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Home My WebLink AboutPACKET Town Board Study Session 2023-07-25 July 25, 2023 5:40 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Board Room 5:25 p.m. Dinner No public comment will be heard This study session will be streamed live and available on the Town YouTube page at www.estes.org/videos 5:40 p.m. Kahuna Memorial Land Request. (Supervisor Berg) 6:00 p.m. Town-Owned Parcel on Dry Gulch. (Deputy Town Administrator Damweber) 6:35 p.m. Trustee & Administrator Comments & Questions. 6:40 p.m. Future Study Session Agenda Items. (Board Discussion) 6:45 p.m. Adjourn for Town Board Meeting. Informal discussion among Trustees concerning agenda items or other Town matters may occur before this meeting at approximately 5:25 p.m. AGENDA TOWN BOARD STUDY SESSION Page 1 Page 2 PUBLIC WORKS Report To: Honorable Mayor Koenig Board of Trustees Through: Town Administrator Machalek From: Brian Berg, Parks Supervisor Greg Muhonen, Public Works Director Date: July 25, 2023 RE: Kahuna Memorial Land Request Purpose of Study Session Item: The Kahuna Memorial Project team requested an audience with the Town Board to present their vision of an educational memorial for a bull elk known as Kahuna, and to gauge interest in the development of the memorial on Town-owned land. Town Board Direction Requested: Public Works staff seek guidance regarding the Town Board interest in providing public land for the proposed Kahuna Memorial Project that could be offered to the Town in a future Art in Public Places (AIPP) application. Present Situation: The Town-owned site (situated between Virginia Drive and Elkhorn Avenue) requested for the Kahuna Memorial is a green space with irrigated turf. No development of the space is currently planned. Proposal: The Kahuna Memorial Project team seeks Town support in the form a land donation and acceptance of the art as detailed in a future AIPP application. Advantages: • The placement and design of this world-class art will improve green space with native plantings and trees. • The art will feature seating for visitors and the use of wireless and mobile technology to share interactive safety messaging regarding public interactions with elk. Disadvantages: • The Town is asked to donate land for this memorial; however, the conversion of green space to hardscaping for the Kahuna Memorial Project memorial will reduce irrigation and mowing costs for this parcel. Page 3 • The proposed site is an open green space that would undergo development for the sake of this memorial; however, the development will be thoughtfully landscaped and visually pleasing at no additional cost to the Town. Finance/Resource Impact: The proposed landscaping floral enhancements will require elevated labor and cost that can be absorbed in the current Parks operations budget. Similarly, the annual maintenance of the bronze patina will produce a nominal increase in cost to the Town. These items could be discussed further during consideration of a future AIPP application. Level of Public Interest Low to medium. Attachments: 1. Kahuna Memorial History 2. Kahuna Memorial Presentation 3. Kahuna Memorial Full Design Render (video file) Page 4 Attachment 1 Page 5 Photo by Creekbed Photography Page 6 KAHUNA MEMORIAL PROJECT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US The Kahuna Memorial Project grew out of social media posts following news of Kahuna's death in Moraine Park in March 2022. The Facebook post drew interest from a diverse group of photographers, writers, artists, business people and elk lovers with ties to the Rocky Mountains and Estes Park who wanted to see Kahuna's story live on. VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE FORMATION This group began to meet in early April 2022 and put plans into motion to establish a memorial of the iconic elk. The group's aspiration quickly grew into a goal to create a public art installation to tell the story of the famous elk, and also promote safer practices for observing wildlife in town or the national park. THE STEERING COMMITTEE Members of the Steering Committee have signed an association agreement detailing their commitment to the project and to a code of ethics as they work together. John Coombs was selected to serve as the chair, Steve Neilson as the project's treasurer, Dawn Hatch is the recording secretary, and William Brown as legal counsel. Additional Steering Committee members include Patti Brown, Elizabeth Edwards Clark, Barb Prentiss-Davis, Sherrie Fuller, Andrea Hauger, Brad Manard and Dawn Wilson.Photo by Creekbed Photography Page 7 KAHUNA MEMORIAL PROJECT ALLIANCE WITH THE ART CENTER OF ESTES PARK The Kahuna Memorial Project has an alliance with the Art Center of Estes Park, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, to raise funds from local to international donors. The Art Center brings extensive experience in serving this capacity with previous independent art installation projects throughout the Estes Park community. Photo by Jeff Coldwell DONORS & SPONSORS The Kahuna Memorial Project has a multi-tiered fundraising plan that includes crowdsource donations through GoFundMe, individual contributions, matching fund donations, corporate sponsorship and grants. Donor Levels Sponsorship Levels $1+ Bugle On! $1000+ Velvet $100+ Spike $2500+ Royal $250+ Raghorn $5000+ Imperial $500+ Big Thirds $10,000+ Big Kahuna Donations can be made through the GoFundMe platform, or by check to the Kahuna Memorial Project in care of the Art Center of Estes Park. Those interested in knowing more about the Sponsorship Packages may email: KahunaMemorial@gmail.com Page 8 KAHUNA MEMORIAL PROJECT THE PLAN The Kahuna Memorial Project is a grassroots, all-volunteer effort that issued a Call for Artist Qualifications as part of the selection process to commission the sculpture artist to create a life-sized memorial. The committee members also work with stakeholders in the Town of Estes and Rocky Mountain National Park. Opportunities to improve public understanding about safe behaviors when observing wildlife is an integral part of the memorial project. THE TIMELINE The fundraising campaign kicked off May 10, 2022, and the committee looks to have the memorial commissioned, built and installed in 2024. Photo by Michele Hunt ENGAGEMENT The committee organizers will follow the precedence set by previous public art installations in the community, and work closely with the Town of Estes Park as a site is selected for the bronzed monument and memorial setting. The Kahuna Memorial Project provides multiple internet-based touch points for interested individuals to learn more, follow progress and share personal memories of watching Kahuna and other elk watching experiences. Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 kahuna_the_elk_memorial For questions, information gathering, a request for photographs or a speaker at a local group meeting, we want to hear from you by emailing us at: KahunaMemorial@gmail.com Contact Info Anyone is welcome to mail or drop off donations to: Art Center of Estes Park Attention: Kahuna Memorial 517 Big Thompson Avenue, Unit 201 Estes Park, CO 80517 SOCIAL MEDIA @KahunaMemorial Kahuna the Elk of Rocky Mountain National Park WEBSITE www.KahunaMemorial.com CONTRIBUTIONS www.GoFundMe.com/f/KahunaMemorial.com Photo by Randy Crawford Art Center of Estes Park Attn: Kahuna Memorial 517 Big Thompson Avenue, Unit 201 Estes Park, CO 80517Page 12 KAHUNA MEMORIAL OVERVIEW Exhibit a world-class bronze sculpture of Kahuna the Elk in a pocket-park setting that will draw significant attention and integrate wildlife viewing safety messaging for the general public through user-friendly technology. Attachment 1 Page 13 PROGRESS TO DATE Committee Charter established Alliance set with Art Center of Estes Park Public awareness campaign launched $41,000+ in donations to date Colorado-native and internationally renowned sculptor selected Site evaluation conducted Concept design created in collaboration with Colorado State University Our Partners HOW ESTES PARK BENEFITS Improving green space with native plantings and trees World class sculpture for Arts In Public Places Program Engaging and interactive ways to drive safety messaging incorporating wireless and mobile technology Inviting environment with added visitor seating Page 14 THE ASK Town of Estes Park to allocate site location for creation of the Kahuna Memorial Virginia Drive and Elkhorn Avenue green space www.KahunaMemorial.com Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 7/19/2023 Town-Owned Parcel on Dry Gulch Road Study Session July 25, 2023 Purpose •Gauge the Town Board’s interest in assessing the development potential of the Town-owned property located off Dry Gulch Road (between Westover Construction to the north and Northridge Meadow Condominiums to the south) •This property has been identified in the past as a possible location for the construction of housing. 1 2 Page 19 7/19/2023 Dry Gulch - Present Situation •The 2023 Housing Needs Assessment and Strategic Planindicates a great need for additional housing in the EstesValley, especially for local employees. •A recommended strategy to address the identified need is todevelop housing on properties already owned by the Town orthe Estes Park Housing Authority. •“Dry Gulch” is a Town-owned property located off DryGulch Road between Westover Construction to the northand Northridge Meadow Condominiums to the south. •Zoned E (Estate) •4.08 acres •Density Potential: ~60 units •Adjacent to Wildfire workforce housing development. History / Challenges •In 2018, the Town Board considered partnering with a developer to build up to 64workforce housing units on the property. •At the time, there were a few challenges that ultimately resulted in discontinued discussionswith the development partner •Erroneous designation of the property as “Open Space” in the Zoning Map •Comprehensive Plan’s Future Land Use Map at the time (which is not regulatory) shows the property as “Parks/Recreation/Open Space.” •Site access issues •The newest Future Land Use Map, part of the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan,has the property labelled as “Natural Resource Conservation & Parks.” 3 4 Page 20 7/19/2023 Question for the Town Board With all of this in mind, and acknowledging that the Future Land Use map is not regulatory or binding, does the Town Board have any interest in staff investing the resources necessary to evaluate the development potential of the site? 5 Page 21 Page 22 August 8, 2023 • Efficiency Works Programs Overview • FEMA Flood Map Update August 22, 2023 • Visit Estes Park Holiday Event • Planning Fee Schedule • Bed and Breakfast Code Update September 12, 2023 • Distributed Energy Resources Strategy Overview September 26, 2023 • Joint Study Session with Larimer County Board of County Commissioners - Visit Estes Park Operating Plan November 14, 2023 • Distributed Energy Resources Integration Planning Items Approved – Unscheduled: • Governing Policies Updates • Stanley Park Master Plan Implementation • Downtown Loop Updates as Necessary • Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) Items for Town Board Consideration: None Future Town Board Study Session Agenda Items July 25, 2023 Page 23 Page 24