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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Community Development & Community Services Committee 2011-07-28RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 28, 2011 Minutes of a meeting of the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT / COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in Town Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 28th day of July 2011. Committee: Attending: Also Attending: Absent: Chair Levine, Trustees Elrod and Miller All Deputy Town Administrator Richardson, Directors Chilcott and Kilsdonk, Managers Salerno and Fortini and Town Clerk Williamson Town Administrator Halburnt Chair Levine called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT. None. COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT. Reports. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • Visitor Services Quarterly Report. • Museum Quarterly Report. Manager Salerno stated the Visitor Center has experienced an increase of over 32% in April, May and June over last year, with an average of 1,117 visitors a day. Visitation has increased in the center by 39% in the first half of the year, which has translated in a decrease in phone traffic and a shift of staff to cover the front counter. Manager Fortini stated the Museum has experienced an increase in attendance this year and a door counter was installed in July. Volunteers would continue to monitor traffic to determine how many visitors are viewing the gallery. The History on Call went live on June 25 with small history lessons at key shuttle stops throughout town. The program has been well received and a full report would be provided in the fall detailing the program’s usage. The digitization project funded by a grant has been completed with a total of 4,581 photographs scanned and catalogued. Staff would continue to actively look for additional grants to accomplish further digitization of the collection. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. Community Garden Request by Estes Park Community Garden Committee. Director Chilcott stated a year ago the Community Garden Committee, an independent committee, initiated discussions with the Mayor to establish a community garden on Town-owned property. Staff has assisted the committee with site evaluation and provided guidance on the proposal preparation. The garden would be 90’ x 75’ (6,750 sq. ft.) and contain 24 plots to be rented to individuals through a lottery. The garden would be considered a plant nursery and would be permitted in the CO - Outlying Commercial, CH - Heavy Commercial, and 1-1 - Restricted Industrial zoning districts. Four sites were evaluated including a site on Elm Road, Fairgrounds, Stanley Circle Drive and the Fish Hatchery. The committee has considered the proposed sites and would suggest the Elm Road site, which is zoned CO and has no current existing use; however, the site is slated for a possible future drainage detention pond. The site also would require a water tap and fee or a water storage tank. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development - July 28, 2011 - Page 2 Paul Newendorp provided a brief history on the book club that has met for the past several years studying and discussing books related to environmental issues and the importance of communities producing food needs locally in community gardens and greenhouses. The committee has research four area community gardens including Fort Collins, Lyons, Boulder and Denver. The gardeners would pay an annual fee for the use of the plot to cover costs associated with water, fertilizer and liability insurance required to protect Habitat for Humanity and the Town. Although the garden would be built on Town property and built by the Town, the garden would be managed by Habitat for Humanity. The committee performed a survey to determine the level of interest and currently has a list of 78 individuals interested in renting a plot for the next season. The committee has also developed a list of items that could be grown in Estes Park. The group developed a draft management plan and a contract for the gardeners. The current estimated cost is estimated at approximately $25,000, including a $13,354 water tap. Connie Dedon/Committee member stated composting on site would be limited to non-food items in an effort to not attract animals. Joe Adair/Habitat for Humanity President stated Habitat is honored to be a partner in the project to move the community toward sustainability. Habitat would be responsible for ensuring the property is maintained and Town staff would not be required to operate the facility. He stated this garden would likely be the first of many to come if this garden is built by the Town. Trustee Elrod questioned if the garden would be limited to consumables and whether the items grown could be sold for a profit. Individuals should not be allowed to profit from the community garden. Mr. Newendorp started the individual would decide on what would be grown in each plot, and the produce grown would be for personal consumption, not for resale. The committee would address this concern in the contract. Trustee Miller stated the garden would be a recreational opportunity for citizens and provide those living in a smaller condominium the chance to have a plot to garden. He also questioned if the committee has been involved in fundraising efforts for the garden so the entire burden is not placed on the Town. Mr. Newendorp responded the committee discussed fundraising as a second option to developing the garden. Deputy Town Administrator suggested the item be discussed during the budget process and use Community Reinvestment funds. He also suggested the item could be added to the Community Service grant as a funding source. After further discussion, the Committee agreed the item should be discussed during the upcoming budget process. Sign Code. Director Chilcott presented the Committee with a draft sign ordinance to address amendments to the code on the following topics: LED messages, temporary signs, non­ profit signs, non-profit fundraising and Town-sponsored events, flag and wind signs, kiosks, use (zoning) districts, and Creative Sign Design Review Board. LED amendments include clear definitions similar to CDOT because many of the signs would be located within close proximity to the right-of-way; allow instantaneous change of a message, reduce hold times from 24 hours in CD and 20 minutes in all other district down to 5 minutes: reduce square footage to 10 sq. ft in CD (per business) and 20 sq. ft in A, CO, CH, O and I-1 zoning districts; and require a dimmer control that automatically varies the brightness according to ambient light conditions. The Committee approves of the changes stating they are a good compromise and would suggest staff review the types of signs currently being used downtown to determine if 10 and 20 sq. ft. would be appropriate. Temporary sign amendments were drafted to provide clarity on the intent. Staff questioned the current definition of temporary signs for construction, real estate, political RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development-July 28, 2011 - Page 3 campaign and special election signs allowing 90 days without a permit. Trustee Miller stated subdivision identification signs, construction and real estate signs should be allowed during the duration of the project. Political signs should be consistent with state statute. Staff also recommends expanding the temporary non-profit signage for small scale events in an effort to bring them in line with larger scale events to increase consistency, including allowing master permitting for ongoing events throughout the year, on-premise sign definition would not limit the non-profit to owned or leased property, allow portable signage, allow off-site fundraising and allow signs in setbacks that do not limit site visibility. Wind sign amendments would clarify a permitted flag shall not contain commercial content including open” flags. This section of the code has not been enforced because of the inconsistency in the code. The definition of kiosks was unintentionally removed from the code during the last amendments, and therefore, a kiosk would not be allowed in the commercial areas. Staff recommends reestablishing the language to allow kiosks. Use (zoning) district would remove old language referring to zoning districts in the Municipal Code. The Creative Design Review Board language would be amended to allow one alternate member to serve when any member of the board in not able to attend a meeting. The Committee recommends staff provided an update on the changes suggested and the item be brought forward to the August 23, 2011 Town Board meeting. Reports. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • Monthly Building Division Report. • Monthly Planning Division Report. ADMINISTRATION. Public Information Quarterly Report. PIO Rusch stated the Citizen Survey was mailed on June 24 to a random sample of 1,200 Estes Park households. As of July 20, the National Research Center has received nearly 400 completed surveys and collection would continue through July 29. The survey would be posted on the Town website the second week of August and would be promoted to the general population through the end of August. Results of both samples would be made available in late September or early October. The spring runoff event preparations began in March because of a predicted heavy snowmelt runoff season. The runoff progressed without causing any significant problems. Staff continues to monitor the river and respond and provide services as needed. Special projects staff is working on include the creation of a web-based archive of projects identified in the Capital Asset Management Plan; dedication ceremony for the Robert L. Dekker Light and Power Service Center on September 12th; and public outreach assistance for the Transportation Visioning Committee. Staff continues to work with the Statewide Internet Portal Authority on the new Town website. Content migration has begun and will take place over the next several months. The new website is expected to go live in late 2011. A preview of the new website would be provided to the Committee at the meeting in August. Future of Stanley Museum Director Kilsdonk stated the Estes Park branch of the Stanley Museum in Maine is closing. The Stanley Museum is currently trying to determine what presence they would RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development - July 28, 2011 - Page 4 have in Estes Park and several options are being considered, including donating the artifacts to the Town museum. Staff has met with the museum members and had discussions with Howard Randall/President and Managing Director in Maine to discuss the artifacts and whether or not the Stanley Museum would be interested in donating and could the Estes Park Museum accept the items. The Estes Park Museum would be interested in some of the items that pertain to Estes Park and the museum does have the storage space and display space. The items would be deeded to the Town and would require the Town to have exclusive rights to the items. Staff would continue discussions to determine options. Trustee Miller thanked staff for looking into maintaining the items in Estes Park. He stated it would be beneficial to have a permanent location in an effort to keep the collection together. He request staff look at the feasibility of using the residence at the Fall River hydroplant. Mayor Pro Tern Levine agreed the collection should remain in Estes Park and he would agree the building at the hydroplant would be appropriate. Director Kilsdonk stated some artifacts could also be stored at the hydroplant. Jim P'ckenng stated the hydroplant is capable of storing a Stanley Steamer because of the double door design and the building has room available. The Committee supports the further discussions and would request updates on the progress. There being no further business, Chair Levine adjourned the meeting at 10:25 a.m. ClSL Jacjde Williamson, Town Clerku approve AUG - 9 2011 TOWN OF ESTES PARK BOARD OF TRU.STFPg