Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2015-04-28 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado April 28, 2015 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 28th day of April, 2015. Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig, Trustees Ericson, Holcomb, Nelson, Norris and Phipps Attending: All Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town Administrator Machalek, Finance Officer McFarland and Town Clerk Williamson Absent: Town Attorney White Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. TRUSTEE COMMENTS & QUESTIONS. Trustee Norris stated the special Town Board meeting on April 15th was insightful. He outlined his understanding of the steps that would follow during the next few months in relation to the Loop project and NEPA study. Trustee Ericson commented the Transportation Advisory Board discussed the need for traffic signal changes to address traffic concerns. Director Muhonen would discuss the signal timing with CDOT. Trustee Holcomb questioned the status on the purchase of a motel for seasonal employee housing, the repainting of the stall barns, reroofing of the conference center and Scott ponds. Administrator Lancaster would follow up on the employee housing issue; community service workers are scheduled to repaint the stalls; the reroofing has not been scheduled and would be addressed by the new Facilities Manager; and a consultant has been hired for the Scott ponds, an RFP issued for the design and the item to be presented at the May 12, 2015 Town Board meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Koenig stated the Community Service Officers (CSOs) should work the intersection of Elkhorn and Moraine during the “barnes” dance trial period this summer. This would ensure the data collected would be accurate as the CSOs use to work the intersection to ensure pedestrians moved freely through the intersection. The trial period should consider all scenarios possible, i.e. normal intersection crossing with officer, ‘”barnes” dance only, “barnes” dance with officer, etc. Staff would review options and discuss with CDOT. She questioned if the 2003 Transportation Study was endorsed by the Town Board. Mayor Pinkham stated new Board members should be provided a set of core documents for review. He stated the Rocky Mountain Conservancy would like a letter of support from the Town Board for the purchase of the Cascade Cottages, an inholding within the park. The Board agreed the mayor should provide a letter of support. FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. Trustee Holcomb requested the Board discuss the conference center and the continued loss of business due to the size of the center. The item would be added to the list of unscheduled items. Town Board Study Session – April 28, 2015 – Page 2 Other items included the scheduling of a briefing on storm drainage, Dry Gulch reconstruction issues to be heard at the May 12th meeting, and Economic Development Strategic Planning with Avalanche Consulting on June 9th. DISCUSS FISH HATCHERY PROPERTY. Administrator Lancaster stated the Fish Hatchery property was recently appraised. The area was divided into three development areas, East, West and Town area including the hydro plant museum and picnic grounds. The western site includes the undeveloped area south and east of the hydro plant containing a large wooded and open grass area abutting the Park. This area could be used to connect the Fall River trail with the Park trail. The eastern site contains the old fish hatchery operations and currently contains employee housing and town storage. The appraisal found the western portion valued at $2 million and the eastern at $3.5 million. Staff has reviewed the possible uses of the property and would suggest the eastern portion could be used to address housing needs. The property could be used to build workforce housing that is deed restricted and require individuals to be employed within Estes Park. This would prevent the units from being retirement homes. The Town would work with the Housing Authority to develop the units and maintain three units for Town employee housing as three units would be lost with the redevelopment. The Town could sell the property and leave the future development up to the developer. Any storage onsite would need to be relocated. The western portion could be used for recreation such as a Nordic area or sled hill and add to the destination marketing products. Board discussion followed: Mayor Pro Tem Koenig stated a portion of the lot should be sold, funds used to purchase Elkhorn Lodge property to build seasonal housing that individual businesses can bid on, and use the upper 40 acres for the development of for profit units by a developer. This would allow seasonal housing to be closer to downtown. Further study should be conducted to determine the type of housing needed by seasonals such as dormitory style versus one or two bedroom units. Trustee Norris stated any direction or criteria used to discern the future use of the property should be tested against the strategic plan, mission and vision of the Town. Trustee Nelson suggested the Town should complete the downtown visioning process prior to making final decisions related to the property. Trustee Ericson expressed housing has become one of the most important issues the Town faces and barriers to its development need to be removed. He suggested the Board discuss the height limit within the Development Code and review areas in which it could be increased and not negatively impact the view corridors. Mayor Pinkham stated the Town should discuss who would be involved in evaluating the needs and options. Trustee Phipps commented the Town needs to address water rights when discussing the sale of the fish hatchery property. Mary Banken/Estes Valley Land Trust requested the Board consider partnering with the Land Trust to preserve a portion of the land as a conservation easement. The Land Trust would purchase the land and funds from the sale could be used to build housing. The area could be used as a low impact recreational area with public fishing along the river. Rita Kurelja/Estes Park Housing Authority stated the property would not be a good location for seasonal housing; however, it would be a good location for workforce housing. COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT FUND 5 YEAR PLAN. Finance Officer McFarland reviewed the status of the newly created 1% sales tax funds: emergency response, community center, trails and street funds. The community center fund would collect funds for the next 5 years to be used toward the construction of a community center or a standalone senior center. No projects have been budgeted for this fund. The trail fund does not currently have projects budgeted but could be used for the Dry Gulch reconstruction trail or flood repairs to other trails. The street fund Town Board Study Session – April 28, 2015 – Page 3 contains vehicle replacement and purchases, employee salaries, $1.7 million for the reconstruction of Dry Gulch in 2015. A pavement manager would be hired to develop a 10 year street improvement plan in 2015. The Open Space fund has $300,000 in revenues with approximately $500,000 in funds budgeted for 2015 and no specific projects identified. The funds could be used for the completion of the Bond Park Master Plan, Scott ponds, and flood recovery as long as the items were originally purchased by the fund. Community Reinvestment fund had a $959,547 fund balance at the end of 2015; however, with the recent Board approval to increase the cost of relocating the parking garage to the south visitor parking lot at a cost of $700,000 and upgrades to the Visitor Center restrooms at $200,000 the fund balance at the end of 2015 is estimated at $49,322. Staff prepared a list of potential projects including roads and bridges, parking improvements and building totaling over $55 million. UPDATE ON SIGN CODE REVISION. Code Enforcement Officer Reichardt stated the first draft of the revised sign code has been completed on time and under budget. The second draft of the code would be completed in the next week and would include tables and pictures as references. Randall Morris/sign code consultant commented the revised code would be legally defensible. The next review processes would be directed by the Board. Staff could provide a review of the proposed code to the Estes Valley Partners for Commerce, the retail business and the accommodations. There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk