HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2020-08-25Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,August 25,2020
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Estes
Park,Larirner County,Colorado.Meeting held in the Town Hall and Virtually in
said Town of Estes Park on the 25th day of August,2020.
Present:Wendy Koenig,Mayor
Patrick Martchink,Mayor Pro Tern
Trustees Carlie Bangs
Barbara MacAlpine
Scott Webermeier
Cindy Younglund
Also Present:Travis Machalek,Town Adrninistrator
Jason Darnweber,Assistant Town Administrator
Dan Kramer,Town Attorney
Reuben Bergsten,Utilities Director
Bunny Victoria Beers,Recording Secretary
Absent:Marie Cenac,Trustee
Mayor Koenig called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.and all desiring to do so,recited
the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATION -100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSAGE OF THE 19TH
AMENDMENT.Mayor Koenig presented a proclamation commemorating the 100th
Anniversary of the passage of the 19TH Amendment.Jean McGuire,member of the 100
Years Celebration of Women Task Force stated celebrations include:a 1 9’Amendment
display at the Estes Valley Library,a car caravan through downtown,and a free showing
of “On the Basis of Sex”at the Reel Mountain Theater.She encouraged the public to
submit comments and stories celebrating women of the Estes Valley for the 100 Years a
100 Women Project.
PROCLAMATION —CONSTITUTION WEEK.Mayor Koenig presented a proclamation
recognizing September 17,2020 through September 23,2020 as Constitution Week.
AGENDA APPROVAL.
It was moved and seconded (Bangs/Webermeier)to approve the Agenda as
presented,and it passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
Jim Kelley/Town citizen voiced concerns regarding parking lot improvements for the
Stanley Hotel Carriage House.He stated his property faces the parking lot where a fence
was proposed during architectural review.He requested the Board give a strong position
in favor of a fence between the parking lot and homes at the site during the Technical
Review of the Carriage House.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS.
Trustee Bangs stated the Estes Park Non-Profit Resource Center held a meeting to
discuss childcare situations.She stated the Estes Park School District would begin the
2020 school year virtually and an in-person option when health officials determine in
person learning can commence.The Boys and Girls Club and YMCA of the Rockies have
spaces available for children ranging from Kindergarten through 6th Grade.She stated
the Estes Valley Childcare Collaborative would be providing more information to the Town
regarding childcare options when available.The Transportation Advisory Board met and
discussed the Electric Vehicle Plan.The Estes Valley Restorative Justice Partnership is
requesting feedback on their community,school and justice-based programming through
a survey which can be found on the website.
Mayor Pro Tem Martchink attended the Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
meeting where Tom Carosello was appointed to the Board of Directors and the EDC
Board of Trustees —August 25,2020 —Page 2
Sustaining Support program was formed to find alternative revenue sources outside of
the traditional funding mechanisms.
Trustee MacAlpine attended the Estes Park Planning Commission meeting on August 18,
2020 where increased building height in the Downtown Commercial (CD)zoning district
was discussed as addressed in the Downtown Plan approved in 2018.She stated the
plan has potential in terms of providing additional space for workforce housing and
encouraged the public to provide input to the Planning Commission and staff.
On behalf of Trustee Cenac,Liaison to Western Heritage,Mayor Koenig requested
feedback from Attorney Kramer regarding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with Western Heritage which renews automatically on September 1,2020 and requested
Board consideration in terminating the MOU.The Board requested more information
regarding transparency concerns mentioned by Trustee Cenac,the upcoming Western
Heritage Board election,and the need to clarify the role and relationship between the
Town and Western Heritage.Attorney Kramer and Director Hinkle continue to work on
the Board’s recommended edits to the MOU and would present an update to the Board
at a future meeting.Town Administrator Machalek stated staff can schedule a review of
the MOU in the spring which the Board was in agreement and took no action on
terminating the MOU.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
Town Administrator Machalek attended the Larimer County Department of Public Health
and Environment conference call for an update on COVID-19.He stated cases are
showing a downward trend and health officials are seeing a decrease in hospitalizations.
Estes Park Sanitation District and Upper Thompson Sanitation District have begun waste
water COVID testing by submitting samples to be tested in a lab at CSU to develop trend
data.He encouraged the public continue to take precautions,maintain social distancing
and wear face coverings in public.
I.CONSENT AGENDA:
1.Bills.
2.Town Board Minutes dated August 11,2020 and Town Board Study Session
Minutes dated August 11,2020.
3.Estes Park Planning Commission Minutes dated June 16,2020 and Study Session
Minutes dated July 21,2020 (Acknowledgement only).
4.Family Advisory Board Minutes dated July 2,2020 (Acknowledgement only).
It was moved and seconded (WebermeierlYounglund)to approve the Consent
Agenda,and it passed unanimously.
ACTION ITEMS:
1.ORDINANCE 11-20 PROPOSED ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE.Mayor Koenig
opened the public meeting.Director Bergsten stated the initial public hearing on the
electric rate increase was brought forward to the Board on March 10,2020.The global
pandemic has resulted in a one-year delay in the proposed electric rate increases to
January 2021.The proposed rate increase balances costs and revenues and keeps
utilities in line with ever-increasing federal standards.Staff proposes an overall
revenue increase of 5.9%spread out over three years.He stated 91 %of customers
fall into residential or small commercial class.Over a three-year period,the average
monthly increase would be approximately 2.2%for residential and 0.9%for small
commercial customers.He stated measures have been taken to reduce budgetary
impacts of COVID-19.Staff stated delinquencies grew after mitigation efforts were
issued by the Governor,prohibiting the charging of delinquency fees.Businesses are
starting back up and a number of businesses have attempted to make payments on
utility fees.Board comments have been summarized:Questioned which impacts
drove the decision to delay the rate increase to 2021;clarification on fund transfer
amounts to the General Fund;the historical increase in transfer amounts over the
Board of Trustees —August 25,2020 —Page 3
years;and what the impact to rates would be from a decrease in the transfer funds.
Staff continues to review transfer amounts from Utilities to the General Fund,stating
awareness of the growing proportion of the transfer funds.Town policy caps the
percentage of utility charges for service which could be transferred at 12%.It was
moved and seconded (Webermeier/Martchink)to continue the rate hearing to the
September 8,2020 meeting,and it passed unanimously.
Whereupon Mayor Koenig adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m.
1J
Bunn1toria Beers,Recording Secretary