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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session Budget Meeting 2008-08-26 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, August 26, 2008 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TOWN BOARD PRE-BUDGET STUDY SESSION of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in Rooms 201/202/203 in said Town of Estes Park on the 26th day of August, 2008. Board: Mayor Pinkham, Trustees Blackhurst, Eisenlauer, Ericson, Homeier, Levine and Miller Attending: All Also Attending: Town Administrator Halburnt, Deputy Town Administrator Richardson, Dept. Heads Joseph, McFarland and Zurn, Mgr. Winslow and Town Clerk Williamson Absent: None Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. 2009 POLICY GUIDANCE. Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Administrator Halburnt reviewed the CIP for 2009 and stated the multi-use barn facility continues to be the number one project. She reviewed the funding options for the facility which includes financing the entire project, a combination of cash and financing and a pay as you go scenario. She also stated there is approximately $1 million in the Catastrophic Loss Fund (CLF) that could be borrowed for this project. The Board discussed the option: if financing is used the Town should build the multi-use barn and redo the grandstands due to ongoing CIRSA concerns; the recent survey indicated the citizens of the valley want an ice arena and indoor recreation; how would the Town finance and would the Town need to receive voter approval; and the Town should consider alternative building materials or products that would met LEED standards. Administrator Halburnt stated the grandstands are only used a couple of weeks per year and questioned if the Board wanted to finance the improvements to the grandstand. If financing is the mechanism used by the Board, Certificates of Participation (COPs) would be used with the Municipal Building as leverage. Trustee Blackhurst stated a combination of cash and financing would be acceptable. Trustee Levine voiced concern with the transfer of funds from the CLF. This fund should be used only for a catastrophe. Trustee Blackhurst questioned the need for a 30% reserve and a CLF. Trustee Levine stated the reserve funds are there for an emergency for outside forces whereas catastrophic fund is for a major loss to the Town, i.e. flood. Trustee Levine stated he would support no more than $800,000 being transferred from the CLF. Discussion followed as to the best method of financing. The Board agreed to move forward with the entire project including the multi-use barn with ice, parking lot, landscaping and grandstand improvements. Staff will present financing options to the Board during the upcoming budget hearings. The Board stated the improvements would be good for the community and the visitors and perhaps spur private investment in the area. Trustee Miller stated all issues related to maintenance and policies should be removed from the CIP. He also stated an RFP should be completed for the multi-use facility if funds are available this year. Town Board Study Session – August 26, 2008 – Page 2 Trustee Ericson would advocate for a rewrite of the Comprehensive Plan and the Development Code. He stated he would support the adoption of a Fire Code as well. Trustee Blackhurst and Miller would advocate for an update to the Development Code. Trustee Blackhurst stated a statistical update of the Comprehensive Plan was completed recently. Administrator Halburnt recommended addressing a couple of chapters of the Development Code per year. Administrator Halburnt questioned if upgrades to Bond Park could be delayed. Discussion followed amongst the Board: Bond Park should be a joint venture between the Town and EPURA; should not be a main focus; Public Works should move forward with a Master Plan; a Master Plan would provide a long range view and provide community input on the uses of the park in the future. Administrator Halburnt stated a Master Plan is estimated to cost $50,000 and only $20,000 was budgeted for 2008. Wildlife Habitat Assessment Director Joseph presented the completed Wildlife Habitat study, which is ready for adoption and included in the Comprehensive Plan and the Development Code. This document provides the information needed to propose revisions to related sections of the Development Code that address wildlife habitat and related impact studies. The habitat map and ranking provided in the study could be used to identify lands that have significant habitat, and therefore, subject to Wildlife Conservation Plans. This would remove the Division of Wildlife from defining a development’s significant negative impact to the wildlife. The completed study identifies the highest priority along stream and river corridors as the highest value habitat in the valley; therefore, staff would recommended river setbacks be increased to 50 feet. Other standards addressing the preservation of these riparian zones may also be considered. Code changes would be presented to the Planning Commission at the September 2008 meeting with possible adoption by the Town Board and County Commissioners in November. Comments were heard: concern was raised regarding the terminology used on the map, i.e. highest versus high; questioned why the code would not address the high priority properties as well; some of the highest value properties identified are on steep slopes, along stream corridors or conservation easements; this is a useful planning tool and eliminates CDOW from the decision making process for development approval; and Table 4 Buffers should be included in code revisions. Director Joseph stated protecting the highest value properties would provide connectivity of the ecological network. These properties can not be lost. The high value properties would not destroy the fundamental connectivity of the wildlife habitat, and therefore, is not considered irreplaceable. He stated the map should be refined with ground truthing on a parcel-by-parcel basis. The development of an infill lot within the urban area (gray areas of the map) would not have a detrimental effect on the wildlife as suitable habitat is available nearby. Staff would propose to the Planning Commission that buffers outlined in Table 4 be adopted into the Development Code. Attorney White stated the Board should consider adoption of regulations that accompany the Wildlife Habitat Map. These regulations would limit staff from interrupting the code requirements in the future and provide clear guidelines to the general public and developers. Trustee Blackhurst pointed out an error in the population and growth rate statistics. Staff would review and make necessary changes. Trustee Miller questioned who reviews Conservation Plans developed to mitigate development. Director Joseph stated staff would review the plan and then Planning Commission. Trustee Miller stated the Town should engage a third party consultant to review the plan and determine whether it meets minimum standards. Attorney White stated procedures should be developed to address how the plan mitigates concerns and how to quantify the mitigation efforts proposed. Town Board Study Session – August 26, 2008 – Page 3 Director Joseph recommended engaging EDAW to prepare an Open Space study. The purpose of the study would be to identify open spaces that have high value and characteristics that qualify them for protection. An RFP was not prepared for the study as staff contends the two studies go hand in hand. EDAW was hired initially because they have a wildlife biologist that can complete both studies. The Board requested staff complete an RFP for the Open Space study. Director Joseph stated staff requests the Board provide direction related to existing density and floor area standards. Members of the Board stated density in the valley was drastically reduced during the 2000 rezoning of the valley. Trustee Miller expressed concern with design guidelines. He stated expansion of the PUD could address density and FAR. MISCELLANEOUS Mayor Pinkham stated the RMNP has completed a wildlife study that would be presented to the Town Board at an upcoming meeting. There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk