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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Community Development Committee 2006-10-05RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 5, 2006 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in Town Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 5th day of October 2006. Committee: Attending: Also Attending: Absent: Chairman Pinkham Trustees Eisenlauer and Levine All Administrator Repola, Directors Pickering, Kilsdonk, Mitchell, and Joseph, Manager Marsh and Clerk Williamson None Chairman Pinkham called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Trustee Levine informed the Committee that Susan Ryder, winner of the Pride Award for Teacher of the Year, was awarded Colorado Teacher of the Year. CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Estes Park Ghost Rides - Request Approval. Aspen Livery has requested using the Visitor Center parking lot to load and unload passengers for their ghost rides. Paula Foster/General Manager Aspen Lodge stated the carriage rides would be conducted every Friday and Saturday evening through the month of October. All trucks and trailers would be parked at the Silver Lane Stables across the highway from the Visitor Center. She stated this request is to take advantage of the parking at the Visitor Center and provide a safe location for their customers. Administrator Repola informed the Committee any changes to the actual route would be approved at staff level by Community Development. After further discussion, the Committee recommended approval to use the Visitor Center as a ioading and unloading zone as outlined above. Visitor Center Landscape Concept - Report. Dir. Pickering stated the Town Board approved a landscape design contract for the Visitor Center with Joan Sapp at their August 8, 2006 meeting. Joan Sapp presented the overall landscape plan that addresses the regulations of the Estes Valley Development Code, desires of the Tree Board, landscape committee requests, a beautiful landscape with color year-round and low maintenance. In order to provide a year-round landscape, Ms. Sapp recommends an enhanced native landscape that would include grasses, shrubs and trees, and would withstand the weather and pressures from the wildlife. The Women’s Club has shown an interest in maintaining a waterfall/pond feature at the entrance to the Visitor Center; however, their current funds would only fund a portion of the project. Establishing a patio area with an informal seating area in the northwest corner of the property could provide a photo opportunity. The Tree Board has expressed interest in developing a native plant walk along the river to the east with signage for the plants. Ms. Sapp also stated the Town should consider addressing the erosion of the riverbank prior to any planting. Administrator Repola informed the Committee that this project would likely be completed in phases and cost estimates need to be established. Dir. Joseph stated the design meets the technical requirements of the code. The Committee recommended approval of the concept and requested staff return to Committee with cost estimates and phasing options. Non-Profit Use of the Bond Park Informational Cabin - Request Approval. Staff has received several requests to use the cabin during the off-season. The proposed 2007 budget contains a line item to upgrade the cabin with electricity and heat. Staff would recommend developing a use policy to allow local non-profits to use RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development - October 5, 2006 - Page 2 the cabin during the off-season. After discussion, the Committee recommended approval to develop a use policy for the Bond Park Informational Cabin. The use would be limited to local non-profit organizations and service groups during the off-season for information and ticket sales with no food or drink items allowed and no fee would be charged for the use; however, a refundable damage deposit would be collected. The policy would be added to the CVB policy manual once approved by the Community Development Committee and adopted by the Town Board. Reports. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • Advertising • Communications • Public/Media Relations • Visitor Services Mgr. Marsh presented the new television commercial that would be updated to provide seasonal variations. He also stated the Visitor Center experienced a significant increase in traffic this year during the Elkfest up from 1,600 in 2005 to 5,500 in 2006. Mayor ProTem Pinkham requested the Visitor Center report include percentages in addition to the numbers for further clarification. MUSEUM/SENIOR CENTER. Reports. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • Museum Monthly • Senior Center Monthly A new exhibit will open at the museum Friday, October 6th from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on the “Merging Elkhorn”. The sale of wooden street signs has been strong with over 120 signs sold and another 120 to be sold. Senior Center breakfasts were a huge success this year. The Senior Center is currently offering 2 trips a month for activities with a high attendance rate. Trustee Levine requested the meal report show a year-to-date for combined meals for each calendar year including the current year. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. Habitat for Humanity Fee Waiver - Request Approval. Habitat for Humanity has requested a fee waiver of all land use review fees associated with the proposed subdivision and annexation of Lot 1, Block 1, Ferguson Subdivision. This project is anticipated and has not been submitted to the Community Development Department for review. Staff estimates the fees at approximately $4,700. Trustee Levine recused himself from the discussion and recommendation. The Committee recommended approval to waive the land use review fees for the Habitat for Humanity Ferguson Subdivision. Development Application and Building Permit Fee Increases - Request Approval. As the cost of new construction continues to increase significantly, so to are the costs for providing planning and building services due to the cost of insurance coverage and other non-discretionary operational cost drivers. Staff would recommend all Community Development fees increase annually based on the Denver CPI and would take affect beginning January 2007. The Committee questioned if other municipalities adjust fees yearly based on CPI. After further discussion, the Committee requested staff provide RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development - October 5, 2006 - Page 3 additional information to establish anticipated revenue and expenditures, determine the cost drivers and research other municipality’s fee structures and present findings at the next Committee meeting in November. Reports. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • Activity and Budget Summaries ADMINISTRATION. Funding for Hermit Park Acquisition- Request Approval. Larimer County Parks and Open Lands have requested the Town participate in the acquisition of the Hermit Park property. The Town would be one of several entities including the Estes Valley Land Trust participating in securing the 1369 acres for recreation and open space. Staff would recommend any contribution from the Town include terms and conditions that provide for continued operation of the Park and a dividend payment to the Town’s Open Space Fund. Participation could be funded from the Town’s Open Space fund; however, any funds committed to this purchase would likely move back timelines on future projects. The estimated, unrestricted fund balance at 2006 year-end will be approximately $529,000 and the estimated fund balance of $609,189 at 2008 year-end. The Town has been asked to consider participation of up to $400,000. Future uses of the Open Space fund could include the soccer fields at Stanley Park and future phases of the Fall River Trail. The Estes Valley Land Trust would like the Estes Valley to contribute up to $1 million towards the purchase of Hermit Park. They are concerned the Open Lands will not secure the funds necessary from the Department of Wildlife and/or the GOCO grants necessary to purchase the property. Mayor ProTem Pinkham stated employees of Agilent and HP have also begun a fundraising effort and would donate funds raised to the Friends of Larimer County Parks and Open Lands. The Estes Park Land Trust is also considering a similar fundraising effort. He also stated an appraisal is still forthcoming and should be complete by the end of November with a closing in April or May. After further discussion, the Committee recommended the following finding 1) The Open Space fund is capable of funding the acquisition of Hermit Park up to $400,000; 2) Consideration of more than $250,000 is based on the request by the Estes Valley Land Trust; 3) Town would have first right of refusal to continue operation of the park should the County cease to operate it and a dividend payment by the County to the Town’s Open Space fund in the amount of 1% of gross earning per year; 4) This project is consistent with the ballot language for the use of the Open Space funds. This item will be an action item at the October 10, 2006 Town Board meeting. Stanley Park Theatre Advisory Committee Appointment - Request Approval. The Town Board appointed the Stanley Park Theatre Advisory Committee at their September 12, 2006 meeting. Nancy Stevens has since resigned from the Committee. Wiiiiam McNamara has been approved by the Committee as Ms. Stevens replacement and requests approval from the Town Board. Mr. McNamara has been an active member of the committee. The Committee recommended approval of William McNamara as a replacement member to the Stanley Park Theatre Advisory Committee completing the term of Nancy Stevens, expiring March 31, 2008. MISCELLANEOUS Trustee Eisenlauer requested staff provide additional information on the proposed fire district being brought fon/vard by the Firewise Coalition of Estes Vailey. Staff wiil continue to provide information and address the current assertions made by the Committee For Fair and Equitabie Fire Protection. A 1992 IGA between the Town of RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development - October 5, 2006 - Page 4 Estes Park and Larimer County states the Town will provide fire protection for the outlying areas and can be discontinued anytime with 15 days written notice. The county does not provide fire protection service for any area, and the unincorporated Estes Valley is the only area within Larimer County not covered by an authority or a fire district. Administrator Repola provided additional background r egarding the relationship between the Town and the Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. There being no further business. Chairman Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 9:59 a.m. -ka Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk APPBom 0CT ? 0 2006