HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2024-01-09RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado January 9, 2024
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 9th day of January, 2024.
Board:
Attending:
Also Attending:
Mayor Koenig, Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustees Hazelton,
Lancaster, MacAlpine, Martchink, and Younglund
Mayor Koenig, Trustees Hazelton, Lancaster, MacAlpine,
Martchink and Younglund
Town Administrator Machalek, Deputy Town Administrator
Damweber, Town Attorney Kramer, and Recording
Secretary Disney
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Cenac
Mayor Koenig called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
RACIAL COVENANTS RESEARCH AND ORDINANCE.
Town Attorney Kramer presented research on racial covenants within the Town. He
highlighted previous discussions on racially restrictive covenants, the history of
restrictive covenants in Estes Park, and work with title companies in Town to determine
developments and documents which may be racially restrictive. Thus far, two racially
restrictive covenants have been identified, and given the low number of identified
covenants the options for proceeding could include outreach to the homeowners to
address the restrictive covenants, the Board considering an ordinance formally
denouncing the covenants, and continuing research for racially restrictive covenants in
the future. The Board discussed the financial impacts of amending covenants to the
homeowners and the likelihood of more covenants being found. The Board directed
staff to prepare an ordinance formally denouncing racially restrictive covenants.
NOISE ORDINANCE.
Town Administrator Machalek presented a review of the Town's current noise ordinance
and provided history of previous amendments including the components and reasoning
for the amendments. He highlighted the increase in feedback from members of the
public expressing concerns on the current noise ordinance, other municipalities which
use decibel -based noise standards, enforcement of noise violations, and the impacts of
a decibel -based ordinance including cost, training, and enforcement. The Board
discussed implementing decibel limits for Town owned indoor spaces, the difference of
reasonable and unreasonable decibels, the importance of training on decibel
measurements, state statute limitations, the ability to enforce and prosecute using
decibel -based standards, the number of complaints and citations for noise, how pitches
can affect the comfort level of a complainant, education for short term renters,
expectations of the Board, public outreach to determine the root issues of noise
concerns, who is responsible for noise concerns, responsiveness of the Police
Department to a noise complaint, and the current permit for overnight construction. The
Board directed staff to review the possibilities of a hybrid model utilizing both
unreasonable noise and a decibel -based noise standards, and potentially including the
following: increased enforcement capabilities for repeat offenders, maintaining current
exceptions, adjusting the review and issuance of overnight construction permit review to
the Town Administrator.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING POLICY 671.
Town Administrator Machalek presented the possibility of amending Policy 671 Town
Funding of Outside Entities to add the Estes Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) as a
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session — January 9, 2024 — Page 2
Bose Funding entity for economic development in lieu of the Estes Park Economic
Development Corporation (EDC). The EDC has received Base Funding since 2O13and
remains eligible for the funding, however the Chamber has not been a|i]ib|a for Base
Funding. The Chamber and EDC have determined to combine operations and create
the Economic Development Department within the Chamber. To continue funding the
economic development program currently produced by the EDC, the policy would need
to be revised to replace the EDC with the Estes Chamber of Commerce Economic
Development Department.
EDC Interim CEO Gchnipkoweit, Chamber Director DoPaequu|e and LahmorCounty
Economic Development Manager Crowe provided an overview ofthe EDC including its
oeminea, funding, effects and constraints of economic development, and the benefits
and opportunities of combining the EDC and Chamber. The Board discussed funding
opportunities following the union of the EDC and Chamber, the independent funding of
the Chamber as a who|e, ensuring the economic development partnership does not
cause Town ovoroita of business advooaoy, whether the integration of the EDC and
Chamber would create success in economic development, and the fluctuation of Base
Funding.
HRSTRATEGIC PLAN AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE UPDATE.
K was determined this item would be moved to February 13. 2024 due to time
constraints.
TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS &QUESTIONS.
Trustee Mmoha|ek stated candidate packets were available for both Mayor and Trustee
positions.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Trustee Lancaster naquesked, and it was determined to schedule a power outage
overview for ofuture Study Session. Town Administrator [Naoha|ekrequested, and it
was determined, to schedule discussions on Encore Arts & Fairground Relocation Costs
for February 13, 2024 and Visit Estes Park Earth Day Planning for February 23, 2024.
There being no further business, Mayor Koenig adjourned the meeting at 6:46 p.m.
Kimberly Di'9ndy,Recording Secretary