HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2010-07-27
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 27, 2010
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
Room 130 in said Town of Estes Park on the 27th day of July, 2010.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Trustees Blackhurst, Elrod, Ericson,
Koenig, Levine and Miller
Also Attending: Deputy Town Administrator Richardson, Director Joseph,
Chief Kufeld, Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: Town Administrator Halburnt, Town Attorney White, PIO
Rusch
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
BEAR PROOF TRASH CANS
Chief Kufeld stated the Police Department responds to approximately two bear calls per
week. The Police educate the individuals as to why the bears are in the area. He
commented Cheley Camp has installed bear-proof trash cans to address the extensive
problem at the camp and no longer has an issue with bears. Director Joseph stated the
current Town ordinance does not regulate residential trash with regard to how it is
stored. Town Administrator Richardson stated trash ordinances are common in
communities with wildlife concerns and generally regulate how trash is handled and do
not require wildlife cans.
Trustee Blackhurst questioned if the DOW has reopened the spring bear hunt. He
stated bear-proofing would not make a difference if there continues to be overpopulation
and would be very expensive to the Town and the citizens.
Trustee Miller stated he favored an ordinance to address when and how trash should be
stored prior to trash pickup. Vacation home owners regularly leave trash out for a
number of days before regularly scheduled trash pickup.
Trustee Koenig favors educated the public on the issue over the passage of an
ordinance to require bear-proof trash receptacles.
Discussion was heard amongst the Board and is summarized: other wildlife such as
raccoons are a problem as well as the bears; the issue is the confrontation potential
between animals and people; education should be increased during the appropriate
time of year to inform the citizenry through the Town’s PIO and the utility bills; and
HOAs would be the logical mechanism for distributing information to homeowners.
Director Joseph stated only properties that have been developed with the new
Development Code are required to have bear-resistant receptacles; therefore, full
compliance with the code requirements would only come with redevelopment of
property in the valley.
Trustees Koenig and Miller reviewed a program in Pueblo in which a group of
volunteers provide information to the community on code violations such as trash in an
effort to bring them into voluntary compliance. If the initial outreach is unsuccessful, the
matter is turned over to the Code Enforcement Officer for further action. The Police
Auxiliary may be a logical group to develop a core volunteer group in Estes Park.
Town Board Study Session – July 27, 2010 – Page 2
Staff would contact DOW to discuss further education on the issues/concerns, develop
education message with PIO and investigate the code enforcement techniques used in
Pueblo.
RECYCLING
The memo prepared by Town Administrator Halburnt stated the issue is whether or not
to require trash haulers in Estes Park to offer recycling as opposed to requiring a
recycling fee for each account. Larimer County language was reviewed.
Trustee discussion is summarized: two companies already provide curbside recycling
for a fee; the Board encouraged Waste Management to promote curbside recycling
during its September 22, 2009 study session meeting; more education such as articles
to inform the community of the options available; there is a need for cardboard recycling
in the summer; the Town has made improvements at the transfer station and Bond Park
by supplying recycling receptacles; the Town should not compete with private industry
that already exists; and the issue should be addressed at the upcoming Triangle
meeting between the Town, County and Planning Commission in August.
Mayor Pinkham stated he would attend the next Recycling Committee meeting to inform
the group the Town will not address recycling because it is being addressed by private
industry.
MEETING PROCEDURES.
Trustee Miller stated the Board has discussed in the past the need for developing
meeting procedures, and at the recent CML conference it was highly recommended that
a set of rules should be adopted by the governing body for conducting meetings.
Discussion was heard amongst the Board with a consensus that Trustee Koenig and
Elrod would develop a draft meeting procedure policy with the assistance of Attorney
White, Town Administrator Halburnt and Town Clerk Williamson.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:35 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk