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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2026-02-10Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, February 10, 2026 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 10th day of February, 2026. Present: Gary Hall, Mayor Marie Cenac, Mayor Pro Tem Trustees Bill Brown Kirby Hazelton Mark Igel Also Present: Travis Machalek, Town Administrator Jason Damweber, Deputy Town Administrator Dan Kramer, Town Attorney Sarah Stoddard Cameron, Recording Secretary Absent: Trustees Frank Lancaster and Cindy Younglund 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/Cenac) to approve the Agenda, and it passed unanimously. Mayor Hall introduced Dennis Hoshiko who observed the meeting at the dais as "Mayor for the Day", an activity awarded through a silent auction donation to the Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success (EVICS) at their Annual Fall Gala. Hoshiko serves as a Chaplain of the Estes Park Police Department and noted the hard work and dedication of Mayor Hall. PUBLIC COMMENTS. None. TRUSTEE COMMENTS. Board comments were heard and have been summarized: attended Senator Marchman's listening session at the Estes Valley Library on February 5th;a recommendation to the file the seat vacated byWayne Newson on the Board of Adjustment would be brought forward at the next meeting; announced the Estes Park Housing Authority would be the first recipient of a Proposition 123 Grant entitled the Colorado Rental Rewards program which provides rent savings matches to contribute towards the purchase of a home, and noted the lower-level Fall River Village residents would have the first access to opt in to the rental rewards program; Visit Estes Park's (VEP) newly formed Marketing Advisory Committee (MAC)would serve in an advisory-only capacity to provide strategic, community-based guidance on marketing initiatives and interested local businesses were encouraged to apply; attended the Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) January meeting, which focused on the middle income housing gap and potential solutions such as reducing minimum lot sizes, allowing greater housing variability, reducing minimum parking requirements and encouraging denser zoning; Rooftop Rodeo would be held July 6th through July 11th, with the parade scheduled for July 6th; encouraged the public to volunteer for the Rooftop Rodeo Committee; stated a local group has begun to organize to welcome, orient, and be a resource for J-1 or seasonal workers; commented staff continues to review the option of dynamic pricing for parking to meet the program objective; noted the Estes Non-profit Network would dissolve at the end of this year and commended their support to the community; and Crossroads Assistance Ministry would acquire the Village Thrift Shop. Trustee Brown acknowledged that a formal complaint had been filed against him regarding his remarks at the January 27th Town Board meeting, and requested the Board address the complaint. After further discussion consensus was reached that the item Board of Trustees - February 10, 2026 - Page 2 would be heard at the March 10, 2026 meeting as a report and discussion item with the full Board anticipated to be present. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT. None. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Expenditure Approval List - Bills 2. Town Board Meeting and Study Session Minutes dated January 27,2026 3. Intergovernmental Agreement with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to Accept the Persons Who Wander Grant Award for $8,897 4. Resolution 13-26 Professional Service Agreement with Executives Partnering to Invest in Children for a Childcare Facility Master Plan 5. Resolution 14-26 Setting the Public Hearing for a New Hotel & Restaurant Liquor License Application for BYS Brothers LLC dba Prospect Bistro, 205 and 207 Park Lane, Estes Park, Colorado It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Brown) to approve the Consent Agenda,and it passed unanimously. REPORT AND DISCUSSION ITEMS (OUTSIDE ENTITIES): 1. 2025 BASE Funding Report : Economic Development and Workforce Council (EDWC). Colleen DePasquale/Estes Chamber of Commerce (ECC) Director and Christina Kraft/EDWC Chair thanked the Town for its dedication and implementation of public-private partnerships and dedication to economic development, then presented the Council's 2025 Base Funding Report. Goals of the EDWC included business retention and expansion, and are achieved by connecting employers with resources and technical assistance, education such as the BASE program, and the encouragement of local reinvestment. It was reported that twenty-one educational workshops were held during 2025, on various topics including strategic marketing for small businesses, human resources, and artificial intelligence. The EDWC applied for redesignation to an Enterprise Zone through the Colorado Enterprise Zone Program and was granted ten (10) years starting in 2026. The program, implemented in economically depressed areas of the state, allows businesses access to tax credits for specific investments, governments to set up contribution projects, and contributing taxpayers to access income tax credits. Several workshops would be held on the Enterprise Zone program in 2026. The BASE program has been reworked into the BASE 2.0 Program, using alumni feedback. The formerly six (6) month program would transition into a ten (10) week program and would dedicate more time towards participant's personalized business plans. Eighteen (18) companies and twenty-three (23) individuals have signed up to participate in the 2026 program. It was noted that the EDWC would not be revising their content for non-profit entities although resources are available to them, and that staff were mindful to not create redundancies where there was goal overlap between EDWC and the ECC. Board comments ensued and have been summarized: Questioned what changes had been made to the BASE Program, and how the EDWC engages and assists non-profit organizations; questioned what differentiates the Town's financial assistance of EDWC from the ECC, acknowledging that redundancies could exist; commended EDWC for responding to feedback and reworking the BASE Program to best fit participant needs; and strongly encouraged all local business owners to pre-certify for Colorado's Enterprise Zone Program tax credits. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION ITEMS: A. Resolution 15-26 Freelan Heights Subdivision Preliminary Plat. Mayor Hall opened the public hearing. Senior Planner Hornbeck reported that in 2004, Lot 2A of the Stanley Historic District was platted as six (6) envelopes for single-family homes as park of the Overlook Condominiums, which was never developed. In 2024, an Board of Trustees - February 10, 2026 - Page 3 amendment to the plat converted the six (6) envelopes to duplex building envelopes to allow for a total of twelve (12) units. Applicants have requested approval of a preliminary subdivision plat to eliminate the six (6) duplex envelopes and create ten (10) single-family lots. The site would be accessible from Overlook Court, through two proposed private driveways maintained by the lot owners and would require a shared driveway agreement to be recorded with the final plat. The Stanley Historic District Master Plan Development Standards and Design Guidelines were used to assess the proposed developed due to the property being located within the district. Staff reported compliance to all relevant standards and criteria set forth in the Stanley Historic District Mlaster Plan, including lot standards, density, and grading, noting that all proposed lots meet minimum size of six thousand (6,000) square feet, reserve a minimum of 30% designated open space, and would be graded to support existing landforms. Additionally, preservation of significant vegetation would be met by planting approximately 25 new trees to recover the estimated 20 significant trees removed during development. The low-density volume of the subdivision would not necessitate sidewalks, which reduces greenspace. Significant views of the Stanley are to be preserved, and view corridors have been designed to maximize viewsheds. Although the views of two (2) single-family homes would be obstructed by the proposed development. Staff clarified that the Technical Review Committee has the authority to approve variances and would review desired variances for setback requirements as needed. Applicant Brad O'Neil/Estes Valley Partners reported that single-family detached homes were preferred by vacation homeowners and noted that while footprint of the proposed single-family homes were roughly equivalent to the duplex units, the view corridors were larger. Board discussion ensued and has been summarized: Questioned whether the proposed single-family homes would be subject to the Workforce Housing Regulatory Linkage Fee if licensed as a short-term rental; requested a dispute on allowable density between the applicants and the Overlook Condominium Association be publicly identified for the record; and confirmed that the proposed subdivision meets the density requirements. Mayor Hall then closed the public hearing. After further discussion, it was moved and seconded (Brown/Cenac) to approve Resolution 15-26, and it passed unanimously. ACTION ITEMS: 1. Final 2025 Strategic Plan Progress Report and Amended 2026 Strategic Plan. Town Administrator Machalek provided a report of the 2025 Strategic Plan summarizing incomplete objectives to be carried into the Amended 2026 Strategic Plan. It was reported that sixty-four (64) of seventy-six (76) objectives had been completed in 2025. Three of which were multi-year initiatives which were anticipated to remain incomplete, making 88% of anticipated year-end objectives complete. It was noted that many of the incomplete objectives were challenged by unanticipated barriers and capacity issues. In the key outcome area "Exceptional Community Services" two carryover objectives were identified: the Parks Master Plan and the Museum Annex Addition. In the key outcome area "Governmental Services and Internal Support one objective, implementation of the new Human Resources Information System (HRIS), had yet to be completed. S In the outcome area "Public Safety, Health, and Environment" collaboration with Clean Drive Colorado to accelerate adoption of clean transportation options was not completed in 2025, although progress had been made to schedule a promotion during Bigfoot Days 2026 in quarter two. Under the key objective "Robust Economy", work with the Estes Chamber of Commerce to evaluate and implement the Downtown Plan, a 2024 carryover objective, remained behind schedule. Staff suggested the item be brought to the Board after the upcoming election, as more guidance was requested. Three incomplete objectives were identified under key objective "Transportation", including street rehabilitation following the water main and service installation project on account of inadequate cash flow and completion of the Visitor Center Parking Lot due to the request of an environmental assessment from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), both of which were 2024 carryovers, as well as the Board of Trustees - February 10, 2026 - Page 4 completion of the design for the and advertisement for construction of the Fall River Trail Final Segment. Advertising would commence upon execution of an intergovernmental agreement with CDOT. Transportation objective 3A1: continuing to evaluate the Downtown Estes Park Loop was proposed to be stricken due to prior Board discussion on the cost of analysis. Initiation of construction of the Mail Road Looping project, in the key outcome area "Utility Infrastructure," has been delayed in an effort to mitigate financial risk with the refinancing of the CoBank Construction Loan for the Prospect Mountain project. It was noted that several construction projects, including the Fall River Trail project and micro transit service program, have been identified as multi-year objectives to best accommodate the summer tourist season. Board discussion ensued and has been summarized: Commended Town Administrator Machalek on his transparency and forwardness regarding the incomplete objectives; and requested a study session be scheduled to discuss the Town's involvement in the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan. It was then moved and seconded (Hazelton/Cenac) to approve the Final 2025 Strategic Plan Progress Report and Amended 2026 Strategic Plan, and it passed unanimously. REPORT AND DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1. New Police Department Facility Site Location Update. Director Fetherston presented a new proposed site for the future police department facility, due to the current building in Town Hall being critically undersized, and lacks secure detainee, evidence, and parking facilities. It was explained that over thirteen (13) public properties had been reviewed for the project, all of which faced significant backlash from the community or presented other logistic challenges. It was reported that the Town had previously planned to swap three (3) acres of land with the Estes Park School District to secure a parcel known as Top Field. In October 2025, the School District released a statement pausing engagement with the proposal and necessitating alternative options. Shortly thereafter, Encore! Performing Arts withdrew a proposal for a seventeen (17) acre non-deed restricted parcel located on the Stanley Fairgrounds, located on Community Dr and Manford Ave. A portion of this parcel, west of Community Dr, was proposed as the new police facility location. Staff reported the proposed facility would likely impact six (6) barns currently used by the events complex on the Stanley Fairgrounds, although replacement was planned prior to pursuit of the site. Upon expression of approval from the Town Board, the School District would be notified of the new preferred site. Staff would then return to the Board at the March 10, 2026 meeting to formally affirm the location. It was noted that staff are prepared to release a request for proposals (RFP) to design the facility. Once drafted, the design would be subject to public feedback through one (1) or two (2) public sessions. Construction would be expected to commence in 2028, pending the estimated finalization of a design in late 2027 and securing financing. Chief Stewart expressed excitement about the prospect of this parcel and noted benefits of the location including its proximity to the Estes Park's schools, events complex, and three (3) major thoroughfares exiting Town. Board comments ensued and have been summarized: Questioned whether the property would require rezoning; commended staff's efforts on the project; acknowledged that the project currently lacks secure funding; and expressed approval of pursuit of the presented site. Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 8:37 p.m. ,' Gary Kali, Mayor Sarati StQd^ardCameron, Recording Secretary <y '^