were budgeted items. It was moved and seconded (Eisenlauer/Pinkham) Resolution 4-07 be approved, and it passed unanimously. 5. 4'" QUARTER SALES TAX REPORT. Dir. McFarland reported that sales tax figures for the 4th quarter of 2006 indicate December kept pace with December 2005 despite the heavy snowfalls. Overall 2006 numbers show better than average performance and a steady increase in sales tax revenue for a total of $6.77 million indicating a 5.4 % increase (2.85% when factoring out CPI) over 2005. When looking at sales tax categories over the past year, the figures indicate a change in trends both in where and when dollars are being spent in Estes Park. A review of "The Big Three" categories which consist of general merchandise, lodging, and food indicates tourists are doing less shopping than they were ten years ago. These findings are in line with the results of the Intercept Study conducted by the CVB. Town Administrator Repola spoke to the importance of sales tax Board of Trustees — February 27, 2007 — Page 4 revenue generated by the business community and the need to support and encourage shopping. 6. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT. • The Community Development meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. The agenda includes CVB action items related to Conference Center renovations, and a policy discussion regarding vacation homes to evaluate community perception and define issues that may exist with the current code and enforcement thereof. • Senate Bill 111 which would permit the creation of a marketing district, has passed the Senate and is headed to the House Local Government Affairs Committee. If the bill passes, and upon voter approval, statutory towns such as Estes Park and Grand Lake, would be able to implement up to a 2% lodging tax for marketing and advertising activities. Whereupon Mayor Baudek adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m. n Baudek, Mayor Cp ALI— 4,4)2_ ‘Ci• Cynthia' Deats, Deputy Town Clerk