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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2016-07-12Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 12, 2016 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 12th day of July 2016. Present: Also Present: Todd Jirsa, Mayor Wendy Koenig, Mayor Pro Tem Trustees Bob Holcomb Patrick Martchink Ward Nelson Ron Norris Cody 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. MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA SISTER CITIES PRESENTATION. Mayor Jirsa welcomed the delegation from Monteverde, including Milena Ramirez, Maria Elena Corrales, Yadira Trejos Segura, Heidy Perez Bravo, Raul Fernandez Rojas, and Fabiana Cruz Ruts. The Town first entered into a formal Sister Cities agreement between the two communities in February 2004, and since then, Estes Park has benefited from a constant exchange of ideas with Monteverde's citizens and government. Members of both communities have traveled to share cultural, economic, educational and environmental experiences over the past 12 years. Estes Park and Monteverde formally renewed the Sister Cities relationship. Mayor Jirsa and Mayor Pro Tem Koenig presented their honored guests with a handmade key to the Town. HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATION — SISTER CITIES SCIENCE EXCHANGE. The students involved in the Sister Cities Science Exchange provided a presentation on their visit to Monteverde, including visits to Reserves, setting of trapping cameras, bird watching, water quality testing, tree planting, and cultural exchange. PUBLIC COMMENTS. Tony Schetzle/Town citizen stated concern with the pre -decisional bias on the topic of the Loop project evident during the study session and the manner in which the presenters were interrogated. The Environmental Assessment presented at the study session is not a decisional document, rather a document to ensure the project would not cause unmitigatable environmental damage. The Town would benefit from the approval of the EA not only for the No Action or Alternative 1 (one-way couplet), but for a subset of other projects that could be completed and be complimentary to flood mitigation and parking issues. No further studies would be required for these future projects and no additional costs for NEPA studies in the future. Arthur Messal/Town citizen commented on a number of items, including the need for more public input on the development of the Fish Hatchery property; the study session discussion on the Loop was good, but the project purpose no longer exist because the Park is full; there is a need for a master plan to address parking and traffic issues; and objected to the Habitat project. TRUSTEE COMMENTS. Board of Trustees — July 12, 2016 — Page 2 Trustee Norris commented the Estes Valley Planning Commission would hold its regularly scheduled meeting on July 19th. He stated the initial chip sealing program appears to be going well. He requested public feedback on the program. Mayor Pro Tem Koenig stated the Public Safety, Utilities and Public Works Committee has been cancelled for July. Trustee Holcomb reminded the citizens the Transportation Advisory Committee would meet on July 20th to continue discussions on how to improve transportation in Estes Park. Trustee Walker congratulated Western Heritage for a successful rodeo. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT. The Policy Governance report was not included in the Town Board packet and would therefore be continued to the August 9th meeting. 1. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Town Board Minutes dated June 28, 2016 and Town Board Study Session June 28, 2016. 2. Bills. 3. Committee Minutes a. None 4. Estes Valley Board of Adjustment Minutes dated June 7, 2016 (acknowledgement only). It was moved and seconded (Holcomb/Martchink) to approve the Consent Agenda Items, and it passed unanimously. 2. ACTION ITEMS: 1. BROOK COURT STREET IMPROVEMENTS & MORAINE AVENUE DITCH PROJECT CONTRACT. Engineer Ash presented a contract to complete the 2013 flood recovery projects located at Brook Court and Moraine Avenue. A contract was issued to Osmun Inc. to complete the work in September 2014. The contract was terminated a year later for non-compliance with contract documents. Public Works issued a Request for Bid to complete the construction of the drainage infrastructure, concrete curb and gutter, and asphalt paving on Brook Court and complete drainage infrastructure for the Moraine Avenue ditch. Two bids were received from Mountain Constructors, Inc. for $207,478 and Walsh Construction Inc. for $311,128. Staff recommended contracting with Mountain Constructors, Inc. with RG Associates providing construction management services for the two projects. Staff requested a total project budget of $230,000 to address unknown construction conditions that may arise, a 10.8% contingency. As the project was not completed by Osmun in the timeframe necessary for grant funding support, the Town would be responsible for the matching funds payable from the General fund. It was moved and seconded (Koenig/Holcomb) to approve the construction contract for the Brook Court Street Improvements and the Moraine Avenue Ditch Project, to Mountain Constructors Inc., for a contract cost not to exceed $207,478 and provide Public Works with the spending Authority up to $230,000, and it passed unanimously. 2. RESOLUTION #17-16 SETTING DIRECTION FOR SENIOR SERVICES & THE ESTES VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER. Town Administrator Lancaster stated the Community Center is an Estes Valley Recreation and Park District project that the Town would help fund through the 1A sales tax. The project Board of Trustees — July 12, 2016 — Page 3 has experienced significant cost increases requiring the District to cut back on the building size and programming presented during the election, which has impacted the Senior Center. Via mobility is not impacted in anyway as the service is budgeted separately. The District has requested the Town provide a commitment on the availability of the 1A funds for the construction of the facility in order to understand the services the center would provide. This in turn would provide direction on the design for the building and allow them to move forward with contracting the building for construction. The 1A ballot language requires the District to pull a building permit by January 2017 in order to receive the sales tax funds. Construction costs continue to increase and may increase dramatically after the November election if any portion of the $1 billion in school construction passes this fall. The original design had a commercial kitchen which has been removed and has been included as an add-alt for the construction bid. The Town did not receive a viable bid for the continued meal service in 2017, therefore, the Town continues to review alternative options to provide senior meal service and the Meals on Wheels program. The Town continues to address a budget deficit and review the core services provided by the municipality. The Town and the District are working together to try and optimize the services provided to the citizens of the community within the financial constraints of the District. After the review of over 30 options, the two entities came to the conclusion that a merging of the senior services with the District's programming would provide numerous benefits, including programming and staffing to create a multi -generational facility. The Resolution would provide the Town and the District guidelines for the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) providing the District with the 1A funds and outlining how senior service programming would integrate into the multi -generational Community Center. Those speaking against the proposed Resolution included Jay Morgan/County citizen, Jan Verschuur/Town citizen, Maureen Marsh/Town citizen, Larry Emsing/Town citizen, Phil Zwart/Town citizen, Susan Robertson/Town citizen, Judy Fontius/Town citizen, Vicki Papineau/Town citizen, Donald Holmes/Town citizen, Barbara Fisher/Town citizen, H.J. Skiphyde/County citizen, JoAnne Wilson/Town citizen, Sonja McTeague/County citizen and Mary Born/Town citizen. Senior Centers help to keep people engaged in the community as they go through the aging process; Recreational Districts have a different culture focused on youth activities and programming, whereas Senior Centers focus on social services in addition to activities; stated concern with the lack of meals and the reduction of the Senior Center within the Community Center; voters voted for an increase size of the Senior Center to improve programming; the current Senior Center should remain in operations; the food service needs to remain and improve; a space for a kitchen should be included in the District's plans even if it is not built -out immediately; the current Senior Services works well and should remain in the current building; the notice sent to voters stated the Community Center would provide enhanced senior services and is what voters voted for; the current design would be a reduction in services; the home cooked meals are important to the seniors and a kitchen is needed to provide these meals; a catered meal would not be the same; a number of seniors rely on the meals and the comradery they get at the center; moved to Estes Park because of the Senior Center and the knowledge the Town cared about the senior population; the Meals on Wheels program is important to the community and must be maintained; and the senior population provides a lot of volunteer hours and gives back to the community, and therefore, they are paying back and giving back to the community. Those speaking in favor of the Resolution included Michelle Hiland/Town citizen and Art Messal/Town citizen. Moving senior services under the purview of the District makes sense and would support the multi -generational facility versus a standalone Senior Center. The new Community Center would be able to provide services and space for the growing senior population. A standalone Senior Center would not be necessary as the District can provide the Board of Trustees — July 12, 2016 — Page 4 programming and would integrate the community. The proposed Resolution provides a great solution to a difficult problem. Board comments were heard and have been summarized: Trustee Norris stated the Town and District have been reviewing a solution to the situation to benefit the community. He would need to understand what programs would be retained and cut in order to support a future MOU. He stated the Senior Services kitchen was to be used as an emergency shelter in the Estes Valley during disasters. Trustee Holcomb stated concern the District has an emphasis on the recreational aspect, concern with the cost sharing, loss of space, loss of meals, and the current staff may be replaced with recreational staff. He stated the Meals on Wheels program must be retained. He requested an assurance that services would be retained. Trustee Nelson commented the project is the District's and the comments should be heard by their Board. He stated the project has broken promises for not only the seniors but for those supporting other spaces such as daycare. Mayor Pro Tem Koenig questioned if the Seniors could stay in the current building or move the kitchen equipment to the new Community Center to reduce the cost of a new kitchen. The Resolution allows the Town to continue working with the District on options for senior services. Trustee Martchink commented a multi - generational center excites him but not at the expense of reducing services. The Community Center would provide additional multipurpose space for senior activities and benefit the entire community. Trustee Walker would support the Resolution because the District would be better at addressing the senior services. Mayor Jirsa stated the Town needs to be a community that does not leave any one segment of the community behind, including the seniors, kids or workforce, and therefore, would support moving forward with the development of the MOU. After further discussion, it was moved and seconded (Holcomb/Martchink) to approve Resolution #17-16 approving the negotiation of an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District for the Estes Valley Community Center, with the amendment to the Resolution to include the integration of enhanced services to the fourth Whereas, and it passed unanimously. 3. NORTHERN COLORADO REGIONAL TOURISM AUTHORITY APPOINTMENTS. Mayor Jirsa recommended to the Board his appointment to the Authority as the elected official and Mike Abbiatti as the community at large representative. It was moved and seconded (Nelson/Holcomb) to approve Mayor Todd Jirsa as the elected official and Mike Abbiatti as the member at larger to the Northern Colorado Regional Tourism Authority, and it passed unanimously. Whereupon Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 9:33 p.m. Todd Jirsa, Mayor e Williamson, Town i rk Ja ' Clerk