HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2025-08-26RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado August 26, 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 26th day of August, 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: Deputy Town Administrator Damweber, Attorney Kramer,
Manager Bangs, and Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: Trustee Lancaster and Town Administrator Machalek
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
CHILDCARE LICENSING REGULATIONS AND LICENSE-EXEMPT PROVIDERS.
Manager Bangs stated the Town Board approved revisions to Town Policy 225:
Childcare Funding Guidelines which outlined methods of distributing funds to local
childcare providers, including license-exempt providers. The Town Board further
approved the development of the Estes Valley Childcare Fund in collaboration with the
Early Childhood Council of Larimer County to provide tuition assistance for middle-
income families, however, this program does not include licensed-exempt childcare
providers as eligible recipients. Key stakeholders were brought together to discuss the
eligibility of licensed-exempt providers in the funding programs. It was noted that
licensed-exempt care continues to be widely used in the Estes Valley as a lower-cost
childcare option, provides a personal and more flexible option for families, and start up
remains easier for the providers. Licensed-exempt providers have little to no quality
assurance or oversight, and there are no mandatory safety or training requirements.
The stakeholder group recommended licensed-exempt providers become licensed
providers over time through incentives such as becoming eligible for funding programs.
Licensed-exempt providers would still be eligible for grants that reinforce the Town's
desire for high-quality care to provide professional development or training, or to
purchase equipment or materials to enhance their program. EVICS confirmed the need
to recognize these providers and noted there are more infant slots available with these
providers compared to licensed providers in Estes Park. Families are directly impacted
by limiting funding to licensed facilities as it limits the availability of providers and does
not directly impact the licensed-exempt providers.
Board discussion and questions were heard and summarized: concern was raised on
limiting provider options; noted it should be the family's choice rather than the Town
dictating who a family can use for childcare; stated there would be minimal liability to the
Town if 6E funds were used to assist middle-income families with tuition at a licensed-
exempt provider; licensed-exempt providers are providing the needed infant care in the
valley; the Town should incentive licensed-exempt providers to a degree but should not
limit their use by families; concern with providing funds for licensed-exempt facilities that
are not inspected or overseen; and noted licensure continues to be important. Board
consensus was to allow tuition support to licensed-exempt providers through the Estes
Valley Childcare Fund for middle income childcare support.
Mayor Hall requested a break at 5:56 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 6:01 pm
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session - August 26,2025 - Page 2
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CHECK-IN. Heidi Pruess, Larimer County Manager of Office
of Sustainability and Climate stated beginning in 2024, the Larimer County Climate
Smart Future Ready Plan (CSFR) was launched, a five-year initiative designed to
confront some of the escalating risks associated with deteriorating air quality, changing
weather conditions, and increased natural disasters. Through community partners
involving 50 community partners, 10 Larimer County departments, an executive team,
and 18 action teams seven focus areas have been identified, including unifying
solutions, built environment, circular economy, business and employment, natural
environment, agriculture, and mobility. Each focus area has been developed to address
methods of mitigation and adaptation with specific goals as well as an overarching
greenhouse gas emission reduction goal. It was noted that Estes Park as a community
has the highest greenhouse emissions per capita due to the impact of millions of visitors
each year. The county has received a number of grants to address issues outlined in
the plan. An Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant was awarded to provide
funding for local governments to increase staff capacity and access technical support,
emissions reduction projects, and support the CSFR action teams. Abbey
Stapleton/Larimer County Sustainability Coordinator provided details related to the grant
and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) contract issued
for the $50,000 grant to establish a greenhouse gas inventory for Town operations and
develop a climate action plan. The plan would develop an internal operation greenhouse
gas inventory, review of past initiatives and progress, plan development with Town staff,
recommended actions and key performance indicators, create plan summary handouts,
interactive public dashboard, and optional community engagement for draft plan
feedback. Data collected for municipal operations would include electricity and natural
gas usage, employee commute, fleet including transit, and water and wastewater
treatment. The greenhouse gas inventory continues and would be completed by
December 2025. The ICLEI contract and Estes Park meetings would begin in the fall
2025. The kick off for the action plan development would take place in January 2026.
SEML-ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW WITH BOARD GOVERNANCE POLICIES -
POLICY 1.10 SELF MONITORING. Mayor Hall requested comments from the Board
and hearing none, closed the discussion.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
It was requested and determined to schedule Vacation Home Regulations for October
14, 2025 and a Joint Planning Commission meeting on September 30, 2025 in which a
discussion on the missing middle would be added.
COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
None.
There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m.
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Japt^je Williamson, Town Clerk
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