HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2025-08-26Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, August 26, 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 26th day of August, 2025.
Present: Gary Hall, Mayor
Marie Cenac, Mayor Pro Tem
Trustees Bill Brown
Kirby Hazelton
Mark Igel
Cindy Younglund
Also Present: Jason Damweber, Deputy Town Administrator
Dan Kramer, Town Attorney
Bunny Beers, Deputy Town Clerk
Sarah Stoddard Cameron, Recording Secretary
Absent: Trustee Frank Lancaster and Town Administrator Machalek
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the
Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA APPROVAL.
It was moved and seconded (Cenac/Younglund) to approve the Agenda, and it passed
unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
Steve Nagl/Town Resident commended the Town for its current prohibition on mail
carriers parking in the Baldwin Parking Lot for the duration of their shift and urged the
Board not to take steps to create designated parking spots in the future, as it reduces
customer parking spaces for nearby businesses.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS.
Board comments were heard and have been summarized: Congratulated the Wheel Bar
and Rock Cut Brewing for their 80th and 10th anniversaries respectively; welcomed Jay
Shields, the Town’s new Restorative Justice Program Manager; commended the
Restorative Justice Program for work developing mediation and facilitation trainings,
programming in collaboration with School Resource Officer Mieszala and School District
Councilor Christian Woods, and deliberative engagement opportunities in collaboration
with the Estes Valley; 130 people, including members of the Restorative Justice Program
and the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office, attended Estes Park Police Department
(EPPD) and the Larimer County Sheriff's Office (LSCO) “National Night Out”; Visit Estes
Park (VEP) held a special meeting to review candidates for Chief Executive Officer, and
interviews with three (3) candidates are scheduled; Board members and staff attended
the Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) quarterly meeting held in Estes Park; the
Sister Cities delegation from Monteverde, Costa Rica, has rescheduled their visit to
September 29th; urged the public to complete the Town’s 2025 National Community
Survey, designed to gather feedback from residents about public services, community
priorities and overall quality of life; thanked volunteer firefighters for their success
mitigating wildfires during a very active month; acknowledged Sue Pinkham as an
outstanding member of the community, who volunteered for 19 years as an exemplary
member of the Police Auxiliary; attended Estes Park Museum’s Members Appreciation
Social; recognized the Estes Dementia Day Center and encouraged the public to attend
their fundraiser, Step Out and Care, a walk around Lake Estes; Platte River Power
Authority (PRPA) continues work on revisions to the organic contract.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
None.
Board of Trustees – August 26, 2025 – Page 2
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Expenditure Approval Lists - Bills.
2. Town Board Meeting and Study Session Minutes dated August 12, 2025.
3. Town Board and Estes Park Planning Commission Joint Study Session Minutes dated
August 7, 2025
4. Resolution 80-25 Zero Emissions Vehicle Transition Plan for Transit
5. Resolution 81-25 Contract with Freedom Homes, LLC for the Museum Annex Addition
Project, $358,500. Budgeted
6. Directing Staff to Decline the Town’s Right to Purchase Platte River Power Authority
Windy Gap Water Rights
It was moved and seconded (Igel/Cenac) to approve the Consent Agenda, and it
passed unanimously.
REPORT & DISCUSSION (OUTSIDE ENTITIES)
1. LARIMER COUNTY TRANSPORTATION FUNDING. Larimer County Commissioner
Shadduck-McNally and County Community Planning, Infrastructure, and Resources
Director Ellis presented “Larimer on the Move’ Transportation Plan, a comprehensive
25-year master plan for unicorporated Larimer County, which includes recommended
adjustments to roadways, bicycle and pedestrian paths and facilities, updated safety
recommendations, addresses the transportation funding gap, and refer a ballot
measure to the November 2025 election for a 0.15% transportation sales and use tax
to raise an estimated $17.4 million annually to fund the approximately $650 million in
unfunded projects over the next 15 years.. The transportation system in Larimer
County includes 900 miles of roadway and 421 bridges, many of which currently fail
to meet standard. The county seeks to allocate a larger portion of the budget towards
preventative maintenance as oppose to costly repairs of the infrastructure. Plans
specific to Estes Park include intersection, bike and pedestrian path, and paving
improvements, shoulder work, and a Bustang transit connection for US 36. Public
feedback on the ballot language was collected and it was determined voters would be
open to the proposed 0.15% sales tax increase, if staple goods such as groceries
were excluded. Board discussion ensued and has been summarized: Concern was
heard as to how the county would prioritze projects and ensure fair dispersion of funds
and and if the measure was the only proposed tax increase on the ballot in November;
County representatives stated comprehensive tables of desired projects have been
generated to assist in determining work order, and stated; the Early Childhood Council
of Larimer County would have a ballot measure for childcare funding.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. RESOLUTION 82-25 EIGHTH MODIFICATION OF THE REIMBURSABLE
AGREEMENT (DTFH68-14-E-00004) WITH THE CENTRAL FEDERAL LANDS
HIGHWAY DIVISION OF THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION FOR
DOWNTOWN ESTES LOOP PROJECT. Director Greear presented the request from
Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD) to amended the period of
performance contained in the existing Reimbursable Agreement (RA) with for the
Downtown Estes Loop (DEL) to December 31, 2027. The extension would allow for
the completion of the Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) required by Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) for the construction work done along the Big Thompson
River. CFLHD would manage this effort; however, they may request the Town fund
up to 17.21% of the cost estimated at approximately $50,000. Funds from the 1A
sales tax collected for stormwater management could be used to offset the cost.
Board discussion ensued and has been summarized: Questioned if the extension of
the contract was anticipated; noted any additional funding necessary for completion
of the project must be approved by the board; confirmed no additional costs to the
Board of Trustees – August 26, 2025 – Page 3
Town are anticipated. It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Younglund) to
approve Resolution 82-25, and it passed unanimously.
2.ORDINANCE 15-25 TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF
CHAPTER 17.66 OF THE ESTES PARK MUNICIPAL CODE TO REGULATE
RATHER THAN PROHIBIT FEATHER FLAG SIGNS. Mayor Hall opened the public
hearing. Director Carrecia stated the Town Board discussed feather flags at the
August 12, 2025 study session and requested staff bring forward an ordinance to
temporarily suspend the prohibition of wind signs as described in Chapter 17.66 of the
Municipal Code . Ordinance 15-25 would provide the legal basis and authority for the
moratorium through December 30, 2026 or until the passage of the next Estes Park
Development Code update. He further clarified the wind driven feather flags would be
limited to the image defined in the ordinance, limited to one (1) sign per lot (parcel),
maximum sign height of 12 feet, signs must be set back 12 feet from the sidewalk or
street, are included in the total signage calucation alotted for the business, and no
application or fee would be required. Board discussion ensued and has been
summarized: questioned if parcels containing multiple businesses would be allowed
multiple feather signs; would there be any restrictions in areas such as the downtown
district; questioned if there would be any consideration on the appearance of the flag
and upkeep of the signs, and stated concern with the expiration date as the current
date falls within the busy holiday period. Mayor Hall closed the public hearing. It was
moved and seconded (Igel/Cenac) to approve Ordinance 15-25 with the revision
to the expiration date from December 30, 2026, to January 6, 2026, and it passed
unanimously.
3.COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SKI TOWNS (CAST) 2026 COLORADO
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT OF HOUSING. Manager Bangs stated the
Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) requested the Town reaffirm support
provided at the July 23, 2024 Board meeting for the CAST legislative position
statement on housing.It was noted that no substantive changes had been made to
any of the proposals and the position reflected what was approved last year, including
short-term rental taxes which authorize counties and municipalities to refer short-term
rental taxes to the voters and dedicate revenues to the local workforce and affordable
housing; local vacancy taxes which allow counties and municipalities to refer
residential vacancy taxes and local real estate transfer fees; It was noted the proposed
tax measures would allow a municipality or a county to pursue the measures at their
own discretion, contingent on the state legislation passing. Board discussion ensued
and has been summarized: Various and contrasting perspectives were presented,
with Mayor Pro Tem Cenac and Trustees Brown and Igel voicing strong opposition
due to existing revenue streams, potential negative impacts on vacation homeowners
and tourism, and the notion that Board approval would imply support for the proposed
tax measures; Board members in support cited the importance of local control.
Manager Bangs noted other communities lacked the funding streams the Town of
Estes Park possess and might rely on these measures heavily. It was moved and
seconded (Hazelton/Younglund) to support the CAST Legislative Position
Statement on Housing, and the motion failed with Mayor Pro Tem Cenac and
Trustees Brown and Igel voting “No”.
CONTINUE AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE A PORTION OF STANLEY CIRCLE
DRIVE RIGHT-OF-WAY TO SEPTEMBER 9, 2025. Deputy Town Administrator
Damweber stated the item to vacate a portion of the right-of-way on Stanley Circle
Drive for a proposed employee housing development. Staff provided notice to
neighboring properties of tonight’s hearing, therefore, an official continuance would be
required to move the item to September 9, 2025. It was further noted that new notices
would be sent to the neighbors of the new hearing date. It was moved and seconded
(Hazelton/Cenac) to continue the ordinance to September 9, 2025, and it passed
unanimously.
REPORTS & DISCUSSION
1.2026 ANNUAL WORKFORCE HOUSING AND CHILDCARE FUNDING PLAN
DRAFT REVIEW. Manager Bangs reviewed the draft 2026 funding plan for 6E funds
Board of Trustees -August 26, 2025 -Page 4
as required by the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Larimer County and
the Town of Estes Park. She stated proposed funding for 2026 would remain
unchanged from 2025 with 80% allocated for workforce housing and 20% for
childcare. It was noted the projected 2026 6E funds would increase from $5,000,000
to $5,500,000, with estimated allocations totaling $4,400,000 to workforce housing
and $1,100,000 to childcare. Approval of the funding plan by the Town Board and
County Commissioners must be received annually to fund programs for both
workforce housing and childcare. Community input was collected through one-on-one
meetings with key stakeholders, two public outreach forums, and an online feedback
form to determine budget prioritization. In 2026, the programs would leverage the
progress of previous years and expand efforts toward lower-income workforce
housing, homeownership programs and development, and strategic planning for
childcare facilities and capital. Priority areas for childcare would include tution
assistance, out-of-school programs, childcare workforce, facility expansion. The
childcare plan would continue to focus on tuition assistance and expanding school
age programming, with a goal of increasing wages for childcare providers to $25 per
hour to increase and maintain staffing. The Childcare Stability Initiative has been
developed with licensing guidelines of both the state and local health and safety
requirements to ensure compliance; however, eligibilty would not be tied to licensure.
These requirements prevent licensed-exempt childcare providers who do not meet
these requirements from receiving funding from the initiative as currently written. The
workforce housing plan would shift focus toward development, planning, and initiation
recognizing that these projects would take several years to complete. The Estes Park
Housing Authority (EPHA) has seen success with the rental assistance program and
would transition to focus on homeownership with a down payment assistance program
developed in 2025. Based on its success, staffing capacity would be removed from
the priority list in 2026. Priority areas for workforce housing would include low-income
housing, land banking, development, assistance programs, and staffing capacity.
Board discussion ensued and was summarized: Staff were urged to focus on
publicizing some of these initiatives to the community, specifically middle-income
assistance programs which constituents might not be aware of; suggested the
development of a tiered funding or bonus approach to encourage licensed-exempt
providers to continue education and training and to become licensed; interest in
reviewing data on the middle-income funding for 2025 and the possible gap created
by using the Larimer County platform that only allows for families to use licensed
facilities to receive support; Board acknowledged support of the transfer of $30,000
from 6E funds to the Childcare Facility account to support ADA compliance upgrades
to current childcare facilities; members of the community such as real estate
developers and accommodation owners have scrutinized the programs and have
questioned if the tax should be decreased due to an abundance of funding; Manager
Bangs acknowledged the request to provide incentives to the licensed-exempt
providers and would address the item in the final plan. She noted the funding plan
has been developed utilizing data-informed decisions to realize outcomes such as the
School District not losing teachers due to a lack of housing.
Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the rn
.:;:
9:07 p.rn. p��
. ��
Cameron, Recording Secretary