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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2026-02-24RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado February 24, 2026 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 24th day of February, 2026. 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 Lancaster Also Attending: Town Administrator Machalek, Deputy Town Administrator Damweber, Attorney Kramer, and Recording Secretary Bramwell Absent: Trustee Younglund Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 2026 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW, Civil Engineer Rucker provided an update on street improvements and trail expansions funded by the 1% sales tax program. The Street Improvement Program (STIP) would continue to strive to maintain an average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 80 with the current PCI average at 81.2. Without continued maintenance of the Town's roadways utilizing 1% sales tax funds, staff project the average PCI would be 70 by 2035. In 2026, Public Works anticipates overlaying 2nd Street, Old Ranger Drive, Old Man Mountain Lane, and Grand Estates Drive; patching fifteen locations with asphalt; applying reclamite to MacGregor Avenue and Scott Avenue; completing the design of the Visitor Center Parking Lot reconfiguration; and overlaying Brownfield's Parking Lot. The 2025 Trail Condition Index (TCI) rating for all Estes Park trails was 88 of a possible 100 points. In 2026, the Trails Fund would be used for construction, expansion, or repair of Fall River Trail, Community Drive Trail, Moraine Ave, US34 Trail, and CO State Hwy 7 Trail. Stormwater Engineer Muhonen provided an update on the 1% tax spending on stormwater projects for 2026, including replacing Performance Park Bridge, evaluating Fall River slope protection restoration downstream of Performance Park Bridge, purchasing the web-based software IT Pipes to manage and link CCW pipe inspection videos and reports, stormwater pipe camera inspections to confirm an asset inventory and condition, and local drainage improvements. Board discussion and questions were heard and summarized: questioned the goal of the reclamite application trial, staff stated reclamite is more cost effective than asphalt chip seal and the goal of the trial is to test reclamite in the Estes Park climate; asked about the longevity of trails, staff stated concrete trails can last for decades; discussed the 1% tax for Street Improvements, Stormwater Management, and Trail Expansion timeline; discussed perceived community preference to renew the 1% tax every ten years rather than establish a longer tax period. Trustee Lancaster arrived at 4:13 p.m. COMMERCIAL LOADING PERMIT POST-SEASON ASSESSMENT. Parking and Transit Manager Klein presented an overview of a proposed change to Public Works Policy 842 - Parking Permits as a follow-up to the discussion on Post Office Operational Perspective at the October 28, 2025 Town Board Study Session. He recommended replacing the Museum Annex Parking Lot with the Davis Parking Lot as the overnight parking location for holders of the Business Permit: Commercial Loading, to include the mail delivery vehicles. In 2024 and 2025, an average of thirty (30) commercial loading overnight permits were purchased. Klein spoke with holders of the overnight parking permit as well as a business owner near the Davis Parking Lot to understand their parking and loading needs. Board discussion and questions were heard and summarized: expressed concern about RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town Board Study Session Minutes dated February 24, 2026 - Page 2 the impact of overnight parking in the Davis Parking Lot on surrounding restaurants and bars at the dinner-hour; requested staff continue to reach out to businesses near the Davis Lot; requested staff continue discussions with USPS carriers about options for day-time and overnight parking and loading needs; Town Administrator Machalek emphasized this is a temporary solution and broader parking solutions are being pursued; and discussed the eventual goal of relocating the USPS office outside of downtown. Mayor Hall called for a break at 4:56 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 5:08 p.m. WHIMSADOODLE/BIG HORN PARKING LOT UPDATE. Whimsadoodle- a non-profit dedicated to supporting local arts and artists- President Walter Dietrich presented the current draft proposal to redevelop the Big Horn Parking Lot, pending an agreement between the relevant property owners: Whimsadoodle, the Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA), and the Town of Estes Park. He presented designs for a four-level structure with a total of 153 parking spaces, fifteen (15) apartments, and 10,150 square feet of retail space. Four (4) design options were presented for the building's focal tower at the corner of Big Horn Drive and Cleave Street. Goals of the proposal include: to create a vibrant social and commercial development along Cleave Street, provide accessible and welcoming public spaces for the Estes Park community, provide eight (8) prominent retail storefronts with necessary trash and delivery infrastructure within the parking structure on the first level, provide a concealed and efficient parking lot on the second level, maximize the southern views over Cleave Street for residents on the third level, and provide an obsen/ation deck and parking on the fourth level. If the project moves forward, the anticipated completion of the development has been estimated in May 2030. Board discussion and questions were heard and summarized: questioned if parking would be free, Administrator Machalek advised it would be dependent on how the Town Board decides to finance the project; expressed appreciation for the design, including the imbedded greenery, concealed parking, and design options for the focal tower; questioned options to clearly direct guests to parking entrances; requested lighting on the fourth level parking lot be added to the design; requested further discussion on the potential partnership between Whimsadoodle, EPHA, and the Town, including specifics of financing, ownership, and maintenance; requested eventual conversion of the lower parking level to other uses be considered in the floor height design; discussed the types of retail businesses that may be attracted to the location; discussed the importance of community input, including from the residents of Big Horn Drive to the north of the proposed redevelopment and the existing business community; Whimsadoodle's mission and future projects as a local nonprofit; and recommended consulting with other communities who have pursued similar partnerships. The Board requested a structure for a development agreement between Whimsadoodle, EPHA, and the Town be presented for discussion at a future study session. PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY. Town Clerk Williamson recommended creating a policy to receive and provide public comment to the Board to ensure consistency. Written public comment for Town Board meetings are submitted through the online public comment form, to the email address townclerk@estes.org, or mailed or hand delivered to the Town Clerk's office. Public comment does not include comments sent to Trustees by any other means, unless the Trustees forward it to the Town Clerk's office to be included in the relevant Town Board meeting packet. Policy 103 sets standards for hearing public comment at meetings. Staff recommended adding procedures for submitting and including written public comments in Town Board meeting packets. Town Clerk Williamson recommended including a deadline to receive public comment for inclusion in the packet and limiting or excluding staff reading public comment into the record. Board discussion and questions were heard and summarized: expressed support for a deadline of 4:00 p.m. the day before the Town Board meeting to submit written public comment, with Trustee Brown stating a preference for accepting written public comment up to the start of the meeting; discussed the merit of staff not reading public comment RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town Board Study Session Minutes dated February 24, 2026 - Page 3 into the record as these comments may receive more consideration than written comments in the packet and staff delivery of the comment may not meet the expectations of the commentor; discussed establishing options to submit public comment after the deadline in addition to attending the meeting in-person; discussed the State requirement that all Trustees receive the exact same information inconsideration of quasi-judicial items; and Attorney Kramer mentioned the Town does not have a Code of Conduct for public comment and the Town Board may wish to consider such a policy in the future. The Board expressed desire to review draft additions to Policy 103 concerning written public comment at a study session in the near future. SEMI-ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW WITH BOARD GOVERNING POLICIES. This item was deferred to the March 10 study session. FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. It was requested and determined to add a discussion each on Governance Orientation; Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency (CIRSA) Liability and Risk as an elected official; and robustness of required community engagement meetings by developers. More information about holiday lighting and decorations downtown was requested with an update to be provided by Trustee Hazelton during the regular meeting. COMMENTS & QUESTIONS. None. There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 6:43 p.m. // .7j, ij .7' _ ,/ ,;/;^5^%A^ St<^)hanie Bramwell, Recording Secretary