HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2024-09-24Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, September 24, 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 24th day of September, 2024.
Present: Gary Hall, Mayor
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
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk
Absent: None
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the
Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA APPROVAL.
It was moved and seconded (HazeltonA^ounglund) to approve the Agenda, and it
passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
Joanie Crockett/Town resident commented on the neighboring commercial property that
once was a quiet operation and has since added an outdoor venue that now hosts four to
five weddings a weekend and increased noise for the adjacent neighborhood.
Steve Krueger/Town resident and Director of Restoration Ranch Colorado thanked Mayor
Hall, Trustee Igel and Peggy Young for their support of the first responder day at this
year's Scotsfest. He further thanked members of the Police and the Fire department for
assisting and attending this year's event. The Estes Park Noon and Sunrise Rotary have
planned a visit to the Ranch to see firsthand the work being done at the ranch.
John Guffey/Town resident stated he appreciated the conversation at the study session
related to noise. He spoke to the need for the Town, its citizens and guests to respect
and care for the natural environment and ecosystem of the valley.
Laura Rustin/Town resident commented on the three initiated ordinances submitted by
members of Protect Estes Park (PEP) for review and approval by the Town Clerk that
were rejected to their form. She stated concern with the summaries provided by the Town
Clerk commenting they are confusing and shrouded in legalese. She further stated the
ballot question at the April Municipal Election was confusing and PEP suspects due to
the language individuals did not vote on the question which failed by less than 100 votes.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS.
Trustee comments were heard and summarized: Trustee Brown and Attorney Kramer
attended a CM L municipal law seminar; Trustee Brown clarified his wife owns The Estes
Voice and that he has no ownership; the Town's Finance Director generally has access
to the monthly sales tax information from the state 45 days after the end of the month,
Town staff analysis and generates a report approximately 10 days later, and that the raw
monthly sales tax figure can be released prior to the analysis at an individual's request;
the month of October recognizes Conflict Resolution and citizens were encouraged to get
involved with programs organized by Restorative Justice and the Estes Valley Library;
Visit Estes Park (VEP) held a joint study session with the Larimer County Commissioners
Board of Trustees - September 24,2024 - Page 2
and Estes Park Town Board to receive comments on their 2025 operating plan; VEP held
a special meeting to discuss the organization's board governance, sunshine law, and how
to build consensus; the next VEP meeting would consider the selection of SearchWide
Global to recruit for the next VEP Executive Director/CEO, the approval of the revised
2025 operating plan, and contract consideration for the interim Executive Director/CEO;
discussion on the development of a dementia daycare service to provide respite to
caregiver has begun; Sister Cities would hold their annual meeting and fund drive and all
were encouraged to attend; Audit Committee meet to discuss the 2023 audit report to be
presented to the Town Board at the October 8, 2024 meeting; the community was
encouraged to get the latest COVID vaccine and to take precautions; the Planning
Commission met and reviewed upcoming changes to the development code; the Estes
Valley Water Coalition met and commented on the need to update the wildlife regulations
within the development code; Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) met and received a
report on improvements to river capacity, and reviewed the Visitor Center parking lot
redesign to address the interface of passengers and transit; Police Auxiliary are preparing
to address wildlife interactions and to increase enforcement of wheeled objects on
downtown sidewalks; the Board and the community need to be clear on the difference
between workforce housing versus affordable housing during housing conversations;
there are a few items that need to be addressed now that the Loop has been completed;
and the Public Works and Police personnel were thanked for their efforts during the Loop
construction.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
Town Administrator Machalek noted he had nothing to report.
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Bills.
2. Town Board Meeting and Study Session Minutes dated September 10,2024.
3. Planning Commission minutes dated August 20, 2024 (acknowledgment only).
It was moved and seconded (Igel/Brown) to approve the Consent Agenda,and
it passed unanimously.
ACTION ITEMS:
RESOLUTION 76-24 CONCERNING THE ESTES PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY
AND ITS HOUSING REVENUE NOTES REGARDING THE FALL RIVER VILLAGE
PROJECT. The Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA) entered into a contract to
purchase the Fall River Village development consisting of 90 units to be used as
workforce housing with a closing scheduled for September 27, 2024. The Town Board
approved Resolution 67-24 committing the workforce housing regulatory linkage fee
funds, and potentially 6E lodging tax extension funds to assist EPHA with the debt
service for the $40 million loan. The financing structure requires the Town to approve
a moral obligation resolution to ensure the debt would be paid off by EPHA, the Town
would back the obligation by ensuring Town funds would be used to purchase the
property, and should EPHA debt service drop below an identified level, the Town
would be expected, but not required, to make up the deficit. The Town could risk its
credit rating being impacted if the Town were to decline to cover the deficit, and would
thereby be viewed negatively in the financial market, and could lead to a downgrade
of the Town's issuer credit rating, and impact the Town's ability to borrow in the future.
The closing would be contingent on the Town's approval of Resolution 76-24.
Peter Levine/Estes Park Housing Authority noted the Authority would assume
operations of the property on November 18' 2024 and begin leasing units on
December 1, 2024. He reviewed a financial presentation noting a current financial
gap of $2.425 million at a 1.12% debt ratio. A number of items impacted the current
gap, including Prop 123 funding increasing to $7 million, confirming a tax exempt
interest rate with a high of 4%, and one lender to avoid mezzanine debt. The debt
service reserve must contain one year principal and interest at approximately $1.4
Board of Trustees - September 24,2024 - Page 3
million. The debit service would be funded with rental revenues, workforce housing
regulatory linkage fees, and 6E funds for housing. The risk to the Town related to
debt service would be low and there remains a significant buffer in funding previously
dedicated by the Town Board through the approval of the previous Resolution 67-24.
Town Board comments and questions were heard and summarized: questioned why
the Board could not vote to approve the debt service rather than the moral obligation;
concerned how this may impact Tabor, questioned the timing of the sell of the upper
units to assist with the debt service; and questioned if the financing method has been
commonly used for these types of projects.
It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Cenac) to approve Resolution 76-24, and
it passed with Trustee Igel voting "No".
REQUEST TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION:
It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Younglund) to approve entering into
Executive Session for the purposes of receiving legal advice on specific legal
questions per CRS Section 24-6-402(4)(b) - Petitions for Initiated Ordinances
Regarding the Estes Park Development Code., and it passed unanimously.
The Board entered Executive Session at 8:22 p.m. and concluded at 9:20 p.m.
Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 9:21 p.m.
Gary Hall, IVfeyo^
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ickie Williamson, Town Clerk