HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2026-01-13RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado January 13, 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 13th day of January, 2026.
Board: Mayor Hall, Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustees Brown, Hazelton,
Igel, Lancaster, and Younglund
Attending: Mayor Hall, Trustees Brown, Hazelton, Igel, Lancaster and
Younglund
Also Attending: Town Administrator Machalek, Special Counsel White, and
Deputy Town Clerk Beers
Absent: Deputy Town Administrator Damweber, Town Attorney Kramer
and Mayor Pro Tem Cenac
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.
Estes Valley Watershed Coalition Proposal to Update Wildlife Habitat Assessment
The Wildlife Habitat Assessment (WHA) Plan was last updated in 2008. Updating the
plan was identified as a goal within the 2022 Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan. The
Estes Valley Watershed Coalition (EVWC) members Bob LeavitVPresident and Frank
Theis/Treasurer stated the current plan was outdated and estimated the cost of an
update at $5,000. After adequate funds are raised, a request for proposals would be
solicited to secure a firm to manage the development of an updated plan. They stated
the coalition would form a working group comprised of representatives from the EVWC,
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Once developed
and approved by the EVWC Board, the plan would be presented to the Town of Estes
Park and Larimer County to consider adoption as an official reference document. They
stated the updated plan would: benefit the Town as a current, high-quality reference
document prior to the completion of the Estes Park Development Code (EPDC) rewrite;
would not be a regulatory document; would primarily consist of scientific data related to
facts on the existing habitat area, migration routes, and an updated area map; would
encompass a broader scope for the entire Estes Valley; and would be comprehensive.
They stated an end of summer 2026 timeline for completion which would dovetail with
the finalization of the EPDC rewrite.
Board comments and questions have been summarized: questioned any implications
should the plan not be adopted; the value of animal migration and the importance of a
symbiotic relationship between the wildlife and the community; whether there are any
items in the 2008 plan which may be outdated or inadequate; the timeline for raising
remaining funds and completing the assessment; fundraising plans or any concerns for
grant timeline constraints; knowledge of any similar communities who have a wildlife
plan and the frequency in which the plan should be updated; and the value of a
meaningful comparison of wildlife and habitat changes since the last plan was approved
with an analysis of the results.
Staff stated the Town would participate in the WHA working group and the final plan
would be presented to the Board for consideration at a future meeting.
Future Study Session Agenda Items
It was requested and determined to add a discussion on the Water Master Plan on
February 10, 2026 and the Streets Improvement Plan to February 24, 2026. A
discussion on the development of a public comment policy, enclaves and annexation,
and potential municipal sales tax exemptions were added to approved unscheduled.
There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 6:16 p.m.
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''SunnyVictoria Beers, Depu^ Town Clerk