HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2025-04-22RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado April 22, 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 22nd day of April, 2025.
Board: Mayor Hall, Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustees Brown,
Hazelton, Igel, Lancaster and Younglund
Attending: Mayor Hall, Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustees Brown,
Hazelton, Igel, and Younglund
Also Attending: Town Administrator Machalek, Deputy Town Administrator
Damweber, Attorney Kramer, Recording Secretary Campbell
Absent: Trustee Lancaster
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
ELECTRIC RATE STUDY. Director Bergsten provided the Board with an Electric Rate
Study Proposed Rate Plan presentation which provided the process, financial forecast,
proposed revenue increase plan and next steps. The financial forecast would determine
the revenue requirements of the utility during the specific study period. Cost allocation
allows the unbundling of costs by function and service which classify costs and
allocates costs among customer classes, thereby resulting in a rate design. The
objective of the rate study would be to provide revenue stability and simplicity within
legislative and regulatory compliance. Failure to have rates that are not well designed or
aligned with cost of service could result in financial instability, potential for cost recovery
not matching incurred costs, potential to over or under recover costs, or ensure revenue
adequacy. If rate increases are not implemented the result would be a drawdown of
cash reserves and days cash on hand, reduction to debt service coverage, higher rate
increases would be needed in later years, and potential for rate shock. The rate
increases are estimated to be 4% - 5% for the next three years to avoid an additional
rate study. Based on this data, the next steps would be updating the model based on
strategic planning meeting results, cost of service analysis, and rate design. The rate
design would include rate changes by customer class and rate component and
alignment with cost of service. After further discussion, it was agreed that additional
community engagement would be needed at an upcoming meeting as it provides an
opportunity for discussion and education for the residents to understand the various
factors that play a part in the rate design, as well as receiving more community
feedback. The Board requested Megan Helper, NewGen Strategies and Solutions
Consultant be present to provide a deeper understanding of the process. An action
item would be presented to the Board on May 13, 2025 in order to set the public hearing
dates.
ANNEXATION POLICY. Senior Planner Hornbeck presented an update from the
November 12, 2024 Study Session where the Board requested additional information on
other jurisdictions within Larimer County, the cost and benefit of annexation, the
vacation home impact on revenue when annexing residential, and the treatment of
extraterritorial water service. Input from the Board was requested regarding a potential
annexation policy for the Town and a potential intergovernmental agreement between
the Town and Larimer County on annexation and development in the Estes Valley, it
was determined that Larimer County has intergovernmental agreements in place with
Berthoud, Fort Collins, Loveland, Timnath and Windsor for land use and development
which include annexation. Detailed economic analysis of annexations are normally
prepared for large annexations to help a governing body understand potential impacts.
Staff stated studies are not warranted for many potential annexations in Estes Park; one
could be prepared but would require the expertise of a third-party consultant at a cost to
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session - April 22, 2025 - Page 2
either the Town or the applicant. The Town staff could prepare an analysis but with
significant staff time required. The existing or proposed land use of a potential
annexation would allow for generalizations of the fiscal impact to the Town. Compact
residential developments are less of a cost burden and would be able to "pay for itself
due to additional tax revenue and efficient use of infrastructure. Commercial
developments are typically a net positive due to the higher property tax rate and the
potential sales tax that would be generated. Vacation homes generate revenue on
average of $2,684 in sales tax to the Town, based on the 5% sales tax based on
assumptions from the Vacation Rental Fee Study. Municipal Code section 13.24.120
addresses an extraterritorial water service which would require all applicants for water
service outside the boundaries of the Town to annex their property, if required by the
Town. Current eligible properties are in the Mary's Lake Road corridor, Prospect
Mountain, and Carriage Hills, including partially annexing Mary's Lake Road and other
streets that require road work. The Town would incur the cost of bringing the roadways
up to standards and maintaining the roadway at a significant cost to the Town, well
exceeding the property taxes collected.
Town Board discussion and questions were heard and summarized: voiced concerns
and raised questions about annexing a property where services are not provided and
properties that are not eligible; requested additional information as to how many short-
term rental properties would be affected by this policy, as well as the effect on code
enforcement and required staff time; stated the information provided was very insightful;
agreed with having control of property but at what cost; expressed the need for the
community to reach out to the Mayor and Trustees or staff to voice their concerns or
questions before any decision can be reached; and the Board agreed to continue the
discussion on an annexation policy and intergovernmental agreement between the
Town and Larimer County on annexation and development in the Estes Valley.
TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
None.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Town Administrator Machalek proposed and the Board agreed to schedule the Water
Master Plan - Collaborative Development of Treatment Alternatives to the July 8, 2025
meeting.
Town Administrator Machalek proposed and the Board agreed to schedule the Vacation
Homes and Individual Accommodation Units, Vacation Home License Transferability,
and the HR Strategic Plan to the June 10, 2025 meeting.
COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
None.
There being no further business, Mayor Hajl adjourned the meeting at 4:56 p.m.
C^h^O OfLnun^, U.
Gretal Campbell, Recording Secretary