HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2013-02-12Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, February 12, 2013
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 12t' day of February, 2013. 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
Greg White, Town Attorney
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.
RECOGNITION OF WORLD WAR II VETERANS.
Mayor Pinkham expressed appreciation to World War II veterans for their service to our
country. Approximately 25 veterans attended the meeting, were recognized by the
Board and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and received a rose from
David Beldus, a veteran of the Korean War.
PROCLAMATION.
Mayor Pinkham proclaimed February 15, 2013 as Malvin "Mal" Walker Day and read a
proclamation honoring his service during World War II and his dedication to the Estes
Park community.
Mayor Pinkham called for a break for a brief reception at 7:30 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 7:45 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
John Meisner, County resident, said in 1944 the Trail -Gazette published the names of
280 men and women from Estes Park who served in World War II. Estes Park's
population at the time was approximately 1000.
Michael Haughey, Crossroads Ministry Program Director, noted that food contributions
from individuals in the community in 2011 equaled 20,692 pounds of food valued at
$102,000; with individual contributions totaling 40,954 points in 2012 for a value of
$157,000. Donations from businesses also increased in 2012, up 23%. The value of
the food distributed to the community last year increased by 53%.
Pieter Hondius, Town resident, complimented the Board on not getting stampeded by
the theater proposal. He said he understands there is a great deal of desire for the
theater but suggested an alternative site might be better suited for the facility.
TOWN BOARD COMMENTS / LIAISON REPORTS.
Trustee Norris reported that the Visit Estes Park Board worked on finance policies and
an approach for Board self -evaluation during a study session held on February 5, 2013.
Board of Trustees — February 12, 2013 — Page 2
Trustee Koenig encouraged community members to make nominations for the 2013
Estes Park Pride Awards. Nomination forms will be available March 1st in the Clerk's
Office and on the Town's website, www.estes.crg.
Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst encouraged interested parties to attend the Estes Park
Housing Authority meeting on February 13, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 203; and the
PUP Committee Meeting on Thursday, February 14, 2013, in the Town Board Room.
Trustee Phipps said at the January meeting of the Open Lands Advisory Board
testimony was heard related to a gift of a 16,000 acre ranch north of Fort Collins. He
reported that negotiations are continuing related to the gift and that the Open Lands
Board voted 7-4 to recommend acceptance.
Trustee Ericson invited the community to attend the model railroad exhibition at the
conference center over President's Day weekend.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
Creative Arts District — Town Administrator Lancaster defined a Creative Arts District as
an economic tool to market and promote the creative arts including the performing,
visual, literary, and culinary arts. It is not a taxing district, has no taxing authority, is not
subsidized by the Town, and has nothing to do with property or zoning. Statistics show
that cultural tourists spend more money and stay longer at their destination than other
visitors and said there was $1.7 billion of arts business in Colorado in 2011. A group of
citizens is looking into a creative arts district as a way to highlight Estes Park as a
center for the arts, and become eligible for grant monies available to creative arts
districts.
Parking Garage — A total of $3.7 million in grants, which includes a $400,000 FASTER
grant, has been received for construction of a parking garage in the parking lot east of
the Visitors Center. The project focuses on transit related activities with 300 parking
spaces proposed for the two -level structure. The design process will begin soon and
will include community input. Construction of the garage is expected to be completed
by summer 2014.
1. CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Town Board Study Session Minutes dated January 22, 2013, Town Board
Minutes dated January 22, 2013.
2. Bills.
3. Committee Minutes:
a. Community Development/Community Services, January 24, 2013.
It was moved and seconded (Blackhurst/Koenig) to approve the Consent Agenda
Items, and it passed unanimously.
2. REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1. STATE OF THE TOWN. Mayor Pinkham provided a summary of the year
2012 which included the election of Trustees Norris and Phipps; hiring of Town
Administrator Frank Lancaster; the Woodland Heights Fire which began on
June 23, 2012; the Fern Lake Fire which started on October 9, 2012 and grew
in size and intensity in the early morning hours of December 1, 2012; and the
community block party held in support of fire victims. 2012 saw a 6% increase
in sales tax over 2011; infrastructure improvements along Virginia Drive, Park
Lane, and MacGregor Avenue; beautification of Black Canyon Creek and
continued improvements to Bond Park; electric distribution line upgrades and
the adoption of a water conservation plan; remodeling of the Police
Department; and the installation of a skating rink in the Dairy Queen parking
lot. 150,000 people participated in Town -sponsored events; 361,000 people
Board of Trustees — February 12, 2013 — Page 3
visited the CVB; 26,000 people used the Senior Center; 23,000 visited the
Museum; and tens of thousands of hours were logged by volunteers equaling a
financial benefit to the Town of over $1 million. Mayor Pinkham identified
Estes Park's tourism dependent economy, the decline in disposable income,
inadequate workforce housing, and the need to maintain and upgrade
infrastructure as future concerns; stating the community must work together to
manage its destiny.
3. ACTION ITEMS:
1. GOVERNING POLICIES — GOVERNANCE PROCESS.
Town Administrator Lancaster presented Policy Governance Section 1 —
Governance Rules which deals with how the Board operates. He noted that
the document had been revised to address the Board's concerns and is ready
for Board action. It was moved and seconded (Koenig/Norris) to adopt
Section 1 of the Town of Estes Park Policy governance Manual regarding
Board Governance, and it passed unanimously.
Policy 100 deals with defining citizen committees, and includes but is not
limited to, the role of committees, types of committees, recruitment and
selection for committees, orientation and training, and the ownership of
intellectual property produced by the committee. It was moved and seconded
(Norris/Koenig) to approve the adoption of Town of Estes Park Policy 100
— Town Committees, and it passed unanimously.
Brian Berg, Town resident, proposed committees meet later in the day allowing
working people the opportunity to attend the meetings.
Policy 101 — Board of Trustees Division of Responsibilities outlines
assignments to ongoing committees and liaison assignments. These
assignments are typically made every two years as membership on the Board
changes, however, the policy does contain a provision related to interim
assignments that, if necessary, can be made at a regular Town Board meeting.
Town Administrator noted that a revision to the municipal code will be
necessary to identify the standing committees to include Community Services
to coincide with current practice. Instead of referencing the ordinances within
the policy, Trustee Elrod proposed referencing the section in the code. It was
moved and seconded (Elrod/Norris) to approve the policy as presented by
amending references to ordinances to code sections and to make the
same changes to the previous two motions in terms of referencing the
code sections, and it passed unanimously.
Charley Dickey, Town resident, asked whether the newly formed economic
development task force is obligated to abide the adopted policies. Town
Administrator Lancaster said it would not, that the policies do not apply to
committees or boards outside of the purview of the Town.
2. ORDINANCE #03-13 — TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON MARIJUANA
ESTABLISHMENTS PURSUANT TO AMENDMENT 64.
In November 2012, Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 legalizing the
possession and use of marijuana by adults. The State of Colorado has until
July 1, 2013, to adopt regulations governing the operation of marijuana
establishments and local authorities must adopt regulations by October 1,
2013. A temporary moratorium is being proposed to give the Town Board the
opportunity to review the amendment and establish regulations within the Town
related to this legalization. The ordinance prohibiting medical marijuana
centers, cultivation operations, and the manufacturing of medical marijuana
infused products in the Town of Estes Park remains in place. Attorney White
noted that possession of marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and the
question of the legality of Amendment 64 has not been resolved. Trustee
Board ofTrustees — February 12.2O13—Page 4
Elrod pointed out that with the passage ufAmandmant04. changes to the
municipal code vo|oied to drug paraphernalia and possession or use of
marijuana will be necessary. Attorney White stated the changes to the
municipal code will babrought forward inatimely manner.
Attorney White read Ordinance #03'13 into the record. It was moved and
seconded (B|ackhurst/Koonig) to adopt Ordinance #03'13. a temporary
moratorium onmarijuana establishments, and itpassed unanimously.
Charley Dickey, Town resident, spoke infavor ofthe temporary moratorium.
3. RESOLUTION #02'13 RE -APPROPRIATION OF 2012 ENCUMBERED
FUNDS T[]2U13BUDGET.
Finance Officer McFarland requested approval of Resolution #02'13 to roll
over funds related to 2012 contracts and purchase orders for goods and
services that were not fulfilled byDecember 31.2012. The budgeted amounts
in the 2012 budget will be moved into 2013; the roll over does not affect fund
balance. The no|| over Voks|o $020.048.19 and is primarily comprised of
budgeted funds related to capital projects. It was moved and seconded
(Erioaon/Nonia)to approve Resolution #U2'13 which re'appropriatemthe
2O12encumbered funds into the 2U13budget, and itpassed unanimously.
Whereupon Mayor Pinkhamadjourned the meeting et0�p]p.m.
�
illiarri C. Pinkham, Mayor
Cynthia Deats, Deputy Town Clerk