HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2013-10-22
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 22, 2013
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TOWN BOARD STUDY SESSION of
the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in Town
Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 22nd day of October, 2013.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst, Trustees Elrod,
Ericson, Koenig, Norris, and Phipps
Attending: All.
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Town Attorney White, Town
Clerk Williamson, Police Chief Kufeld, Police Commander
Pass and Recording Secretary Limmiatis
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS.
None
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Trustee Phipps requested clarification with the difference between the Parking Structure
Design Review and the Review of the Accelerated Development and Design Process
Used for Parking Structure. Town Administrator Lancaster stated one is for reviewing
the design; the other is for reviewing the process used to achieve the design.
Trustee Ericson requested staff schedule and prioritize items not currently scheduled.
He expressed concern the review of Town property has not been made top priority
since the flood. Town Administrator Lancaster stated that staff would attempt to
schedule the items but may need further direction from the Board.
SALES TAX INITIATIVE.
Town Administrator Lancaster questioned if the Board would like to continue
discussions on a sales tax initiative for the April 1, 2014 municipal election in light of the
recent flooding event. Board discussion followed: Trustee Norris stated support for
moving the sales tax question forward to the voters in April; Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst
questioned increasing the sales tax on the few visitors that are coming, and the public
opinion on the proposed initiative, and Mayor Pinkham suggested the Board receive
input from the local businesses. The Board consensus was to move forward with the
initiative; however, they requested the one percent increase sunset in 10 years rather
than the 15 years originally discussed.
TOWN BOARD COMPENSATION.
Staff reviewed the compensation data provided to the Board in 2012 and found that only
two communities have changed their compensation packages – Steamboat Springs and
Blackhawk. Several factors were identified to guide future discussion, such as review of
the budget in March to make recommendations prior to the April election, public
impression of increasing Board compensation, fairness of compensation, and ability of
compensation to cover health insurance premiums. Trustee Elrod suggested creating
an incremental increase schedule that would avoid a situation in which a high increase
would be needed in the future. The Board requested staff investigate the possibility of a
multi-year increase schedule that could be enacted, and to make sure insurance
premiums are covered. Staff would bring several scenarios to the Board for their review
prior to March.
Town Board Study Session – October 22, 2013 – Page 2
REVIEW OF LIQUOR VIOLATION GUIDELINES & PROCESS.
The Board reviewed public comment received since the October 8, 2013 Town Board
meeting on liquor violation guidelines. Staff requested direction from the Board on how
to proceed with developing revised guidelines. Commander Pass presented the
possibility of using the Restorative Justice Program as an innovative tool to address the
concerns of accountability, consistency, and fairness of the consequences when a
liquor licensee violates the liquor code. The Board discussed and recommended staff
move forward with revising the guidelines to align the with State guidelines, best
practices and procedures, provide additional training opportunities, and review the
possibility of utilizing Restorative Justice as allowed by the liquor code. The Board
directed staff to review the four outstanding violations utilizing the current guidelines.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:11 p.m.
Barbara Jo Limmiatis, Recording Secretary