HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2011-06-28
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, June 28, 2011.
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TOWN BOARD 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
28th day of June, 2011.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Levine, Trustees
Blackhurst, Elrod, Ericson, Koenig, and Miller
Attending: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Levine, Trustees
Blackhurst, Elrod, Ericson, Koenig, and Miller
Also Attending: Town Administrator Halburnt, Deputy Town Administrator
Richardson, Town Attorney White, Directors Bergsten,
Kilsdonk, McFarland, Winslow, and Zurn, and Deputy Town
Clerk Deats
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN.
The Trustees continued their review of the Capital Asset Management Plan that was
started at the June 14, 2011, Study Session.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
Dir. Bergsten reported that proposed Information Technology (IT) Division
projects include upgrades and replacement of audio-visual (AV) equipment in the
Town Board room; security camera replacement; DVR replacement for CCTV
security system; facility door access security equipment; network redundancy;
network server, switch, and firewall replacement; upgrades or replacement of
the telephone system; and audio video equipment upgrades or replacement.
The existing Board Room AV equipment has reached its useful life and upgrades
to digital equipment will allow for higher quality productions. Security cameras
have recently been installed in the Police Department, but cameras in other
locations are obsolete. The Trustees suggested phasing the purchase and
replacement of the security cameras to provide a rotating schedule for camera
replacement, noting that cameras of different ages will reduce the chances for
overall equipment failure. The Trustees questioned whether DVR and camera
purchases need to be coordinated in order to achieve better quality images, and
asked if the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) would participate in the cost of DVR
equipment replacement since one of the units monitors the dam. Trustee Elrod
suggested there may be opportunities to partner with the BOR for equipment to
provide a robust security and communication network in order to satisfy
homeland security requirements. The Trustees asked for a clearer description of
the audio video upgrades and additional information from staff regarding multi-
year projects.
NEW PROJECTS.
Dir. Zurn described Bond Park Phase II as the last remaining hard surface area
to be constructed in Bond Park which will accommodate the balance of the
planned 100 tent spaces, removing them entirely from the grassy areas. The
Trustees discussed the project and said it would be helpful, now that Phases I
and III are complete, to tour the park and determine if the size of the remaining
hardscape areas could be reduced in order to preserve more green space and
the natural feel of the park.
Town Board Study Session – June 28, 2011 – Page 2
Stall Barns Phase III would replace the existing, older, white barns, and move
them to the northwest section of the fairgrounds property. Mgr. Winslow said it is
a liability to house million dollar horses in barns where conditions are below the
industry standard. The Trustees discussed the location of the barns as it relates
to SOPA, the grandstands, staging for the rodeo and other fairground events, the
existing camping area, and a future indoor event center. The Trustees asked
staff for a drop dead date for barn replacement and for cost estimates for the
construction of the barns.
In regard to utilizing Town-owned property on Fish Hatchery Road to develop
affordable work-force housing, Trustee Blackhurst said that the Estes Park
Housing Authority (EPHA) housing needs assessment has been put on hold and
that there is no sense of urgency to move ahead with this project as the EPHA is
not seeing an increased demand for work-force housing at this time. Trustee
Miller said there has historically been a need for employee housing and it does
not hurt to explore a public/private partnership to develop a housing project with
mixed uses. Town Administrator Halburnt suggested the Board have a
conversation about its philosophy regarding work-force housing; is it the
responsibility of government, private enterprise, or a public/private partnership;
and various ways it can be accomplished.
Other projects included the construction of a 40,000 square foot indoor arena,
including replacing three existing barns, to accommodate equine events during
the shoulder seasons; a Multi-Purpose Event Center (MPEC) that can be used
for equine events in the summer and converted to accommodate recreational
activities, and pipe-and-drape type trade shows in the off-season; Moraine
Avenue improvements to include signalization, intersection improvements, and
sidewalks out Moraine Avenue to Marys Lake Road; a climate-controlled
museum storage facility constructed with a combination of Town funds, grants,
and funds raised by the Friends of the Museum, to be located east of the
museum to be accessed from the fairgrounds; Performing Arts Center site
preparation; and remodeling of the front entrance of the Police Department to
install bulletproof glass, an awards cabinet, and remove the existing lift to free up
additional space.
Discussion regarding a public process for projects was held, with Town
Administrator Halburnt suggesting public input to rank new projects but not
utilities or streets. Trustee Miller asked staff to research what other communities
do and said the public should be allowed to comment on streets. Trustee
Blackhurst said the current system utilized to evaluate streets and determine
priorities for streets projects works well. The Trustees agreed that they want the
public to be part of the budgeting process, receive information and have the
opportunity to comment.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Dir. Zurn said an investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the
situation on MacGregor Avenue, which currently does not support traffic loading. A
formal report will be available in two weeks with detailed information as to the cause of
the failure.
The Mayor called a recess for dinner at 5:25 p.m. and resumed the meeting at 5:35 p.m.
TRANSPORTATION VISIONING COMMITTEE UPDATE.
Kimberly Campbell, Charley Dickey, Wayne Groome, Fred Mares, Greg Rosener, and
Frank Theis, representing the Transportation Visioning Committee (TVC) were in
attendance at the meeting to provide an update to the Trustees. TVC Co-Chairs
Ericson and Miller said an application process was utilized to assemble the diverse
group of individuals who make up the Committee, and that the Committee’s purpose is
Town Board Study Session – June 28, 2011 – Page 3
to envision the transportation needs of the Estes Valley 20 years in the future. The
assumptions and special considerations made by the Committee were reviewed and
included: visitors will continue to travel to Estes Park, primarily in individual vehicles;
parking and traffic issues are seasonal; downtown is and will remain the Town center;
potential solutions should meet the needs of locals and visitors; protect and respect our
natural environment and existing neighborhoods; and enhance the visitor experience
and the Estes Valley business climate.
Wayne Groome reviewed the approach taken by the Committee which included
regularly scheduled meetings; guest speakers; review of previously completed studies,
surveys, and statistical information; and the formation of work groups. Issues identified
include 1. traffic to and in the downtown area; 2. traffic traveling through downtown to
get to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and the YMCA; and 3. parking. Three
work groups were created (Information Distribution Work Group, moderated by Fred
Mares; Bypass and Road Reconfiguration Work Group, moderated by Stan Black, and
Parking and Shuttles Work Group, moderated by Kimberly Campbell) and met to further
identify and discuss specific issues or needs, and to brainstorm recommendations for
potential solutions.
Fred Mares proposed an outline for a process to gather public input and collect ideas
from the community related to transportation concerns and ideas. Ideas would be
gathered through meetings lead by a facilitator; then evaluated and incorporated into
the final TVC report to the Board of Trustees.
Trustee Ericson asked for comments and/or suggestions from the Board about the
TVC’s activities. Comments included: consider gas prices, older population, shuttle
service in residential areas, bicycles, and pedestrians; broad variety of transportation
elements are interrelated; it is important to receive public input; involve PIO Rusch in
the public process; is public process to generate ideas/solutions, what are we asking for
public input on; completion of public process will result in recommendations that may or
may not be implemented in the future; good brainstorming project but what is ultimate
purpose of the group; one goal is to generate ideas for the Board to prioritize; are
solutions for today or 20 years from now; short term solutions could be implemented;
public input process may produce out of the box solutions; and commend the TVC for
its work.
Trustee Blackhurst thanked the Committee for their work and information but said he did
not hear anything that he had not heard before, with the same issues having been
discussed for the past 25 years. Trustee Koenig reiterated the need to know the
ultimate purpose and goal of the public process and the Committee in general.
Greg Rosener said the Committee is not looking for a pat on the head, but rather for
direction from the Board as to how to proceed. He said he does not want to continue
without approval from the Trustees that the Committee is headed in the right direction.
The TVC will prepare a short presentation to be given at the July 26, 2011, Board
meeting and request the support of the Board to continue with the public process.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
This item was not discussed due to lack of time.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:51 p.m.
Cynthia Deats, Deputy Town Clerk