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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2025-04-08Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, April 8, 2025 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 8th day of April, 2025. 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 7:00 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the Pledge of Allegiance. PROCLAMATION. Mayor Hall proclaimed April 21, 2025 through April 28, 2025 as International Dark Skies Week in the Town of Estes Park. AGENDA APPROVAL. It was moved and seconded (Brown/Cenac) to approve the Agenda, and it passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS, Shawn JurgensA/isit Estes Park Board Chair stated the Board held a special meeting to consider a response to Trustee Hazelton's letter to the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners requesting a joint meeting to discuss the governance of the VEP Board and possible replacement of the current Board. He read a prepared statement rebutting the concerns outline in the letter by Trustee Hazelton. Aleta Kazadi/Town resident requested consideration to exempt lower-income, senior homeowners from the cap on residential vacation home licenses and from the waitlist moratorium. TRUSTEE COMMENTS. Trustee Hazelton stated she sent a letter to the Larimer County Commissioners outlining her concerns with the Visit Estes Park Board, and questioned if the Board would support a joint meeting with the County Commissioners. After further discussion, the Board consensus was to support a joint meeting with the County Commissioners. Trustee Igel stated concern with the comments the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) Chair Belle Morris made at the March 19, 2025 TAB meeting of in regards to Trustee Igel's comments at the March 11, 2025 meeting. He requested an action item at the next Board meeting to discuss the Transportation Advisory Board to address operations of a Board that serves at the pleasure of the Town Board, the appointment process, and the role of advisory board members. The Board consensus was to add the action item to the April 22, 2025 meeting. Board comments were heard and have been summarized: members of the board attended the municipal court, League of Women Voters Hospital Board voter forum, The Voice voter forum for the Estes Valley Recreation and Parks District Board and the Estes Valley Fire Protection District Board, and the Estes Park High School Environmental Film Board of Trustees - April 8,2025 - Page 2 Festival; the Larimer County Behavioral Health Council has begun accepting grants through June; and VEP has hired two new employee, Eric Woodside and Margolee Pemberton, planning the next Estes Experience, and begun discussions on a tourism master plan. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT. Town Administrator Machalek recognized staff members from IT for their assistance with the recent voter forums, and water operators who have been working long hours to ensure the town has high quality water during the seasonal change. Colorado Municipal League (CML) have a call to action over concerns with HB 25-1169 which would allow the construction of residental developments on faith and educational institution lands with no regard to local codes, build up to 45 feet, and no maximum density. The Board consensus was to have Town Attorney Kramer write a letter in opposition to the bill. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Bills 2. Town Board Meeting & Study Session Minutes dated March 25,2025. 3. Town Board & Estes Park Planning Commission Joint Study Session Minutes dated March 18,2025. 4. Transportation Advisory Board Minutes dated February 19, 2025 (acknowledgement only). 5. Resolution 24-25 Services Contract with RATP DEV USA Inc for 2025 Operation of the Peak (Estes Transit) $569,449.29 Budgeted. 6. Resolution 28-25 Memorandum of Understanding with the Estes Park Housing Authority to Assign Rights to Properties for Affordable Housing Enabled by HB 24- 1175. 7. Resolution 25-25 Setting the Public Hearing for a New Hotel & Restaurant Liquor License Application for JWC Elevations LLC dba Stanley Chocolate Factory, 157 W. Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado. It was moved and seconded (Igel/Cenac) to approve the Consent Agenda, and it passed unanimously. REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS: (Outside Entities). 1. ESTES PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY (EPHA) DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. Director Moulton and Manager Mabry reviewed a new down payment assistance program developed by the Authority and recently approved by the EPHA Board. The program aims to support the local workforce in purchasing a home in the valley with median sales price for a single-family home in 2024 approaching $809,000 and an attached townhome/condominium at $580,000. The program seeks to add to the available tools and options available to the workforce by providing them with an opportunity to use an enhanced shared equity down payment assistance program. The program would use the following parameters: partner with Impact Development Fund to administer the program, qualification, and monitoring; lawful presense required, may not own other real property at the time of closing; income and workforce restricted; loan of up to 20% of purchase with a maximum sales price of $650,000, to be adjusted annually by home inflation rate calculated by the Estes Park Board of Realtors; buyer to contribute 1 .5% of purchase or $6,000, whichever may be greater; maximum loan to value of 105% of purchase price; maximum debt-to-income of 45%; 150% maximum AMI adjusted for household size; borrower and co-borrower may not have assets of one and one half times the annual household income, excluding retirement; and the loan would become due upon sale, transfer, refinance, or no longer the primary residence, or upon death of the buyer. Board comments and questions were heard and summarized: questioned what would happen if a home loses equity; what types of housing would qualify for the assistance; Board of Trustees - April 8, 2025 - Page 3 stated there continues to be a gap in providing workforce with affordable home ownership in the Estes Valley; questioned the limited funds a homeowner would need to provide; and question the limitation on the number of applicants the program could support. EPHA staff stated the funding would be available to all housing type with the exception of anything on wheels; additional funds would be allocated for the program as the need evolves; and EPHA has requested the homeowner to provide more funding than the Development Impact Fund requires for other programs. 2. BASE FUNDING REPORT - ESTES VALLEY INVESTMENT 1M CHILDHOOD SUCCESS. Executive Director Rut Miller reviewed a report outlining the impact of the $30,000 base funding provided by the Town to the organization. She stated the funding remains critical in covering the cost of the essential functionals such as rent and utilities. The funding ensures the organization can directly provide services, including family development, provider support outreach, and community education. She further acknowledged the importance of the 6E funding that has been provided to fund childcare tuition assistance. The funds supported 58 children in 2024. ACTION ITEMS: 1. RESOLUTION 26-25 SUPPORTING PLATTE RIVER POWER AUTHORITY'S (PRPAL1041 LAND USE PERMIT APPLICATION FOR AERODERIVATIVE TURBINES AT THE RAWHIDE ENERGY STATION. Mayor Hall opened the public hearing. Director Bergsten stated the proposed resolution would support Platte River Power Authority's (PRPA) 1041 land use permit application 24-ZONE3715 for the installation of flexible, fast-start aeroderivative natural gas turbines at the Rawhide Energy Station to increase renewables and reliably and affordably retire the current coal plant. The five turbines would support PRPA's goal of achieving a 100% non- carbon resource mix by 2030. PRPA's 2024 Integrated Resource Plan includes a diverse set of tools: the addition of battery storage, the development of a virtual power plant (VPP), and the installation of fast-response aeroderivative turbines. While batteries and the VPP provide critical grid flexibility, only the aeroderivative turbines currently offer the fast-start, dispatchable capacity needed to ensure reliability during extended periods of low renewable output. The project has received technical and environmental scrutiny and Larimer County staff found it meets County criteria for land use and environmental standards; however, it has also drawn significant public opposition focused on climate concerns. The Larimer County Commissioners have requested additional information and extended deliberations to April 21, 2025. The proposed resolution affirms the importance of the project for maintaining electric reliability and affordability while enabling coal plant retirement and further renewable deployment. It further urges the Larimer County Board of Commissioners to approve the permit. Town Board comments and questions were heard and summarized: PRPA adopted the Integrated Resource Plan that demonstrated this option would keep rate increase lower than other options; dependability and reliability are more important than the fast track to sustainability; and questioned if other PRPA communities were in support. Mayor Hall closed the public hearing. It was moved and seconded (Lancaster/Cenac) to approve Resolution 26-25, and it passed unanimously. 2. ORDINANCE 04-25 AMENDING SECTION 5.3 OF THE ESTES PARK DEVELOPMENT CODE REGARDING VEHICLE BASED ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SEASONAL EMPLOYEES. Mayor Hall opened the public hearing. Planner Washam presented the ordinance to extend the pilot progam approved with the passage of Ordinance 06-24 in April 2024 by the Town Board to allow vehicle based accommodations for seasonal employees (VBASE). The program allow qualified individuals to use an RV or similar vehicle as a temporary dwelling unit on private commercial property pursuant to Section 5.3D.7 of the Estes Park Development Code. The program was opened on May 1, 2024 and closed October 31, 2024 with no applications submitted; however, staff received inquires. A sun/ey elicited one response that noted the need for full hookup as a limiting factor of the program. Staff Board of Trustees - April 8,2025 - Page 4 does not recommend changes to the regulations. The ordinance would extend the program for an additional year ending April 30, 2026. Kent Smith/Town resident stated the Chamber has discussed the issue and noted additional marketing to businesses of the opportunity was needed. Town Board comments and questions were heard and summarized: stated the Town needs to provide additional outreach to the business community; questioned if the program could be expanded to include residential property; stated there are a number of limitations in the current code due to setbacks and utility connections; dry camping should be reviewed and perhaps allowed with strict guidelines; limit the use to self- contained vehicles with wastewater and water tanks; the concept may address seasonal housing that has not been addressed in other discussions; and a survey should be conducted to understand how employers in town are addressing seasonal housing for employees. Staff responded to Town Board questions stating staff would work with the Town's PIO office, Economic Development and Workforce Council, and the Chamber to communicate the program to business owners; and staff would not recommend allowing the use on residential properties due to conflicts with the current code language and the impacts on the neighboring properties. After further discussion, Mayor Hall closed the public hearing. It was moved and seconded (Igel/Hazelton) to approve Ordinance 04-25, and it passed unanimously. It was noted that amendments to the current code language would be proposed, reviewed by Planning Commission, and then brought forward for the Board's consideration. 3. RESOLUTION 27-25 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES^AGREEMENT WITH DESIGN WORKSHOP FOR THE 2045 PARKS & OPEN SPACES MASTER PLAN. Supervisor Berg commented a Request for Proposals was issued January 2025 to develop a 2045 Parks and Open Space Master Plan to provide a road map for the future capital improvement projects with a phased and methodical approach for the next 20 years. Six proposals were received and evaluated by a selection committee with the top two firms invited to an interview. Following the interviews, the selection committee determined Design Workshop would meet the Town's needs for the project. Staff recommends engaging Design Workship through a professional services agreement not-to-exceed $150,000 to develop the Plan with the inclusion of chapters on water-conscious landscapting and pocket parks. It was moved and seconded (HazeltonA'ounglund) to approve Resolution 27-25, and it passed unanimously. 4. INTERVIEW COMMITTEES FOR THE ESTES PARK BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, ESTES PARK PLANNING COMMISSION, ESTES PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD. The open positions on Town boards and committees have been advertised and in accordance with the Town Board's Policy Governance Policy 106 interview committees must be established. It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Cenac) to approve the appointment of Trustees Brown and Younlund to the Estes Park Board of Adjustment interview committee, and it passed unanimously. It was moved and seconded (Hall/Younglund) to approve the appointment of Trustees Lancaster and Hazelton to the Estes Park Planning Commission interview committee, and it passed unanimously. It was moved and seconded (Cenac/Younglund) to approve the appointment of Trustees Brown and Lancaster to the Estes Park Housing Authority Board of Commissioners interview committee, and it passed unanimously. It was moved and seconded (Younglund/Cenac) to approve the appointment of Trustees Igel and Hall to the Transportation Advisory Board interview committee, and it passed unanimously. Board of Trustees - April 8, 2025 - Page 5 REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1. ESTES PARK DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT TO ^ALLOW INDOOR CAROUSELS AS A PERMITTED ACCESSORY USE IN TH^COMMERCIAL DOWNTOWN (CD) ZONING DISTRICT. Director Careccia reviewed a proposed text amendment that would allow carousels in the CD Commercial Downtown zoning district. He noted the current development code language limits indoor commercial recreation establishments as a use by right to indoor movie theaters and theatrical space for dramatic, musical or live performances; indoor billiards, pool and other table games. Staff in review of the code determined that a carousel could not be considered a use by right or an accessory use with the current definition. Intensive recreation and entertainment uses are intended for the CO Outlying Commercial zoning district. He noted the proposed code amendmentwould allow an indoor carousel as an accessory use in the CD zoning district; however, stand-alone amendments conducted outside the comprehensive development code update may pose logistical issues. A legal notice was published to consider the amendment on April 4, 2025 and no opposition had been received to date. Town Board comments and questions were heard and have been summarized: questioned if the proposed code amendent was being specific for a reason; commented the amendment should clarify the carousel would need to be indoor; stated a carousel on the west end of Elkhorn Avenue could be an anchor or a destination; noise from a carousel should be considered; and the consensus was to bring the amendment forward to the April 22, 2025 meeting as noticed by staff. Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m. -L Gary HallJVI^ypr ^s^__ . 3^ . ^ i^ ^r~^ . 0 Q_c_oi--t-~^^2n_-v^ ;kie Williamson, Town Clerk