Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Community Development & Community Services Committee 2014-05-22RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, May 22, 2014 Minutes of a Regular 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 22nd day of May, 2014. Chair Ericson, Trustees Holcomb and Phipps Chair Ericson, Trustees Holcomb and Phipps Committee: Attending: Also Attending: Absent: Town Administrator Lancaster, Directors Chilcott and Winslow, Special Event Coordinator Jacobson, and Deputy Town Clerk Deats None Chair Ericson 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. • May Events Report - o Coordinator Jacobson introduced the newest addition to the Special Events staff. Jaclyn Schulte is a seasonal Special Events ernployee who will be working during the summer season and cross-training in sales and marketing, operations, and visitor services to get an introduction to the entire “events” industry. Jaclyn is originally from Casper, Wyoming and is a recent graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, o Jazz Fest — Approximately 1140 people attended the event on May 17-18, 2014, which is a slight decrease from 2013. The event highlights some of the finest musicians across the nation, with this year’s headliner being Sax Appeal: New York Saxophone Legends. A new addition to this year’s event was the inclusion of wine sales from Snowy Peaks Winery and Turquoise Mesa Winery. Coordinator Jacobson noted that the Five Points Jazz Festival in Denver takes place on the same weekend as Jazz Fest here in Estes Park. She suggested that a discussion take place related to possibly moving the event from May to August to be held in conjunction with Plein Air of the Rockies and the Art Walk so as to not be in direct competition with the Five Points Festival. She noted that next year is the 25th anniversary of Jazz Fest and may present a good time to make some changes to the event. She also noted that if the date of Jazz Fest was changed, another event would be scheduled and developed for the third W00l^0i-i(j in May timeframe. There was no data available as to how many of the event attendees may have stayed overnight in area lodging facilities. Director Winslow will provide an event report at the June CDCS meeting that will include a profit and loss statement that can be used to evaluate whether the cost of the event justifies the return from the festival. Chair Ericson asked that future monthly Events Reports include information about events that have taken place as well as upcoming events. • Verbal Updates - . o Both the Wool Market and the Dressage Horse Show will be using the new pavilion and staff is anxious to obtain reaction from participants regarding the new facility. Operations staff has installed 800 floor mats in preparation for the events. The May Dressage Show is an added show RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development / Community Services - May 22, 2014 - Page 2 this year; the second Dressage Horse Show will be held in August. Director Winslow said that one of the participants is #1 in the United States in dressage and her horse is #6 in the world and suggested that PIO Rusch write a press release related to the high caliber of participants and stock utilizing the new facilities, o Art Market will be held in Bond Park on Memorial Day weekend. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. REPORTS. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • Flood Recovery Update - Director Chilcott reported that most of the short-term work that was planned to be finished prior to spring run-off has been completed. These projects were primarily funded through FEMA and the Natural Resources Conservation Services, Inc., (NRCS) and included sediment removal upstream of downtown to protect properties at risk from localized flooding; sediment removal in the Brook Court area of Fish Creek; and emergency watershed protection, bank restoration, and repair in areas where homes were undermined by flood waters. Work at exigent sites along Fall River is wrapping up, with work continuing along Fish Creek near the Stone Bridge development and Brook Court. Due to the sandy conditions along Fish Creek the channel continues to move. Construction of check dams to slow the water flow are being considered to lessen the potential for further channel migration. Stakeholder advisory committees have been formed related to long-term and master planning for the Fall River and Fish Creek corridors. Members include representatives from the Downtown Business Association, Estes Valley Land Trust (EVLT), Estes Valley Recreation and Park District (EVRPD), Upper Thompson Sanitation District (UTSD), Larimer County Floodplain Manager, and the Larimer County Community Development Director. In addition, staff plans to reach out to members of local bird groups and area residents to receive input. Meetings are scheduled to begin in June. Staff continues to seek funding for disaster recovery and hazard mitigation projects to protect and mitigate risk along Fall River and subsequently the downtown core area. Information is being gathered from business owners related to economic loss and structural damage to support grant applications. Applications for funding are being submitted to both public and private entities. Floodplain Manager Birchfield noted that in November 2013, the Town Board adopted the high water mark from the September flood as the regulatory floodplain. This more restrictive floodplain has allowed for repairs and development to continue, causing minor increases to construction expenses related to additional engineering and surveying work. However, the additional expense provides reasonable assurance that work will be in comP|,®nc® future regulations. He said the old floodplain maps previously used by FEMA were developed in the 1970s and are no longer accurate enough to be used to protect life and property and said it will take some time to study, evaluate, and collect data for the development of new floodplain maps. As master p anning moves forward, information for the different drainages is compiled, and risk levels are prioritized, staff will come forward to report to the Board and seek direction. He added that new floodplain maps will not be adopted by FEMA and/or the Town without public hearings, public input and discussion, and the approval ot elected officials. Asked about the amount of time staff is spending on flood rec°v®ry and floodplain management. Director Chilcott estimated that 80% to 90 /o °f her |me and 95% of Floodplain Manager Birchfield’s time, is dedicated to flood-related matters. The remaining Community Development staff members are devoted to the day-to-day operations of the department. Additional personnel will be added RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development / Community Services - May 22, 2014 - Page 3 as needed to get the job done. Town Administrator Lancaster commended Community Deveiopment staff for their work related to the flood, and Christy Crosser for her work on flood-related FEMA reimbursements. He reported that to date, the Town has received approximately $120,000 in reimbursements for the initial emergency response to the flood. Additional funds will be reimbursed as projects are completed. He said he is keeping a close eye on the budget and cash flow. Town Administrator Lancaster said paving of Fish Creek Road and crossings over Fish Creek will not be completed until infrastructure repairs are finalized. He said making temporary repairs that will ultimately be torn out is not a good investment, and no funds are budgeted for that purpose. He said the infrastructure repairs along Fish Creek are scheduled to be completed by late 2015, with permanent road repairs to follow. He said residents need to be patient while repair work continues and is completed. Repairs and repaving of Community Drive will be handled at the federal level, however, the road will be maintained and graded in the meantime. Asked about plans for removing sediment and debris from Lake Estes and the Fish Creek arm. Town Administrator Lancaster said that is under the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) purview and that the BOR has stated that there are no plans for work in that area as it does not affect their operations. He said that upon direction from the full Town Board a letter could be sent to the BOR to request that this area be cleaned up as it is not aesthetically pleasing and poses a risk for the growth of noxious weeds. The Committee requested that Director Chilcott provide a flood update to the full Board at the upcoming Town Board meeting. The update will be included with the Town Administrator’s Report. • Verbal Updates - o Falcon Ridge - the Estes Park Housing Authority has requested a fee waiver for building permit and development fees for a proposed attainable housing project on Lot 4, Good Samaritan Subdivision. The fee waiver request is tentatively scheduled to come before the CDCS Committee on June 26th, and the Town Board on July 22nd. An annexation agreement exists for this property that describes the maximum allowed density. Although the proposed development has similar density, a revision of this agreement may be necessary related to the number of allowed units, o Estes Park Medical Center - a fee waiver request may be coming forward for the proposed north parking structure, o Craft Wine, Beer, Spirits - a report on this topic is scheduled for the Town Board meeting on May 27, 2014, at which time the Board may provide feedback and direction to staff. The topic is scheduled to be discussed by the EVPC at their June meeting and move forward to the Town Board in July. Trustee Phipps suggested that a Town Board Study Session be held on the topic. Staff recommended that a joint meeting of the EVPC and the Town Board be scheduled to discuss changes to the Estes Valley Development Code related to the manufacturing of craft liquors and any ramifications that might occur from the adoption of these changes. The Committee also proposed scheduling a special study session to discuss attainable housing, depending upon the outcome of the discussion regarding the Town’s roie in housing at the Town Board Study Session scheduled for May 27, 2014. There being no further business. Chair Ericson adjourned the meeting at 9:15 a.m. APPROVED .J!!M 1 0 2014 TOWN OF ESTES PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES ^thia Deats, Deputy Town Clerk