HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2023-10-10RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado October 10, 2023
Minutes of a
Estes Park,
Board Room
Board:
Attending:
Also Attending:
Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town of
Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in the
in said Town of Estes Park on the 10th day of October, 2023.
Mayor Koenig, Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustees Hazelton,
Lancaster, MacAlpine, Martchink, and Younglund
Mayor Koenig, Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustees Hazelton,
Lancaster, MacAlpine, Martchink and Younglund
Town Administrator Machalek, Deputy Town Administrator
Damweber, Town Attorney Kramer, and Recording
Secretary Disney
Estes Park Housing Authority Board members Blackhurst,
Brown, Daley, Frank, Miller, and Smith, and Estes Park
Housing Authority Executive Director Moulton
Absent: None
Mayor Koenig called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
POWER LINES AND FIRE MITIGATION.
Town Administrator Machalek and Director Bergsten presented a report on power lines
and fire mitigation. They highlighted the impact of wildfires on a community, operations
to reduce fire risks including red flag warnings and vegetation management, current and
future capital improvement plans, financial constraints for prioritizing projects, the 2023
Wildfire Mitigation Grant, opportunities for additional funding such as the 1A Sales Tax
Renewal. The Board discussed grant funding, technological advancements for
evaluating overhead lines, low voltage power line hazards, adjustments to the 1A Sales
Tax Renewal to support power line fire mitigation, public outreach for changes to 1A
Sales Tax Renewal, impacts to insurance rates, and having a balanced approach to
funding. Staff would provide the Board with more details on options for allocating 1A
Sales Tax revenue for power line fire mitigation.
FISH HATCHERY HOUSING DISCUSSION.
Deputy Town Administrator Damweber and Manager Bangs provided both the Town
Board and Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA) Board with an update on the proposed
housing development at the Fish Hatchery. They highlighted the history of the property
and the planned development, and the American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) funds
provided by the Larimer County Board of Commissioners, which must be obligated to a
project by December 31, 2023. The Boards discussed the EPHA acting as the
developer for the project, additional financing options including the Low -Income Housing
Tax Credit program, EPHA's current staffing capacity and recruitment for the Real
Estate Development Manager position, the project timeline, meeting the 24-month
expenditure deadline for APRA funds, repurposing work product from previous
contractors, 6E funds supporting the new EPHA positions, EPHA's strategic planning
process, lessons learned from the development of the Peak View Apartments, and
leveraging 6E funds to support the development. The Town Board directed staff to
proceed with securing the ARPA funds and having the EPHA act as the developer of
the Fish Hatchery development.
TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
None.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session — October 10, 2023 — Page 2
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Town Administrator Machalek requested, and it was determined, to reschedule the
Community Wildfire Defense Grant presentation to October 24, 2023, and to postpone
an overview of the National Flood Insurance Program. Mayor Koenig requested a
discussion on the Town employing former Trustees and Mayor Pro Tem Cenac
requested a discussion with the School Board on childcare. It was determined to add
these to Items Approved Unscheduled.
There being no further business, Mayor Koenig adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m.
Kimberly Disney, Recording Secretary