HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2010-11-09Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, November 9, 2010
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 9th day of November, 2010. Meeting
called to order by Mayor Pinkham.
Present:
Also Present:
William C. Pinkham, Mayor
Chuck Levine, Mayor Pro Tem
Trustees Eric Blackhurst
Mark Elrod
John Ericson
Wendy Koenig
Jerry Miller
Jacquie Halburnt, Town Administrator
Lowell Richardson, Deputy Town Administrator
Town Attorney White
Cynthia Deats, Deputy Town Clerk
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and all desiring to do so,
recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATION — PHILANTHROPY CELEBRATION DAY.
Mayor Pinkham read a proclamation designating November 12, 2010, as Philanthropy
Celebration Day. Christy Crosser, Director of the Estes Park Nonprofit Resource
Center was in attendance to receive the proclamation.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
None.
TOWN BOARD COMMENTS.
Trustee Ericson thanked all those who participated in government by voting in the
November 2nd election. He also commented on the success of the downtown
Halloween celebration.
Trustee Blackhurst encouraged the public to attend the regular meeting of the Estes
Park Housing Authority to be held on Wednesday, November 10th at 8:30 a.m. in room
203 in Town Hall; and the Public Safety / Utilities / Public Works Committee meeting
scheduled for Thursday, November 11th at 8:00 a.m. in the Town Board room.
1. CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Town Board Minutes dated October 26, 2010, Town Board Study Session
Minutes dated October 26, 2010, and Town Board Budget Study Session
Minutes dated October 8, 2010, October 15, 2010, and October 22, 2010.
2. Bills.
3. Committee Minutes:
A. Community Development/Community Services, October 28, 2010.
1. Rooftop Rodeo Committee Membership and Officers.
2. Winter Festival Road Closure, January 14-17, 2011.
Board of Trustees — November 9, 2010 — Page 2
It was moved and seconded (Levine/Miller) the Consent Agenda be approved, and
it passed unanimously.
2. REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1. RMNP UPDATE. Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) Supt. Vaughn Baker
provided an update on activities in the Park to date which included information
related to the Cow Creek and Onahu fires, a small plane crash, and numerous
incidents that resulted in five fatalities in the Park this year. He said that re-
paving on Trail Ridge Road was completed one year ahead of schedule which
will result in no road construction in RMNP in 2011. He noted that visitation in
the Park is up 4% for the year and that ridership on the shuttle system was up
as well, with a total ridership of 416,521 in 2010. He said plans are underway
to commemorate the 100'h anniversary of RMNP in 2015.
2. NATIONAL PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE. Grand Lake Mayor
Judy Burke was unable to attend the meeting due to weather -related road
closures on 1-70.
3. TOWN BOARD LIAISON UPDATES.
Trustee Miller said that Dir. Zurn gave a presentation on existing
transportation studies at the last meeting of the Transportation Visioning
Committee.
Trustee Koenig said the outgoing officers of the Sister Cities Board were re-
elected for the upcoming year and encouraged participation in the book drive
for elementary schools in Monteverde.
Trustee Elrod reminded the public of the upcoming Estes Valley Planning
Commission study session and meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November
16, 2010. The study session will begin at 12:30 p.m. and the regular meeting
at 1:30 p.m.
Trustee Blackhurst stated that -the Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA)
management agreement for Talon's Point has been approved. Mayor
Pinkham and Trustee Blackhurst presented the Estes Park Board of Realtors
Distinguished Service Award to EPHA Director Rita Kurelja recognizing her
efforts and leadership in implementing the Down Payment Assistance
Program.
4. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
Town Administrator Halburnt read the names of Town employees and
volunteers who have served in the armed forces thanking them for their
service to our nation, and encouraged the community to participate in
Veteran's Day activities at the American Legion, the Senior Center, and the
Estes Park Memorial Gardens.
3. ACTION ITEMS.
1. 2009 INTERNATIONAL CODES — SETTING PUBLIC HEARING.
Attorney White requested a change to the public hearing date for consideration
of an ordinance adopting the 2009 International Building Codes in order to
clarify the adoption process. At the October 26`h Town Board meeting a date
of November 23, 2010, was set for the public hearing. Atty. White clarified that
only the International Building Code, International Existing Building Code, and
the International Residential Code need be adopted as primary codes with all
Board of Trustees — November 9, 2010 — Page 3
other applicable codes adopted as secondary codes by the adoption of the
three primary codes. In order to make this clarification and provide for
sufficient time to publish the required notice, a new hearing date of December
14, 2010, is proposed. It was moved and seconded (Blackhurst/Miller) to
move the date for the public hearing for consideration of the ordinance
adopting the 2009 International Building Code, the International Existing
Building Code, and the International Residential Code to December 14,
2010, and it passed unanimously. The hearing date extension will
consequently extend the effective date of the ordinance, as well as the
deadline to pull a building permit under the current code, to February 1, 2011.
PIO Rusch will address the change to the public hearing date in a news
release.
2. PUBLIC HEARING — 2011 BUDGET.
Finance Officer McFarland stated that the proposed 2011 budget consists of
12 funds with approximately $34 million worth of activity among the funds, and
is the result of staff preparations and input from Town Board Budget Study
Sessions held the first four Fridays of October. Finance Officer McFarland
touched on highlights of the budget noting that over $1.5 million of grant -
funded projects are scheduled for 2011 including the Transportation Hub,
Mass Transit Study, and CDOT Enhancement, in addition to numerous
ongoing major capital projects such as Prospect Avenue and Bond Park. He
stated that the budget contains subsidies to the Local Marketing District (LMD)
and the Estes Valley Fire Protection District, and noted that no employee
raises are budgeted for 2011. Fund balances in the Enterprise Funds (Water
and Light & Power) are maintained at a high level to accommodate debt
service. The proposed budget maintains a 30% fund balance held in the
General Fund in reserve for the year, and represents a reduction in the
number of funds contained in the budget. He noted that sales tax revenues
through August of 2010 had increased over 2009, and stated that he had not
yet reviewed data related to the calculation of the mill levy. The Trustees
thanked staff for a clear and concise budget document and discussed budget -
related topics for additional review including maintaining a 30% fund balance
in tight economic times, taking a look at Town -owned real estate, ways to fund
street maintenance, what can be done internally to funnel dollars towards
street maintenance, and detailed plans for street maintenance now and in the
future. Town Administrator Halburnt suggested discussing these topics at the
Town Board's retreat in early 2011.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
Johanna Darden, Town resident, commented that in difficult economic times no
raises, bonuses, or celebrations such as holiday parties or picnics, should be
provided to Town employees; and asked if equipment purchased by the Town
for pothole repairs had been received. Trustee Blackhurst, chair of the Public
Safety / Utilities / Public Works Committee responded that the equipment has
been delivered to the Town.
The Public Hearing was continued to the November 23, 2010, Town Board
meeting.
3. ORDINANCE #24-10 AMENDMENTS TO SIGN CODE CHAPTER 17.66 AND
DELETING CHAPTERS 17.88 AND 17.89 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE.
Town Administrator Halburnt brought forward the final amendments to the Sign
Code including revisions made subsequent to the October 26, 2010 Town
Board meeting. At that meeting, the adoption of the sign code was delayed
two weeks to provide additional time for public input. Aside from information
received from Chuck Hand that was contained in the meeting packets, no
additional public input was received. Changes to the sign code include the
addition of illustrations and photographs to better exemplify code language;
Board of Trustees — November 9, 2010 — Page 4
provisions to meet the temporary signage needs of special events such as the
Duck Race; a section addressing non-profit banners; a creative sign program
to allow flexibility in the application of the code; and a new process for hearing
variances by the creative sign review board. In addition, Chapters 17.88 and
17.89 are being deleted from the sign code.
The Trustees had concerns about regulations in the sign code related to neon
lighting and scrolling signs and referred to information provided by Chuck
Hand, Denver Asst. Division Manager of Young Electric Sign Company
(YESCO), as to how other communities are handling these types of signs.
Trustee Koenig said she favors decreasing the transition duration for scrolling
signs. Trustee Miller commented that the Sign Code Task Force's
recommendation on scrolling signs was meant to reduce distractions in the
downtown area, and recommended adopting the code as is to see how it
works.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
Chuck Hand, YESCO, said overall the new sign code is clear and
understandable and a step-up from the existing code, but voiced
dissatisfaction with the portion of the code dealing specifically with electronics.
He used a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate a variety of electronic message
display sign hold times, transition methods, and brightness levels. Mr. Hand
recommended shorter hold and transition duration times, and commented on
the need to tone down sign brightness during nighttime hours.
Johanna Darden, Town resident, said that Estes Park cannot be compared
with Loveland or Chicago and voiced opposition to electronic message display
signs.
The Trustees asked Mr. Hand if he would be willing to work with Community
Development Department staff to set reasonable standards for electronic
signs, and set a timeframe of January 2011 to return to the Town Board with
proposed modifications.
Atty. White read Ordinance #24-10 into the record. It was moved and
seconded (Miller/Ericson) to approve Ordinance #24-10 amending Chapter
17.66 of the Municipal Code, and it passed unanimously.
Town Administrator Halburnt stated that in addition to working with Mr. Hand,
staff will begin an educational campaign for local business owners and create
a handbook addressing changes to the sign code. She said enforcement of
the new code will begin in January 2011.
4. RESOLUTION #14-10 ESTES PARK LOCAL MARKETING DISTRICT
BUSINESS & OPERATING PLAN.
Trustee Blackhurst recused himself from the operating plan discussion. Town
Administrator Halburnt stated that the Town has an intergovernmental
agreement (IGA) with Larimer County and the Local Marketing District (LMD)
that requires Town Board approval of the LMD's operating plan and budget
annually. She said that she and LMD Exec. Director Campbell are working on
changes to the IGA to reflect changes in the budget, and said that in 2011 the
LMD will be paying their staffs salaries and all expenses related to their
operations, and retaining stakeholder fees which total approximately $250,000.
LMD Board member Corey Blackman and Dir. Campbell said transparency is
an important part of the operating plan and budget and thanked the Town for
its support and encouragement. Trustee Miller, liaison to the LMD,
commended the LMD on their professionalism and accomplishments. It was
moved and seconded (Levine/Miller) to approve Resolution #14-10
Board of Trustees — November 9, 2010 — Page 5
approving the LMD 2011 Operating Plan and Budget as presented, and it
passed unanimously, with Trustee Blackhurst abstaining.
Whereupon Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m.
William C. Pinkham, Mayor
Cyntt a Deats, Deputy Town Clerk