HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Strategic Plan Study Session 2024-05-31RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado May 31, 2024
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town of
Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in the
Board Room in said Town of Estes Park on the 31st day of May, 2024.
Board: Mayor Hall, Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustees Brown,
Hazelton, Igel, Lancaster and Younglund
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Machalek, Deputy Town Administrator
Damweber, and Recording Secretary Disney
Absent: None
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR 2025.
Town Administrator Machalek provided an overview of the strategic planning process
which would include a review of the Mission, Vision, Outcome Areas, and Policy
Statements in the first meeting and the second meeting would include a review of the
goals and objectives. The final provisional strategic plan would be reviewed by the
Board in June 2024 and would help guide the proposed 2025 budget which would come
before the Board in Fall 2024. He stated the 2025 budget would be tighter in anticipation
of lower sales tax revenues and construction impacts.
REVIEW MISSION. VISION, AND OUTCOME AREAS.
The Board reviewed the Mission, Vision, and Outcome Areas of the Town and noted the
perception of prioritizing guests in both the Vision statement and the order of the
outcome areas. The Board determined to reorder the Mission before the Vision, to
rename Outstanding Community Services to Exceptional Community Services, rename
Exceptional Guest Services to Outstanding Guest Sen/ices, rename Infrastructure to
Utility Infrastructure, and to maintain the order of outcome areas with no rank-ordering
or prioritization.
REVIEW STRATEGIC POLICY STATMENTS.
Exceptional Community Services - Estes Park is an exceptionally vibrant, diverse,
inclusive, and active mountain community in which to live, work, and play with housing
available for all segments in our community.
Board discussed and determined to replace the use of "visitor" with "guest" throughout
the plan.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 3: We support a family-friendly community.
Statement 6: We have an up-to-date Comprehensive Plan and Development Code that
reflect the will of the community.
Statement 7: We are committed to improving community accessibility for residents and
guests from diverse cultures and residents and guests with disabilities.
Statement 8: We enact policies that collectively support all demographic segments of
the community.
Statement 9: We value the Estes Park Museum's work to presen/e, share, and respect
the unique history of Estes Park, and incorporate that history into our decision-making
process.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session - May 31, 2024 - Page 2
Statement 10: We support public art and creative endeavors.
Governmental Services and Internal Support - We provide high-quality support for
all municipal services.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 2: We attract and retain high-quality staff by being an employer of choice,
including offering highly competitive benefits and wages, and encouraging work-life
balance.
Statement 8: We operate with transparency, maintaining open communication with all
community members and proactively making Town information available to the public.
Statement 10: We maintain a robust, transparent, accessible, and user-friendly public-
facing website.
New Statement: We ensure that our facilities are well-maintained and meet the needs of
Town Departments and the community.
Outstanding Guest Services - We are a preferred Colorado mountain destination
providing an exceptional guest experience.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 2: We provide and support high-quality events that attract guests to the
Town.
Statement 4: We balance data-driven decisions with community values when serving
our guests and residents using up-to-date and relevant data.
Statement 5: To be deleted.
Statement 7: We work to ensure that Estes Park is a sustainable tourism destination.
Public Safety, Health, and Environment - Estes Park is a safe place to live, work,
and visit within our extraordinary natural environment.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 1: To be deleted.
Statement 2: We are committed to safeguarding the lives and property of the people we
serve.
Statement 3: We are committed to fairness and support for victims of crime and
disasters.
Statement 4: We value the importance of maintaining a local emergency communication
center to serve the Estes Valley.
Statement 5: We strive to enhance the safety of emergency responders.
Statement 7: We train and prepare to fully and immediately respond to community
emergencies.
Statement 9: We recognize the importance of behavioral health in our community and
work with local and regional partners to improve mental health safety, treatment, and
awareness.
New Statement: We support environmental stewardship and sustainability through our
policies and actions.
Robust Economy - We have a diverse, healthy, year-round economy.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session - May 31, 2024 - Page 3
Statement 1: We foster an inclusive, robust, and sustainable economy based on a triple-
bottom-line model, considering economic, social, and environmental impacts and
benefits.
Statement 3: We support a diverse economy, attracting and serving a broad range of
current and potential stakeholders.
Statement 4: We recognize the importance of a vibrant, attractive, and economically
viable downtown.
Statement 5: We support investment and revitalization in all of the Town's commercial
areas.
Statement 6: We support economic development efforts led by other organizations.
Statement 7: To be deleted.
Statement 8: To be deleted.
New Statement: We recognize the benefits of shopping locally and will actively support
our local businesses and the local economy.
Town Financial Health -We will maintain a strong and sustainable financial condition,
balancing expenditures with available revenues, including adequate cash reserves for
future needs and unanticipated emergencies.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 1: We maintain up-to-date financial policies, tools, and controls that reflect
the financial philosophy of the Board.
Statement 2: We make data-driven financial decisions.
New Statement - We will consider the most effective financing strategy for large capital
projects on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that each financing package is appropriately
tailored to the project under consideration.
Transportation - We have safe, efficient, and well-maintained multimodal
transportation systems for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and transit riders.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 1: We value the development and maintenance of having a sustainable,
accessible, and efficient multimodal transportation network.
Statement 2: We will address traffic congestion and improve traffic and pedestrian
safety throughout the Town.
Statement 3: We effectively communicate with residents and guests about the Town's
parking and transportation options.
Statement 4: We consider strategic, data-driven investments in technology that promote
the financial and environmental sustainability of the Town's parking and transportation
assets.
Statement 5: We identify and leverage local, regional, and national partnerships that
strengthen and extend the Town's parking and transportation system.
Statement 6: We consider the potential impacts of technology changes, including
electric and autonomous vehicles, and repurposing of parking structures, in all
transportation planning.
Statement 7: We will develop and maintain sidewalk and trail connectivity in the Estes
Valley in partnership with other entities.
New Statement: We will maintain a high-quality network of streets for our community.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session - May 31, 2024 - Page 4
New Statement: We identify and leverage local, regional, and national partnerships that
strengthen and extend the Town's parking and transportation system.
Utility Infrastructure - We have reliable, efficient, and up-to-date utility infrastructure
serving our community and customers.
The Board discussed adding a goal for implementing the ADA transition plan and
Stormwater Master Plan.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 1: We ensure high-quality reliability and redundant water service.
Statement 4: To be moved to Governmental Services and Internal Support.
Statement 5: We are proactive in our approach to mitigating flood risks.
Statement 7: We partner with the three other owner communities to advance Platte
River Power Authority towards our goal of a 100% noncarbon energy mix.
The Board discussed the potential of holding a special meeting for downtown business
support and it was determined to hold the discussion at the regular meeting on June 11,
2024. Town Administrator Machalek provided details for the next steps of the strategic
planning process and there being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the
meeting at 11:39 a.m.
"Kimberly Disney, Recording Secretary