HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Budget Study Session 2020-11-05RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,November 5,2020
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TOWN BOARD BUDGET STUDY
SESSION of the Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado.Meeting
held at Town Hall and Virtually in said Town of Estes Park on the 5th day of
November,2020.
Board:Mayor Koenig,Trustees Bangs,Cenac,MacAlpine,
Martchink,Webermeier and Younglund
Attending:All
Also Attending:Town Administrator Machalek,Assistant Town Administrator
Damweber,Chief Kufeld,Directors Bergsten,Hudson and
Muhonen,Managers Hook,Landkamer,McEachern and
Solesbee,Superintendent Lockhart,Supervisor Berg and
Director/Town Clerk Williamson
Absent:None
Mayor Koenig called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
ANNUAL MARKET COMPENSATION DISCUSSION
Director Hudson provided the Board with an estimated cost to include the proposed
compensation adjustments proposed by the market study for the General fund of
$167,000 and a total for all funds of $325,000.He further stated for each percent of
merit provided in a given year 1%would add approximately $55,000 for the General fund
and a total of $102,000 for all funds.An alternative to ongoing compensation would be a
one-time bonus provided to the employees at the end of the year and base the bonus on
the estimated sales tax revenues.
OUTSIDE ENTITY FUNDING REQUESTS
Assistant Town Administrator Damweber provided the Board with additional information
requested by the Board on entity funding,more specifically related to the Estes Chamber
of Commerce request for $50,000 for an Estes Valley Business Leadership Program.
Staff confirmed the Chamber would scale the program based on the funding secured for
in 2021.Discussion among the Board continued on funding the Hospital and the Library
foundations and consensus was reached to not provide funding to the entities.The
Board recommended the following funding be included in the 2021 budget:
Entity 2027 2021
Funded Recommendation
Estes Chamber of Commerce EV Business Leadership Program $50,000 $6,000
Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church Community Corner Cafe $1,000 $1,000
Estes Land Stewardship Association Monitored Weed Drop-off,Roundup,$3,000 $2,000
Booklet
Estes Park Education Foundation Boys &Girls Club Remote Learning $1,000 $1,000
Center
Estes Park Health Foundation COVID &Subsequent Emergency Fund $70,000 $0
Estes Valley Library Friends and Foundation Storage at Cliffhanger Used Books $1,500 $0
Habitat for Humanity of Estes Valley Affordable Housing Initiative $5,000 $5,000
Estes Park League of Women Voters Glass Recycling $7,700 $5,000
Larimer County Partners (Partners Mentoring Youth)One-to-One Mentoring $5,000 $5,000
The Estes Park Learning Place Need-based Scholarships $6,000 $6,000
TOTAL $90,200 $37,000
The Board requested the remaining $4,000 be remanded to the General fund for
distribution to another important item such as compensation or to fund the childcare
initiative.
POLICE
Chief Kufeld reviewed the scope of services and stated expenses for Police departments
runs at approximately 85%of the budget for personnel cost,with the Town running
below at 80%for Patrol,88%for Dispatch,87%for Support Services and 89%for Code
Enforcement.The 2021 budget will remain flat for both personnel and O&M costs.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Budget Study Session —November 5,2020 —Page 2
Emergency Services 1A Funding:Chief Kufeld stated the fund would realize
approximately $71 ,389 in revenue.The Town continues to pay the radio maintenance
fee utilizing this fund.
Trustee MacAlpine stated John Meissner/Town citizen requested the Board fund
improvements to the AM radio station and pay for someone to record messages or
disable the station.Town Administrator Machalek stated service to the system was
conducted on Prospect Mountain which found the grounding of the system was eroded,
and was therefore replaced to improve the system.
PUBLIC WORKS
Director Muhonen provided an overview of the department’s revenues and expenses
with a projection of approximately $4 million in revenues and $8.38 million in expenses.
Facilities:Manager Landkamer presented the 2021 budget which includes $50,169 in
revenues,a sharp decrease from 2020 with the loss of two Town owned rental homes
leveled for the Loop project and the loss of revenue with the Utilities department moving
to their new building on Woodstock.Expenses are $1.1 million with 80%as O&M.
Capital projects of $12,000 are for the maintenance of the parking structure with no other
projects scheduled to keep costs down in 2021.The division would complete the
remaining building condition assessments,complete the ADA transition plan,and
develop and implement an annual budget contribution mechanism for facility expansion
needs with the existing staff.
Parks:Supervisor Berg stated the division would see a slight decrease in revenues and
a decrease in expenses because a full time and half time position are not being filled in
2021.The staff would complete improvements to the recreation and park area and
upgrade the landscaping at the parking structure recreation area.
Open Space:Revenues for the fund in 2021 are estimated at $401,000 with expenses
budgeted at $227,559.The division would carry over the purchase of the Thumb Open
Space to 2021 if it has not been completed by the end of 2020.Strategic Plan objectives
to be completed in 2021 include a Thumb Open Space Management Plan of $22,000
and $93,500 to complete four service proposals for trail work,parking,signage and
possible gate.
Conservation Trust:Lottery proceeds are estimated at $33,300 for 2021.
Approximately $30,500 would be used to purchase the Thumb Open Space.The funds
would be added to the carry over funds to purchase the Open Space.
Engineering:Manager Hook stated the division has $353,955 in expenses budgeted for
2021.The division would pursue funding for flood mitigation projects,evaluate the
development review process and identify opportunities for improvement,begin
implementing highest impact development review process improvement and pursue
additional grant funding for the roundabout on US36 at Community Drive.
JA Streets Fund:The 1A tax revenues of $1.75 million with expenditures of $2.1 million.
The division would complete the STIP major street rehabilitation,overlay and patch
program,parking lot rehabilitation,and the completion of the design and public outreach
for the Cleave Street improvement.
JA Trail Fund:The revenues are estimated at $359,943.Expenses of $232,903 would
include funding to complete the final design for the Fall River Trail and Grave Avenue
Trail.Staff would also complete a segment of the Fall River Trail,pursue grant funding
for the Fall River Trail,update the Estes Valley Master Trail Plan and pursue grant
funding for the planning,designing and construction of additional safe walking and biking
routes to schools.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Budget Study Session —November 5,2020 —Page 3
Mayor Koenig called a break at 2:50 p.m.and reconvened at 3:00 p.m.
Transit:Manager Solesbee reviewed the budget stating the proposed budget would
serve 100 days and incorporate the new electric trolley.The transit revenues of $12,000
are from the sponsorships displayed on the buses.The division would develop options
for year-round transit service and would implement a pilot program during the off season
to provide some services to the local residents and operate the new electric trolley.Not
resourced in 2021 Strategic Plan would be the creation of a new brand for the Estes
Transit and complementary strategic marketing plan.
Parking:The fund has proposed revenues of approximately $240,500 in parking permits
and tickets and expenses of $206,299 with a transfer in from the General Fund of
$215,000.The fund transitioned to a special revenue fund in January 2020 to maintain
parking fees in order to reinvest in the program infrastructure.Implementation of Phase
II of the Parking Master Plan includes paid parking which has not been included in the
2021 proposed budget.Staff would continue to work on increasing the use of the
charging stations and Electric Vehicle tourism.
Streets:The revenues for 2021 are estimated at $381,773 and expenses at $1 .25
million.
Fleet:The revenues for 2021 are estimated at $765,107 and expenses at $1.3 million.
The division would purchase and remodel the former Water Shop on Elm Road using
capital reserves.Grant funds would be used to build an addition to the Water Shop to
house two electric trolleys and a charging station.
POWER &COMMUNICATIONS
Utilities Director Bergsten provided an overview of the division which encompasses both
Light and Power and Trailblazer Broadband.The 2021 budget estimates revenues at
$18.96 million,transfers of $1.67 million and $18.99 million in expenses.Broadband
estimates $1 million in revenues and approximately $1 million in expenses to continue to
buildout the new utility throughout the valley.Additional projects to be completed by the
division include engaging in the distributed energy and energy efficiency programs in
conjunction with PRPA,modify codes and regulations to support alternative and
distributed energy,encourage solar energy options on new and established homes and
businesses,implement lockbox operation for utility collections,and develop a plan to
implement data collection tools to measure electric reliability.
WATER
The enterprise fund estimates $6.68 million in revenues,$132,000 in transfers and $8.15
million in expenditures in 2021.Staff would develop internal project management
resources to support capital construction,complete funding applications for grants and
favorable financing terms for the Glacier Creek Water Treatment Plant water supply.
BUDGET SUMMARY
Director Hudson provided a budget summary stating the ending fund balance for the
proposed 2021 budget has been estimated at 30.3%for the General fund with sales tax
projections at 12.65%reduction from 2019 actuals.Several projects are estimated to roll
over from 2020,including the Fall River Trail project,Community Drive intersection,
electric trolley acquisitions,and numerous utility projects,including Broadband
construction.The proposed budget does not include additional personnel for the
General fund in 2021.Positions not included in the budget include a new Police Officer
and a Dispatcher.Additional COVID-19 position vacancies are not being filled in the
2021 budget and include a Planner I,two CSO positions,Parks Maintenance Worker Ill,
seasonal positions reduced from 16 to 8 in Parks,defer one Parking seasonal,and
reduced part time staffing by approximately 81%for Visitor Services.Next steps would
include the budget hearings at the Town Board on November 10,2020 and November
24,2020,certification of the property tax levy to the County by December 15,2020 and
submittal to the State by January 31,2021.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Budget Study Session —November 5,2020 —Page 4
Discussion among the Board was heard on compensation and the timing of the
implementation of the market rate increases versus a merit pool or a one-time bonus
which would not increase the ongoing personnel costs.Trustee Webermeier noted the
greatest asset the Town has is its employees.After further discussion,the Board
consensus was to include the 2021 market adjustments outlined by Director Hudson.
There being no further business,Mayor Koenig adjourned the meeting at 4:47 p.m.
Town Clerk