HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Joint Study Session 2019-05-15RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado May 15,2019
Minutes of a Joint Study Session meeting of the Estes Park TOWN
BOARD and Larimer County Commission of the Town of Estes Park,
Larimer County,Colorado.Meeting held at Town Hall in the Board Room
in said Town of Estes Park on the 151h day of May,2019.
Town Board:Mayor Jirsa,Mayor Pro Tern Walker,Trustees Bangs,
Cenac,Martchink,Norris and Zornes
County Commission:Chair Donnelly and Commissioners Johnson and Kefalas
Also Attending:Assistant Town Administrator Machalek,County Manager
Hoffman,Town Attorney White,Public Works Director
Muhonen,County Engineer Peterson and Recording
Secretary Disney.
Absent:None.
Meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m by Mayor Jirsa and co-chaired by Larimer
County Commissioner Donnelly.
Mayor Jirsa and Commissioner Donnelly provided opening remarks and stated the joint
meeting would be a collaborative effort to discuss and consider the proposed Estes
Valley Stormwater Management Program and associated Stormwater Utility.
ESTES VALLEY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND ASSOCIATED
STORMWATER UTILITY:Public Works Director Muhonen provided an overview of the
Stormwater Master Plan and Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study.He highlighted the
estimated costs for projects and stormwater survey results;and detailed four options on
implementing the utility fee for discussion and consideration.The Boards discussed
sales tax amounts,timelines,and shifting the scope of the program.
PUBLIC INPUT:
Brenda Wyss/County citizen,Connie Phipps/Town citizen,Greg Cenac/County citizen,
Joe Holtzmanffown citizen,Bill Van Horn/Town citizen,and David Cordes/County
citizen spoke against the stormwater utility regarding:the undefined fee rate,the
charges would not be based on user consumption,the projects associated with the fee
would only benefit the downtown,fishing recreation would be compromised,potential
inaccurate results of the citizen survey,the 2016 hydrology analysis,and the 30-year
timeline to complete projects associated with the stormwater utility.The Boards were
urged to re-examine the floodplain following completion of the downtown loop.
Lori SchwartzlCounty citizen and Jennifer Waters/Town citizen spoke in favor of the
stormwater utility fee regarding its necessity and the increased ability to receive
financial support for future potential floods as a result of the stormwater utility.Concerns
were voiced on the tiered fee structure as it relates to acreage as opposed to
impervious area.
Jon Meissnerifown citizen requested no further citizen surveys be conducted regarding
the stormwater utility and stated the utility should only be paid for by those who want to
receive its benefit.
David Converse/County citizen agreed the town and county should prepare for the next
flood event and urged the Boards to consider basing fees on lot size and not impervious
area,similar to property taxes,and the effect on emergency services should another
flood occur.He questioned when the downtown would receive discounts in flood
insurance costs.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Joint Town Board Study Session —May 15,2019—Page 2
BOARD DISCUSSION &STAFF DIRECTION:
The Boards discussed federal flood maps and the effects of not accepting them,steps
of doing a new hydrology analysis,ecological ramifications,increased costs and
timeline of completing the projects associated with the fee.The Town Board
determined,with support of the County Commissioners,to postpone the implementation
of a stormwater utility,pursue the 2019 BUILD Grant for Big Thompson River channel
work and bridge replacement,to further discuss sales tax options,and revisit the 2016
hydrology analysis.
There being no further business,Mayor Jirsa adjourned fi
ry