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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Town Board 2017-07-25Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 25, 2017 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 25th day of July, 2017. Present: Also Present: Todd Jirsa, Mayor Wendy Koenig, Mayor Pro Tem Trustees Bob Holcomb Patrick Martchink Ward Nelson Ron Norris Cody Rex Walker Frank Lancaster, Town Administrator Travis Machalek, Assistant Town Administrator Greg White, Town Attorney Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk Absent: None Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the Pledge of Allegiance. AGENDA APPROVAL. It was moved and seconded (Walker/Holcomb) to approve the Agenda, and it passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS. Don Sellers/Town citizen stated Estes Park should achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030 because climate science and data on global warming have illustrated a dire situation. Estes Park can join a number of other communities that are achieving 100% renewable energy. Solar energy costs are cheaper and battery storage continues to become more readily available. Mayor Jirsa stated Platte River Power Authority has agreed to model 100% renewable energy for Estes Park by 2030-2035. Linda Bensey/Town citizen and member of the local Patriots for Peace would support the efforts for 100% renewable energy. The group supports building a culture of peace, including peace within the environment. Alice Reuman/League of Women Voters read a prepared statement from the League requesting the Board explicitly address climate change by placing an action item on the upcoming Town Board meeting, and requested Mayor Jirsa sign on as a Climate Mayor. Michelle Hiland/Town citizen stated appreciation for the hard work by the contractor and staff in completing the parking garage. To ensure the garage is utilized she recommended the Town charge for parking close to downtown for the convenience. The Town could use the additional funds to pay for other improvements or offset the cost of the loan to build the garage. TOWN BOARD COMMENTS Mayor Pro Tem Koenig read an article by Maggie Koerth-Baker entitled The Paris Agreement Would Have Been Less Partisan 30 Years Ago. The article outlines how the agreement has become a partisan issue at the federal government level. She stated support for renewable energy and encouraged citizens to participate in the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) renewable energy program. Large solar arrays can also cause climate change through increasing the heat within the area and causing wind concerns around the array. The issues are broader than what has been presented and need to be viewed from an economy of scale. Board of Trustees — July 25, 2017 — Page 2 Mayor Jirsa stated the Northern Colorado RTA meet and discussed the need to address the guardrails on projects and the need to change some of the projects. The State has not been supportive of any changes. As there continues to be no TIF funds collected to operate all meetings have been suspended until March 2018, the annual meeting. Trustee Norris commented there appears to be widespread interest in the Town taking a position on climate change. He recommended the Town consider a meeting to hear information on the science of climate change. He reminded the public that bear activity has increased. The Town and County Ordinances are helping to address bear incidents within the valley. The Family Advisory Board would hold its next meeting on August 3, 2017. The Estes Valley Planning Commission elected Russ Scheinder as Chair and Bob Leavitt as Vice Chair. Trustee Martchink stated the Parks Advisory Board discussed the Downtown Loop and the impact on parks within the area. Discussion also included suggestions for future park locations and improvements to make the river more interactive. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT. The Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) continues to work on a Parking Master Plan. Discussions have included paid parking in the downtown core and free parking in the perimeter. The new parking structure cannot charge parking fees per the Town's Special Use Permit with the Bureau of Reclamation. Town Administrator Lancaster provided a Board Policy Govemance quarterly report on Policy 3.3 Financial Planning and Budgeting, Policy 3.12 General Town Administrator — Internal Operating Procedures, and Policy 3.13 Town Organizational Plan. He reported compliance with all areas. He stated the first draft of the 2016 CAFR was delivered to staff and the auditors should have it delivered to the State by July 31, 2017. 1. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Town Board Minutes dated July 11, 2017 and Town Board Study Session dated July 11, 2017. 2. Bills. 3. Committee Minutes — None. 4. Transportation Advisory Board Minutes dated June 21, 2017 (acknowledgement only). 5. Parks Advisory Board Minutes dated June 15, 2017 (acknowledgement only). 6. Estes Valley Planning Commission Minutes dated June 20, 2017 (acknowledgement only). 7. Acceptance of Town Administrator Policy Governance Monitoring Report. 8. Revised Policy Governance Policies: 1.1 Governing Style, 1.2 Operating Principles, 1.5 Reserved, 1.8 Board Standing Committees, and 3.1 Staff Limitations — Customer Service. 9. Revised Policy 103 — Town Board Code of Conduct and Operating Principles. 10. Revised Policy 105 — Agendas. 11. Revised Policy 102 — Town Committees. It was moved and seconded (Koenig/Holcomb) to approve the Consent Agenda Items, and it passed unanimously. 2. REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS: (Outside Entities) 1. ESTES VALLEY PARTNERS FOR COMMERCE QUARTERLY REPORT. Kirby Hazelton/President provided a review of the organization's activities, including sponsorship of the Bike to Work day events, support of America in Bloom, commitment to provide financial support for the Board Governance Board of Trustees — July 25, 2017 — Page 3 training in November, support Larimer County's efforts with the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), identifying what capacity building means for businesses in Estes Park and establish ways to collaborate and share ideas, accepting nominations for EVPC Board elections in October, conducting a housing survey to provide information to the Town Board and Planning Commission, continue to conduct Explore Your Store events, membership dinner to be held on October 19, 2017, and the regular Board meeting to be held August 15, 2017. EVPC has committed to providing a voice for the business community. The business community has stated support for the ongoing Development Code changes to simplify the code, changes to the Sign Code need to include substantial community discussion, and some retail businesses are having a down year in sales tax receipts because of the lack of staffing which are impacting hours of operation. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS: Items reviewed by Planning Commission or staff for Town Board Final Action. 1. CONSENT ITEMS: A. SUBDIVISION FINAL PLAT — ESTES PARK RESORT; LOT 1, LAKE ESTES 2ND ADDITION, 1700 BIG THOMPSON AVENUE. Application continued to August 22, 2017. B. AMENDMENT TO ESTES VALLEY DEVELOPMENT CODE RELATING TO OUTDOOR FOOD VENDORS. Continued to September 26, 2017. It was moved and seconded (Norris/Koenig) to approve the Planning Commission Consent Agenda, and it passed unanimously. 2. ACTION ITEMS: A. SUBDIVISION PRELIMINARY PLAT — ESTES PARK RESORT; LOT 1, LAKE ESTES 2ND ADDITION, 1700 BIG THOMPSON AVENUE. Planner Gonzales presented an application to replat the area as a townhome subdivision with 32 units for individual accommodation units and 1 lot for an existing hotel/lodge. The project received a variance to the 50-foot setback requirements from wetlands. The new setback for the two delineated wetlands was reduced to 25 feet. The Estes Valley Planning Commission recommended unanimous approval of the preliminary plat. It was moved and seconded (Koenig/Holcomb) to approve the Preliminary Townhome Subdivision Plat, Estes Park Resort, Lot 1, Lake Estes 2"d Addition, 1700 Big Thompson Avenue with the June 20, 2017 Estes Valley Planning Commission recommended conditions, and it passed unanimously. B. ORDINANCE 21-17 AMENDMENT TO THE ESTES VALLEY DEVELOPMENT CODE REGARDING ADMINISTRATION OF THE "COMDEV RECOMMENDED PLANT LIST" — FORMERLY THE "PREFERRED PLANTING LIST". Director Hunt stated the Estes Valley Fire Protection District has not reviewed the plant list for fire safety, and therefore, staff requested a continuance of the Ordinance to the August 22, 2017 Town Board meeting. It was moved and seconded (Norris/Koenig) to continue the Ordinance to the August 22, 2017 Town Board meeting, and it passed unanimously. 4. ACTION ITEMS: 1. ORDINANCE 22-17 AMENDMENT TO THE ESTES PARK MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS 2.12.010, 2.12.030, 2.12.40. Mayor Jirsa opened the public hearing. Attorney White reviewed the proposed amendments that would add 2 sections to the Municipal Code to define the role and powers of the Mayor. Mayor Jirsa closed the public hearing. Attorney White read Ordinance #22-17 Board of Trustees — July 25, 2017 — Page 4 into the record. Mayor Jirsa closed the public hearing. It was moved and seconded (Holcomb/Koenig) to approve Ordinance #22-17, and it passed unanimously. 2. RESOLUTION 23-17 SUPPORTING GOCO GRANT FUNDING AND ASSOCIATED TOWN MATCH FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FALL RIVER TRAIL PHASE I. Director Muhonen stated the Town has submitted a GOCO grant to fund the construction of the Fall River trail from its current location at Sleepy Hollow Court to the Fish Hatchery intersection at an estimated cost of $2 million. The Town was selected as one of the top 8 out of 29 applications to move on to the next grant phase. The grant application requires the Town Board approve a resolution of support for the project application, construction completion, 25% matching funds, public access, and future maintenance of the completed trail. It was moved and seconded (Walker/Norris) to approve Resolution #23-17, and it passed unanimously. 5. REQUEST TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION: It was moved and seconded (Martchink/Walker) to enter into Executive Session per Section 24-6-402(4)(b), G.R.S. for a conference with an attorney for the Board for the purposes of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions, and it passed unanimously. Whereupon Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m. to enter into Executive Session. Mayor Jirsa reconvened the meeting to open session at 8:35 p.m. ACTION ITEM: DETERMINE POSITION ON MURPHY LODGE CLAIM. It was moved and seconded (Walker/Norris) to authorize staff to pay $5,000 to settle a claim with Murphy Lodge, and it passed unanimously. Whereupon Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 8:3 Todd Jirsa, Mayor L kie Williamson, Town Clerk