HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Public Safety, Utilities, and Public Works Committee 2014-07-10RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 10, 2014
Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the PUBLIC SAFETY/UTILITIES/PUBLIC
WORKS COMMITTEE of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County,
Colorado. Meeting held in the Town Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the
10th day of July, 2014.
Committee: Chair Norris, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig and Trustee Nelson
Attending: Chair Norris, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig and Trustee Nelson
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Chief Kufeld, Managers
Fraundorf and McEachern, Coordinator Rusch and Deputy
Town Clerk Deats
Absent: Director Bergsten
Chair Norris called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
None.
PUBLIC SAFETY.
REPORTS.
Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings.
1. Bear Patrol Update — Chief Kufeld reported that bear problems within the Town limits
have been minimal, and said this may be due to members of the Policy Auxiliary
patrolling neighborhoods to ensure that trash is being handled in a responsible
manner that will reduce bear activity. He said that favorable comments from
residents have been received about the neighborhood patrols. He noted that bear
activity has been reported in the County outside of Town limits, particularly in the
area of the YMCA and Spur 66. Trustee Nelson cautioned that Crested Butte
experienced increased car and home break-ins by bears as a result of securing
trash throughout their urban area. Mayor Pro Tem Koenig noted that there are
electronic devices with flashing red lights that can be installed on properties to
discourage bear and predator activity. She said the devices are solar -powered and
affordable and it was suggested the information be forwarded to the Bear Task
Force.
2. Verbal Updates —
o Encryption of the 800 megahertz radios is moving forward and, depending on
the arrival of equipment, should be completed by late July or early August.
o From a law enforcement perspective, both the Professional Bull Riding event
and the Fourth of July went well. The Rodeo is getting off to a good start with
good attendance at the event.
o A ribbon cutting will be held at the hospital on July 16th at the new ham radio
operating location. This is a major addition to emergency response
capabilities in the Estes Valley.
UTILITIES.
WATER MASTER PLAN SCOPE OF SERVICES.
Chair Norris noted that Steve Rusch recently took on a new role as Utilities Coordinator
and will be a key person in project management communication and coordination.
Coordinator Rusch noted that the Town's current Water Master Plan is 29 years old and
said that a new plan is necessary to provide updated demand projections, prioritize
capital projects to meet plant and distribution needs, develop an engineering model of
the water system, provide information related to current water rights and a vision for the
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Public Safety/Utilities/Public Works Committee — July 10, 2014 — Page 2
future, and ensure compliance with new regulations. The study will allow for
comparisons with the old study as well as provide new information. Three proposals
were received in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Water Master Plan
and were reviewed by both Water Department and Public Works staff. The mid -level,
time and material -based proposal from Frachetti Engineering, Inc., was selected at a
not to exceed cost of $83,000. In addition, staff is requesting $10,000 to cover the cost
of a water rights strategy review, $2,000 for lab tests, and a $5,000 contingency for a
total of $100,000, budgeted, from account #503-7000-580-35-62. The Committee
recommended that the Water Master Plan be discussed by the full board as an
action item at the July 22, 2014, Town Board meeting.
REPORTS.
Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings.
1. Information Technology Update —
Adams Tunnel Fiber — Following an inspection that occurred earlier this summer,
it appears to be feasible to run fiber through the tunnel between Estes Park and
Granby. Currently Eaglenet, Tri-State, Western Area Power Authority (WAPA),
and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), have an arrangement to install fiber. It is
unclear at this time the number of strands to be installed, the cost of the
installation, and the percentages of investment for the partners in the project.
Manager Fraundorf said it is the Town's intent to continue to develop
relationships and understand available options. The Town will participate in and
monitor these ongoing discussions.
Highway 34/36 Fiber — Crown Castle is planning to install wire for cell phone
service, and wire to be used for Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
cameras, between Lyons and Estes Park, with a plan for wire to be installed
between Loveland and Estes Park next year. Staff spoke with CDOT to make
them aware of the Town's interest in the project and desire to engage in
discussions about available options. CDOT staff indicated that exact costs and a
construction start date are not known at this time. Platte River Power Authority
(PRPA) will also be engaging in discussions regarding the project as they see
this as an opportunity to make a connection with existing PRPA wire in Longmont
and provide the means to move away from the low capacity microwave towers
currently in use in Estes Park. Crown Castle will provide staff with costs for
leasing fiber strands which could be utilized as an alternative or regular path of
communication out of Estes Park. Staff indicated that the cost could be
substantial and would require Board discussions related to the type of investment
the Town would be interested in pursuing.
Longmont Fiber — The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Fiber
Committee met with the City of Longmont's Director of Power and
Communications and discussed a ballot question that was passed by Longmont
voters in 2011 that gave the city the right to offer internet, voice and TV service to
customers, with no tax increase. Manager Fraundorf suggested that there is a lot
to learn from Longmont's process as they have created a business plan, set up
an enterprise fund, secured revenue bonds, and are moving forward with the
main fiber installation. It is Longmont's goal to pay off the revenue bonds
through fees passed along to users of the service. Discussion may occur in the
future related to taking a similar question to Estes Park voters as numerous
towns and cities in Colorado are pursuing taking back local control. Town
Administrator Lancaster said that Fort Collins is also studying this and that
Loveland will more than likely follow suit. He added that if all four PRPA partner
municipalities are involved it could become a more regional discussion, rather
than a discussion for each individual community.
Estes Park Computer Users Group — Manager Fraundorf will attend an upcoming
meeting of the group to inform the members about the current fiber situation and
to describe options that may be available in the future.
Verizon Inquiry — Verizon approached the Town asking about the possibility of
installing cell towers on the roof of the Town Hall. Verizon has inspected the site
and the arrangement is being pursued. The Town could receive some revenue
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Public Safety/Utilities/Public Works Committee — July 10, 2014 — Page 3
for the attachments if an agreement is finalized. Town Administrator Lancaster
requested that if a contract with Verizon moves forward that approval be through
the Consent Agenda at a Town Board meeting.
Manager Fraundorf stated that Verizon's purpose is to satisfy their customers
and not to provide wireless service to the downtown corridor. He said that Rocky
Mountain Data Availability Services (RMDAS) has also inquired about installation
of antennas on the Town Hall building possibly to point a dish at Bond Park.
Trustee Nelson said it would be helpful to have knowledge about the needs of
businesses in order to attract them to Estes Park. Town Administrator Lancaster
stated that through an Economic Development Agency (EDA) grant, the EDC will
have a consultant looking at data on needs, demand, and the market.
Information related to the market analysis and return on investment will be key in
deciding how to move forward.
PUBLIC WORKS.
WATER DEPARTMENT DUMP TRUCK REPLACEMENT.
The 2014 budget contains funds for the purchase of a dump truck for the Water
Department to replace a 1999 International that has been in service for 15 years. Staff
utilized the State of Colorado competitive bid process and recommends the purchase of
a 2014 Freightliner M2106 single axle dump truck from Transwest Trucks at a cost of
$105,067, plus $21,489 for the dump bed, for a total cost of $126,556. Manager
McEachern noted that $120,778 will be utilized from the Vehicle Replacement Fund
(#635-7000-435-34-42) with the additional $5,778 from the Future Vehicle Purchase
Fund (#503-6300-540-25-44). The new vehicle will have an automatic transmission and
comply with State of Colorado emission standards. The 1999 truck will be retained by
the Water Department to provide added flexibility when working on projects and to be
used as a back-up for snow removal. The truck will eventually be used as a trade-in on
a vehicle purchase in the future. The Committee recommended approval of the
purchase of a 2014 Freightliner M2106 dump truck from Transwest Trucks at a
cost of $126,556 budgeted, as outlined above, to be included on the consent
agenda at the July 22, 2014, Town Board meeting.
REPORTS.
Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings.
1. Placement and Effectiveness of Bear Resistant Trash Cans Downtown —
Supervisor Franklin said that bear resistance trash cans have been utilized in the
downtown area for the past two years. He said that the trash contractor picks up
trash in the evenings between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. and that this schedule may be
the reason there have been fewer bear problems than in the past when trash
pick-ups were scheduled for the morning hours. He said that bear resistant
recycling cans have not yet been placed downtown due to space issues. He
reported that household trash has been showing up in trash cans throughout
Town and noted that a public announcement was made to help curtail this
activity.
There being no further business, Chair Norris adjourned the meeting at 8:57 a.m.
APPROVED
JUL 2 2 2014
l
Cynthia Deats, Deputy Town Clerk
TOWN OF ESTES PARK
BOARD OF TRUSTEES