HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Joint Study Session 2009-02-10 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, February 10, 2009
Minutes of a Joint Study Session of the Town of Estes Park Board of
Trustees and the Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority Commissioners.
Meeting held in Rooms 202/203 in the Town Hall in said Town of Estes
Park on the 10th day of February, 2009.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Trustees Blackhurst, Eisenlauer, Ericson,
Homeier, Levine, and Miller
Commission: Chairman Newsom, Commissioners Blume, Halburnt, Little,
Martinsen, White, and Wilcocks
Attending: Mayor Pinkham, Trustees Blackhurst, Eisenlauer, Ericson,
Homeier, Levine, and Miller; Commissioners Blume, Martinsen,
White, and Wilcocks
Also Present: Town Administrator Halburnt, Deputy Town Administrator
Richardson, EPURA Executive Director Smith, Director Zurn,
Director Pickering, Manager Winslow, Town Attorney White,
EPURA Attorney Benedetti, Town Clerk Williamson, and Deputy
Town Clerk Deats
Absent: Chairman Newsom and Commissioner Little
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
1. EPURA FUTURE PROJECTS.
The Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority has approximately $1.3 million in its cash
reserve. Town Administrator Halburnt initiated a discussion related to future EPURA
projects for consideration and stated that, at this time, just under $300,000 has
already been allocated by EPURA, leaving a balance of approximately $1 million
available to commit to projects and/or improvements.
Discussion revolved around improvements to Moraine Avenue, Bond Park, and the
Stanley Park Fairgrounds all of which were included as potential future projects for
EPURA in “The Urban Renewal Plan for the Estes Park 21st Century Urban Renewal
Project” which was approved by the Town Board in June of 2008.
Moraine Avenue – Moraine Avenue Streetscape Improvements to match the
streetscape along Elkhorn Avenue were discussed. The size of the project would
necessitate the streetscape be completed in phases, with costs in the neighborhood
of $2 million; exceeding EPURA’s current resources. Public Works Dir. Zurn
informed the group that the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has
plans, sometime in the future, to change the traffic patterns along Moraine Avenue
which would most likely result in the removal of any streetscape improvements that
EPURA might make in the meantime.
Bond Park – Improvements to Bond Park will require the development of a Master
Plan and subsequently community involvement and gathering public input related to
the plan. These steps will take some time to complete. The Town Board has
authorized staff to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Master Plan for Bond
Park, but implementation of improvements, if authorized, will be several years in the
future.
Stanley Park Fairgrounds – Dir. Pickering presented a brief summary of possible
opportunities for EPURA participation in improvements to the fairgrounds based on a
concept plan for the revitalization of Stanley Park Fairgrounds that was developed in
Board of Trustee February 10, 2009 – Page 2
2004-2005. The concept plan includes the proposed construction of multi-purpose
barns, grandstands, a hockey/ice arena, and a parking lot. Estimated costs are:
Multi-purpose barns - $4 million
Grandstands - $835,000
Hockey/Ice Arena - $1 million
Parking Lot - $800,000
Drainage and underground utility improvements to the fairgrounds have been
completed; however, design plans for the barns, grandstands, hockey/ice arena, and
parking lot do not currently exist. Dir. Zurn stated that a parking lot at the
fairgrounds could potentially be utilized as a transportation hub for a transit system
and that a grant to study a transit system has been awarded to the Town in
conjunction with Rocky Mountain National Park.
Discussion followed and is summarized: EPURA projected property tax increment
financing (TIF) is expected to be approximately $20,000 in 2009; chosen project
should increase long term sales tax increment; urban renewal authority has ability to
bond for projects; complications with CDOT and costs preclude Moraine Avenue
project at this time; Bond Park project does not increase TIF; the Town has $2.2
million budgeted for Capital Improvement Projects (CIP); improvements to the
fairgrounds have been suggested for many years and it is time to proceed; improved
fairgrounds will attract visitors to Estes Park; chosen project should be identified as
an EPURA project; the community is supportive of improvements at Stanley Park;
new grandstands may provide the biggest bang for the buck; and fairground
improvements would be a highly visible project for EPURA.
Dir. Pickering stated that an investment in the fairgrounds will be returned to the
community by increased usage of the facility, will provide the business community
with a sense of confidence, and allow the fairgrounds to contend with a competitive
marketplace.
Mayor Pinkham thanked the boards for their cooperation and conversation.
Whereupon Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
William C. Pinkham, Mayor
Cynthia Deats, Deputy Town Clerk