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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Community Development & Community Services Committee 2017-02-23RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, February 23, 2017 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 23rd day of February, 2017. Committee: Attending: Also Attending: Chair Walker, Trustees Holcomb and Norris All Town Administrator Lancaster, Directors Hinkle, Hunt, and Fortini, Managers Mitchell and Salerno and Recording Secretary Beers Absent: Chair Walker called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT. None. CULTURAL SERVICES. REPORTS. * 2016 Museum Annual Report - Director Fortini stated the Museum is hiring for the position of Museum Curator. Staff has taken over the Newsletter which was previously completed and distributed tri-annually by the Friends Foundation. Staff utilizes social media to generate conversation, provide information to the public and showcase items currently not on display. The Museum received grant funding through the State Historical Fund to build a walkway to the Birch Ruins, extending the walkway to the front porch area. He elaborated on the acquisition of items for the rnuseum, clarifying the breakdown of numbers when processing several single similar items as one collection item. Volunteer comparisons show steady volunteering. A long range marketing plan would be developed outlining work with Visit Estes Park. In 2017 staff would attempt to obtain accreditation which includes a pledge of excellence by the governing Board and a steps program by the American Association of State and Local History taking approximately a year to complete. The museum would be closed during remodeling allowing staff the opportunity to collaborate with other entities including the Estes Valley Library. Staff plans on building a sound recording studio at the museum to record narratives. This would bring costs down and would allow them to share the space with non-profits to create an oral history of their organization. * Museum Meeting Room Update — Staff notified the Committee they would no longer offer the Museum meeting room for public rentals as of March 14, 2017. The meeting room is primarily used as programming space for the Museum. A review of use for the last 13 years found room revenue as minimal, if not a loss with higher maintenance costs incurred during public rentals. Meeting room use would be limited to Town entities, as long as a Town staff member would be in attendance and available to access the calendar for scheduling, with the Museum maintaining priority on room reservation. * 2016 Senior Services Annual Report - Manager Mitchell provided highlights below: o Staff continues work on the Community Center with the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District (EVRPD). o Staff conducted a very thorough search for food service contractors for 2017 and 2018 for the Community Center. Only one response from the current contractor and no responses for food services provided by a vendor lead staff to change kitchen design and amenities at the center during remodeling, o Town Board and the EVRPD Board entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement in August 2016 to transition the management and operation of senior services to the EVRPD upon opening of the Community Center. The transition created a directive from the Board to investigate options for Meals on Wheels RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development / Community Services - February 23, 2017 - Page 2 with the noon meal discontinuing in 2018. Crossroads Ministry Board voted officially to assume and operate all Meals on Wheels operations in 2018. Staff would prepare a press release to announce the change. Estes Park Good Samaritan Society has fully committed to be the food services contractor for Meals on Wheels. Crossroads Ministry would own, manage, fund and fundraise for the program and buy meals from Estes Park Good Samaritan through a contractual agreement. Number of dining room clients has decreased. Staff would research a method to add the social value aspect since the noon meal program would stop at the end of 2017. Holiday meal would continue to be planned. COMMUNITY SERVICES. REPORTS. • 2016 Visitor Center Annual Report - Manager Salerno stated the Vision, Mission and Values has been updated. She stated the Visitor Center was selected as number one in services in Estes Park by the National Citizen Survey in 2016. Staff received new accurate traffic counters for the Visitor Center. Staff distributed 43,000 visitor guides through the Visitor Center to groups and individuals in 2016. Distribution of guest documents available at the Visitor Center is invaluable and helps staff answer questions about local businesses. During the different seasons staff has two different guides for businesses that are seasonal or weather dependent. Due to a high volume of visitation the Ambassadors extended the 2016 fall season and are scheduled to serve an early spring season starting in April 2017. She added sales were up in 2016. • Town Administrator Lancaster mentioned the sale of Town logo merchandise at the Visitor Center would not include the sale of clothing. He added it is in the Town’s best interest to avoid the sale of identifiable official Town logo clothing with regard for public safety. • 2016 Events Annual Report - Coordinator Benes provided an overview of the following events; o Ride the Rockies - National Park permitting only allows the event to come to the Town every four years. There were 2,000 riders in attendance at the event in 2016 who completed a survey ranking Estes Park as 2nd in Best Overnight, o Elkfest - Highest attendance in recorded history and turned a profit, o Tree Lighting Ceremony - Attendance pushed the capacity of the George Hix PlaZa- r , j o Walking - Opening the Event Center for walking has been successful and positive. o Whisky Warm Up - Would take place in March 2017. o Policies & Contracts - Staff has reviewed and updated policies and contracts for all Town facilities to bring them up to date with expectations from renters of the facilities. Permits are required 90 days prior to an event. • 2016 Transportation Annual Report - Manager Wells stated a new ridership record was set by eclipsing 101,000 riders in 2016. Staff initiated a sponsorship program with 23 organizations from within the Estes Valley raising over $5,000 to offset shuttle cost in 2016. They received the lowest riders per dollar rate to date. Staff received approval of a Green Route for 2017, an express route from Park-n-Ride running from the Event Complex, to the Visitor Center, to Bond Park and back. He stated this route would be helpful during parking garage construction to shuttle visitors. Concerns for the year would be the initial impact of volume when the parking garage opens. Staff would have six stops an hour at the fairgrounds. Staff continues to use social media to update the public and maintain communication. Estes Area Lodging Association continues to provide funds to supply the shuttle maps in lodging facilities, restaurants and businesses throughout Town. Vacation Land and the Visit Estes Park Visitor Guide have showcased the shuttle service. In order for staff to increase the shuttle service season, staff would need to secure RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development / Community Services - February 23, 2017 - Page 3 funding by approximately May or June 2017. He added the sponsorships are above the $7,500 goal for 2017. Town Administrator Lancaster proposed limiting shuttle service to businesses that are not sponsors. There are a number of businesses served by shuttle service paid by tax dollars. Charging fees to businesses outside Town limits would provide funding for the expansion of the shuttle service. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOUSING AUTHORITY MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING fMOU). Assistant Town Administrator Machalek presented minor changes to the MOU between the Town of Estes Park and the Housing Authority. Staff presented changes in the language of the MOU to reflect practice. The Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA) has been paying for the cost of Information Technology services provided by the Town for the last two years. This is not reflected in the current version of the MOU and an update is needed for accuracy. Additionally a change in funding would allow the Town greater flexibility in choosing the manner in which financial support would be provided to the EPHA. The EPHA Bboard met on February 8, 2017, and approved the changes. The Committee recommended the changes to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Estes Park and the Estes Park Housing Authority and to be included as a Consent Item at the February 28, 2017, meeting. • Verbal Updates and Committee Questions - Director Hunt stated the progress of vacation home registration continues on track. He added staff would have formal statistics provided to the Board and public after March 31, 2017. Code amendments wouid be brought forward with minor changes to simplify the registration process and provide guidance to the Planning Commission on decision making for 9 and over vacation homes. Staff would prepare an amendment for consideration at the March 14, 2017 Town Board meeting. Staff wouid prepare an amendment to the Deveiopment Code regarding Accessory Kitchens. The amendment wouid address the Town’s decision not to approve attached Accessory Dwelling Unit long-term rental regulations in 2016, making it necessary to remove Accessory Kitchens as an allowable use in the Estes Valley Development Code. • Trustee Walker questioned the County delay on vacation homes. Director Hunt stated the County Assessor’s records and Town records are not showing the same information in regards to number of bedrooms. This has caused a delay in the process of vacation home registrations. He stated approximately 20% of reg'strat'ons in the unincorporated area are affected by the County delay on records. He added the County has updated their records when discrepancies are found. • Building height - The Planning Commission proposed actual code language and 2J<?^/iaireJ^ldment to be considered by raising the maximum buiiding height in the RM-Multi-Family zoning district from 30 ft to 45 ft. Staff would prepare more information for a future Study Session. • P'S0!?u Hunt Stated the dePartment would complete the hiring process for a Planner I. Staff has a strong candidate interested in joining the department in March. » The Downtown Visioning Plan would host a workshop at the Event Center on February 23, 2017. Hydrology Report discussion presentations would occur February 27, 2017. Town Administrator Lancaster stated in the past Airbnb members did not pay saies tax. Airbnb has entered into an agreement with the State of Colorado to remit tax for Municipalities who collect tax at the State level. The Town has not received State tax funds from Airbnb to date. There being no further business. Chair Walker adjourned the meeting at 9:47 a.m. A oria Beers, Recording Secretary