HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2025-06-24RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado June 24, 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 24th day of June, 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, Special Counsel White, and Deputy Town Clerk
Beers
Absent: Town Attorney Kramer
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m.
STATE WILDFIRE CODE. The Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire
Prevention and Control, through establishment of a Wildfire Resiliency Code Board,
would be adopting the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code on June 30, 2025 establishing
minimum standards for the protection of life and property from the hazards of wildfire.
Municipalities would have nine months (March 31, 2026) from State adoption to adopt
their own wildfire regulations meeting or exceeding those established in the Code.
Director Careccia introduced Dan Wester/SAFEbuilt Chief Building Official, Jan
Landkamer/Estes Valley Fire Protection District (EVFPD) Division Chief and Stacey
Sutherland/EVFPD Prevention Lieutenant who were present to answer questions.
Division Chief Landkamer reviewed the draft Code which addressed: establishing a
code official to administer and enforce the Code; permits required for applicable
construction; would establish criteria for the submittal and preparation of construction
documents; identify wildfire hazard areas via official maps; regulations for structure
hardening to reduce risk of ignition; and establish requirements for plantings, trees,
walls, and fences within designated ignition zones around structures. He stated the
Town of Estes Park and the EVFPD act as a compliance agency and would be
responsible for identrfying which hazard map to adopt. If adopted, the Code would
supersede the adopted International Building Code and would require evaluations and
compliance on construction and alterations for new, existing, and moved structures and
their appendices which reside within the designated Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
areas.
Board comments and questions have been summarized: requested additional detail on
the provisions for alterations of the exterior of the structure, the process for obtaining
approval, and from which agency; how wildfire risks are identified and by which
agencies; requested clarification on which areas are identified as high-risk; questioned if
there are price comparisons for the use of specific non-combustible material;
questioned fencing which contains a percentage of combustible material may be
impacted by the Code; how testing of materials would be conducted; how homeowners
insurance companies may be mandating compliance with the Code; and questioned if
staff anticipates sections where the wildfire code and building code conflict with each
other.
BUSINESS VIEWPOINT. Brownfield's Manager Palmesano spoke regarding Estes
Park's unique location, hospitality, visitation, nature and the lasting impacts of a positive
customer experience. There being no Board questions, they thanked Manager
Palmesano for the presentation, her observations and perspective on the customer
experience.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session - June 10,2025 - Page 2
POLICE DEPARTMENT FACILITY UPDATE. Staff provided a status update on efforts
to relocate the Police Department (PD) out of Town Hall. In late 2024, the Town
contracted with Redstone Architects Inc. and Infusion Architects to conduct a pre-design
study to identify programmatic and space needs, and evaluate potential sites which
involved engagement with the Town and PD leadership. The pre-design study included
a space needs analysis, review of potential locations, conceptual floor and site plans,
and cost projections. Chief Stewart provided facility project goals and objectives
including: identify a central location which optimizes response to critical infrastructure
such as schools, special events, and downtown; a safe and secure facility with public
and secure separations for both the building and the site; safe and welcoming
environment for staff and the community; opportunity to expand services and
community outreach events; and a modern state of the art facility would address
retention and recruitment while providing space for the public and the department for
public purposes. Staff noted the existing space and uses in Town Hall which was
estimated at 7,644 square feet. Melissa Jennings and Randal Johnson, design
consultants, reviewed the space analysis and the method for determining square
footage, identifying efficient use of essential space and options for a single or multi-story
building. Finance Director Zimmerman reviewed construction cost of a 30,000 square
foot facility with anticipated construction in 2027 at $31,359,000, with a total project cost
of approximately $33 million with land acquisition and financing cost. The annual debt
service would be dependent on the financing option and has been estimated at
approximately $2,230,788 - $2,245,675. A comparative analysis of neighboring
municipalities PD relocations was reviewed including: staff size, square footage, and
financing for Timnath, Windsor, Evans, Firestone, and Erie. Staff stated the Town does
not have funds appropriated for land acquisition, relocation, or construction of a new
facility. Staff stated the use of current sales tax revenues or certificates of participation
(COPs) would not require a ballot issue presented to registered voters. Alternative
methods for financing could include a new or increased sales tax, or a general
obligation bond funded by property tax. Both options would require a ballot issue
presented to registered voters. Based on ongoing impacts and challenges the current
PD facility poses to the professional management and execution of law enforcement
responsibilities, staff recommended a bond authorization ballot issue at the April 2026
Municipal Election or General Election on November 4, 2026. Staff requested Board
feedback and guidance on the proposed financing and ballot timeline for the
construction of a new facility.
Board comments and questions have been summarized: concerned the facility may
need to be increased to address future needs; questioned the availability of grants to
offset costs; questioned if staff anticipates changes to sales tax revenues that may
impact the project; and could the PD building qualify as the collateral for COPs.
Additional discussion ensued regarding recent state legislation that provides fire districts
the ability to pursue sales tax to fund operations, potentially lower sales tax rates for the
larger district service area, and eliminate the Town's sales tax allocation to fund
operations.
TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
None.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS .
It was requested and determined the Business Use of Golf Carts on Trails would be
handed over to the Transportation Advisory Board for public input to be presented as a
Report & Discussion Item at a future meeting, and the Visit Estes Park
Intergovernmental Agreement with Larimer County; and a Joint Study Session with the
EVFPD were approved/unscheduled.
There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 5:33 p.m.
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BunnyVictoria Beers, Depurty Town Clerk