HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2019-01-08
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado January 8, 2019
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 8th day of January, 2019.
Board: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Walker, Trustees Bangs,
Cenac, Martchink, Norris and Zornes
Attending: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Walker, Trustees Bangs,
Cenac, Martchink, Norris and Zornes
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town Administrator
Machalek, and Recording Secretary Disney.
Absent: Town Attorney White
Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
BENEFITS OF ROUNDABOUTS.
Director Muhonen and Mark Johnson of MTJ Roundabout Engineering presented the
history, benefits, and challenges associated with using roundabouts for roadway
intersection traffic control. Three roundabouts were being designed for installation in
Estes Park at the Wonderview/MacGregor intersection, US 36/Community Drive
intersection and Moraine/Crags intersection. Mr. Johnson highlighted the advantages of
roundabouts as: reductions to fatalities, intersection crashes and injures; cost efficiency
over the lifetime of a roundabout; shorter and safer pedestrian crossings; reduced air
and noise pollution caused by idling cars; and simplified driver decision-making.
The Trustees discussed: roundabout education for visitor population; structure of three-
way roundabouts; the shorter distance of crosswalks and size of roundabouts; the ability
to accommodate larger vehicles; snow maintenance; options to accommodate disabled
pedestrians; and criteria standards for roundabout design.
TRUSTEE & ADMINSTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
Town Administrator Lancaster requested the Board determine when to discuss the
Stanley Historic District becoming subject to Estes Valley Planning Commission for
development review. He stated this could be done before or after the Film Center
Development, a Northern Colorado Regional Tourism Authority (NOCO RTA) project,
has been approved. It was determined to review the Stanley Historic District
development review process in 2020.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Mayor Jirsa stated there would be an additional position to be filled by Estes Park on
NOCO RTA. Additionally, Mike Abbiatti, Town appointee, would be resigning soon.
Thus, the Board would need to make two appointments to NOCO RTA. It was
determined to bring the appointments forward to the January 22, 2019 meeting. It was
also determined to add the seasonal parking issue and the Parking Management Plan
to items for future consideration by the Board. Mayor Jirsa stated he would like an in-
depth review of Building Department Operations and potential implementation of a 24-
hour approval process at the Study Session on January 22, 2019.
There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:56 p.m.
Kimberly Disney, Recording Secretary