HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2024-06-25Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, June 25, 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 25th day of June,2024.
Present: Gary Hall, IVIayor
Marie Cenac, Mayor Pro Tem
Trustees Bill Brown
Kirby Hazelton
Mark Igel
Frank Lancaster
Cindy Younglund
Also Present: Travis Machalek, Town Administrator
Jason Damweber, Deputy Town Administrator
Dan Kramer, Town Attorney
Kimberly Disney, Recording Secretary
Absent: None
Mayor Hall 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 (Younglund/Hazelton) to approve the Agenda with the
Report and Discussion (Outside Entities) Item 2 moved to Report and Discussion
Item 5,and it passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
Steve Nagl/Town citizen spoke regarding the use of the parking lot by the Post Office,
specifically the number of spots which have been consistently blocked off or used by
marked Post Office vehicles and unmarked employee vehicles. He suggested vehicles
be moved to different lots, such as the Events Complex, when not in use.
John Meissner/Town citizen spoke regarding the Study Session discussion on
unprovoked elk attacks and suggested financial support be given to victims of the attacks.
He also encouraged support of the Taffy Shop voted the #1 candy shop in the country by
USA Today
Jackie Williamson/Town Clerk introduced Howard Bartlett, who would be considered as
the Assistant Municipal Judge through Consent Agenda Item 4. He provided his
professional background and spoke on his interest in serving the community.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS.
Board comments were heard and have been summarized: Mayor Hall and Trustees
Younglund and Lancaster attended the Annual Colorado Municipal League (CML)
Conference which held sessions on legislative changes, civility, school grant opportunities
for vaping issues, and congratulations was given to Attorney Kramer who was elected to
the CML Executive Board; the Trustee Talk would be held with discussion on construction
and the Strategic Plan; the Rooftop Rodeo would be held July 6 through July 10, 2024
with a new parade route beginning and ending at the Estes Park Fairgrounds; Mayor
Coffee Chats would begin in the late summer/early fall held at alternating times from the
Mayor's attendance at Trustee Talks; Visit Estes Park would meet to discuss a potential
skijoring event, the construction marketing campaign, and the "Thank You" street
campaign; congratulations was given to the Taffy Shop for being voted the #1 candy store
in the country by USA Today.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
Town Administrator Machalek provided an update on the construction grant program
application which has received 41 applications for the direct grant and 26 applications for
Board of Trustees - June 25,2024 - Page 2
the marketing grant. He also congratulated the Estes Park Museum on their new
temporary exhibit titled "One of a Kind: Art from the Estes Park Museum."
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Bills.
2. Town Board and Study Session Minutes dated June 1 1,2024.
3. Appointment to the Estes Park Housing Authority Board of Commissioners of
James Jameson to complete a term expiring April 30, 2028.
4. Resolution 55-24 Contract with Howard Bartlett for Assistant Municipal Judge
Services through April 28, 2026.
It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Cenac) to approve the Consent Agenda,and
no vote was taken as the substitute motion passed.
The Board discussed whether it was necessary to have the Town Board Minutes
approved by a separate vote if a Town Board Member was absent for a meeting. A
substitute motion was made (Hazelton/Cenac) to approve the Consent Agenda with
the removal of Consent Agenda Item 2, and it passed unanimously.
It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Cenac) to approve Consent Agenda Item 2,
and it passed with Trustee Lancaster abstaining.
REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS: (Outside Entities).
1. OVERVIEW OF VISIT ESTES PARK (VEP) 2023 ANNUAL REPORT AND
VISITOR INTERCEPT SURVEY. VEP CEO Franker presented the 2023 Annual
Report and Visitor Intercept Survey. She stated the Town had 4.1 million visitors
in 2023 and highlighted the length of visitor stays, public relations efforts, Lodging
Tax receipts of $9.3 million, and construction campaign components. The Board
discussed the previous Annual Visitor's Guide and the Vacationland Visitor's
Guide, the costs of producing a printed guide, opportunities for visitation
forecasting and the benefits, VEP's organizational structure, sales tax revenues
created from special events specifically Frozen Dead Guy Days, and the average
spending of visitors per day/night. It was determined the Visitor Intercept Survey
would be presented at a future meeting.
2. 2023 BASE FUNDING REPORT - ESTES VALLEY INVESTMENT IN
CHILDHOOD SUCCESS (EVICS) FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER. EVICS Board
Member Reed reported on the funding for EVICS Family Resource Center. She
highlighted the mission, values, and goals of the Center, the Family Pathway
Framework consisting of general services, center services, and family
development, and how their work dovetails with the Town of Estes Park Strategic
Plan. The Board discussed the ways EVICS provides support to the community.
3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE COUNCIL UPDATE.
President DePasquale and Chair Kraft provided an update on the council's work
since merging with the Chamber. They highlighted history of the merger, the
importance of economic development, current activities including a hospitality
training program and mini-classes, and receipt of the Office of Economic
Development and International Trade grant to support local marketing efforts. The
Board discussed the council's workforce housing education efforts, and the
number of graduates of the Business Accelerator Services of Estes program. The
Board requested future updates contain a progress report of the current initiatives.
4. FALL RIVER VILLAGE FUNDING DISCUSSION. Estes Park Housing Authority
Executive Director Moulton presented the potential purchase and use of Fall River
Village for workforce housing. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
(CHAFA) was pursuing the purchase of the property in April 2024 with EPHA as a
managing partner. CHAFA has since decided against the purchase. It was
Board of Trustees - June 25, 2024 - Page 3
suggested the EPHA and the Town could purchase Fall River Village, an existing
90-home development, for $35 million with an estimated replacement cost of $46.5
million. Director Moulton provided financing options using the Town's credit rating,
Certificates of Participation (COP), the Workforce Housing Linkage Fee, the
property acting as collateral, rent subsidies, dept buy-down, and potential funding
from State Proposition 123. He highlighted the 2023 housing needs assessment,
area median income (AMI) breakdown for one and two person households, and
the units. The Board discussed impacts of CoPs on the Town's future borrowing
capacity, potential of the project, funding sources of the Town, the impact of the
project, other anticipated 6E Fund needs, 6E Fund cashflows, likelihood of
Proposition 123 funding and its components, identified uses of the Workforce
Housing Regulatory Linkage Fee, the reasons for CHAFA withdrawing from the
purchase, annual appropriations clauses required for CoPs, occupancy rates of
EPHA properties, back-up assurances should Town emergencies arise, the
number of waitlist applicants that would fit the proposed rent needs, AMI
restrictions of the project, and operation of some units as short term rentals. It was
determined for EPHA and Town staff to continue research on the potential
purchase and provide further information to the Town Board at a future meeting.
It was moved and seconded (HazeltonA^ounglund) to extend the meeting past 10:00
p.m., and it passed unanimously with Mayor Pro Tem Cenac and Trustee Igel voting "No."
PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS: Items reviewed by Planning Commission or staff for
Town Board Final Action.
1. ACTION ITEMS:
A. ORDINANCE 09-24, ZONING MAPAMENiplVIENT FOR 540 AND 550 WEST
ELKHQRN AVENUE, ELKHORN PLAZA ASSOCIATION, OWNER/JOE
COOP. VAN HORN ENGINEERING, APPLICANT. The applicant requested
the public hearing be continued to a future meeting. Planner Hornbeck stated
no objection. It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Cenac) to continue
Ordinance 09-24 to July 9, 2024, and it passed unanimously.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. ORDINANCE 10-24 AMENDINGLMUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 12 RELOCATION
UNDERGRQUND OF OVERHEAD ELECTRICITY AND COMMUNICATIONS
FACILITIES. Mayor Hall opened the public hearing and Director Bergsten,
Attorney Kramer, and Special Counsel Dittman presented the Ordinance to
require overhead utility lines be relocated underground during redevelopment
projects. As the undergrounding of overhead utilities has not been previously
mandated, Staff has encountered delays and lack of urgency with investor-owned
utilities to underground these lines. The Board discussed what similar
communities do regarding the undergrounding of utilities, frequency of the Town
is undergrounding overhead lines, and responsibilities to maintain Town vacated
poles. Mayor Hall closed the public hearing and it was moved and seconded
(Brown/Younglund) to approve Ordinance 10-24, and it passed unanimously.
2. RESOLUTION 56-24 SMALL CELL FACILITIES MASTER LICENSE
AG REEMENT WITH CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS.
Attorney Kramerand Special Counsel Dittman presented a resolution for a license
agreement with Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless to allow small cell
wireless telecommunications facilities, as required by federal and state law. The
facilities consist of small antennas and equipment which would be incorporated
as part of streetlight poles. The Estes Park Municipal Code Chapter 14 requires
the installation of small cell facilities be governed by a licensing agreement with
each individual provider. Should the agreement be approved, staff adoption of
further technical design criteria would follow. It was moved and seconded
(Lancaster/Cenac) to approve Resolution 56-24, and it passed unanimously.
3. RESOLUTION 57-24 SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING DATES OF JULY 23,
2024 AND AUGUST 13, 2024 FOR ELECTRIC RATE INCREASES. Director
Board of Trustees - June 25,2024 - Page 4
Bergsten presented the resolution to set the public hearing for electric rate
increases for July 23, 2024 and August 13, 2024. The Town performs a financial
rate study every three years to ensure utility revenues and expenditures remain
balanced. As presented to the Board at the March 12, 2024 Study Session, due
to unprecedented increases in operations, staff proposes an overall rate increase
of 5.0% starting October 2024. He highlighted the rate study process and
distribution of utilities. It was moved and seconded (Younglund/Hazelton) to
approve Resolution 57-24, and it passed unanimously.
4. 2025 PROVISIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN. The Town Board held Strategic
Planning Sessions on May 31, 2024 and June 18, 2024. Adoption of the 2025
Provisional Strategic Plan would provide staff with a formally-adopted document
to inform and guide development of the 2025 proposed budget, and track and
report changes to the Strategic Plan during the budget process. Edits in red reflect
areas where the Board requested staff draft language for clarification. The Final
2025 Strategic Plan would be presented for adoption in conjunction with the 2025
Budget. The Board discussed striking "2024 Carryover" from Utility Infrastructure
Objective 4.B.2 and directed staff to reward Public Safety, Health, and
Environment Objective 1.1 to "Explore arborist licensing program based on
direction from Town Board." It was moved and seconded (Younglund/Hazelton)
to approve the 2025 Provisional Strategic Plan, and it passed unanimously.
REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1. 6E ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT. Manager Bangs presented the Annual
Financial Report for the expenditures of 6E funds for workforce housing and
childcare. She highlighted the history of 6E funds, 2023 revenues totaling $5.3
million with $625,000 to childcare and $4.75 million to workforce housing, the
annual timeline, breakdown of fund distributions for both childcare and workforce
housing, and provided a workforce housing 6E cash flow summary. The Board
discussed feedback from entities who received funds and the difference between
the workforce grant and workforce subsidy.
2. ESTES VALLEY CHILDCARE NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC PLAN-
FINAL REPORT. Manager Bangs, Sarah Hughes, Groundswell for Good, LLC,
and Beth Melton, Melton Strategic Solutions presented the final Estes Valley
Childcare Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan for use of 6E Funds to support
access to childcare for the local workforce. The needs assessment identified the
declining youth population, changes in childcare supply, childcare capacity for
different age ranges, estimates for additional childcare slots for different age
ranges, provider experiences and struggles, and two projected demand scenarios
including the continuation of recent population trends and investments in workforce
housing which could affect the need for childcare. The Strategic Plan highlighted
the vision, values, success metrics, and goals for childcare which consist of
1)Retaining existing staff and recruit new staff and providers, 2)lncrease and
maintain facility capacity, 3)Support the retention of new and existing providers
through financial sustainability while maintaining affordability for families, and
4)lncrease childcare capacity in areas of highest need. The Board discussed the
interest of childcare providers in opening new childcare facilities, barriers of
opening new facilities, and the cost benefits of the assessment.
Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 11:35
'Kimberly Disney, Recording Secretary