HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2024-05-28Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, May 28, 2024
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 28th day of May, 2024.
Present: Gary Hall, Mayor
Marie Cenac, Mayor Pro Tem
Trustees Bill Brown
Kirby Hazelton
Mark Igel
Frank Lancaster
CindyYounglund
Also Present: Travis Machalek, Town Administrator
Jason Damweber, Deputy Town Administrator
Dan Kramer, Town Attorney
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk
Absent: None
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the
Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA APPROVAL.
It was moved and seconded (Cenac/Hazelton) to approve the Agenda, and it passed
unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
Sherry Unruh/Town citizen and Ingrid Drouin/County citizen thanked the Mayor for
supporting the 10th anniversary to "Paint Estes Pink" which is designed to raise funds to
help patients in the Estes Valley who are undergoing cancer treatment or prevention. The
funds provided would assist with decorations for businesses interested in participating.
They stated the funds raised this year would be used to purchase a needle-guided biopsy
machine.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS.
Trustee comments were heard and summarized: commented staff have listened to the
impacts and concerns related to the Loop construction project; acknowledged the Police
Auxiliary are committed to serving the community; interviews were held to fill vacancies
on the Transportation Advisory Board; stated appreciation for staffs efforts to maintain
Town facilities such as public restrooms; encouraged citizens interested to apply for the
current vacancies on the Estes Park Planning Commission and the Estes Valley Water
Coalition Board; noted the Estes Valley Water Coalition has expanded mission to include
fire mitigation through grant funding; requested the Consent Agenda be presented during
the approval process; commented there may be issues with the Rooftop parade; stated
support for Crown Miss Rooftop Rodeo to raise funds for the Estes Park Hospital; the
Opioid Abatement Council has provided Larimer County with $5.5 million which has been
used to fund several programs in the county; Rocky Mountain National Park update was
provided at the Visit Estes Park (VEP) meeting including time entry, Trail Ridge opening,
and Fall River entrance completion date and the inability of the entrance to handle the
traffic volume similar to Beaver Meadows entrance; the recent VEP meeting heard a
report on 6E funds, spending $125,000 in VEP reserves for the construction marketing
campaign, and the 2023 Annual Report; Trustee Talk held and heard discussion on the
Loop, Police Chief process, and bed & breakfast licensing; meet with Estes Valley
Residence to discuss philosophy of the Town; thanked staff for a successful Police Chief
hiring process; toured the Fall River Village with the Estes Park Housing Authority for the
potential purchase of the accommodation lodging to be converted to workforce housing
through CHAFFA; the Economic Development Workforce Housing Council meet to
discuss restructuring and holding an investor meeting in June; requested study session
Board of Trustees - May 28,2024 - Page 2
topics on public comment at study sessions and agenda policy review; and requested
civility in community discourse and stated the best chance to fixing issues remains the
ability to work together in a civil manner.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
Town Administrator Machalek requested and received approval to add to the
unscheduled study session items a discussion on public comment during study sessions
and Policy 105 Agendas. He provided the Board with an update on the potential
assistance to businesses impacted by the Loop construction, and stated staff would work
on establishing a special meeting to consider the approach and appropriate funding.
1. CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Bills.
2. Town Board and Study Session Minutes dated May 14, 2024.
3. Estes Park Planning Commission Minutes dated March 19, 2024
(acknowledgment only).
4. Endorsing Town Attorney Dan Kramer for the Colorado Municipal League
Executive Board.
5. Resolution 48-24 First Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement with
Platte River Power Authority, Fort Collins, Loveland, and Longmont for Fiber
Management.
6. Revised Policy 601 Purchasing Policy - Spending Authority & Limits.
7. Appointments to the Transportation Advisory Board:
• Joan Hooper to complete the term of Mark Igel expiring March 31, 2025.
• Wallace Wood to complete the term of Ann Finley expiring March 31, 2026.
• Misti Marcantonio to a 3-year term expiring March 31, 2027.
• Kristen Ekeren to a 3-year term expiring March 31, 2027.
It was moved and seconded (Igel/Cenac) to approve the Consent Agenda,and it
passed unanimously.
REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS: (Outside Entities).
1. BASE FUNDING REPORT - SALUD FAMILY HEALTH.
Salud Vice President Morse provided a review of the organization that started in 1970
as an entity to care for farmworkers which provides quality, integrated health care to
the communities they serve, both in person and through telehealth. The Estes Park
clinic served approximately 2100 patients in 2023 with a sliding fee scale based on
family size and income in areas of behavioral health, dental, and medical services.
The majority of the population served live at or below the poverty level with 45%
uninsured. Salud faces challenges serving Estes Park due to a lack of increase in
federal funding to match inflation, loss of Medicaid coverage due to the unwinding of
continuous enrollment provisions during the public health emergency under COVID,
compounding impacts of health inflation, difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff, cost
of living for staff, and changing patient demographics. The Estes Park Salud
Foundation fundraises and provides community outreach to ensure access to services
in Estes Park.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. 6E FUNDING EXPENDITURE FOR CHILDCARE TUITION ASSISTANCE.
Manager Bangs presented an application submitted by Estes Valley Investment in
Childhood Success (EVICS) for 6E funds to support tuition assistance for 2024 in the
amount of $200,000. The Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP), serves
families that fall below the 235% federal poverty level, was frozen in February 2024 to
Board of Trustees - May 28,2024 - Page 3
new applicants/families; however, current recipients would continue to be funded.
Those applicants on the CCAP waitlist are being supported by the EVICS tuition
assistance program. EVICS has funded the program to date from reserves at
approximately $52,000. The request would establish a funding agreement to expend
up to $200,000 for the remainder of 2024 for tuition assistance and backfill the
reserves utilized by EVICS to support the program during the first third of the year.
Funding would not be used for staffing or the administration of the program.
Rut Miller/lnterim Executive Director and Jan Boatman/Board President provided a
review of EVICS established in 2006, the tuition assistance process, and the
application request. The organization has seen an increase over the years in the
number of children supported by the tuition assistance program. EVICS anticipates
serving up to 38 children at any given time in 2024 at an estimated cost of $213,950,
an average cost of $550/per month/per child. A grant has been awarded and received
for the program in the amount of $15,000.
Manager Bangs reiterated the support EVICS provides through the tuition assistance
program to serve the nine families on the CCAP waitlist and other families in need of
childcare assistance. The drafted strategic plan and needs assessment for childcare
indicates tuition assistance as a key strategy to address childcare challenges. Staff
and other key organization would continue to address the need to develop efficient
application processes, streamline processes for the administration of assistance,
increase collaboration and communication with other programs such as CCAP,
decrease administrative costs for local assistance, and pursue the utilization of
existing online platforms for administration of programs.
Board comments and question were heard and have been summarized: questioned
the number of children served by the program; questioned how the average cost of
$550 was established; requested information on where the funds used in January-
April to fund the program came from; questioned the reserve levels of EVICS;
encouraged EVICS to continue requesting past donors to match 6E funds to make the
funds go further in assisting families; questioned what percentage the $200,000
request would be based on the organization's annual budget; concern with the fiscal
responsibility based on the statement of activity and deficit in operating expenses;
questioned if EVICS would request base funding for 2025; commented on the need to
appropriately disperse the 6E funds while maintaining a diversity of funding sources;
questioned how EVICS would address funding the staff position if grant funds are not
received; questioned the need in the community; questioned if there are other
organizations that support childcare utilizing the 6E funds for childcare; and
commented on the need for the Town to ensure the funds are managed appropriately
and the Town maintains its fiduciary responsibilities of the 6E funds.
Manager Bangs stated the current childcare assessment has identified the need for
60 - 70 infant and toddler spots and an additional 12 spots for other age groups. She
stated there continues to be an anticipated need for funds to be used on capital
improvements for centers.
Christie DeLorme/Mountaintop Preschool commented her center serves 40 children
with 80% in need of tuition assistance. The center requires the support of EVICS and
the Town to maintain services.
Lesta Johnson/EVICS employee stated the tuition assistance has been provided for
the past 18 years and EVICS has successfully administered the funds. Families and
kids require reliable childcare to prevent latchkey kids.
It was moved and seconded (Brown/Lancaster) to approve the funding request
from EVICS Family Resource Center up to $200,000 payable in equal monthly
installments over the remaining months in 2024, and to authorize the Town
Administrator to approve a contract for the purpose. No vote was taken as a
substitute motion was offered and approved.
Board of Trustees - May 28,2024 - Page 4
A substitute motion was offered. It was moved and seconded (Younglund/Cenac)
to approve $150,000, not to include replacing the reserves utilized by EVICS, to
be allocated for the remaining months through December 31, 2024 and to
authorize the Town Administrator to approve a contract for the purpose, and it
passed with Mayor Hall and Trustee Brown voting "No".
2. INTERVIEW COMMITTEE FOR THE ESTES PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. It was moved and seconded (HazeltonA'ounglund)
to appoint Trustees Brown and Cenac to the Estes Park Housing Authority
Board of Commissioners interview committee, and it passed unanimously.
REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1. STATE REVOLVING FUND LOAN FOR WATER MAIN REPLACEMENTS.
Director Bergsten and Project Manager Wesley provided an update to the Town Board
on the use of the State Revolving Fund (SRF) to finance potential water system
improvement projects in Carriage Hills subdivision and Spruce Knob Water Company.
The Carriage Hills water mains were built with brittle cast iron pipes prone to leaks
due to cold weather, not built to Town standards, experience pressure issues, and
contain limited looping that can lead to stale water. The Spruce Knob Water Company
serves properties along Joel Estes Drive. The State issued a cease-and-desist use
of the well servicing the homes because the Company does not have an augmentation
plan nor replacement water. The Town approved Resolution 102-22 to provide bulk
water to the Company and required Spruce Knob to replace their water mains to Town
standards by December 2024. Staff intends to apply for a competitive SRF loan in
June with final approval announced in the fall 2024. If successful, staff would bring the
project financing project forward for the Board's consideration. Staff anticipates $1
million in principal forgiveness and an additional $1 million DOLA grant. Board
discussion and questions were heard and summarized: questioned if leakage from
breaks in the Carriage Hills subdivision are the highest in the system; would the
Spruce Knob Water Company be included in the Town's water system once improved;
questioned if annexation of the properties served by the Spruce Knob Water Company
had been discussed; and concern heard that citizens have become tired of
construction in the community. Staff noted Water would construct and manage the
new Spruce Knob Water system and the homeowners would pay for the new system.
It was noted the agreement approved by Resolution 102-22 required the property
owners to be annexed when eligible for annexation.
It was moved and seconded (Younglund/Hazelton) to extend the meeting past
10:00 p.m., and it passed unanimously.
Mayor Hall called a break at 10:00 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 10:07 p.m.
2. GOVERNANCE ORIENTATION.
Town Administrator Machalek provided the Board with an overview of Policy
Governance, Board Code of Conduct, meeting procedures, strategic planning, and
roles and relationships with other entities.
REQUEST TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION:
It was moved and seconded (IgelA'ounglund) to approve entering into Executive
Session for the discussion of specialized details of security arrangements or
investigations per CRS Section 24-6-402(4)(d), and it passed unanimously.
The Board entered Executive Session at 10:45 p.m. and concluded at 11:25 p.m.
Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 11:25 p.j
Gary Hall, IVtay^r
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J9c|<ie Williamson, Town Clerk