HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Joint Town Board and County Commissioners 2019-02-19Town ofEstes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,February 19,2019
Minutes of a Joint Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Estes
Park and the Larimer County Commissioners,Larimer County,Colorado.
Meeting held in the Town Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 19th day
of February,2019.
Present:Todd Jirsa,Mayor
Cody Rex Walker,Mayor Pro Tem
Trustees Carlie Bangs
Marie Cenac
Patrick Martchink
Ron Norris
Ken Zornes
Also Present:Commissioner Tom Donnelly
Commissioner Steve Johnson
Commissioner John Kefalas
Manager Linda Hoffmann
Frank Lancaster,Town Administrator
Travis Machalek,Assistant Town Administrator
Greg White,Town Attorney
Randy Hunt,Director —Town Community Development
Department
Lesli Ellis,Director -Larimer County Community
Development Department
Bunny Victoria Beers,Recording Secretary
Absent:None
Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
DISCUSS THE ESTES VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REWRITE IN CONTEXT
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT (IGA)AND THE JOINT PLANNING
AREA.Mayor Jirsa opened the meeting of the Town Board and Larimer County
members and introductions were made.Meeting objectives were reviewed in addition to
a history of the IGA and development of the Comprehensive Plan.Staff provided an
overview of the Joint Planning area.Manager Hoffmann reviewed the flow chart
provided by staff and described outcomes for each option the Town and County could
take with the Comprehensive Plan and options for the ISA.A decision must be decided
on whether or not the Estes Valley Comprehensive Plan should be updated in 2019.If
the plan were to be updated,would the plan be revised either separately by each entity
or jointly and those respective paths.An additional consideration of the Boards would
be whether community outreach or analysis should be considered before making a
decision on the Comprehensive Plan or the IGA.
Board and County Commissioner comments have been summarized:Whether
additional community outreach should occur prior to moving forward with revising the
plan or (GA;discussed the benefits of the (GA and moving forward jointly or separately;
an explanation was requested for annexations and provisions for non-contiguous
properties and the process involved to annex;the possibility of a joint Comprehensive
Plan with areas of independent operation by Town and County staff;the transitioning of
staff or plan review with either decision;whether there are issues or concerns with the
Board of Trustees —February 19,2019—Page 2
current IGA which need to be addressed in the update and the importance of
establishing expectations and how the plan would be executed.
Both the Town Board and County Commissioners reached a consensus the
Comprehensive Plan requires updates.The Comprehensive Plan would be placed on
hold until the problem and outcomes are developed.Staff would continue public
—outreach and provide options to the public for revisions to the Comprehensive Plan and
develop a process to gain feedback.The Boards would obtain the feedback jointly and
review data jointly at a future meeting.
ACTION ITEMS:
1.NEXT STEPS FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REWRITE AND IGA.
No motion was made.
DISCUSSION OF STRUCTURE FOR PROPOSED STORM WATER FEES.
Director Muhonen stated the Town has seen impaciful damages in relation to flooding.
In 2016 a hydrology study was performed and FEMA continues to develop new
floodplain maps to address outcomes from the study.The Board identified objectives as
part of the Strategic Plan and three objectives were established including:Pursue
funding for flood mitigation projects;implement recommendations of the Stormwater
Master Plan;and prioritize and pursue projects and funding to reduce flood risk and
flood insurance costs for the property owners and businesses in the Estes Valley.He
stated two cost models were determined with 20%grant funding or no grant funding.
Based on Board direction staff would use a cost model to send out a news release,
mailing containing a summary of the program,sample bill and public outreach survey.
Another funding option could be implemented with a sales tax approved by voters with
the expiration of the 1A Sales Tax in 2024.A fee would not be imposed on vacant
parcels.Fees would be based on impervious area with residential tees based on the
average impervious areas within four lot size tiers of:under 0.04 acres:0.05 to 0.44
acres;0.45 to 1.01 acres,and over 1.02 acres.
Board comments were heard and have been summarized:How staff determined the
four categories for lot size tiers;concerns were voiced regarding residents in the
unincorporated Estes Valley paying a large fee while most of the projects are proposed
in Town limits;the use of a range of proposed fees versus a single estimate amount;
implication of doing nothing could affect the eligibility to obtain Federal grants after a
devastation occurs;and whether staff has considered a debt model for the program.
Commissioner Donnelly encouraged the Board to consider fees on new developments
as another funding option for the program.
The Board was in agreement to direct staff to proceed with public outreach through the
educational letter,sample bill and customer feedback.Staff would collect data for a
three-week time period and present the information to the Town Board and County
Commissioners in April 2019.
Whereupon Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 9:06 p.m.
Beers,Record6id Secretary
Todd Jirsa,