HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Public Safety, Utilities, and Public Works Committee 2010-06-10RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, June 10, 2010
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 June, 2010.
Committee:
Attending:
Also Attending:
Chair Blackhurst, Trustees Ericson and Koenig
Chair Blackhurst, Trustees Ericson and Koenig
Town Administrator Halburnt, Chief Kufeld, Dir. Goehring,
Dir. Zurn, and Deputy Town Clerk Deats
Absent: Deputy Town Administrator Richardson
Chair Blackhurst called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
Johanna Darden, Town resident, read a prepared statement regarding the Help
Preserve Open Space Initiative and stated that, in her opinion, improvements to Bond
Park should not be funded by Larimer County Open Space monies.
PUBLIC SAFETY.
REPORTS.
Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings.
1. Introduction of Community Service Officers — Chief Kufeld introduced the
Community Service Officers (CSO) employed for the 2010 summer season. They
are: Mary Compton, Michael McEndaffer, Ariel Mikolitch, and Brendan Solano. All
of the CSOs are local residents and graduates of Estes Park High School. Chief
Kufeld stressed the importance of the CSO position, stating it is often the only
contact tourists have with Town staff.
2. School Resource Officer — Amanda Nagl explained the role of the School Resource
Officer (SRO) stating the officer acts as a law enforcement officer, teacher, and
informal counselor to students in the Park R-3 School District (PSDR3). She
summarized the benefits of having an officer on the school campus which include
providing a sense of safety and security to students and staff; increased time spent
teaching in the classroom setting; and the opportunity for the SRO to advise and
counsel students. Recently, the PSDR3 School Board decided not to fund the
position due to budget constraints. Discussion is summarized: students have
positive opinion of SRO; to continue the program a $15,000 shortfall must be
absorbed in the 2011 budget; recommend continuing the program; options are to
eliminate the position or modify it to decrease costs; is it the desire of PSDR3 to
continue the program; no formal request for continuation has been made by PSDR3;
and the PSDR3 School Board's decision should be honored unless a formal request
to continue the program is received. Town Administrator Halburnt stated she would
be in contact with Supt. Chapman regarding the desires of the district related to the
SRO position.
UTILITIES.
FISH CREEK CIRCUIT UPGRADE 2010.
Utilities Engineer Bergsten provided background information beginning with an analysis
of the electrical distribution system in 1998 to present day. In 2006, upgrades to the
electrical distribution system were identified that would increase reliability by creating
redundancy within the system and meet future capacity growth. Improvements to the
Fish Creek Circuit will complete the circuit upgrades and is the final project related to
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Public Safety/Utilities/Public Works Committee — June 10, 2010 — Page 2
bond funds received by Light and Power in 2007. Hamlin Electric Company and Selcon
Utility, both of whom have previously done work for the Town, were asked to bid on the
Fish Creek Circuit upgrade project with the following results:
Hamlin Electric Company
Selcon Utility
$1,317,566.72
$483,434.80
Utilities Engineer Bergsten said that the disparity in the bids is related to Hamlin's lack
of equipment which will require them to hire a subcontractor to complete the trenching
for the project. Staff recommends awarding the contract to low -bidder, Selcon Utility, at
a cost of $483,434.80. In addition, material cost estimates total $235,379.86, bringing
the cost of the project to $718,814.66. Account #502-700-580-33-30 contains the
remaining bond funds plus annual capital improvements monies. The Committee
recommends approval to award the contract for Fish Creek Circuit upgrades to
Selcon Utility, as outlined above at a cost of $483,434.80 from account #502-7001-
580-33-30, budgeted, to be included on the Consent Agenda at the June 22, 2010,
Town Board meeting.
Dir. Goehring noted that in addition, a large, underground conductor will be purchased
and installed by Light and Power staff at a cost of $300,000, at a later date. He stated
that the financial plans for Water and Light and Power, which will be completed later this
summer, will identify future needs and future funding requirements.
EXTENSION OF PLATTE RIVER POWER AUTHORITY ORGANIC CONTRACT &
POWER SUPPLY CONTRACT TERMS.
In 2008 staff brought forward an extension of the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA)
Organic Contract and Power Supply Contract terms. All four member municipalities
must approve the contracts and Estes Park was the first of the municipalities to grant
approval. At that time, the cities of Fort Collins and Loveland requested changes to the
document and subsequently did not approve the original contracts. Due to the length of
time that has elapsed and the changes in contract language, Atty. White recommends
that the Board revisit these documents. Brian Moeck, PRPA General Manager, and Joe
Wilson, PRPA counsel, will attend the July 27, 2010, Town Board meeting to present
the contracts and review changes that were made. The Committee referred the
contracts to the full Town Board to be heard as an action item on July 27, 2010.
PUBLIC WORKS.
POTHOLE PATCHER.
Staff solicited bids for a trailer -mounted Pothole Patcher that will facilitate pothole repair
by preheating the patching material before it is deposited in the hole. The new
equipment will provide the Streets Department with the ability to repair potholes during
the winter months and will result in a better, longer -lasting repair. The following two
bids were received:
MacDonald Equipment Co., Commerce City, Colorado
P.B. Loader Model B-2-T Patcher Trailer
H.D. Industries, Jacksonville, Texas
Pro -Patch Model TM300-20-DAE
(Does not meet specifications — no electric heater)
$34,097.00
$37,256.60
Staff recommends purchasing the equipment from low -bidder, MacDonald Equipment
Company. Dir. Zurn stated that based on current practices, the trailer will pay for itself
in approximately four years. The 2010 Streets Department budget contains $47,300 for
the purchase of a pothole patcher trailer. The Committee recommends approval to
purchase the Pothole Patcher Trailer from MacDonald Equipment Co., at a cost of
$34,097 from account 101-3100-431-34-98, budgeted.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Public Safety/Utilities/Public Works Committee — June 10, 2010 — Page 3
PUBLIC COMMENT.
Johanna Darden, Town resident, asked if pothole repair is scheduled to be done on
streets in her neighborhood and questioned whether funds were available through the
county or the state to assist with repairs. Chairman Blackhurst said that pothole
patching is a reaction to not having adequate funding for street maintenance and that
finding another revenue source to keep sidewalks, roads, and bridges in good repair is
a challenge. He said that the Town maintains 110 lane miles of roadway and that
pothole patching is performed on a priority basis; adding that some funds are received
from the state and the county, but that those monies have already been allocated.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Town Administrator Halburnt asked Dir. Zurn to report on grants that were recently
awarded to the Town. Dir. Zurn said that the Town is the recipient of an additional
$250,000 grant for a transit hub project. The monies were received from air quality
funds and will fully -fund a project that will consist of 400 parking spaces in the area of
Stanley Park. He said that with air quality becoming a concern in the northern Front
Range, the air quality money stream may be available to numerous projects including
the multi -purpose event center (MPEC) and the Supporters of the Performing Arts
(SOPA) theater if these projects are designated as transit parking locations, but would
most like require some redesign of these developments. An additional $56,000 was
also received for improvements and repairs to the sidewalk along Moraine Avenue to
the south. To date, Dir. Zurn has procured $2 million in grant funding for the Town.
Dir. Zurn stated that Public Works staff worked throughout the weekend attending to the
areas of high water due to heavy runoff. 2000 to 3000 sand bags were utilized.
Residents who may be in need of sand bags to control high water may contact the
Public Works Department.
There being no further business, Chair Blackhurst adjourned the meeting at 9:15 a.m.
Cynthia'iDeats, Deputy Town Clerk