HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2014-10-14
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado October 14, 2014
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 the
Rooms 202/203 in said Town of Estes Park on the 14th day of October,
2014.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig, Trustees Ericson,
Holcomb, Nelson, Norris and Phipps
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Town Attorney White,
Finance Officer McFarland and Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: None.
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
Trustee Norris commented on the need to send a letter to WAPA. A letter from the
mayor would be sent this week with the previously approved Resolution 18-11 outlining
the Town’s concerns with the Estes-Flatiron project.
Board discussion was heard on the NEPA meeting held for the Downtown Loop project.
The meeting was unclear and a discussion on the process at the beginning of the
meeting would have been helpful for the public. The Trustees stated a number of the
public assumed they had the ability to choose a traffic option and that was the purpose
of the meeting. The Board requested staff prepare a summary article to outline the
NEPA process for the public and the intent of future meetings. Administrator Lancaster
stated the Board selected the one-way couplet when it applied for the grant and the
one-way couplet would remain the preferred alternative unless additional information
comes forward to change the Board’s decision. To change the road alignment the
Board would have to take formal action.
Mayor Pinkham stated the Town has advertised for two Local Marketing District board
positions, and therefore, the Board must appoint two members to the interview
committee. Trustees Holcomb and Norris expressed interest in sitting on the interview
panel.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Trustee Nelson requested a future study session be held to conduct a visioning session
for the downtown area/neighborhood plan.
Trustee Phipps questioned when the Board would review the bids for the parking
garage. Administrator Lancaster stated the two grants received for the structure are in
direct contradiction with how the bids should be submitted. CDOT continues to work
with the two agencies on the Town’s behalf to determine how to move the bidding
process forward.
Administrator Lancaster stated the consultants working on the new utility rates are
available to attend the Town Board study session on November 11, 2014 to provide the
Board with an overview of rates and the rate study.
Public Information Officer Rusch would provide the Town Board with the results of the
citizen survey for review and present an overview of the survey to the community at the
Town Board Study Session – October 14, 2014 – Page 2
regular Town Board meeting on October 28, 2014. The Board would discuss the survey
at the November 25, 2014 study session if further discussion is needed.
FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION ON SEASONAL TOUR BUSINESS ISSUES.
Administrator Lancaster stated the Town did not receive complaints related to the trolley
business operating out of the Visitor Center parking lot. The horse drawn carriage
businesses did receive some complaints. The Town does not have the authority to
regulate the carriages on state highway; however, they can be regulated on local
streets. Staff may propose future changes to the Development Code as it relates to the
need for a brick and mortar location to conduct business downtown.
CODE OF CONDUCT.
Administrator Lancaster presented the Board with a revised Code of Conduct for their
consideration. Attorney White reviewed a number of changes to the code which were
reviewed by the Board. Discussion followed on the appropriateness of corresponding
with constituents when a message has been sent to the full Board and the use of official
Town letterhead when responding.
TOWN WATER OWNERSHIP AND ISSUES.
Attorney White provided a review of the Town’s water rights, including contract rights,
direct flow rights, pros and cons of each type of water right, augmentation plan and
other water related issues. He stated the augmentation plan is integral to the Town’s
municipal water system and is designed to maximize the use of the Town’s water rights.
The Town has contract rights for water through the Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado
Big Thompson, and Windy Gap which is fully consumable water and is used for
augmentation. The Town’s direct flow water rights include Glacier Creek, Estes Park
Town Company Pipeline and Estes Park Cascade Diversion. Attorney White reviewed
the pros and cons of each water right including type of right, yield, cost, single versus
variable yield, limited treatment, use for augmentation plan, carry over limitation, no
volumetric limitation for direct flow and can be used 365 days a year, and variable water
flow.
The Water department considers issues related to the adequacy of the Town’s water
rights portfolio for future water system demand, future of integrated operations in the
new Carriage contract with the Bureau of Reclamation for the Windy Firming Project,
the effect of the Windy Gap Firming Project on the Town’s future water demands,
maximizing the Glacier plant treatment capacity, redundancy in treatment and
transmission, Colorado River issues including the Colorado River compact call, climate
change, and other environmental concerns.
He informed the Board that staff continues to work with the Prospect Mountain Water
company to deliver water to 137 customers. The Town has provided water to the
system for the past two years and has been working toward a permanent agreement.
The Town has bought and incorporated a number of smaller water companies in the
valley over the years. Prospect Mountain Water Company is the last independent water
company in the Estes valley. The main issue revolves around the fact the current water
users should not subsidize the new users on the system that have not paid taps and
rates.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk