HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2012-05-22Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, May 22, 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 22"d day of May, 2012. 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
Greg White, Town Attorney
Frank Lancaster, Town Administrator
Lowell Richardson, Deputy Town Administrator
Jackie Williamson, 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.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
Nick Molle/County resident and local business owner requested permission to sell his
DVDs at the Visitor Center.
Johanna Darden/Town citizen and Susan Wolf/Allenspark resident oppose the Carson
and Barnes circus performance being held on Town property and would encourage the
Town to not allow such events in the future.
Jim Tawney/Town citizen expressed his disappointment with the outcome of the RTA
application.
Greg Rosener/Town citizen stated concern that Platte River Power Authority (PRPA)
has placed the Town in the middle of a business decision to approve the leasing of
water rights for fracking.
Frank Theis/Elkhorn Project Inc. informed the Board that the RTA application for the
Elkhom Project was not approved by the State. The group continues discussing other
alternatives with the property owner and potential operators of the ski adventure.
TOWN BOARD COMMENTS / LIAISON REPORTS.
Trustee Norris provided a brief update on the activities of Visit Estes Park including a
recent spot on Channel 9 News for the opening of Trail Ridge Road, review of
governing policies of the district, increase in social media activities, and studying the
impact of tourism in Estes Park to be shared with the Town in August.
Trustee Koenig thanked the RTA committee for their hard work. She reminded the
public of the antique show in Barn W this weekend, stating all funds raised would
support Western Heritage and the Rooftop Rodeo.
Trustee Ericson presented the TVC report to ARD and it was well received. He
welcomed Administrator Lancaster and thanked Assistant Town Administrator
Richardson for his efforts during the past months.
Board of Trustees — May 22, 2012 — Page 2
Mayor Pinkham stated an official ribbon cutting opening Trail Ridge Road for the
season would be held on Friday, May 25th, weather permitting.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
Assistant Town Administrator Richardson stated the Volunteer policy would be
discussed at the July 10`h Town Board Study Session to discuss indemnification. The
final policy would come forward to the Board at the meeting on July 24'h
1. CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Town Board Minutes dated May 8, 2012 and Town Board Study Session
Minutes dated May 8, 2012.
2. Bills.
3. Committee Minutes:
a. Public Safety, Utilities and Public Works Committee, May 10, 2012.
1. L&P Service Center Roof Replacement — Apex Roofing, $46,800 —
Budgeted.
4. Estes Valley Planning Commission Minutes dated April 17, 2012
(acknowledgement only).
It was moved and seconded (Blackhurst/Koenig) to approve the Consent Agenda,
and it passed unanimously.
2. REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS.
1. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK UPDATE.
Superintendent Baker presented a briefing on current issues and events at the
Park: 2011 visitation increased by almost 7%; mountain pine beetle mitigation
continues to focus on hazard trees and hazard fuels in the visitor use areas
and applying insecticide to value trees; USGS to study effects of mountain pine
beetle induced tree mortality on water quality; Bear Lake Road reconstruction
Phase II started in March with Glacier campground closed for the season and
the roadway accessible by shuttle bus during 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from May
29`h — October 9; utility line replacements for sewer lines at headquarters area
and Glacier Campground; Lily Lake Dam to be repaired this fall; Beaver
Meadows Visitor Center renovation completed in March; elk and vegetation
management continues with additional fencing and limited culling of the elk
population to restore aspen and willow communities; public meetings on the
new Fire Management Plan to take place in August; no changes to 2012
entrance fees; on July 15, 2011 a Commuter Permit was implemented to allow
local residents to commute through the park with an administrative fee of $20
for a three year permit; shuttle system continues to see an increase in
ridership; Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) has been implemented in
2012 in conjunction with the Town and Federal Highway Administration to
encourage the use of the Fairground Park-n-Ride; rehabilitation of a number of
trails; continue the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement for the
restoration of the Grand Ditch; increase efforts to limit bear issues with the
inclusion of additional food storage lockers, including lockers at trailheads; a
survey of winter visitors during February of 2011 was conducted and is
available for review; and the Money Generation Model is being finalized,
looking at the economic impact of the park on the surrounding region and
communities.
3. ACTION ITEMS:
1. BOND PARK PHASE V PREFERRED DESIGN ALTERNATIVE.
Board of Trustees — May 22, 2012 — Page 3
Director Zurn stated the next construction phase for the park would focus on
Phase V of the Bond Park Master Plan including a new art walk along Elkhorn
Avenue, gateway entrance, picnic area and additional streetscape
improvements. The stakeholder group and Town staff have met with Chroma
Design to develop programming for the park and design concepts. The
construction would begin in the fall and be completed by spring 2013.
Doug Lamson/Chroma Design reviewed the three concepts presented to the
stakeholder group for consideration. The stakeholder group chose option #2
unanimously.
Option #1 — Master Plan. This option is a pure form of the master plan and
includes seat walls in a reverse curve that is mainly oriented toward the center.
Option #2 — Playful Curves. This design has broken up the curves with
counterbalancing curves and created easier circulation, more permeable and a
festival atmosphere.
Option #3 — Heart of the Park. The curves are embracing the green space, still
permeable, and additional space along Elkhorn has been created.
It was noted the ice rink in the Northeast corner of the park was removed from
the Phase V design to increase the green space and accommodate additional
tent spaces in the Southeast corner. The stakeholder group determined an
alternate location other than Bond Park may be better suited for an ice rink.
Parking along Elkhorn Avenue was maintained for transit in the future as the
current pull off in front of Town Hall would be utilized for tents during an event.
The area would also be used for grandstands during parades.
Johanna Darden/Town citizen questioned if the rocks in the park would be
removed and stated concern with the trees that are being destroyed in the park
by the redevelopment and the elk destroying the new young trees planted.
John Guffey/Town citizen commented on the amount of concrete and the
reduction in green area with the redevelopment of the park.
After further discussion, it was moved and seconded (Blackhurst/Ericson) to
approve design option #2 — Playful Curves for the next construction
phase of the Bond Park, and it passed unanimously.
1. PLATTE RIVER POWER AUTHORITY (PRPA) WATER LEASE TO OIL AND
GAS INDUSTRY. Platte River Power Authority has been approached by a
water broker to lease its surplus reusable effluent for oil and gas development.
PRPA's surplus effluent is in demand because a large portion of the effluent is
reusable and can be used to extinction anywhere within the State of Colorado,
thereby making it an ideal supply of water for oil and gas well development.
PRPA Board of Directors has begun the process of developing a policy to
address the leasing of its surplus effluent.
PRPA has leased the water in the past for agricultural and augmentation plans;
however, leasing to the oil and gas industry could increase revenues for
PRPA, thereby reducing overall energy costs. The water used by the oil and
gas industry is considered waste, and must be tracked by the industry. The
industry used approximately .13% of all Colorado water in 2012.
Attorney White stated the Town is a member of PRPA with two Board
members, Mayor Pinkham and Utilities Director Bergsten. The Town is not an
official shareholder in PRPA. He noted the duties of the Board members are to
address the beneficial use of the water rights as it relates to PRPA and not the
Town.
Board of Trustees — May 22, 2012 — Page 4
Comments opposed to the leasing of PRPA water were heard from Jim
Tawney/Town citizen, Johanna Darden/Town citizen, and Susan
Wolf/Allenspark resident.
Greg Rosener/Town citizen stated any leasing of water should be entered into
on a short term basis.
Trustee discussion followed and has been summarized: concern with the
number of well sites, traffic, conditions caused by fracking for the local
communities, waste water concerns, leases should be limited to one year and
reviewed each year, any lease should require the lessee to be in full
compliance with all local, state and federal regulations, and concern with the
contamination of the water supply.
No action was taken. Mayor Pinkham and Director Bergsten would forward
comments from the Board and the community to the PRPA Board.
2. CHELEY COLORADO CAMPS LEASE FOR WINDY GAP WATER.
Director Bergsten stated Cheley Colorado Camp has submitted an
augmentation plan to the State of Colorado, and has requested eight (8)
acre/feet of Windy Gap water from the Town through a lease agreement. The
Town has Windy Gap water rights in excess of its current needs and has
fulfilled augmentation plans in the past. The lease would be for 20 years as
required by the Water court. The Town would receive the full value of the
water through the lease.
Greg Rosener/Town citizen commented Cheley Camp is an asset to the
community and he would support the lease.
George Hockman/Town citizen questioned the automatic 20 year lease and
stated the Town should have the option to renew at its discretion.
It was moved and seconded (Blackhurst/Phipps) to approve a water lease
agreement with Cheley Colorado Camps, Inc. for eight (8) acre/feet of
Windy Gap water, and the motion passed unanimously.
4. REQUEST TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION:
It was moved and seconded (Koenig/Blackhurst) the Town Board enter into
Executive Session — For discussion of specialized details of security
arrangements under C.R.S. Section 24-6-4-2(4)(d), and it passed unanimously.
Mayor Pinkham recessed the meeting to enter into Executive Session at 9:30 p.m.
Mayor Pinkham reconvened the meeting at 10:20 p.m. from Executive Session
whereupon he adjourned the meeting at 10:20
William C. Pinkham, Mayor
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk