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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREPORT Strategic Plan Progress 20261 2026 Town of Estes Park Strategic Plan Progress Report August KEY OUTCOME AREAS Party Responsible On Track Behind Schedule Hold/ Tabled Done*% Complete Comments EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICES - Estes Park is an exceptionally vibrant, diverse, inclusive, and active mountain community in which to live, work, and play, with housing available for all segments in our community. Consider an update to Section 11.4 of the Development Code, including reconsideration of appropriate definitions and density bonus amounts.Jason Damweber 90% The possibility of updating housing definitions was most recently discussed publicly at the last joint Town Board/Planning Commission meeting as part of the Development Code rewrite process. Following that meeting, Town and EPHA staff met a number of times to discuss potential revisions based on interests and feedback received. Staff presented information and questions about housing definitions and density bonuses for consideration to the Town Board at a July 14 Study Session to glean additional feedback and/or direction related to potential new definitions. Staff revised definitions for the Town Board's consideration at a September 8 Study Session. The Town Board will adopt new definitions as part of the Development Code update. Consider updating Town policies defining workforce or attainable housing for the purposes of Town funding.Jason Damweber 90%Updates to the Development Code as outlined in the comments directly above will inform updates to Town Policy 227: Workforce and Attainable Housing Guidelines. Discuss with the Housing Authority how 6E funding expenditures should be targeted in the near term, in light of the current Housing Needs Assessment, including a discussion of senior and seasonal housing. Jason Damweber 80% A consultant has been selected to assist the Town and EPHA in the development of a Housing Supply Plan and to ensure that our Housing Needs Assessment complies with new State requirements. This work is expect to wrap up in Q3. Discussions about how to best address seasonal and senior housing between Town staff and EPHA staff have occurred and are ongoing. A survey to learn more about the perspectives of business owners regarding seasonal housing needs was completed in June 2026. The data will be presented to the Town Board at the September 8 Study Session, which will include a discussion about the Town and Housing Authority's roles in addressing seasonal housing challenges. (It should be noted that 6E funding must be used to address workforce housing, so resources committed to addressing senior housing - assuming the seniors are not part of the workforce - would have to come from an alternate source.) Work with the Housing Authority to evaluate potential for interest rate buy-down programs.Jason Damweber 100% As part of ongoing discussions regarding tools to support affordable homeownership in the Estes Valley, Town staff and EPHA have researched interest rate buy-down programs as an option vis-a-vis other programs and opportunities designed to assist homebuyers. Based on market conditions and strategic prioritization of limited housing resources, we do not recommend pursuing an interest rate buy-down program at this time. Per EPHA staff, who have looked into various programs across the state, our focus - and dollars - right now "should be on strategies that provide more lasting community benefit, including the upcoming Trailhead Down Payment Assistance Program and the advancement of new ground-up homeownership opportunities. EPHA does not believe interest rate buydowns represent the strongest long- term investment of limited housing resources in a market where 30-year mortgage rates are near historical averages and the long-term value of buydowns is comparatively limited." In other words, there are other tools that we believe provide more bang for our buck at this time. Staff, in conjunction with our partners at the Housing Authority, will continue to monitor market trends, evaluate options as conditions evolve, and periodically revisit consideration of tools such as interest rate buy-downs. For now, we believe that the best approach is to continue to prioritize strategies that deliver longer-term affordability and broader community impact. Complete work on the follow-up recommendations from the Senior Needs Assessment completed in 2025. Kate Miller 100% All items complete, additional items integrated into operational plan. An additional measure near completion is a project closeout report that details the work to the completion of this objective. It will be available for future reference as well as placed on the senior resources website. Develop a master plan for Town Parks and Open Space, in cooperation with the Recreation District and Estes Valley Land Trust. Include chapters on water-conscious landscaping and pocket parks. (2025 CARRYOVER) David Greear 95% A draft plan was brought to the Town Board at a Study Session on 8/25. The Board recommended some minor changes and the consultant is making those changes. Staff plans to post the draft on the website for further public comment before bringing back to the Town Board for consideration. Select at least one specific recommendation from the 2045 Parks and Open Space Master Plan for budgeting and implementation in 2027.David Greear 50% Staff plans to select a recommendation in September after Town Board consideration of the final Master Plan. Three tentative options have been selected from the final draft plan and are working through the budget process pending the Town Board's decision on the Master Plan as a whole. Staff is also looking to address some of the items that could be completed with in-house labor. Continue rewriting the Estes Park Development Code with participation from elected/appointed officials, stakeholders, and residents. (Multi-Year Objective)Steve Careccia 65% The consultant and staff are wrapping up the review of the 50% draft. The moderated discussions by Community Conversations on design guidelines, wildlife protection standards, and residential standards and housing were concluded on August 27. Review and update the Town's Public Art policy (Policy 880).Steve Careccia 100%The Town Board adopted Policy 404 (Public Art) on July 14, 2026. This policy replaces Policy 880 (Public Art Policy). Complete Museum Annex addition. (2025 CARRYOVER)Paul Fetherston 100%Completed. 2 2026 Town of Estes Park Strategic Plan Progress Report August KEY OUTCOME AREAS Party Responsible On Track Behind Schedule Hold/ Tabled Done*% Complete Comments GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES AND INTERNAL SUPPORT - We provide high-quality support for all municipal services. Develop and implement an emergency and safety training program for all Event and Visitor Services team employees including a tracking system for valid certifications.Rob Hinkle 60%Training sessions have begun and will continue into the Fall. Ensure that all employees who will use the new Enterprise Resource Planning system receive sufficient training.Tammy Zimmerman 100% All employee training sessions were conducted in December 2025 with step-by-step guides in iTown. An additional "Tips and Tricks" training for all employees was held on March 19. Small group and individual training has continued with various Finance staff. Finance is evaluating the potential for assigning a Tyler training/video during onboarding for future new employees. Training on the Tyler "Central Budget" tool took place in June. Training will be an ongoing focus as new employees are hired and as specific issues are identified, but the initial round of training for current employees has been completed. Complete the organizational culture action plan objective to revise the organizational culture survey and implement survey in the 4th quarter of 2026.Jackie Williamson 90%A final draft of the updated survey was delivered in August. Additional revisions will be made with the goal of releasing the updated survey in the fourth quarter. Require term limits on all Town-appointed Boards.Travis Machalek 5%The Town Board discussed elements of Policy 102 (Town Committees) at the August 11 Town Board Study Session. Term-limits on Town appointed Boards will be worked into this policy update. Implement new Human Resources Information System/Payroll. (2025 CARRYOVER)Jackie Williamson 70%Implementation of the new UKG HRIS system is underway with an anticipated go-live date of October/November. Implementation meetings are being held and progress continues. The development phase is ongoing. Streamline and automate recruitment and onboarding process through new HRIS system.Jackie Williamson 30% Onboarding conversations have been conducted with stakeholders and a onboarding checklist has been developed as a supervisor resource. Implementation in the new UKG HRIS system is delayed. HR will likely not be in a position to begin utilizing recruitment/onboarding until mid 2027. Evaluate the use of Laserfiche for policy management.Travis Machalek 25% Town Clerk's Office and the Town Administrator met in July to review Laserfiche capabilities for policy management and the highest-priority improvements (specifically, auto-reminders for regular review and policy storage/version control). Next steps include a final summary of needs, an assessment of the costs of building a solution in Laserfiche, and a decision on whether to use Laserfiche or pursue a policy management software. Continue to digitize Community Development Planning and Zoning records.Steve Careccia 50%The plan is to digitize planning documents this year. Staff have made preliminary preparations for digitization and is in ongoing discussions with the Town Clerk's Office about next steps. Continue evaluation of permanent Financial records for digitization.Tammy Zimmerman 60% Assistant Finance Director Garcia and Utility Billing Supervisor McEachern have gone through records to identify what remains to be digitized and informed the Town Clerk. An audit of the Brood House records has been scheduled to identify any additional Finance related records. Explore options to improve website experience and navigation.Kate MIller 75% Implementation of the subscription-based PDF accessibility overlay completed, providing fully accessible versions of PDFs linked from the Town's website and supporting compliance with the DOJ's WCAG digital accessibility requirements. Webmaster/PIO and content managers continue working through user experience improvements, prioritizing high-profile projects and services. Staff are evaluating long-term website platform options as part of the FY 2027 budget process. OUTSTANDING GUEST SERVICES - We are a preferred Colorado mountain destination providing an exceptional guest experience. Complete infrastructure improvements to the O’Connor Pavilion including better emergency communication capabilities.Rob Hinkle 60%The Events and IT divisions have come up with a couple of options and are evaluating what the best option for coverage will be. Implementation to follow. Improve the horse stalls and the safety of the horses in barns A-L and W by installing stall mats.Rob Hinkle 95%All mats have been received. Installation in Barn W complete. The remaining mats will be installed in the fall. Improve the guest experience in the Visitor Center by replacing the 18-year-old carpet.Rob Hinkle 100%Completed in February. 3 2026 Town of Estes Park Strategic Plan Progress Report August KEY OUTCOME AREAS Party Responsible On Track Behind Schedule Hold/ Tabled Done*% Complete Comments PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT - Estes Park is a safe place to live, work, and visit within our extraordinary natural environment. Ensure the completion of pre-design work, identification and securing of a suitable site, and obtaining approval of a comprehensive funding plan by December 2026, with projected completion of construction and occupancy of a new police facility by 2029. (Multi-year Objective) Paul Fetherston 10% Preferred Location: On March 10, the Town Board officially designated a Town-owned property location on the northwest corner of Community Drive and Manford Avenue for a new Public Safety facility. This designation enables planing, design, due diligence and public engagement on this site to move forward. It does not authorize final approval of construction, budget, financing or design elements - all of which will be presented to the Town Board for review and action at appropriate future stages. Design Services: A Request for Proposals/ Qualifications for design services was released for which 9 proposals were received in April. The evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and presented a recommendation to the Town Board at the August 11 Town Board meeting. The Town Board approved a contract with Infusion Architects for design services and construction management assistance for the Public Safety facility. Grant Funding: The Town has been awarded (a) Congressionally Directed Spending in the amount of $1 million for design and construction; and (b) design services grant support the by Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) in the amount of $100,000. The Congressionally Directed Spending pre-grant authorizations were approved by the Town Board on June 9. Acceptance of the DOLA grant occurred in August, with acceptance of the Congressionally Directed Spending/ USDA grant expected to be presented to the Town Board in Q3 of 2027. Financing: The Town Board discussed Police Department Facility Financing at the July 28 Study Session. The current financing plan relies on a successful ballot initiative from the Estes Valley Fire Protection District in November 2026. Estimated Construction Timeline: The project is tentatively planned for construction completion and occupancy by December 2028. Utilize County resources to complete the development of a Climate Action Plan. Jason Damweber 90% Development of an organizational Climate Action Plan (CAP) has been in progress since late 2025. All requisite data has been provided to the County and consultant. Interviews with staff completed in February. Modeling using the data provided and drafting of the CAP is in progress and will be completed in Q3 of 2026. The final report will be presented to the Town Board on October 13. Collaborate with Drive Clean Colorado to accelerate equitable adoption of clean transportation options. (2025 CARRYOVER)David Greear (DK)100%Manager Klein virtually attended monthly meetings with Larimer County Climate Smart Future Ready. A ride-and-drive event was held by Drive Clean Colorado at Bigfoot Days. ROBUST ECONOMY - We have a diverse, healthy, year-round economy. Identify opportunities to support eclectic mix of business, including smaller "mom and pop" shops.Jason Damweber 100% Town staff is currently represented on the Chamber Board (in an ex-officio capacity) and on the Economic Development Workforce Council (EDWC), both of which provide support and resources for local businesses of all types, including for "mom and pop" shops. Trustee Brown also serves on the EDWC Board. Staff met with the Chamber Executive Director in January to discuss existing and potential new opportunities to provide additional support. Strategies currently employed include facilitation of networking and relationship building, visibility and marketing, education and skill building, and advocacy (a list of these opportunities for businesses in 2026 can be provided upon request). A Town Board Study Session was held on June 23 to share information and determine what additional strategies, if any, may be of interest to the Town Board. Based on the discussion, staff plans to bring a proposal for a facade improvement program to the Town Board for consideration, as well as review the current permit requirements for new or changing businesses to determine whether there are any opportunities to streamline the permitting process, thereby mitigating some of the burden on business owners. Evaluate expansion of Town Hall hours (7-6) through schedule changes aligning with customer and business needs.Travis Machalek 15% TA Machalek has reviewed past discussions of expanded hours and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) on July 22. The ELT is evaluating the pros and cons of potential alternatives to expand Town Hall hours and discuss the topic again in September. 4 2026 Town of Estes Park Strategic Plan Progress Report August KEY OUTCOME AREAS Party Responsible On Track Behind Schedule Hold/ Tabled Done*% Complete Comments Evaluate actions to ensure that the availability of local businesses is considered when scheduling Town meetings.Kate Miller 25% Staff have drafted a summary of the Town's current business engagement framework, which relies on tailored, case-by- case outreach rather than a fixed approaches. The draft will serve as a baseline for next-step discussion with partner organizations to identify opportunities for adjustments, if needed. Work with the Chamber and Housing Authority to assess how seasonal employees are housed in Estes Park.Jason Damweber 80% Town staff worked with staff from the Chamber and the Housing Authority to develop a survey designed to gather feedback on the perspectives of local business owners regarding seasonal housing needs and challenges, and the extent to which and manner in which they are being addressed. The survey closed in June 2026. The data will be presented to the Town Board at a Study Session in September, which will include a discussion about the Town and Housing Authority's roles in addressing seasonal housing challenges. Work with the Estes Chamber of Commerce and Downtown businesses to evaluate implementation options for the Downtown Plan. (2024 CARRYOVER)Travis Machalek 25%Staff members met with representatives from the Chamber of Commerce in January. Staff will be developing a spectrum of implementation options for Town Board consideration at the August 25 Study Session. TOWN FINANCIAL HEALTH - We will maintain a strong and sustainable financial condition, balancing expenditures with available revenues, including adequate cash reserves for future needs and unanticipated emergencies. Work with Town Departments to revise the Town's Purchasing Policies by defining roles, evaluating threshold approvals, aligning with current regulatory requirements, and incorporating procurement best practices. Tammy Zimmerman 10% Preliminary discussions on structuring the collaborative outreach have begun. This work will begin after audit in July. Work with key staff members to revise the Town's Grant Policy that creates a framework for grant applications, evaluation, approval, and reporting.Tammy Zimmerman 15%Initial discussions with Grant Specialist, Grant Coordinator, and Department Project Managers have occurred. Continuing meetings to get input on revisions to Policy 612 TRANSPORTATION - We have safe, efficient, and well-maintained multimodal transportation systems for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and transit riders. Evaluate how the municipal code treats motorized/electrified scooters, golf carts, e-bikes, and other low-speed vehicles.David Greear 60% Staff provided an update and possible changes to the municipal code for micromobility devices at the study session on 8/25. Town Board gave feedback and staff will meet with PD and other staff to address some of the feedback before bringing this item back to a future Study Session. Complete the reconstruction of Old Ranger Drive.David Greear 100%Complete. Complete the reconstruction of Old Man Mountain Lane.David Greear 100%Complete. Complete the reconstruction of 2nd Street and provide ADA compliant pedestrian facilities following the water main and service installation project. (2024 CARRYOVER)David Greear 5%Final utility relocates are in progress and construction is expected to start and complete between September and October. Utilize SB267 grant funds to design transit & parking improvements in the Visitor Center Parking Lot. (2023 CARRYOVER)David Greear (TW)90%Design in progress with completion anticipated in October 2026. Construct the Visitor's Center parking & transit improvements if fully funded by SB267 grant funds. (2026/2027 Objective) (2024 CARRYOVER)David Greear 0%Construction anticipated to start as early as January 2027 Design the multi use trail on the southside of Moraine Avenue from Davis Street to Mary's Lake Road and seek construction grant funding. (Multi-year Objective)David Greear 0%An RFP for design services will be advertised in late 2026, with design commencing in 2027. Staff is coordinating community outreach in October for feedback to better inform the design services direction before any RFP is advertised. Implement CMAQ-funded pilot programs for regional transit service, expanded transit routes, and micro-transit service. (2026/2027 Objective)David Greear 40% Will utilize grant funds to purchase Micro-Transit van in late fall of 2026 with anticipated full program up and running in 2027. The Town has already expanded transit routes and times identified for seasonal local transit. Regional transit service conversations are moving slowly. Identify funding and construct a 3-level parking structure at the Big Horn parking lot. (Multi-year Objective)David Greear 5%This objective is on hold while evaluation of the proposed collaboration between Whimsadoodle, Estes Park Housing Authority, and the Town of Estes Park to build a mixed-use development on Cleave Street takes place. 5 2026 Town of Estes Park Strategic Plan Progress Report August KEY OUTCOME AREAS Party Responsible On Track Behind Schedule Hold/ Tabled Done*% Complete Comments Construct the Community Drive Multi-Use Trail (east side of Community Drive between Manford Avenue and US36 and north side of Manford Ave east of Community Dr).David Greear 50%Street crew completed 300 feet of trail in March. The remaining 900+ feet is tentatively scheduled to be completed in September by a contracted concrete crew. Construct the final segment of the Fall River Trail. (2026/2027 Objective)David Greear 0%Construction anticipated to start as early as October of 2026 with anticipated completion by May 2027 UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE - We have reliable, efficient, and up-to-date utility infrastructure serving our community and customers. Implement the enforcement process for customers who do not comply with water administrative regulations.Reuben Bergsten 50%Staff developed an enforcement process and Attorney Kramer identified a draft/conceptual idea of required Municipal code changes. The Board will discuss this topic at a Study Session on September 8th. Initiate construction of the Mall Road Looping project. (2025 CARRYOVER)Reuben Bergsten 100%Contract executed and project begun. Staff anticipates that excavation will begin in August. Replace the structurally deficient Performance Park bridge.David Greear 100%Construction started in mid-February with completion in June 2026. Minor repairs to concrete trail damages west of the project have been completed. Complete at least one neighborhood stormwater CIP project from the list included in the Stormwater Master Plan.David Greear 100%Construction by in-house crews on Manford stormwater project completed in June 2026. Identify funding options for a low-cost Trailblazer program.Reuben Bergsten 50% Exploring potential funding source(s) to cover the cost of new service installs ($600 to 700 each). Funding sources we have looked at include a cooperative approach with the Housing Authority, General Fund contributions with an annual participate cap to provide a "not to exceed" amount, and the ue of net income from Trailblazer operations. A document summarizing these options is being prepared. Complete construction of Trailblazer Broadband system for customers in the electric service area. (Multi-year Objective)Reuben Bergsten 90%We have completed 90% of the build based on customer count. Work on buildout to the remaining 10% of our customers continues. The Town has elected to pursue an in-house build out option using previously allocated grant match dollars instead of using the BEAD grant (this plan and the rationale was presented at the June 23, 2026 Town Board meeting). * for multi-year projects, DONE refers to the portion of the project planned for the current year.