HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2014-03-11
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado March 11, 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 11th day of March, 2014.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst, Trustees Elrod,
Ericson, Koenig, Norris and Phipps
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Town Attorney White and
Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
Trustee Phipps stated difficulty in hearing individuals speaking at the podium in the
Board Room. Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst agreed and stated there are staff members
that are hard to hear as well. Discussion was heard. IT Manager Fraundorf
commented a consultant has been evaluating upgrades to the Board Room, including
the sound system.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Administrator Lancaster stated the Board retreat would be rescheduled to June 26,
2014. Trustee Ericson requested a status report on the development/revision to Town
policies.
REVIEW PROGRESS OF 2014 OBJECTIVES.
Administrator Lancaster provided the Board an update on the current status of the 2014
objectives. The September flood, recovery, election, etc has delayed the progress of
some objectives.
Robust Economy – Staff continues to work on Town codes to make the land
use code easier to read/use and to address the establishment of new businesses
(micro breweries, wineries, wedding facilities, etc.).
Infrastructure – A number of the items are in progress. The environmental
study for the extension of Fall River has not begun and may be delayed due to
the significant changes that occurred on Fall River from the flood. The
development of funding for facilities maintenance has not started. Director
Bergsten stated a master plan and financial plan for the Water department would
be completed this year. Options for upgrading the Glacier Creek water treatment
plant or a new facility would be discussed along with setting new rates to fund the
improvements. An ad-hoc committee has been formed to review options to
capitalize on the fiber infrastructure, including the use of grant funding to analyze
best uses. Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst requested the Board consider the addition
of the final phase of Bond Park as an objective for 2015. Planning for the final
phase was delayed due to the flood.
Exceptional Guest Services – Objectives are in progress. An ad-hoc
committee has been formed to review the current special events, the venues,
and how the events benefit the community. The group would also set criteria for
new events and provide a report to the Board by the end of the year. Trustee
Town Board Study Session – March 11, 2014 – Page 2
Ericson requested staff provide income for each event and estimated income for
new events for review by the Board.
Public Safety, Health and Environmental – Objectives in progress with the
exception of the public advisory radio, on hold until after the April 1st election, and
changes to radio frequencies has been placed on hold. The land fill remediation
plan for Elm Road landfill continues to move forward. The initial results from the
consultant suggest the cost could be approximately half the original estimate of
$1 million.
Outstanding Community Services – The comprehensive plan update
continues; however, staff resources are focused on flood recovery. Staff
recommends a study session with the new Board after the April 1st election to
discuss the Town’s role in community housing. Staff would bring forward a policy
for the Board’s review on accepting public art.
Governmental Services and Internet Support – Objectives are in progress
with the exception of the capital planning process which has been placed on hold
with the departure of the Assistant Town Administrator Richardson. Finance
Officer McFarland would review past documents and possibly bring forward a
simplified document for the Board’s review. Code Compliance Officer Kleisler
continues to work on compliance with the Town’s business licensing regulations
for vacation homes. Staff continues to work on updating Town polices; however,
progress has been delayed due to the significant work being conducted by staff
on flood recovery issues.
Transportation – All objectives are in progress. The Transportation Advisory
Committee has looked as signage and has suggested a standard be developed
for the downtown commercial district. The flood repairs to the Fish Creek
corridor would begin next week.
Administrator Lancaster stated the January sales tax was up 10% over last year. Staff
continues to be cautiously optimistic that revenues would be positive for 2014. The
Town FEMA match is still unknown and could affect the addition of new/additional
projects to the 2014 budget. He would provide quarterly updates to the Board on the
status of the objectives. Trustee Ericson requested staff provide an implementation
plan for the objectives with a few bullet points outlining how each would be
accomplished before the Board’s retreat in June.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS/DEFINITIONS.
Staff has revised the Board Committee Appointment policy as directed by the Board at
their August 13, 2013 study session to include definition of appointments to interview
committees, added definition of Outside committee appointments, updated list of
Committees and Boards, and updated staff assignments.
Board comments included the following: need to update the Municipal Code to reflect
the current standing committees, i.e. Community Development/Community Services
Committee and Public Safety, Utilities and Public Works Committee; individual Trustees
need to be mindful of their role as liaison to outside entities; Board consensus was the
Audit Committee should remain as a special committee and not a standing committee;
the policy should be consistent as to when appointments are made; i.e. certification of
the election results; discussed the appointment of the Mayor Pro Tem and the public’s
perception of succession planning with the appointment; the Shuttle Committee would
be removed as a formal committee and would become administrative; and the Estes
Park Housing Authority would remain as a formal Board with a Board liaison because
the Town appointments their members and provides funding.
Staff would make final revisions to the policy and present it at the Board meeting on
March 25, 2014 for the Board’s consideration.
Town Board Study Session – March 11, 2014 – Page 3
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REVIEW UPDATE.
Town Clerk Williamson provided an update on the Mountain State Employers Councils
multi-rating tool. The Board reviewed the questions to be used in the evaluation. The
tool would be programmed and sent to the Board by Monday, March 17th for the Board
to complete, responses evaluated, report completed, and a Human Resource Specialist
to review with the Board during an Executive Session on Tuesday, March 25th. The
Board would hold a final evaluation with Town Administrator on Tuesday, April 8th during
an Executive Session.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:33 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk