HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2011-09-13
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, September 13,
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 13th day of
September, 2011.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Levine, Trustees
Blackhurst, Elrod, Ericson, Koenig and Miller
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Halburnt, Deputy Town Administrator
Richardson, Town Attorney White, Director Kilsdonk, and
McFarland and Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
TOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE OVERVIEW
Mayor Pinkham presented a review of the Town’s Mission, Vision, Goals and Guiding
Principles. He also reviewed past Town Board goals that addressed economic
development and the formation of the 2017 Team to recognize and support the existing
economic component of tourism; look at future opportunities for diversity; and create an
overriding plan or strategy for future economic development. Moving forward with
economic development, Kathay Rennels would facilitate an invitational meeting with
organizations and individuals to identify issues and determine who would be involved in
the process moving forward, including financial support. Groups would be formed to
address the issues and focus on areas of concern. The process would take 12-18
months with Kathay Rennels facilitating quarterly meetings and a process manager
would be hired by those entities involved in the process. The end result would be to
create jobs, year around employment, diversify business base, attract and retain
working families, capitalize on strengths to effectively compete in an increasingly
complex and competitive environment.
Trustee Blackhurst questioned the Town’s involvement in economic development,
stating the private sector should address the issue and take the lead. He also
questioned whether the Town wants to be involved in economic development. Trustee
Koenig agreed the effort should come from private enterprise. Trustee Elrod concurred
the issue should be addressed by private enterprise, and the effort should include the
county with the Town as the catalyst for moving the issue forward.
Trustee Ericson stated the effort should be coordinated and the Town should bring the
appropriate entities together. Trustee Miller commented the group should be a
diversified citizen led group with the Town leading the effort, coordinating the group, and
identifying how the Town could help or hinder economic development. Mayor Pinkham
stated the Town needs to take the lead on the issue to begin the process and bring the
different entities together.
2nd QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORT.
The item would be discussed at the Town Board meeting.
TOWN REVIEW OF VISITOR CENTER OFFICE SPACE
Director Kilsdonk reviewed the request of the Local Marketing District to complete the
upstairs of the Visitor Center funded by the Town at an estimated $154,000 and retain
Town Board Study Session – September 13, 2011 – Page 2
the use of the current four offices on the first floor. The current use of the second floor
space is for storage of the LMD stakeholder materials distributed in the lobby,
information desk materials, LMD and Town staff files, building maintenance supplies,
Ambassador items and shuttle signs. The LMD staff would continue to share the use of
the first floor meeting room and kitchen. The building currently has two phone systems.
The Town would make the Nortel system available to the LMD at no cost thereby saving
the Town approximately $3,000 in annual support and maintenance costs.
Future space needs by the Town in the center would include increasing the lobby and
public restroom areas because of the increase in visitation over the past few years,
including a 39% increase in 2011. Any expansion of the public service area would
mean a reduction in other areas on the first floor. Storage on the first floor is not
available and it is unknown how much storage would be available on the second floor in
the future. The Town office space in the building includes 255 s.f. with one employee in
a 34 s.f. cubicle. There is no opportunity for creating a private work space for this
employee, adding an administrative assistant for the department head, or allowing for
staff expansion. Staff had proposed creating office space at the center for the
fairground staff currently working in subpar conditions at the fairground, including a
rented trailer. The Town would also like to provide the Ambassadors with an office
space.
Trustee comments included Trustee Miller requested a breakdown of the estimated
costs; Trustee Blackhurst stated both entities are growing and need additional space,
and therefore, there does not appear to be enough space for both entities; Trustee
Ericson commented the priorities are the visitors and the Ambassadors; Trustee Koenig
stated the Board needs to discuss who should handle CVB operations moving forward
and stated the LMD should look at new space to allow both entities to grow as needed;
Mayor Pinkham and Mayor Pro Tem Levine agreed both entities need additional space,
sharing the current space would not be appropriate, and future visitor needs are of
utmost importance; and Trustee Elrod questioned if the Town should be renting space
to a special district.
Trustee Blackhurst stated the issue should be discussed during the budget process.
Town Administrator Halburnt stated staff did not include the item in the proposed
budget; however, the item would be discussed during the budget meetings.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Trustee Blackhurst stated the Board agreed to have a meeting in September to discuss
the 2012 goals prior to the budget hearings.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk