HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2024-01-23RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado January 23, 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 23rd day of January, 2024.
Board:
Attending:
Also Attending:
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
Absent: None
Mayor Koenig called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
FOCUS ON MUSEUM COLLECTIONS CARE: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
Director Fortin' provided an update on the proposed 2024 Estes Park Museum Strategic
Initiative. The focus of the initiative would be collections care, which has been deferred
for a number of years, as other public initiatives were prioritized and an increase in large
artifact donations. To help with the initiative, staff proposes the creation of term -limited
positions for a full-time Collections Assistant and part-time Visitor Coordinator. He
highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of the new positions, the initiative as a
whole, funding and contributions, and next steps. The Board discussed visitor
participation in the tours for Birch Ruins, Historic Fall River Hydroplant, and Downtown,
what would be needed to continue the tours, long-term plan for the Visitor Coordinator
duties following the completion of the term, community benefits of completing the
backlog of artifact donations, the amount of backlog artifacts, and funding and grant
options for the Museum. The Board directed staff to continue the process for the
strategic initiative and new positions.
UPDATED ADA TRANSITION PLAN
Manager Schumaker presented the updated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Transition Plan. He provided a history of the ADA and highlighted the Title II
requirements for public entities to perform a self -evaluation, maintain policies and
practices for accessibility, and a Transition Plan. The Town's last self -evaluation and
Transition Plan was outdated and updating this has been identified as an objective in
the Town's Strategic Plan. The drafted Evaluation and Transition Plan assessed publicly
accessed Town buildings, parks, playgrounds, parking areas, streets, and transit stops,
and identified improvements which have since been prioritized. He highlighted the high
priorities, costs of improvements, and public outreach. The Board discussed signage
compliance, responsibility of improvements to state highways, the deadline for updating
non -conforming areas, grant options, approximate year of completion for the non-
conforming areas, and liability of the Town for improvements.
PROPERTY TAX WORK -OFF PROGRAM.
Town Administrator Machalek presented the Property Tax Work -off Program which
would allow eligible individuals to work off a portion of their Town property taxes. He
provided background information on property tax work -off programs as allowed by
statute, eligibility requirements, counties which utilize this program, and Larimer
Counties former senior tax work -off program. Staff did not recommend the creation of a
program at this time due to the low mill levy, costs of the program, and job options. The
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session — January 23, 2024 — Page 2
Board discussed the Food Tax Refund Program and local taming districts utilizing a
property tax work -off program.
VEPEARTH DAY FESTIVAL.
Visit Estes Park (VEP) DirodorOppennon and Manager Painment provided an update
on nustainabi|hy initiatives and Earth Week in Estes Park. They highlighted their current
efforts in obtaining the International Dark Sky Community Certification, accessible travel
options, the goals of events, the planned events for Earth Week including film festivals,
water symposium, stmryteUing, clean up day. and leave no trace training. The Board
discussed including Rocky Mountain National Park, Platte River Power Authority, and
Rooky Mountain Conservancy as potential contributors to the community roundtab|an,
the Town's exterior lighting requirements in reference to dark -sky and plans for reducing
commercial |ighting, inclusion of existing Earth Day aventa, and the evont'o target
market.
TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS &QUESTIONS.
Trustee W1adohink mentioned an interest in converting the Transportation Advisory
Board (TAB) to a Transportation Advisory Ad -Hoc Committee This nasuKo from TAB
agendas mainly consisting of staff updotes, and flexibility for meetings for both staff and
appointed members. Trustee [Nartohinkwou|d discuss this option further with both TAB
and staff and provide more information tothe Board.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Trustee [Nartoh1nk requested an update on the Downtown Loop and it was determined
to include this as part of the Board orientation following the regular municipal election in
April. Trustee Young|und requested o discussion on individuals obtaining insurance
within town and the Board directed staff to conduct further public outreach with the
community prior to a discussion. Town Administrator [Nuohe|ak naqueotod, and it was
detennined, to add discussions for Electric Rate Study and Shared Parking Agreements
to Items Approved Unscheduled. He requested the Board provide topics for the
upcoming Joint Study Session with the Estes Park Planning Commission.
There being no further business, Mayor Koenig adjourned the meeting at 6:17 p.m.
Kimberly ingSecnabary