HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2011-05-24
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, May 24, 2011
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
Rooms 202 & 203 in said Town of Estes Park on the 24th day of May,
2011.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Levine, Trustees
Blackhurst, Elrod, Ericson, Koenig and Miller
Also Attending: Deputy Town Administrator Richardson, Town Attorney
White, Finance Officer McFarland, Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
MEET AND GREET SHERIFF JUSTIN SMITH.
Sheriff Justin Smith met briefly with the Board to introduce himself and provided a
current overview of the Larimer County Sheriff’s department. He reviewed the
upcoming sunset for the sales tax collection for jails in Larimer County in 2013. The
issue of extending the sales tax may be presented to the voters at the upcoming
coordinated election in 2011. He extended an invitation to the Board to tour the county
jail facility.
GREENPLAY PRO FORMA.
Finance Officer McFarland and Chris Dropinski/Greenplay presented updated pro forma
information for the proposed Multi Purpose Event Center (MPEC) stating that additional
information was made available for review including the 2010 Estes Park Visitors Study
Year End Roll-Up Report completed by the LMD. The numbers generated by staff,
Greenplay and Guest study were shown as individual dollars spent versus a group or
family. Ms. Dropinski stated Greenplay used a conservative approach when analyzing
the project. She also stated each similar facility reviewed had different uses, and
therefore, it was difficult to compare them due to local conditions.
Discussion was heard on the need to replace the current barns at the fairgrounds and
not the overriding need for a MPEC; concern was raised on the feasibility of using the
building for public events due to health concerns after being used as stables; and the
building as proposed could be scaled back to be more functional if it were used for
events only and a separate barn was built; and Trustee Miller maintains the cost of a
simple barn structure for stables would be considerably less than staff’s current
estimate. The MPEC discussion would continue during the upcoming Town Board
Budget Study Session scheduled for July 8, 2011.
1st QUARTER FINANCIAL AND SALES TAX REPORT.
Finance Officer McFarland provided an overview of the 1st quarter sales tax stating
through March sales tax is ahead of budget by .6% and by 6.7% in 2010. The Town
continues to fair well when compared to other CAST communities. The review of major
categories demonstrates a large increase for lodging due to a large credit issued from a
previous overpayment in 2010 and a lodging facility paying back due taxes in 2011.
The sales tax rate of change through March is trending upward. At this point in time,
sales tax is on target to meet budget for 2011. The General fund revenues are 17.9%
of budget with 33% of the year complete. Revenues are lagging budget due to timing
and cyclicality of sales tax receipts. Expenditures are at 38% and are due mostly to the
pay out of community service grants. The Enterprise revenues are at 34% with
expenditures under budget.
Town Board Study Session – May 24, 2011 – Page 2
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
The future agenda items were reviewed for upcoming Study Sessions. Trustee Miller
requested the Town owned property discussion scheduled for June 28th be moved to
the first meeting in July to allow the Transportation Visioning Committee to present an
update to the Board on June 28th.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:42 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk