HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2012-06-26Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, June 26, 2012
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 26' day of June, 201 2. Meeting called to
order by Mayor Pinkham.
Present:
Also Present:
William C. Pinkham, Mayor
Eric Blackhurst, Mayor Pro Tem
Trustees Mark Elrod
John Ericson
Wendy Koenig
Ron Norris
John Phipps
Frank Lancaster, Town Administrator
Lowell Richardson, Assistant Town Administrator
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk
Absent: Greg White, Town Attorney
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and all desiring to do so,
recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATION — ROOFTOP RODEO WEEK.
Mayor Pinkham read a proclamation designating July 10, 2012, through July 15, 2012,
as Rooftop Rodeo Week in Estes Park.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
Sandy Osterman/Town citizen and Ambassador President stated the Visitor Center was
a central hub during the recent Woodland Heights fire; however, there was little
information provided to the those working at the center to pass on to visitors and
residents.
Scott Dorman/Fire Chief stated the Woodland Heights fire was a fast moving fire that
required firefighters to move out of the way and leave behind fire hoses, which were
subsequently destroyed in the fire. The County has delegated the fire to the Fire
District; is 100% contained and controlled; the majority of the cost to fight the fire was
air support to be paid with federal funds; the area would be patrolled for hot spots; the
area has been reopened to the residents; and thanked the Town of Estes Park for all
the support as this fire was almost entirely in the unincorporated Larimer County.
Adam Shake/Social Media consultant for Visit Estes Park stated the Town's Facebook
page was accessed by 100s of people trying to obtain information during the recent
Woodland Heights fire. He suggested the Town develop a social media plan.
TOWN BOARD COMMENTS / LIAISON REPORTS.
Trustee Ericson stated Administrator Lancaster, Trustee Norris and he attended the
CML annual conference. The Town would hold a pre -budget meeting on Friday, June
29th from 8:00 a.m. to noon in Rooms 202/203.
Trustee Phipps attended a recent breakfast hosted by the Estes Valley Land Trust at
Hermit Park with a presentation by Kerri Rollins. He thanked the Town employees for
their efforts in providing support to the fire victims.
Trustee Blackhurst thanked all the agencies that supported the Town and the Fire
District during the fire.
Board of Trustees — June 26, 2012 — Page 2
Trustee Koenig commented tickets for the upcoming Rooftop Rodeo can be purchased
online. She too complimented the Town employees and the citizens of Estes Park that
came to the aid of their fellow residents during and after the fire incident.
Trustee Norris stated he attended a CML workshop regarding emergency response,
and commented the State would provide training for community wide planning during
an emergency.
Trustee Elrod reported the Estes Valley Planning Commission met and discussed the
Comprehensive Plan and was informed by John Lanterman/consultant, that a plan
should be updated every 5 to 10 years. The Commission would review and develop a
recommendation on how it should address the Comprehensive Plan.
Mayor Pinkham thanked the community, Town employees and the agencies that came
together to help the evacuees. He toured the burn area with Governor Hickenlooper
during his visit to Estes Park.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
• The Town and the Fire District mutually agreed to postpone the 4th of July fireworks
display due to current conditions. The display would be rescheduled later once
conditions improve. An alternate celebration would be held at the Fairgrounds at
Stanley Park on the evening of July 4`h
• The fire incident response was exemplary. The air support brought the fire under
control quickly. A debriefing of the event would be held in the near future to discuss
how a future event may be handled and what could be done differently. One area to
address would be communication to those not involved in the incident and how to
better communicate with residents and guests.
• The Town has taken the lead in helping the victims of the Woodland Heights fire
because Larimer County resources are fully engaged with the High Park fire. The
Town continues to work closely with County staff in addressing the next phase of
recovery.
• April sales tax has come in 19.8°t0 higher than April of 2011.
• Pine beetle kill management has been addressed aggressively by the National
Park, including the areas bordering the park and the adjacent Estes Valley.
Education needs to continue on the importance of all citizens of the valley to
monitor and remove beetle kill.
• Tomorrow is Ride Your Bike to Work day and he encouraged everyone to do so.
1. CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Town Board Minutes dated June 12, 2012 and Town Board Study Session
Minutes dated June 12, 2012.
2. Bills.
3. Committee Minutes:
a. Public Safety, Utilities and Public Works Committee, June 14, 2012.
4. Estes Valley Planning Commission Minutes dated May 15, 2012
(acknowledgement only).
5. Audit Committee Minutes dated June 14, 2012 (acknowledgement only).
6. Appointment of Daniel C. Muffly as independent hearing officer — personnel
matter.
It was moved and seconded (Blackhurst/Koenig) to approve the Consent Agenda,
and it passed unanimously.
Board of Trustees — June 26, 2012 — Page 3
2. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS. Items reviewed by Planning Commission or
staff for Town Board Final Action.
1. CONSENT ITEMS:
A. AMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL CONDOMINIUM MAP #1, Streamside
Condominiums on Fall River, 1260 Fall River Road, Diversified
Properties, LLC/Owner.
B. AMENDED CONDOMINIUM MAP, Tranquil Vail Condominiums, 1431
S. St. Vrain Avenue, Units A & B; Martin Koschnitzke & Sonjocondo,
LLC/Owners.
It was moved and seconded (Blackhurst/Norris) to approve the Consent Agenda
subject to the findings and conditions recommended by the Estes Valley
Planning Commission, and it passed unanimously.
3. ACTION ITEMS:
1. 2011 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT (CAFR). Finance
Officer McFarland presented an overview of the annual financial reporting
process. The auditing firm of Swanhorst & Company, LLC conducted an
independent audit of the Town of Estes Park's financial statements as of
December 31, 2011 and have expressed an unqualified opinion (clean opinion)
that the financial statements presented fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of the funds and activities of the Town of Estes Park in
conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Austin
Bump/Swanhorst & Company, LLC, highlighted two areas to be addressed by
the Town: 1) pursuant to GASB #54 requires the Town to implement new
accounting standards that limit the use of special revenue fund types. It is
recommended the Board approve a formal action to commit the revenues of
the Community Services Fund; and 2) the Town should continue to move
toward centralized policies and procedures to identify and monitor federal
grants/awards, and that ongoing training should be maintained.
Trustee Elrod questioned if the capital assets under "capital assets not being
depreciated", land and water rights, are booked at the original value, and the
assets are not assumed to be held for government purposes. Mr. Bump stated
the assets are booked at the original purchase price and may be worth more
than the booked value. He also confirmed the assets listed in the CAFR under
this heading are not necessarily held for government use.
After further discussion, it was moved and seconded (Ericson/Koenig) to
approve the CAFR for the year ending December 31, 2011, and it passed
unanimously.
1. VISITOR CENTER AMENDED RETAIL SALES POLICY. Town Administrator
Lancaster presented a revised retail sales policy for the Visitor Center to allow
the display of DVDs at the center promoting Rocky Mountain National Park and
the Estes Park area. Staff recommends the revised policy which would allow
the display/playing of DVDs at the Visitor Center and restrict the retail sales to
items currently listed in the policy.
The Board discussed the policy and comments have been summarized: the
sale of DVDs would be in line with current items sold at the center; the addition
of visual entertainment would add to the visitor experience; Town owned
equipment would allow the Town to control content and the addition of other
artwork; and the Town sells DVDs at other Town owned properties, therefore,
DVDs should be sold at the Visitor Center.
Board of Trustees — June 26, 2012 — Page 4
Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst stated the current policy has worked and
questioned what the new policy is trying to address. He also stated there are a
number of other local photographers with beautiful images of the community
and park that should be considered.
Nick Molle/Nick Molle Productions and EPTV Channel 8 requested the DVDs
produced by Nick Molle Productions be sold at the Visitor Center, which are
already sold at the Museum and the Nature Association, and requested "Rivers
of the Rockies" be displayed at the Visitor Center.
Those speaking in support of a policy to allow the sales of and display of
videos produced by Nick Molle Productions at the Visitor Center included
Marsha Hobert/Glen Haven resident and local business owner, Tony
Bielat/County resident, Alex Gibson/County resident, Eric Prohs/Town citizen
and local business owner, and Mark Angle/Town citizen.
Adam Shake/Town citizen stated the Town should review three main criteria
when assessing items to be displayed or sold at the Visitor Center including 1)
What are other Visitor Centers policies; 2) Has the Town or the DMO used the
entity in an official capacity; and 3) What is the benefit to the visitors?
It was moved and seconded (Koenig/Norris) to approve the revised Visitor
Center Retail Sales and Display policy to allow the display of DVDs. The
motion was not heard as the amended motion passed.
An amended motion was proposed. It was moved and seconded
(Elrod/Phipps) to approve the revised Visitor Center Retail Sales and
Display policy with an additional bullet point to section 1.2.1 Allowable
Sales to include DVDs featuring the scenic beauty and diversity of the
Estes Park area or that of The Rocky Mountain National Park, which have
been shot, produced, manufactured or otherwise created by local area
artists/residents which are of a quality deemed professional in nature,
and the motion passed with Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst voting "No".
Trustee Norris stated the new policy should be revisited in 6 month to review
how it is working and to discuss further criteria for the addition or deletion of
items from the policy.
Mayor Pinkham whereupon he adjourned the rieetin.. 8:45
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Williamson, Town Clerk
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William C. Pinkham, Mayor