HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Budget Study Session 2002-10-14 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 14, 2002
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TOWN BOARD BUDGET STUDY
SESSION of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting
held in the Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on the 14th day of
October, 2002.
Town Board: Mayor Baudek, Trustees Barker, Doylen, Gillette, Habecker,
Jeffrey-Clark, Newsom
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Widmer, Assistant Town Administrator
Repola, Finance Officer Brandjord, Town Clerk O’Connor,
Directors Joseph, Kilsdonk, Manager Marsh, Police Chief
Richardson, Park/Street Supt. Speedlin, Facilities/Const.
Mgr. Sievers
Absent: None
Mayor Baudek called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
PRESENTATION OF YEAR 2003/04 GENERAL FUND AND OTHER FUNDS.
Town Administrator Widmer announced that he assigned the 2003/2004 budget
preparation responsibility to Assistant Town Administrator Repola and Finance Officer
Brandjord, and they would give the presentation of the General Fund and other funds as
time allows.
Town Board Goals for 2003-2004:
Goal 1: Expedite EPURA’s Walkway Westward Project.
Goal 2: Place the following ballot question on the November 5th
General Election Ballot: Shall elected officials of the Town of Estes
Park, Colorado, be allowed to serve more than two consecutive terms
of office and eliminate the limitation on terms of office as set by article
XVIII, Section 11 of the Colorado Constitution?
Goal 3: To build support and break ground for an ice rink and
community events center by May 2004.
Goal 4: Re-engineer the Trustee Outreach Program.
Goal 5: Evaluate the Stanley Park Master Plan.
Goal 6: Implement Cardboard Recycling.
Goal 7: Investigate the feasibility of creating a Fire District.
Goal 8: Develop a long-term Transportation Plan.
Goal 9: Determine the feasibility of building a Performing Arts
Center.
Goal #3 includes the creation of a “Citizen’s Academy” that is intended to inform the
citizenry on Town Government Operations.
Budget Assumptions: 2003 2004
Sales Tax Revenue +5.0% +4.0%
General Expenses +0% +5.0%
Salary Increases +3.0% +3.0%
Medical Insurance +3.0% +5.0%
Staff stated that: (1) typically, when sales tax revenues are down one year, the
revenues rebound the following year; thus, 5% projection in Sales Tax Revenues for
Town Board Budget Study Session – October 14, 2002 - Page 2
2003 has been budgeted; (2) Staff was advised to maintain a flat line in 2003, and a 5%
increase in 2004; and (3) Due to insolvency of the Medical Self Insurance Fund due to
claims, an employee team is reviewing insurance alternatives such as policy benefits,
passing the increase onto employees, and single and dependent coverage. Additional
details will be available in the near future.
Staff then presented the General Fund, highlighting larger or selected line items for the
Executive, Finance Dept., Community Development Dept., General Government
Buildings, Community Services, Advertising, Police Dept., Fire Dept., Protective
Inspection, Engineering, and Parks & Streets:
Finance Dept.: There is one additional position budgeted in 2003: an
Information Technician (IT) Position. This position was highly recommended by
the Town’s Auditors. The position was funded for 6 mo. in 2003, and a full year
in 2004. Salary will be split between the Light and Power, Water, and General
Funds.
General Government Buildings: $20,000 was postponed in 2002 to improve the
Fish Hatchery Buildings; this expenditure has been included in the 2003 Budget.
Community Services: Trustees Gillette and Newsom and Staff served on a team
to review and recommend funding for 2003/04. $435,470 was expended in 2002
and, following the “flat line” philosophy for 2003, identical funding was budgeted
in 2003. Staff reviewed agency requests, recommended funding levels, and
agencies that did not receive any Town funding.
Administrator Widmer reported that staff is recommending a policy change whereby
approximately $140,000 has been shifted from General Fund Transfers to the Water
Fund as water infrastructure is a Water Dept. responsibility.
Staff Direction:
Fire Dept.: The current secretary position is one-quarter time. An increase
to three-quarter’s time is proposed in 2003. Staff is to provide detail to the
Board.
Community Services: Staff provided a list of agencies that included the
2002 funding levels and the recommended funding levels for 2003 and 2004.
Staff is to provide a summary that includes Agency Funding Requests that
includes the Team’s funding recommendation. (2) Concern was expressed
for private daycare providers vs. non-profits. Staff is to review whether
funding should or is tied into tax status. (3) Funding rational is to be
provided for Partners of Estes Park. (4) Staff is authorized to notify all
agencies that applied for funding what their recommended funding level(s) is
for 2003/2004.
Parks and Streets: (1) Provide a list of vehicles being purchased in the
General Fund; (2) Under Parks, Rentals – revise Golf Course COP’s to Golf
Course Lease; (3) Provide detail on the Vehicle Replacement Fund.
Provide the percentage increase and/or decrease between the 2003 and
2004 Budgets
Provide a list of Capital Asset Acquisitions.
Concluding review of the General Fund, staff presented the Community Reinvestment
Fund, and highlighted major items under Capital for 2003 and 2004:
Municipal Building Remodel, 1st Floor Remodel (the study includes both
floors), $325,000 (preliminary)/2003.
Museum, Phase I (basic remodel), $175,000 for 2003 and $175,000 for Phase
II in 2004.
Elk Repellant System, $5,000 each year. Staff reviewed this project.
Additional Trustee comments were made on maintaining a strong Community
Town Board Budget Study Session – October 14, 2002 - Page 3
Reinvestment Fund, future improvement to the Post Office Parking Lot is needed, and
the Visual and Performing Arts Center as proposed by the Estes Park Arts Community.
Mayor Baudek confirmed that to date, the Town Board has not made a decision on the
Performing Arts Center.
The next Town Board Study Session will be held Thursday, October 17th at 3:30 p.m. in
the Board Room; the Enterprise Fund and all other Funds will be presented.
The Town Board Budget meetings are scheduled Wednesday, October 30th for the
General Fund and Related Funds, and Tuesday, November 5th for the Enterprise Funds
and Budget Changes/Consideration. These meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be
held in the Board Room.
There being no further business, Mayor Baudek adjourned the meeting at 5:37 p.m.
Vickie O’Connor, CMC, Town Clerk