HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Strategic Planning Study Session #1 2026-03-09RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado March 9, 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 9th day of March, 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, Lancaster and Younglund
Also Attending: Town Administrator Machalek, Deputy Town Administrator
Damweber, Attorney Kramer, Directors Bergsten, Careccia,
Fetherston, Greear, Hinkle, and Zimmerman, Chief Stewart, PIO
Miller and Deputy Town Clerk Beers
Absent: None
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
Introduction to Strategic Planning for 2027
Town Administrator Machalek provided an overview of the strategic planning process
including a review of the Mission, Vision, Outcome Areas, and Strategic Policy
Statements. Following any revisions to the plan, the Board could anticipate a May 2026
action item to consider the provisional 2027 strategic plan with final adoption following
the annual budget adoption process in November. He stated Public Information Officer
(PIO) Miller provided within the packet material the 2025 National Community Survey
results. He stated the key findings summary would help identify priority focus areas
which may be lacking and in need of quality improvement.
Trustee Lancaster arrived at 1:18 p.m. and Trustee Hazelton left the session.
Review Mission, Vision, and Outcome Areas
The Board reviewed the Mission, Vision, and Outcome Areas of the Town. Discussion
ensued on the Transportation statement and if a broader statement would capture
additional transportation types including micromobility. After further discussion the
Transportation statement was updated to: We have safe, efficient, and well-maintained
multimodal transportation systems.
Review Strategic Policy Statements
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.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 2: We support the needs of our senior community, including affordable
housing.
Governmental Services and Internal Support - We provide high-quality support for
all municipal services.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 5: We seek, value, respect, and meaningfully consider input and participation
from all community members.
Outstanding Guest Services - We are a preferred Colorado mountain destination
providing an exceptional guest experience. No modifications were made to the Strategic
Policy Statements.
Town Board Strategic Planning Session #1 Minutes dated March 9, 2026 - Page 2
Public Safety, Health and Environment - Estes Park is a safe place to live, work, and
visit within our extraordinary natural environment.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 3: We recognize that substance abuse in our community and schools is an
ongoing issue and work with local and regional partners to improve
awareness, treatment, education and harm reduction.
Statement 8: Flagged for review to further define Restorative Justice with input from the
division and the liaison. It was mentioned the value of including the
positive impacts of community engagemenVfacilitation.
Robust Economy - We have a diverse, healthy, year-round economy. No
modifications were made to the Strategic Policy Statements.
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.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
New Statement 4: Placeholder - Public trust in finances/managing taxpayer dollars
fiduciary responsibility.
Transportation - We have safe, efficient, and well-maintained multimodal
transportation systems.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 2: We will maintain a high-quality network of streets and trails for our
community.
Statement 3: We will evaluate and address multimodal traffic efficiency throughout the
Town on an ongoing basis.
Mayor Pro Tem Cenac arrived at 2:18 p.m.
Utility Infrastructure - We have reliable, efficient, and up-to-date utility infrastructure
serving our community and customers.
The following Strategic Policy Statements were rewarded, added or deleted:
Statement 1: We provide safe, high-quality, and reliable water service.
New Statement 3: We support an appropriate level of redundancy in all Town utility
services.
It was determined an objective would be discussed during the next strategic planning
session to consider a goal about assessing reliability and redundancy of critical utility
services.
The Board would hold Strategic Planning Session #2 on April 30,2026.
There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 2:18 p.m.
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