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Home My WebLink AboutTBSS 11-14-17 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado November 14, 2017 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 November, 2017. Board: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig, Trustees Holcomb, Martchink, Nelson, Norris and Walker Attending: All Also Attending: Assistant Town Administrator Machalek, Town Attorney White, Director Hunt, Chief Kufeld, Captain Rose, Town Clerk Williamson and Recording Secretary Beers Absent: Town Administrator Lancaster Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES. Staff provided an update of proposed amendments to the Estes Valley Development code and current status of 2017 changes. Director Hunt reviewed progress and mentioned passed amendments to include modifications to vacation home regulations and the development of a standardized method for measuring building height. He stated there are several additional code amendments which are in progress and highlighted the amendment to Restricting Density Bonus eligibility to the RM district. Staff’s priority would be to provide alternatives to streamline process, provide incentives and clarification, and eliminate unnecessary review procedures. Director Hunt discussed an amendment proposing a change in measuring the number of housing units per acre from net density to gross density to simplify measurement and avoid confusion. Mayor Pro Tem Koenig stated interest in regulations that allow a facility to be built in conjunction with workforce housing to provide onsite childcare for working families. Assistant Town Administrator Machalek stated the Strategic Plan includes building code changes to enhance the opportunity for including a childcare facility with a development. Director Hunt stated the building can potentially be multi-functional and modified based on need and would bring more information back to the Board. Director Hunt stated the Comprehensive Plan continues to be a priority for staff. Senior Planner Woeber presented suggestions and a timeline for the new Comprehensive Plan. He stated the plan would be completed in house with staff developing a streamlined and generalized plan addressing the needs of the Town and the County. Public participation would be a fundamental key to outline prioritizing. Planner Woeber outlined an estimated timeframe for the process: • November 29, 2017 – Planning workshop. • December 2017 – Background research/compose introduction and preface. • January 2018 – Study sessions and public input. • February/March 2018 – Draft Comprehensive Plan. • July 2018 – Present draft and begin public comment period. • August/September 2018 – Revise Plan. • Winter 2018 – Adoption. Town Board Study Session – November 14, 2017 – Page 2 Planner Woeber stressed the importance of input from business owners, citizens and visitors for development of the plan. He anticipates merging the corridor and neighborhood concepts for land use in the Estes valley. Trustee Norris suggested sourcing planners from other communities to conduct a peer review and provide input for the plan, and recommended providing periodic updates to the Board on the progress of the Comprehensive Plan. DISCUSSION ON USE OF OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLES ON TOWN STREETS. A public request was presented to the Board to allow off highway vehicle (OHV) use on Town streets for snow plowing. The State Statue states municipalities can allow the use of OHV on Town streets by ordinance. Police Chief Kufeld and Captain Rose presented recommendations for allowing the use, including; limiting use from October-May, minimum of 18 years of age for operators, requiring safety equipment, liability insurance, registration for vehicles with the State and a valid driver license. The State restricts use on State highways with the exception of cross over travel making enforcement difficult with Highway 34, 36 and 7 dividing the town. Chief Kufeld stated traffic congestion would be a potential safety concern for riders and other traffic. The Board recommended adding language to the ordinance limiting the use for snow removal only and agreed traffic congestion would be a concern if use were allowed year-round. Board consensus was to bring the ordinance forward to the November 28, 2017 Town Board meeting. DISCUSSION OF TOWN BOARD SALARIES. Town Clerk Williamson reviewed Town Board compensation requesting direction from the Board on a recommended increase to bring compensation to an average among similar municipalities. In the past review occurred to determine if current salaries would be sufficient to cover the cost of health care premiums. She stated with the change in employee portion of insurance premiums dropping from 25% to 10%, premiums have not been higher than compensation, and therefore, are not a driving force in considering increases to compensation. The Town has fallen behind other communities in compensation comparisons. Staff recommended changing compensation for the Mayor to $9,000, Mayor Pro Tem to $7,000 and Trustees to $6,000. Any adopted changes would not affect the current Board and would only effect newly elected officials. Town Clerk Williamson elaborated on the comparisons being used in the past to compare similar towns or cities and stated an increase was not budgeted for 2018. Discussion by the Board followed and has been summarized: as a premier mountain community the Town should not be lower in compensation results, a goal would be to attract good members; compare workload to other municipalities when considering compensation; the cost of benefits need to be considered along with compensation, would increasing compensation attract younger members of the community and make it affordable for them to serve on the Board, and consider 50% of the compensation market used for employee compensation as a benchmark for the Board. The Board requested staff bring back additional data comparing municipalities used in the employee compensation studies to the December 12, 2017 Town Board Meeting. TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS. Trustee Norris provided updates from the Planning Commission meeting held on November 14, 2017, including, vacation home rentals and the use of iCompass to locate non-registered rentals, passed amendments for signs and outdoor food vendors, and the development plan and preliminary townhome subdivision plat for Raven Rock which staff expects an appeal brought forward to the Board. Town Board Study Session – November 14, 2017 – Page 3 Trustee Holcomb volunteered to replace Trustee Walker as the liaison to the Local Marketing District Board. Appointment would require an amendment to the Policy at a future Board meeting. FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. The Board was in agreement to schedule the following items: • November 28, 2017 – Lot 4 Special Review Permit Modification for Fill/Drainage. • December 12, 2017 – Final Review of 2017 Strategic Plan, Downtown Plan final draft discussion and presentation of PRPA Zero Net Carbon Report. • January 9, 2018 – Discussion of Downtown Parking management plan and discussion of Fire District request to collect impact fee. • January 23, 2018 – Future use of Senior Center building. Discussion on Broadband ProForma and an update on VIA were added to approved items, unscheduled. There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:46 p.m. Bunny Victoria Beers, Recording Secretary