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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2025-05-27Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, May 27, 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 27th day of May, 2025. Present: Gary Hall, Mayor Trustees Bill Brown Kirby Hazelton Mark Igel Frank Lancaster Also Present: Travis Machalek, Town Administrator Jason Damweber, Deputy Town Administrator Greg White, Special Counsel Bunny Victoria Beers, Deputy Town Clerk Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustee Younglund and Town Attorney Kramer Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the Pledge of Allegiance. AGENDA APPROVAL. It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Brown) to approved the Agenda, and it passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS. None. TRUSTEE COMMENTS. Board comments were heard and have been summarized: The Board acknowledged the passing of Kent Smith, active local longtime resident who was an asset to the Estes Park community; Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) continue to discuss the Transportation Plan, and suggested a brief statement from individual TAB members be included when submitting a support for an item; the Estes Valley Watershed Coalition and local students performed improvements to the detention basin at the Raven Subdivision utilizing grant funds; the May Trustee Talk was well attended and conversations included discussion on flock cameras with positive feedback; the Colorado Municipal League (CML) held their District meeting with discussion focused on the current legislative session; High School graduates were commended on their achievements and future prospects; Visit Estes Park (VEP) held a regular Board meeting where Mayor Pro Tem Cenac was sworn in as an additional Board member and CEO Zumbaugh was re-appointed for an additional limited term; VEP has retained CPSHR for a reported personnel issue; the VEP Tourism Master Plan was underway and the community can expect to receive a survey to provide feedback on resident sentiment; the 2024 Annual Report was published to the VEP website; an informal survey of the business community and the upcoming season was conducted and feedback was primarily positive and reflected reduced numbers in advanced booking; the Estes Park Housing Authority was in the final stages of approving a down-payment assistance program and received public comments on the workforce housing at Vista Ridge and resale equity; and the Economic Workforce & Development Council would offer courses as part of their mission to support growth and learning opportunities for local businesses and courses. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT. Town Administrator Machalek stated gratitude for the exemplary service of Kent Smith and stated sympathies to his family on his passing. Town Administrator Machalek introduced David Greear, Public Works Director and the Board welcomed him to the position with the Town. Board of Trustees - May 27,2025 - Page 2 CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Bills. 2. Town Board Meeting and Study Session Minutes dated May 13,2025. 3. Joint Meeting with the Town Board of Trustees and Larimer County Commissioners Minutes dated May 6, 2025. 4. Resolution 54-25 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between the Town and the Estes Park Museum Friends & Foundation, Inc. 5. Resolution 55-25 Contract with Northern Colorado Energy Solutions for the Museum Annex HVAC Units Replacement Project $114,655.50, Budgeted. 6. Resolution 56-25 Setting the Public Hearing for a New Hotel & Restaurant Liquor License Application for Indian Bites Inc. dba Indian Bites, 181 W. Riverside Drive, Estes Park, Colorado. 7. Resolution 57-25 Setting the Public Hearing for a New Tavern Liquor License Application for Park Theater Mail LLC dba The Slab, 116 E. Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado. 8. Resolution 58-25 Intergovernmental Agreement with the State of Colorado Department of Human Services for the Low-lncome Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). It was moved and seconded (Igel/Hazelton) to approve the Consent Agenda,and it passed unanimously. REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS: (Outside Entities). 1. DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE PROGRESS REPORT. Director Careccia stated the Development Code update began in February 2025, efforts have begun to develop a public engagement plan and a community open house was scheduled for June 25, 2025. Design Workshop, the project consultant team, completed a preliminary review of the code and provided an initial assessment of topic areas to address. The project would progress over the next 18-24 months in accordance with the project schedule which was presented. Erie Krohngold/Design Workshop introduced their team, provided project review, code update goals, opportunities and priority areas, and next steps. He highlighted and stated gratitude for community collaboration with the Estes Park Housing Authority, Estes Valley Fire Protection District, the Town of Estes Park and the Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire. Key goals for the code update included: Integrate the Estes Park Comprehensive Plan, Estes Forward, into the code; articulate the "why" in the regulations; integrate considerations from state legislation; consolidate dispersed information; ensure the code enables cross-department coordination; capture best practices in planning and building; and provide meaningful opportunities for the community to be engaged in the process. The initial opportunities from the code assessment included: codify comprehensive plan policies; update terminology and definitions; fix inconsistent and redundant language; add new and updated graphics; provide clear purpose statements to support understanding of different code sections; consolidate dispersed information; re-organize for clarity and ease of use; and integrate sustainability, wildlife, and wildfire protection elements. Code update priority areas included: cevelopment review regulations and process; criteria for development plans; wildfire, flood and natural hazard prevention; wildlife protection; outdoor lighting; housing; zone district alignment with the Future Land Use Map; permitted uses, definitions and standards; non-conforming use criteria; height, density, and setback requirements; transportation and parking; public notice and outreach; and code consolidation and navigation. The next steps would be to organize code recommendations (June-July), hold a Community Open House (June 25), participate in small focus groups (July-August), and an ongoing goal to launch the Board of Trustees - May 27,2025 - Page 3 website. The Board thanked the consultant and staff for the presentation and encouraged public participation in the various options for public input. 2. BASE FUNDING REPORT - SALUD CLINIC, John Santistevan/President & CEO reviewed the history and services of the clinic, and stated the Estes Park clinic served 1,540 patients and 5,792 visits in 2024. He reviewed Salud's current challenges including: Federal grant funding has not increased in 15 years, to keep up with increase in patients served or inflation; Medicaid unwind resulted in patients losing coverage; health inflation; recent threats to medicaid, and workforce recruitment/retention. Estes Park Salud Clinic specific challenges were comprised of difficulties recmiting/retaining professional staff, cost of living for staff, and changing patient demographics. The Estes Park Salud Foundation have provided community outreach and have raised over $500,000 through fundraising to assist with keeping the clinic open. He reviewed services and outreach efforts and stated Salud would be closely monitoring the legislative sessions and anticipated uninterrupted work with the assistance of fundraising. He stated two bills were passed including SB290 which would start a new fund comprised of $25 million in interest on unused property tax and $20 million from the Hospital Association and HB1288 which would add additional funding to support services. The Board asked whether the new DC Health Medical Center would be able to supplement community healthcare needs and if other legislative items were anticipated to provide additional assistance to community health centers. When the merger finalizes, Salud would be meeting with new leadership to discuss opportunities and thanked the Board for their support. 3. UPDATE FROM THE LARIMER COUNTY OFFICE ON AGING. Program Director Alt and Tiffany Ballew/Aging and Disability Resource Program Supervisor provided an overvoew of services offfered. The Larimer County Office on Aging (LCOA) remains as one of sixteen area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in Colorado and operates through federal/state funding, donations, and grants. The LCOA coordinates services for people in Larimer County regardless of immigration status who are age 60+, caregivers of adults 60+, or adults 55+ caring for children under 18. Supervisor Ballew reviewed services provided by the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) including: transition services, options counseling, application assistance (MedJcaid/Medicare), information & assistance, Answers on Aging Resource Guide, Larimer.gov/seniors, and Chore and In-Home Services vouchers. Family Caregiver Support Programs offered by ADRC included respite voucher, grand family respite voucher, caregiver classes, and caregiver consultations. She stated Estes Park was identified through a CSU research project as an area requiring more assistance for senior residents. The County would be taking steps to further connect with the community and stated the agency has a bilingual staff member available to assist Spanish speaking members of the community. The Board requested more information on how the agency engages with Estes Park residents, and voiced gratitude for the presentation and services provided to alleviate the burdens of aging. ACTION ITEMS: 1. TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENTS AND ROLES. Trustee Igel raised concern with the manner in which the TAB provides feedback to the Town on transporation issues, and the evolution of the Board to not only provide feedback but solicits public feedback and creates projects that staff allocates time and resources to complete. He stated the urgency and specific topic shifted following a regular TAB meeting due to statements and decisions of the TAB Board Chair leading to accusations, loss of decorum, and failure to professionally conduct meetings. Mayor Hall and Trustee Igel met with Chair Morris to discuss meeting decorum. Trustee Igel made a motion to remove Chair Belle Morris from the TAB and the motion died for lack of a second. Belle Morris/TAB Chair provided comments which have been summarized: the TAB had been productive, was comprised of dynamic thoughtful and diverse members; have provided letters of support related to community projects; TAB has worked through conflict and treated members with respect; she spoke regarding the difficulty managing the meeting, personal attacks, and heated discussion regarding certain projects or remarks Board of Trustees - May 27,2025 - Page 4 regarding staff represented at the meetings; she stated members have said they do not feel their opinions are heard; she spoke regarding absences by members; and was proud of the work they have done and was hopeful to maintain their diversity and independence. Board comments and questions have been summarized: questioned if Restorative Justice and been engaged to assist in conflict resolution; the need to hear additional information before considering the requested action; suggested the Board consider an executive session to further discuss any personnel related concerns; the importance of meetings maintaining functionality and operate with civil discourse; and the value of the role as Chair maintaining decorum and managing meetings effectively. Special Counsel White referenced Town Board Policy 102 Town Committees, the Board's ability to remove a member at any time, and suggested continuing the item to allow more discussion and perspective. A substitute motion was made (Brown/Hazelton) to continue the item to a future meeting and refer the TAB members to Restorative Justice if they are willing, with any further personnel related discussion by the Town Board occurring at an Executive Session, and it passed unanimously. 2. COMMUNITY WILDFIRE DEFENSE GRANT FUNDING FOR THE ESTES VALLEY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT. In October 2023, the Estes Valley Fire Protection District (EVRPD) submitted a $555,000 Community Wildfire Defense Grant application to fund a portion of the Thunder Mountain Project. The project would involve mitigation efforts on private properties along the south side of Spur 66 adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Work would be completed by forestry contractors for 200 acres over a five-year period based on Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) recommendations. The total cost of the project was $740,000 ($555,000 in grant funding with a 25% grant match requirement of $185,000). In May 2024 the grant was awarded and on June 11, 2024 the Town Board approved an expenditure of $175,000 to the EVFPD to meet the 25% match while the remaining $10,000 would be provided through the Estes Valley Watershed Coalition. In February 2025, CSFS notified EVFPD the local match was no longer requred due to the Estes Valley's status as an "underserved community". While the grant no longer requires a local match, the total cost of the project remains at $740,000. If the Town Board decided to pull back the match funding, EVFPD would need to reduce the scope of the project or find alternative funding. Staff requested Board direction on the funding toward the Thunder Mountain Project. EVFPD Chief Capo and RMNP Field Specialist Nathan Alien spoke regarding mitigation and coordination efforts; the community's hypersensitivity to wildfire risks; recent catastrophic fire impacts; vigilant community members who call in concerns, and the EVFPD's mission to perform and provide fire prevention and suppression services to build a safer community. They requested the Board support future mitigation efforts by allowing EVFPD to retain the approved expenditures. Members speaking in support of the EVFPD retaining $175,000 in funding to be used toward wildfire mitigation efforts for the Thunder Mountain project included: Gerald Mayo/Town resident and Frank Theis/Town resident. Comments have been summarized: reflected on recent wildfires and the impacts to the community; insurance difficulties; issue ridden areas in the surrounding community; and gratitude for the EVFPD and other organization efforts related to fire suppression and mitigation over the years. Board comments have been summarized: noted fire and flood are major risks to the community; the level of public support to see more mitigation efforts; value of projects which focus on the cross-agency coordination and the amount of return on investment from the project if approved. It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Brown) to leave the $175,000 in grant-match funding provided by the Town to the Estes Valley Fire Protection District, and it passed unanimously. 3. 2026 PROVISIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN. The Town Board held Strategic Planning Sessions on March 13, 2025 and April 18, 2025. Adoption of the 2026 Provisional Strategic Plan would provide staff with a formally-adopted document to inform and guide development of the 2026 proposed budget, and track and report changes to the Strategic Plan during the budget process. Edits in red reflected areas the Board Board of Trustees - May 27,2025 - Page 5 requested staff draft language for a goal/objective or where clarifying edits were necessary. The process took a closer look at prioritizing objectives for next year to ensure adequate staff capacity and to reduce potential engagement overload for residents. The result of this approach resulted in a 25% reduction in the number of planned objectives for 2026 when compared to the original 2025 Strategic Plan. The final 2026 Strategic Plan would be presented for adoption in conjunction with the 2026 Budget. Mayor Hall proposed adding under public safety health & environment outcome area Goal 2H to encourage and support a reduction in solid waste and increase in reuse and recycling. It was moved and seconded (Lancaster/Igel) to approve the 2026 Provisional Strategic Plan and adding Goal 2H under Public Safety, Health & Environment to encourage and support a reduction in solid waste and increase in reuse and recycling, and it passed unanimously. Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 9:27 p.m. Gary Hall, IVIaypr ^^-^-, l/<7^< BffFFny^ictoria Beers, Ceputy Town Clerk ^7