HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2026-03-24RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado March 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 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, and Recording Secretary Bramwell
Absent: None.
Mayor Pro Tem Cenac called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY.
Town Clerk Williamson presented a draft policy that incorporates rules and procedures
for both written and public comment at Town Board meetings. She noted the current
Policy 103 of the Town Board Governance Policies contained an exhibit outlining public
comment at Town Board meetings and was incorporated without any updates for the
Board's review. The recommended updates include: all written comment must be
received no later than 4:00 p.m. the Monday prior to the Town Board meeting to be
included in the packet for consideration by the Board, staff will not read comments into
the record at meetings, comments shall be submitted through the Town Board Agenda
Viewer at www.estes.org/boardsandmeetings or by emailing townclerk@estes.org, and
comments sent directly to Board of Trustee members will not be included in the packet.
Board discussion and questions were heard and summarized: Expressed support for
the deadline of 4:00 p.m. the Monday prior to the Town Board meeting; expressed
desire to edit public comments at Town Board meetings to prohibit yielding time to other
speakers; discussed the value of asking speakers to state their address prior to
presenting public comment and alternative policy options, including instituting a speaker
sign-up sheet; and discussed whether adjustments to the three minute limit per speaker
per discussion item should be made at the Mayor's discretion or voted on by the Board.
Trustee Lancaster arrived at 3:04 p.m. and Mayor Hall arrived at 3:22 p.m.
ANNEXATION OF ENCLAVES.
Senior Planner Hornbeck presented two potential enclaves that may be eligible for
annexation, Fawn Valley Enclave and Highway 7 Enclave. The Fawn Valley Enclave
consists of seven (7) lots that each have a single-family home. Six (6) are zoned 'E'
Estate and one (1) is zoned 'A-1' Accommodations in Larimer County. Highway 7
Enclave consists of nineteen (19) lots, fifteen (15) of which have single-family homes.
Eighteen (18) of the lots are zoned 'RE' Rural Estate and one (1) is zoned 'A'
Accommodations in Larimer County. Advantages of annexation identified by staff
include more responsive and efficient delivery of government services and eligibility of
enclave residents to vote in Town elections. Disadvantages include a potential increase
in burden on Town services and finances, potential increase in property taxes to
property owners in the enclaves, and the financial cost to the Town to hire a surveyor to
map annexed properties.
Board discussion and questions were heard and summarized: Expressed support for
annexing eligible properties to support social cohesion and efficient and fair delivery of
government services; requested more information about the anticipated financial impact
to the Town and to property owners in the Fawn Valley and Hwy 7 enclaves; and
requested staff solicit feedback from property owners in the enclaves.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session Minutes dated March 24, 2026 - Page 2
EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS FROM SALES TAX.
Director Zimmerman presented the recommendation to adopt Exemption S (diapers and
incontinence products) and Exemption T (period products) from the State of Colorado's
sales tax exemption options for state-collected local jurisdictions. Staff estimate this
would result in a $15,000 to $20,000 revenue loss to the Town's general fund. If
considered and approved, the exemptions would be effective July 1, 2026.
Board discussion and questions were heard and summarized: Agreed the exemptions
align with the Town's dedication to supporting families; stated the anticipated revenue
loss would not be significant; and the majority expressed support for both tax
exemptions, with the exception of Trustee Igel who expressed concern adopting
Exemptions S and T would result in minimal savings for customers and would set a
precedent to adopt additional exemptions.
VENDOR FEE RATE FOR SALES TAX COLLECTION.
Director Zimmerman recommended the Town maintain the existing 3.33% sales tax
vendor fee. The State of Colorado permitted qualifying retailers to retain a sales tax
vendor fee as compensation for the timely collection and remission of sales tax. HB25B-
1005 eliminated the State's vendor fee and allowed local governments to modify or
eliminate the vendor fee effective January 1, 2026. Larimer County eliminated its vendor
fee effective January 1, 2026.
The Town Board expressed unanimous support to maintain the 3.33% sales tax vendor
fee to support businesses within the Town.
TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
None.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDAJTEMS,
It was requested and determined that a study session regarding the Development Code
Update 50% Draft Review was approved and scheduled for July 28, 2026. A study
session with Visit Estes Park to discuss winter events was approved, unscheduled. A
discussion on a Paid Parking Dynamic Pricing Pilot was postponed until after the 2026
paid parking season. A presentation on the Protecting the Gateway to the Rockies
Defense Plan, presented by the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management and
the Estes Valley Fire Protection District (EVFPD) was approved for a regular meeting of
the Town Board of Trustees, unscheduled.
There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 4:32 p.m.
^ TL^IQ
SVphanie Bramwell, Recording Secretary