HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Special Meeting 2020-03-18Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,March 18,2020
Minutes of a Special 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 1 81h day of March,2020.
Present:Todd Jirsa,Mayor
Trustees Carlie Bangs
Eric Blackhurst
Marie Cenac
Patrick Martchink
Ron Norris
Ken Zornes
Also Present:Travis Machalek,Town Administrator
Jason Damweber,Assistant Town Administrator
Dan Kramer,Town Attorney
Jackie Williamson,Town Clerk
Absent:None.
Called the meeting to order 5:30 p.m.
AGENDA APPROVAL.
It was moved and seconded (CenaclZornes)to approve the Agenda,and it passed
unanimously.
REPORT &DISCUSSION ITEM(S)(OUTSIDE ENTITIES)
1.UPDATE FROM LARIMER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENT.Tom Gonzales/Larimer County Public Health Director provided
an update on the COVID-1 9 status,stating Larimer County has five cases.Testing
continues to be an issue with 250 tests completed in a day and 5,000 back logged
in the system to be processed with an average turnaround of seven days for
results.A State of Emergency has been declared by Larimer County which closed
restaurants,bars,gyms,etc.;however,dine out or take out can occur.Events of
50 or more people have been cancelled.High risk populations,including those 60
and older and those with health risks are encouraged to limit activities outside the
home,only essential travel and maintain social distancing.All non-emergency
operations are being cancelled.The County has also recommended limiting one
member of the family to go to the grocery store,pharmacy,etc.He stated there
are no confirmed cases in Estes Park at this time.
Board discussion and questions were heard and summarized:Questioned if the
County has discussed the closing of hotels and accommodations;should there be
a limit on the number of people within a store;questioned if the Estes Park hospital
is being monitored by the County;raised concern with the National Park system
remaining open and inviting the public to the parks during the COVID event;
questioned if it was time to be proactive rather than a reactive to the COVID event;
how is the County addressing the unique needs of communities such as Estes
Park;and questioned if the County had been in contact with the Estes Park Health
Board of Directors to discuss level of services and needs.
Mr.Gonzales responded to questions.He stated the County had not discussed
the need to close accommodations or limit the number of individuals within stores.
The County continues to monitor the local facilities and has discussed the need for
overflow capacity to be planned for and identify the facilities that could be used.
The local hospital has been contacted and has collaborated on messaging and
protocols.The County continues to stress the need for self-isolation and shelter
in place and as best they can be proactive with the guidance provided by the CDC
and the State of Colorado.Mr.Gonzales stated he would like to continue
Board of Trustees —March 16,2020 —Page 2
discussions with Town leaders to better understand the unique challenges of the
community.
ACTION ITEMS:
1.POLICY 370—COVID-19.Director Williamson reviewed the policy which outlines
a new leave category COVID-19 Leave to address employees with influenza-like
symptoms,employees placed on manditory quarantine by a medical professional
or government mandate,and for employees suspected of being exposed and in
consultation with their supervisor,director and human resources.The leave
category would provide up to fifteen days/i 20 hours to paid leave.The policy also
provides the Town Administrator with the ability to approve paid administrative
leave for employees that may not have adequate paid leave to address a COVID
situation.The policy further outlines the use of FMLA,the Town’s right to send
employees home that display COVID-19 symptoms,and policies regarding the use
of time for childcare leave during the current situation.It was moved and
seconded (Norris/Zornes)to approve Policy 370,and it passed unanimously.
2.ORDINANCE 04-02 AMENDING ESTES PARK MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 2
REGARDING EMERGENCIES.Attorney Kramer outlined the ordinance that
would formalize the procedures during an emergency such as the current COVID
19 emergency.This would delegate to the Town Administrator the ability to make
an emergency declaration.It would provide him the ability to call a special meeting
due to the need for immediate action.The ordinance also addresses the Board
meeting virtually when a quorum of the Board would be unable to attend in person
or due to a declared disaster or emergency.The public would be provided
maximum notice of such a meeting and how to participate.The meeting guidelines
outlined in the ordinance would not be sufficient to meet the requirements of a
quasi-judicial item.A new section 2.28.030 Disaster and emergency declarations
would be added to the Municipal Code to provide the Town Administrator with the
authority to establish an emergency declaration for seven days.After the seventh
day the Board would have to ratify the emergency order The authority provides
the Town Administratorthe ability to react quickly to a situation,can free up funding
sources both internal and external,set a plan in motion already established,
provide the Administrator with the authority to set regulations,processes,rules,
and orders to reasonably protect life and safety.Notice to the public would be
completed by legal notice.Town Board could terminate any regulation and order
put in place by the Town Administrator.
Charley DickeyIrown citizen questioned the mind set of having a non-elected
official making decisions for the Town.Attorney Kramer stated the Town
Administrator has daily contact with the Town staff and the Town Board leading up
to and during an emergency,therefore,closely involved in the day-to-day
operations of the Town.
Board discussion was summarized:The system contains a built-in check and
balance process and provides the Board the ability to reverse the declaration.The
emergency procedures provide a mechanism to allow the Town to respond quickly
during an emergency.
It was moved and seconded (Norris/Bangs)to approve Ordinance 04-20 with
the correction to Section 1 to correct section 2.03.045 to read 2.04.045,and it
passed unanimously.
2.REPORT AND DISCUSSION ITEMS:
i.PLANNING TRANSITION ORDINANCE DISCUSSION.Town Administrator
Machalek stated the Board meeting on March 24,2020 contains a quasi-judicial
item on the agenda.Attorney Kramer has stated a public hearing on a quasi-
judicial item cannot be held virtually.Staff requests direction from the Board on
the postponement of paid parking for 2020 as it could negatively impact the
Board of Trustees —March 18,2020 —Page 3
business community.He questioned whether a special meeting to discuss paid
parking would be needed or would the Town Board be amenable to staff having
the discussions and report back to the Board.Staff requested feedback from the
Board on if the Town Board should meet publicly or virtually moving forward.
Board comments were heard and summarized:All items which are not time
sensitive should be deferred;if the quasi-judicial meeting item is time sensitive the
items should be heard in the current meeting format;and the paid parking item
would need further consideration to discuss the issue as considerable time and
energy has been spent.
After further discussion,the Board consensus was to meet publicly with proper
social distancing at the Tuesday,March 24,2020 Board meeting with the
information the Board has as of today.The Board consensus was to allow staff to
work on the consideration of the postponement of paid parking at the staff level.
Trustee Martchink encouraged the Town Board to take a position to expect change
to come,and he encouraged staff to reach out to the Estes Park Health for a
position statement to guide the Town on decision making moving forward.He
stated the Town has the opportunity to be proactive and do what is best for the
Town citizens.
Trustee Bangs commented the Town Board needs to support the non-profits which
are essential in supporting the community during the pandemic.She reiterated
that travel in and out of the community is not recommended at this time.She
thanked all the businesses that have shut down voluntarily and stated regardless
of what has been recommended by the County,the Town can always do more as
the Board sees the need.
Whereupon Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at
J ie Williamson,Town Clerk
Todd Jirsa,