HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Budget Study Session 2001-10-18BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO.RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 18, 2001
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TOWN BOARD BUDGET STUDY
SESSION of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado.
Meeting held in the Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on
the 18th day of October, 2001.
Town Board:
Attending:
Also Attending:
Mayor Baudek, Trustees Barker, Doylen, Gillette, Habecker,
Jeffrey-Clark, Newsom
All
Town Administrator Widmer, Assistant Town Administrator
Repola, Finance Officer Brandjord, Clerk O’Connor,
Directors Linnane and Matzke
Absent:None
Mayor Baudek called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m.
PRESENTATION OF YEAR 2002 ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND OTHER FUNDS.
Town Administrator Widmer noted that the Light & Power and Water Funds are
designated “Enterprise Funds”, and that although the Town relies on the technical
expertise of staff on these particular funds, an opportunity does exist for change.
LIGHT & POWER FUND. An overview was presented. Of note were the following:
• *Projected Beginning Fund Balance.
• Revenue projections are based on 4.8% growth plus a 3.2% rate increase for a
2002 Proposed Budget Calculation of 8%.
• Purchased power is not projected to increase.
• The rate study is on-going and should be completed in early 2002.
• Under Expenditures, Administrative/General, highlights include:
o Fall River Hydro-RMNP Gateway Trail Engineering Design - $10,000
(new)
o Rate Study - $7,500 (no change)
o Christmas Decorations (includes repairs) - $70,000 (no change)
o Payment in lieu of taxes (2.5% of urban revenue) - $106,681 (previously
$104,398)
Franchise Fee (3% of urban revenue) - $128,017 (previously $125,277)
General Fund Transfer (9.5% of gross revenue) - $749,193 (previously
$737,642)
Fall River Hydro Museum Transfer - $24,482 (previously $25,378)
Bond Principal - $160,000 (no change)
**Bond Interest - $140,562 (no change)
Old warehouse upgrade (shelving/storage) - $10,000 (no change)
Office copier (2/3’s share) - $7,000 (no change)
Large format copier replacement - $5,000 (new)
Data processing equipment
■ PC’s - $16,950 (no change)
■ AS400 Upgrades ($15,000 from 2001) - $27,500 (previously
$42,500)
■ Data warehousing/document imaging (from 2001) - $75,000
■ Network equipment/software - $100,000 (previously $95,000)
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BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO.RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Budget Study Session - October 18, 2001 - Page 2
‘Regarding the Projected Beginning Fund Balance, and prior to public viewing, staff was
directed to add the assets and cash in parenthesis and add a balance sheet.
*n"he bond interest rate is between 4% and 5.4%, and staff was directed to investigate
the possibility of refinancing said bonds.
Discussion was held on the data processing equipment: staff confirmed an effective
network is now in place, computer-related items are reviewed by the TECH Team,
funding is planned for replacement of servers, routers, etc. The industry standard for PC
replacement is three years, however, the Town’s Replacement Policy is 5 years.
• Under Capital Expenses, highlights include:
o Meters - $224,284 (no change)
o Transformers - $120,000 (previously $200,000)
o Fiber Optic Communications - $30,000 (previously $45,000)
o Bucket Truck Replacement - $140,000 (no change)
o Jeep Cherokee Replacement - $25,000 (previously $22,500)
o Street Lights - $75,000 (no change)
o Overhead Lines - $390,000 (no change)
o Underground Lines
■ MacGregor Ranch (1/3) - $30,000 (new)
■ Brownfield Circuit Tie (from 2001) - $95,000 (new)
■ Meadowdale/Fish Creek Circuits - $360,000 (no change)
Discussion followed on meters (supply on hand and replacement policy).
Funding for overhead lines is provided from bond proceeds. The new MacGregor
Ranch line item is a cost-sharing project to assist the Ranch in returning to circa 1870.
The Brownfield Circuit Tie was moved from the 2001 Budget and the Meadowdale/Fish
Creek Circuits are part of the master plan and they are also funded from bond
proceeds. Mayor Baudek questioned whether the MacGregor Ranch funding could be
held pending resolution of the trailhead parking issue. Administrator Widmer confirmed
that the Ranch is nearing resolution with the RMNP on this issue. No decision on this
line item is required at this time.
WATER FUND. An overview was presented. Of note were the following:
• ‘Projected Beginning Fund Balance.
• Revenue projections assume a 2.9% water rate increase.
• Under Expenditures, highlights include:
o Purchased water - $117,000 (no change)
o Purification - $329,725 (no change)
o Distribution Operation/Maintenance - $450,179 (previously $496,450)
o Customer Accounts - $103,488 (previously $98,595 (remitted to the Light
& Power fund for reading meters, labor, postage)
o Engineering - $84,000 (no change)
o Franchise Fee - $122,043 (previously $121,850)
o Housing Authority Water Taps - $36,750
o Bond Principal, 1990 Series - $110,000 (no change), 1991 Series -
$65,000 (no change)
o “Bond Interest - $134,659 (no change)
‘Regarding the Projected Beginning Fund Balance, and prior to public viewing, staff was
directed to add the assets and cash in parenthesis and add a balance sheet.
BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO.RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Budget Study Session - October 18, 2001 - Page 3
**The bond interest rate is between 2.7% and 7%, and staff was directed to investigate
the possibility of refinancing said bonds.
• Under Capital Expenses, highlights include:
o Building Remodel
■ Glacier Creek Filter - $220,000 (no change)
■ Shop & Bulk Dispenser asphalt/concrete - $20,000 (new)
o Office Equipment
■ Large Format Copier (1/4) - $5,000 (new)
o Data Processing Equipment
■ Printer, GIS Computer - $3,500 (no change)
■ SCADA Duty Laptop - $2,000 (new)
■ Replace PC - $3,500 (new)
■ New software - $6,500 (new)
o Meters - $105,000 (no change)
o Lab equipment
■ Spectraphotometer - $4,500 (no change)
■ Online Alkalinity - $8,000 (new)
o Purification equipment
■ Filter analyzers - $8,000 (no change)
o Vehicles
■ Replace V* Ton - $38,000 (no change)
o Water System Improvements
■ Country Club-$120,000 (no change)
■ Evergreen Ln. - $210,000 (no change)
■ E. Wonderview - $225,000 (no change)
■ Mary’s Lake Pump (from 2001) - $180,000 (new)
Mayor Baudek questioned whether security of the water system is adequate. Dir.
Linnane responded that intrusion alarms are installed at all water treatment plants, and
all access points are locked. With the exception of the Crystal and the Big Thompson
Plants, locked gates prohibit access. Additionally, the duty man is notified via computer
and Police Dispatch should any intrusion attempt be made. Dir. Linnane confirmed
Water Supt. Goehring will advise the Board on Federal regulations being proposed.
Consensus was reached that funds should be budgeted in both the Light & Power
and Water Funds for additional security to help protect system operations.
Miscellaneous.
Trustee Habecker expressed his concern with raising development fees as rising costs
are not always attributable to new development; existing developments benefit from
new construction, they should pay their way as well.
Trustee Barker expressed is concern with permit fees and suggested that in the future,
when assessing permit fees for water, electric and construction, the Town consider the
positive impact on economic development from commercial properties. Additionally,
pursuant to the substantial fee amounts, various projects could become “borderline”
financially. Referring to the MacGregor Ranch underground line item of $30,000, the
return from commercial properties could be considerably faster than from the Ranch.
Staff distributed a funding request letter from the Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland
Festival, where President Durward requested financial support of $35,000 (retroactive to
2001) to be included in the Town’s yearly budget. Noting that the Town does not
assess the Festival for labor, staging, fairgrounds, etc.. Mayor Baudek requested a cost
breakdown of the Festival be provided prior to funding consideration.
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BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO.RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Budget Study Session - October 18, 2001 - Page 4
Trustee Doylen reported that Habitat has requested the Housing Authority donate two of
their water taps. Discussion followed, with consensus reached that Habitat should
approach the Public Works Committee as they have in the past.
Formal Town Board Budget Study Sessions are planned November 1st and 6th from
9:00 a.m. - Noon in the Board Room.
Administrator Widmer briefed the Board on Heath Construction’s staging area in the
Municipal Parking Lot necessitated by Library and Board Room Remodeling Projects.
Handicapped spaces will remain open, and the south-end of the lot will remain closed
through March.
There being no further business. Chairman adjourned the meeting at 5:00 p.m.
(! yCP
Vickie O’Connor, CMC, Town Clerk
APPROVED
liOV i 3 203]
TOWN OF ESTES PARK
BOARD OF TRUSTEES