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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2025-01-28RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado January 28, 2025 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 28th day of January, 2025. 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, Attorney Kramer, Recording Secretary Campbell Absent: None Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. SCOPING PROJECT FQR_ CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS ON THE BIG THOMPSON RIVER AND FALL RIVER. The presentation was a follow-up to the Study Session presentation on September 10, 2024 where design concepts were presented with regards to the Big Thompson River, at which time the Board advised their interest in learning about the design concepts along the Fall River. Engineer Waters and the consultants provided a presentation regarding the Scoping Project study, funded by the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program's Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant, which aims to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Results from the study performed by GEI Consultants included the complete design and build river corridor capacity improvements. The improvements include channel widening and/or deepening in the Big Thompson River and Fall River, as well as replacement of the Rockwell and Riverside bridges, and the pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure improvements. As of December 31, 2024, there are 141 active flood policies in Estes Park proper and does not include the unincorporated areas of Larimer County. Dr. Michael Scurlock with GEI Consulting advised that the goals of the study are to decrease how often and how severe the flooding would impact Estes Park. As well as reduce the potential property damage and improving public safety. There are two hurdles with the Benefit Cost Analysis which ensures that the overall project cost would be accepted by FEMA. The Environmental and Historic Preservation FEMA review has a set of guidelines that must be approved in order to obtain the grant money that would be needed for the project. Both of these items have been successfully completed with all required permits by EHP. The current issue at hand are the series of bridges in town that pressurize when the water rises due to the low height of the bridges. In order for water to flow under the bridges in a safe manner the capacity would need to increase below the bridges. The Riverside Drive bridge would need to have the water redistributed upstream to the Big Thompson River and Fall River, in order to achieve the desired capacity. Greg Muhonen/Public Works Director advised the objective of the project would be to increase the capacity in order to minimize the loss during a flood event. Dr. Michael Scurlock presented various design opportunities within this project which include mild swiftwater, accessible backwater, confluence access, Confluence Park (Hix Plaza) access and small hydraulic drops with little disruption to the wildlife and habitats. There are also design opportunities with regards to trails, such as, a connection to Moraine Ave. underpass, bridge over Fall River, bike path under a cantilevered walkway, bridge over Big Thompson River and a split path, and US 36 underpass. With RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town Board Study Session - January 28,2025 - Page 2 regards to the effect on utilities, there would be the removal of two existing sanitary sewer crossings and relocation of channel electric to bridges and upgrade/replace power throughout the project area. The Board agreed to a public presentation during a future Town Board meeting due to time restraints during the Study Session, the complexity of the project, the impact on the community and the discussion of funding. PROPOSED RESOLUTION SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS Town Administrator Machalek presented a draft resolution supporting immigrants in Estes Park which was proposed at the January 14th Town Board meeting. The feedback from the Board was varied with some Trustees advising that they would not be supporting the resolution versus other Trustees open to reaffirming the resolution with the option to have the discussion in a formal public meeting and not a study session, as well as possible amendments of the verbiage. After further conversation, Town Administrator Machalek would bring forth a resolution reaffirming Resolution #10-18 as an action item for future consideration by the Board. HB 24-1175 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RIGHTS TO PROPERTY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. Deputy Town Administrator Damweber stated the purpose of the discussion would be to determine if the new rights afforded by House Bill 24-1175 "Local Governments Rights to Property for Affordable Housings" should be assigned to the Estes Park Housing Authority. Specifically, HB 24-1175 permits the Town to assign 1) Right of First Refusal (ROFR) with regards to certain multi-family residential or mixed- use property with at least five units that are already affordable housing, and 2) a Right of First Offer (ROFO) for certain multi-family residential or mixed-use properties between 15-100 units regardless of affordability. An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the Town and the Estes Park Housing Authority would need to be in place to assign the new rights in the bill. Upon further consideration, the Board consensus was to bring forward an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA). TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS. None FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. Estes Park Health - question and answer session Childcare Policy 225 COMMENTS & QUESTIONS. None There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 6:49 p.m. ud-^hjA^ ILn Tw^k. 0 0 Gretal