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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Town Board 2020-03-10 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, March 10, 2020 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Town Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 10th day of March, 2020. Present: Todd Jirsa, Mayor Ron Norris, Mayor Pro Tem Trustees Carlie Bangs Eric Blackhurst Marie Cenac Patrick Martchink Ken Zornes Also Present: Travis Machalek, Town Administrator Jason Damweber, Assistant Town Administrator Dan Kramer, Town Attorney Bunny Victoria Beers, Recording Secretary Absent: None. Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the Pledge of Allegiance. SWEARING IN OF K9 DIEGO. AGENDA APPROVAL. It was moved and seconded (Cenac/Norris) to approve the Agenda, and it passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS. None. TOWN BOARD COMMENTS Trustee Martchink would not attend the March 24, 2020 regular meeting and study session. Trustee Cenac attended the Visit Estes Park Board meeting where the COVID-19 virus was discussed including how the virus could effect visitation. Mayor Pro Tem Norris stated there would be a special Family Advisory Board meeting on March 12, 2020 to finalize recommendations to the Board. The “Be Ready Fun Fair” would be held on April 4, 2020. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT. Administrator Machalek provided a statement regarding the COVID-19 virus. Staff are in contact with Larimer County Public Health & Environment who have published information on their webpage www.larimer.org/health related to the virus such as response, protection and symptoms. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Bills. 2. Town Board Minutes dated February 25, 2020 and Town Board Study Session Minutes dated February 25, 2020. 3. Estes Valley Board of Adjustment Minutes dated December 3, 2019 (acknowledgement only). 4. Transportation Advisory Board Minutes dated January 15, 2020 (acknowledgement only). Board of Trustees – March 10, 2020 – Page 2 5. Parks Advisory Board Minutes dated January 16, 2020 (acknowledgement only). 6. Approval to Spend $1.2 Million for the Glacier Plant Pretreatment Engineering with HDR. A motion was made to remove Consent Item 6 for a separate vote. It was moved and seconded (Norris/Bangs) to approve Consent Agenda Items 1-5, and it passed unanimously. It was moved and seconded (Zornes/Norris) to approve Consent Agenda Item 6, and it passed unanimously. REPORTS & DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1. ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE REPORT. The public hearing date for the electric rate increase would be held April 14, 2020. The Town’s public electric utility is a cost-based entity which relies solely on user fees to operate. Costs and revenues must be balanced in order to maintain operations and keep utilities in line with ever-increasing federal standards. Staff are proposing an overall revenue increase of 5.9% over three years. Director Hudson introduced Joe Mancinelli, NewGen Strategies & Solutions who provided an overview of the electric rate study. Jim Swaney/County resident stated customers with lower useage should have lower rates than those customers who have higher usage. He encouraged the Board to implement off peak power, conservation oriented pricing and offering price breaks for low income customers. Connie Phipps/Town citizen stated the increase is not justified based on the Light & Power budget. Any additional revenue from customers should only occur after surplus funds are used. She requested the Board review the Light & Power Budget and decline the rate increase. John Meissner/Town citizen requested the base rate increase be provided in the report and packet material. Director Hudson stated the proposed base rate increase for 2020 would be $25.00. Mayor Jirsa stated the funds from 2019 which were transferred from the Light & Power budget into the General fund should be reviewed. The Board requested staff research the impacts to the General fund without the transferred funds from the Light & Power budget. Town Administrator Machalek stated staff would review the Light & Power budget and would provide follow up to the Board. 2. 2020 STREET IMPROVEMENT PLAN (STIP) & TRAIL EXPANSION PROGRAM UPDATE. Engineer Barr provided an update on the 2020 STIP and Trail Expansion Program. In 2014, citizens passed Ballot Issue 1A to provide a 1% sales tax, with a portion of the proceeds applied to street improvements and trails expansion. The funding would raise the system-wide Pavement Condition Index (PCI) to an average above 70 by the end of the term of the tax in 2024. Staff continues to expand the trails system in accordance with the Estes Valley Master Trails Plan. He reviewed proposal spending for 2020 which included: equipment costs, Cleave Street interim improvements, overlays and large patches, chip and crack sealing, engineering design costs, parking lot rehabilitation, Fall River Trail Improvements and Graves Avenue sidewalks. Charley Dickey/Town citizen requested the priority scale review and wanted clarification on who determines PCI. Engineer Barr stated the Town abides by ATSM standards which is determined by a consultant. There are approximately 4-5 roads which are at 40- 50 PCI and are more costly to correct versus patching. He stated project priorities are determined by staff and chip sealing on certain roads has raised the PCI. The Board requested the overall grant funds awarded to Public Works over the years. Staff responded $1.3 million in grants have been awarded to the Town in 2020. 3. 2020 TRANSIT ROUTES PROPOSAL. An overview of the proposed 2020 Estes Transit service was presented which included: staff and consultant analysis of historical program data, new service offerings, stakeholder input and how the program aligns with the Town’s Strategic Plan. Service adjustments were reviewed and highlights included: earlier service which also aligns with the hiker shuttle, the Board of Trustees —March 10,2020 —Page 3 origination point of all shuffles moved from the Visitor Center to the Parking Garage and use of the new electric trolley during the 2020 season replacing the downtown trolley.Manager Solesbee stated the Bustang bus service would be returning in May 2020 through early September 2020 with Saturday and Sunday service from Union Station in Denver with a stop in Boulder and Estes Park.She added staff have been working with the Transportation Advisory Board members to research local/regional public/private transportation services which would be displayed on the website for the public.A review of the routes was provided.Meissner/Town citizen questioned options available for advertising on the shuttle to generate revenue for the service. REQUEST TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION: It was moved and seconded (Norris/Zornes)to enter into Executive Session for discussion of a personnel mailer —Section 24-6-402(4)(f),C.R.S.and not involving: any specific employees who have requested discussion of the mailer in open session;any member of the Town Board or Body ;the appointment of any person to fill an office of the Town Board or Body;or personnel policies that do not require discussion of matters personal to particular employees —Town Administrator and Town Attorney Annual Evaluations,and it passed unanimously. The Board entered executive session at 8:43 p.m.and concluded the executive session at 9:17 p.m. Mayor Jirsa reconvened the regular meeting at 9:19 p.m.Board comments were provided regarding the performance of the Town Administrator and Town Attorney. Whereupon Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 9:23 p.m. foria Beers,Recording Secretary Todd Jirsa,