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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2019-04-23RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado April 23,2019 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 23th day of April,2019. Board:Mayor Jirsa,Mayor Pro Tern Walker,Trustees Bangs, Cenac,Martchink,Norris and Zornes Attending:Mayor Jirsa,Mayor Pro Tern Walker,Trustees Bangs, Cenac,Martchink,Norris and Zornes Also Attending:Town Administrator Lancaster,Assistant Town Administrator Machalek,Town Attorney White,and Recording Secretary Beers. Absent:None. Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 4:45 p.m. STANLEY PARK MASTER PLAN.Staff stated the Master Plan represents the best approach identified by the project team to accomplish project goals.Shannon Weber with Design Concepts stated the Master Plan is intended to provide cohesive vision for the property in its entirety.She highlighted rnain goals including consistent character to the complex,improvernents to roadways,parking,and sidewalks.The Plan incorporates opportunities for art,educational pieces,historical and cultural awareness throughout the complex.She reviewed Events Complex improvements to the shop and storage buildings,the renovation of higher quality horse barns,rnaximizing the campground and parking facilities,improvement to outdoor amenities for festivals and special events and providing direct and safe routes between amenities for pedestrians and vehicles.The Plan incorporates the Museum expansion and historical structures as well as Stanley Park recreational improvements and a future daycare facility.Two site concepts were reviewed and provided to the public for input.The distinguishing component between the concepts was the incorporation of the EPIC Performing Arts facility.Due to lack of funding,EPIC withdrew from the project leading to the redevelopment of the Plan with an alternative use of the space.Public outreach was provided through stakeholder input meetings,farmers market booths,online and mailed surveys,neighborhood public meetings and open houses,and staff review meetings.The Final Master Plan creates a cohesive interconnected facility with ample screening and blockage for events.An Outdoor Amphitheatre is in the design with extra space for a stage.Room has been provided for tents allowing space to be more outdoor/festive and versatile for all different types of events.A bridal path was created as a way to separate the pedestrians from the arenas which is used to run horses.Interpretive signage would be carried throughout the complex.Additionally,the plan incorporates the existing pathways at Fish Creek Road down U536 from the Museum to the future roundabout and dog park to the underground walkway leading to Lake Estes.A cost estimate was provided to the Board with the project broken into five phases at a cost of approximately $31 million. Board comments have been summarized:how does the pedestrian walkway affect security;whether staff received input from equestrians who utilize the space with horses;concerns were heard from the Board regarding security and access to areas where event participants may have horses or personal property;whether the price includes reconstruction of the parking lot at Stanley Park;the Board questioned what funding mechanisms might be available;and the importance of security for visitors,staff and animals. The Board was in agreement to add the adoption of the Stanley Park Master Plan at the May 28,2019 meeting. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town Board Study Session —April 23,2019 —Page 2 PARKING UPDATEISEASONAL PARKING ISSUES.Manager Solesbee provided a progress update on implementing the Downtown Parking Management Plan (DPMP) Phase I recommendations and developing Parking Management warrants.An occupancy and turnover study for all Town-owned parking facilities would be conducted June 1 —September 30,2019.During the study staff would be utilizing fixed license plate recognition (LPR),mobile LPR and video counting technologies.Staff would implement real-time parking availability detection technology in five Town-owned lots (636 spaces).She stated a website and mobile application have been developed to view the parking detection and provide information to the public.The application would provide a photo of the entrance to the parking lot and allow the viewer an option to open their mobile devices navigation platform for directional assistance to the lot.Staff would promote the application through a news release and encourage the public provide feedback.Updates have been made to the Dynamic Message Sign to include graphics for greater functionality.Staff are currently reviewing the concept of a parking management warrant for implementation in Phase II.She provided an overview of the parking management warrant which would include facility size,seasonal parking occupancy for weekends and weekdays,seasonal duration or length of stay,proximity to public transportation,traffic &congestion impact,facility usage,annual revenue generation potential and existing parking management strategies.The scoring criteria would include a numbering scale to determine if a specific location would require change.The information would be presented fall 2019.Staff intends to hold two public meetings to receive public input.Organizational liaisons would gather additional input on the warrant.Transportation Advisory Board provided feedback on the warrant criteria.She stated a peer city comparison can be added to the information retrieved in the warrant.Data collected would be for informational purposes only to help staff understand the use of the facility and demographics.Year-round enforcement was requested at the February 12,2019 study session which would require a change to the existing code.She stated the next steps would include utilizing the parking management warrant tool to conduct a warrant for each Town owned parking facility during the first week in October and share those results and data collection at the first Town Board meeting in October.Staff requested input on the warrant tool list criteria which the Board requested contain more quantitative than qualitative data. Board comments have been summarized:how does staff intend to test the application prior to enforcement;important to know the warrant criteria prior to implementing paid parking at specific locations;if data collected for informational purposes could provide assistance should a public safety concern arise i.e.amber alerts with license plate recognition;the cost to implement year-round enforcement;and the importance of public outreach. DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL LANDS ACCESS PROGRAM (FLAP)AND BETTER UTILIZING INVESTMENTS TO LEVERAGE DEVELOPMENT (BUILD)GRANTS.Director Muhonen presented grant opportunities for Board review and input to determine which projects to submit applications towards. He stated FLAP grants are announced every three years for projects which improve transportation facilities providing access to,are adjacent to,or are located within Federal lands.Staff provided project options for the FLAP grant including the Moraine Avenue Multi-modal Improvements project at approximately $6 million and continued construction of the Fall River Trail at approximately $5.3 million.The amount of available funds would be $15 million.The Town Board directed staff to submit an application for the Moraine Avenue project.Staff would need to identify the cost of consulting support for the application they would apply towards.Director Muhonen reviewed potential projects which could be submitted for BUILD funds,a nationwide, competitive grant.Applications due are July 151h and require a 20%local match.The potential projects identified were the Moraine Avenue Improvements project and Phase 2 of the Downtown Estes LOOP.He stated Phase 2 of the Downtown Estes LOOP would have a significant impact to improve stormwater infrastructure conditions, address public safety,promote regional transportation connectivity,and facilitate economic stability and growth.Combining Phase I and 2 would limit the disruption of RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town Board Study Session —April 23,2019—Page 3 the downtown corridor during construction.He stated the project could substantially and quickly implement significant stormwater infrastructure improvements.The local match could be met with the implementation of a stormwater management user fee or sales tax.With implement of the stormwater fee,three years of revenue could be utilized as the local match for the project.Due to the complexity of the application Director Muhonen stated the Town would hire a consultant to prepare and submit the grant application,and has received a proposal from AECOM in the amount of $33,420.No 2019 funds have been allocated for the consultant fees to build and submit grant applications.A supplemental budget appropriation would be required. Board comments have been summarized:what benefits exists for one project over the other;the importance of discussing the stormwater fee with the County prior to making a decision on submitting an application on Phase 2 of the Downtown Estes LOOP project; researching other funding sources which could be utilized;and the need for public input. The Board directed staff to obtain public input before bringing the proposal to the May 14,2019 meeting. PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE NOXIOUS WEEDS ORDINANCE.Code Compliance Officer Hardin stated the noxious weeds ordinance was brought forward as a result of a citizen request.The Colorado Noxious Weed Act mandates all municipalities have a weed management plan which the Town does not currently have within the Municipal Code.She reviewed the process of addressing noxious weed complaints.Once a complaint has been received a site visit would be conducted to view the potential weeds without entering the private property and photos taken.Contact would be attempted by phone or a notice sent with photos of the weeds.If no mitigation occurs a notice of violation would be issued with a summons to court approximately six months later and outside a timeline where the weeds could have been managed or eliminated prior to seasons changing and seeds disbursing.The draft ordinance would expedite the process to address a noxious weeds complaint through a 10-day notice issued to the property owner.If the weeds are not addressed within the noticed time a court order would be issued mandating the Town address the weed infestation and bill the property owner Staff intends to model County enforcement process for consistency throughout the Estes Valley.She added a campaign would be noticed to the public and sent through social media.Additional public outreach would be done through utility bill inserts and booklets. Board comments have been summarized:concern over the language in the ordinance allowing Town staff access to private property to inspect or address the weeds by mandate of the court without owner permission;whether the Town is within compliance on Town owned properties;the level of staff time involved to investigate and enforce the ordinance by a single compliance officer,and how the Town compares with the County and the Park or other municipalities for enforcing noxious weeds. The Board directed staff to make revisions to the ordinance,obtain Parks Advisory Board input on the process and gain information from other communities. TRUSTEE &ADMINSTRATOR COMMENTS &QUESTIONS. None. FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. The Board was in agreement to add the Town auditors who report to the Board in the Organizational Chart. There being no further business,Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:44 p.m. ttumoji1Xiidtoria Beers,Recor?dingSecretaw