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Home My WebLink AboutPACKET Town Board Study Session 2023-10-10October 10, 2023 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Board Room 5:15 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 5:30 p.m. Power Lines and Fire Mitigation. (Town Administrator Machalek & Director Bergsten) 5:50 p.m. Fish Hatchery Housing Discussion. (Town Board & Estes Park Housing Authority Board) 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 5:00 p.m. AGENDA TOWN BOARD STUDY SESSION Page 1 Page 2 10/11/2023 1 Wildfire Mitigation 1% Sales Tax Renewal Before Tree Cable After Tree Cable Wildfire Mitigation 1,084 Homes Destroyed, Marshall Fire 9News, Angela Case, January 7, 2022 Xcel Energy, the Marshall fire lawsuits could seriously hurt its finances, Colorado NPR, By Joe Wertz and Sam Brasch ꞏ Jul. 28, 2023 1 2 Presentation updated by staff on 2023-10-10. 10/11/2023 2 Wildfire Mitigation PG&E Files For Bankruptcy In Wake Of Fire Lawsuits January 29, 2019, Eric Westervelt, Matthew S. Schwartz, NPR Photo by: Brittany Peterson/AP Wildfire Mitigation 97 People Died & Over 2,000 Buildings Destroyed, Maui Wildfire Associated Press News, BY REBECCA BOONE, September 29, 2023 3 4 10/11/2023 3 Today’s Presentation •Operations to reduce risks •Red Flag warnings •Vegetation Management •Capital Improvements –Infrastructure Hardening •Tree Cable & Why •TripSavers®/ IntelliRupter® •Today’s Financially Constrained Plan, •Maximize risk reduction by prioritizing projects •Expediting Plan and Opportunities with Financial Support, i.e. the 1% Renewal Wildfire Mitigation •Situational awareness: Real‐Time map feed from NOAA •We prioritized our most venerable lines to expeditiously adjust Trip Savers and Oil Circuit Reclosers (OCRs) to “one‐shot” in order to reduce the risk and maximize safety of the system. •The crews place up to 103 locations on “one‐shot” which takes a full day* Red Flag Operations Trip Saver “one‐shot” recloser capable * Financial support for technologies to speed up the process with remote activated “one‐ shot” 5 6 10/11/2023 4 Vegetation Management •We contract with a tree service to keep up with vegetation management around high voltage lines. •Mapping helps prioritize and track the work We can only control our easement and even that is challenging Why Tree Cable & Sometimes Underground •With over two decades of use, we have proven tree cable as the most cost‐effective* and expeditious wildfire mitigation solution. •Underground projects are reserved for the right conditions (example Homer Rouse Trail, Bear Lake Road, Devils Gulch Rd) * Construction durations can be 8 to 10 times longer for underground projects. Our in‐house underground costs are three times higher than overhead (typically new developments in friendly terrain). Hiring a contractor for underground construction can costs up to tens times higher than overhead construction. 7 8 10/11/2023 5 Tree Cable In Action •Pictured right is a tree laying on our Allenspark three‐phase main line. The fallen tree did NOT cause an outage. Financially Constrained Planning •We Review and Prioritize All Projects to Maximize Limited Funds •Collaboration with EVFPD using the Estes Valley Community Wildfire Protection Plan, Wildland Urban Interface, and Plan Unit Hazard Assessment maps Risk Analysis Map Interface & Intermix WUI 9 10 10/11/2023 6 Financially Constrained Planning Data from collaboration is mapped to help us generate colorized prioritized mapping of all overhead lines. Wildfire Mitigation Grant, 2023 •We recently received a $785,937 federal grant to replace the remaining Allenspark area with tree cable. 11 12 10/11/2023 7 TripSavers® & IntelliRupters® •From 2016 to today crews have installed 117 TripSavers® to replace expulsion fuses •These units contain the faults internally which reduce wildfire risks that fuses present •We’ve installed three IntelliRupters® Other Technologies •What could we do •SCADA enabled reclosers (we have three and could use more) •Authorization to remove danger trees outside the utility right‐of‐way (discussed with EVFPD) •Remote microgrids for local resiliency (potential synergies with PRPA, very expensive) •Items that need to mature, we are monitoring them •The jury is still out on High‐Impedance Fault detection (SEL ‐651R) •"Ground‐Level Distribution Systems" (GLDS) •Cameras (implementation feasibility not resolved) Some Technical Resources: NREL paper Colorado Wildfire Summit California PUC papers High‐Impedance Fault Detection with AI 13 14 10/11/2023 8 Many Beneficial Wildfire Programs •We recognize these funds have to stretch across many different programs; One Lahaina Home Standing Community Wildfire Protection Plan Summary •Any level of support will be used to expedite construction on the highest risk areas •P&C’s Tabor limit is ~$1.8 Million per year Pause For Questions Kruger Rock fire sparked by power line kills one Bill Gabbert, November 16, 2021, Wildfire Today Brett Rios Photography, FaceBook , https://www.facebook.com/people/Brett-Rios-Photography/100063469754008/ 15 16 10/11/2023 9 Tree Cable In Action •Since 2013 P&C has only installed tree cable on any overhead construction on our system •In 2014‐2015 crews reconductor the Little Valley area. •In 2016‐2017 crews buried a main portion of the Allenspark three phase from Cheley Camp to the Seven Keys. Crews reconductor the main line three phase along Fall River Road. Tree Cable In Action •In 2018 crews reconductor single phase taps off the Fish Creek corridor •2019 Crews reconductored the Goblin Castle/Longs Peak area •In 2020 crews reconductor lines in the Carriage Hills subdivision •In 2021 crews reconductored the lines in the Lower/Middle Broadview area 17 18 10/11/2023 10 Tree Cable In Action • 2022-2023 Crews have been reconductoring the Beaver Point circuit and added the Twin Sisters circuit from Mary's Lake Sub to Lower Broad • 2024-2027 Allenspark reconductoring Current Wildfire CIP plan 2023: Beaver Point tree cable reconductor on the Beaver Point and Twin Sisters circuits. Stinger replacement on older trip savers, OCR and capacitor banks in the field with StingRay wire. Initiate work for our FEMA grant for $786,000 with a 25% match from P&C for a total of $1,060,000 to reconductor all of the remaining bare conductors in Allenspark from the end of the service territory to Fish Creek Road and Highway 7. 19 20 10/11/2023 11 Future CIP Plan 2024‐2027: FEMA grant to reconductor all of the Allenspark bare conductors. 2027‐2031: Continued work on reconductoring bare lines in our high risk fire areas as well as our high outage areas Continue to utilize the data we collect from smart grid on outages to reconductor with tree cable Continue to work through our Wild Fire high risk areas to reconductor Overhead vs. Underground P&C in house construction costs •Single phase cost comparison: Overhead $9 per foot Underground $25 per foot •Three phase cost comparison: Overhead $15 per foot Underground $37 per foot Total bare conductors on our system 851,147 feet. Around 350,000 feet is three phase bare conductors and 501,147 is single phase conductors These costs are actuals from previous years. We did not add any inflation factors so future costs will be higher. 21 22 10/11/2023 12 Future CIP plan •Continue eliminating our highest risk areas •West side of the Estes valley (prevailing winds) is part of the highest risk for wildfires 23 Wildfire Mitigation 1% Sales Tax Renewal Before Tree Cable After Tree Cable Wildfire Mitigation 1,084 Homes Destroyed, Marshall Fire 9News, Angela Case, January 7, 2022 Xcel Energy, the Marshall fire lawsuits could seriously hurt its finances, Colorado NPR, By Joe Wertz and Sam Brasch ꞏ Jul. 28, 2023 1 2 Page 3 Wildfire Mitigation PG&E Files For Bankruptcy In Wake Of Fire Lawsuits January 29, 2019, Eric Westervelt, Matthew S. Schwartz, NPR Photo by: Brittany Peterson/AP Wildfire Mitigation 97 People Died & Over 2,000 Buildings Destroyed, Maui Wildfire Associated Press News, BY REBECCA BOONE, September 29, 2023 3 4 Page 4 Today’s Presentation •Operations to reduce risks •Red Flag warnings •Vegetation Management •Capital Improvements –Infrastructure Hardening •Tree Cable & Why •TripSavers®/ IntelliRupter® •Today’s Financially Constrained Plan, •Maximize risk reduction by prioritizing projects •Expediting Plan and Opportunities with Financial Support, i.e. the 1% Renewal Wildfire Mitigation •Situational awareness: Real‐Time map feed from NOAA •We prioritized our most venerable lines to expeditiously adjust Trip Savers and Oil Circuit Reclosers (OCRs) to “one‐shot” in order to reduce the risk and maximize safety of the system. •The crews place up to 103 locations on “one‐shot” which takes a full day* Red Flag Operations Trip Saver “one‐shot” recloser capable * Financial support for technologies to speed up the process with remote activated “one‐ shot” 5 6 Page 5 Vegetation Management •We contract with a tree service to keep up with vegetation management around high voltage lines. •Mapping helps prioritize and track the work We can only control our easement and even that is challenging Why Tree Cable & Sometimes Underground •With over two decades of use, we have proven tree cable as the most cost‐effective* and expeditious wildfire mitigation solution. •Underground projects are reserved for the right conditions (example Homer Rouse Trail, Bear Lake Road, Devils Gulch Rd) * Construction durations can be 8 to 10 times longer for underground projects. Our in‐house underground costs are three times higher than overhead (typically new developments in friendly terrain). Hiring a contractor for underground construction can costs up to tens times higher than overhead construction. 7 8 Page 6 Tree Cable In Action •Pictured right is a tree laying on our Allenspark three‐phase main line. The fallen tree did NOT cause an outage. Financially Constrained Planning •We Review and Prioritize All Projects to Maximize Limited Funds •Collaboration with EVFPD using the Estes Valley Community Wildfire Protection Plan, Wildland Urban Interface, and Plan Unit Hazard Assessment maps Risk Analysis Map Interface & Intermix WUI 9 10 Page 7 Financially Constrained Planning Data from collaboration is mapped to help us generate colorized prioritized mapping of all overhead lines. Many Beneficial Wildfire Programs •We recognize these funds have to stretch across many different programs; Community Wildfire Protection Plan Summary •Any level of support will be used to expedite construction on the highest risk areas •P&C’s Tabor limit is ~$1.8 Million per year 11 12 Page 8 Wildfire Mitigation Grant, 2023 •We recently received a $785,937 federal grant to replace the remaining Allenspark area with tree cable. TripSavers® & IntelliRupters® •From 2016 to today crews have installed 117 TripSavers® to replace expulsion fuses •These units contain the faults internally which reduce wildfire risks that fuses present •We’ve installed three IntelliRupters® 13 14 Page 9 Pause For Questions Kruger Rock fire sparked by power line kills one Bill Gabbert, November 16, 2021, Wildfire Today Brett Rios Photography, FaceBook , https://www.facebook.com/people/Brett-Rios-Photography/100063469754008/ Tree Cable In Action •Since 2013 P&C has only installed tree cable on any overhead construction on our system •In 2014‐2015 crews reconductor the Little Valley area. •In 2016‐2017 crews buried a main portion of the Allenspark three phase from Cheley Camp to the Seven Keys. Crews reconductor the main line three phase along Fall River Road. 15 16 Page 10 Tree Cable In Action •In 2018 crews reconductor single phase taps off the Fish Creek corridor •2019 Crews reconductored the Goblin Castle/Longs Peak area •In 2020 crews reconductor lines in the Carriage Hills subdivision •In 2021 crews reconductored the lines in the Lower/Middle Broadview area Tree Cable In Action • 2022-2023 Crews have been reconductoring the Beaver Point circuit and added the Twin Sisters circuit from Mary's Lake Sub to Lower Broad • 2024-2027 Allenspark reconductoring 17 18 Page 11 Current Wildfire CIP plan 2023: Beaver Point tree cable reconductor on the Beaver Point and Twin Sisters circuits. Stinger replacement on older trip savers, OCR and capacitor banks in the field with StingRay wire. Initiate work for our FEMA grant for $786,000 with a 25% match from P&C for a total of $1,060,000 to reconductor all of the remaining bare conductors in Allenspark from the end of the service territory to Fish Creek Road and Highway 7. Future CIP Plan 2024‐2027: FEMA grant to reconductor all of the Allenspark bare conductors. 2027‐2031: Continued work on reconductoring bare lines in our high risk fire areas as well as our high outage areas Continue to utilize the data we collect from smart grid on outages to reconductor with tree cable Continue to work through our Wild Fire high risk areas to reconductor 19 20 Page 12 Overhead vs. Underground P&C in house construction costs •Single phase cost comparison: Overhead $9 per foot Underground $25 per foot •Three phase cost comparison: Overhead $15 per foot Underground $37 per foot Total bare conductors on our system 851,147 feet. Around 350,000 feet is three phase bare conductors and 501,147 is single phase conductors These costs are actuals from previous years. We did not add any inflation factors so future costs will be higher. Future CIP plan •Continue eliminating our highest risk areas •West side of the Estes valley (prevailing winds) is part of the highest risk for wildfires 21 22 Page 13 Page 14 ADMINISTRATION Report To: Honorable Mayor Koenig Board of Trustees Through: Town Administrator Machalek From: Carlie Bangs, Housing & Childcare Manager Date: October 10, 2023 RE: Fish Hatchery Joint Study Session with Estes Park Housing Authority Purpose of Study Session Item: A joint study session between the Town Board and the Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA) to discuss the Fish Hatchery housing development. Town Board Direction Requested: That the Town Board and EPHA Board discuss next steps regarding the proposed housing development at the Fish Hatchery property and clarify the Estes Park Housing Authority’s role in the development process. Present Situation: The Town of Estes Park has owned the property located at the intersection of Fall River Road and Fish Hatchery Road called “Fish Hatchery” since 1945. The west end of the property borders Rocky Mountain National Park and the Aspenglen Campground. This 72-acre parcel of land has multiple structures including the hydro plant museum, picnic shelter and restrooms, several storage buildings, and houses. These houses are currently used for transitional and long-term housing opportunities for Town employees. This Town-owned parcel of property has been considered for several uses by the Town Board over the years, including open space, public park, non-lodging commercial development, workforce housing, as well as selling or trading the property for conservation. In 2016 after seeing recommendations from the housing needs assessment, Fish Hatchery was identified and pursued by the Town Board as a workforce housing development and an RFP was issued for the development of that property. After two rounds of RFP’s (one in 20217 and the second in 2021) and working with developers, the property remains undeveloped due to a multitude of reasons and setbacks. More recently, the property has been rezoned from A-1 Accommodations to RM Multi- Family Residential by Ordinance 17-22 on October 25, 2022. As currently envisioned, the development of this property will create approximately 190 new workforce housing units in the Estes Valley. In November 2022, Larimer County Board of County Commissioners resolved to support the Town of Estes Park by committing $2,000,000 of State and Local Fiscal Page 15 Recovery Funds received as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA funds) to assist with construction of the Fish Hatchery Housing Development. Larimer County requires that the Town of Estes Park obligate the ARPA funds by December 31, 2023, or they will be reverted back to the County so they can identify and allocate the reverted funds toward another ARPA appropriate project. Also in November 2022, the Estes Valley community voted to increase lodging tax to support housing and childcare for the workforce by passing the 6E Ballot Initiative. The 2023 Funding Plan was approved by the Town and County in February 2023 and provides an outline of how the funds would be used in that year. The plan allocated 88% of the revenues received to workforce housing solutions and identified the Estes Park Housing Authority as the organization to oversee the administration and management of these funds. The Estes Park Housing Authority agreed to add staff to administer the various programs outlined in the 2023 Funding Plan, such as property acquisition and predevelopment work for properties already owned, and programs such as cash buyer programs, rental assistance, and deed restriction purchase program. In July 2023, this agreement was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding agreed upon by the Town of Estes Park and Estes Park Housing Authority. As the Town of Estes Park approaches the deadline to obligate $2,000,000 in ARPA funds for the Fish Hatchery Housing Development, Town and EPHA staff are asking the Boards to provide directions on how to proceed. Proposal: That the Town Board and EPHA Board discuss next steps regarding the proposed housing development at the Fish Hatchery property and clarify the Estes Park Housing Authority’s role in the development process. Advantages: •The development of Fish Hatchery may provide up to 190 workforce and attainable housing units to the Estes Valley •The committed ARPA funds offer $2,000,000 of expenses for pre-development costs of the estimated $55 million dollar Fish Hatchery Housing Development project. Disadvantages: •If the $2,000,000 ARPA funds are not obligated by December 31, 2023, the funds are reverted back to Larimer County Finance/Resource Impact: To be determined. Level of Public Interest High Attachments: 1.Map of Property Page 16 ATTACHMENT 1 Page 17 Page 18 October 24, 2023 •Addressing Substandard Rental Housing •Southwest Energy Efficiency Project •Codifying Town Board Compensation Changes •Community Wildfire Defense Grant November 14, 2023 •179 Stanley Circle Check In and Next Steps •Distributed Energy Resources Integration Planning December 12, 2023 •Updated ADA Transition Plan Items Approved – Unscheduled: •Growing Water Smart Overview •Noise Ordinance •National Flood Insurance Program Overview •Governing Policies Updates •Stanley Park Master Plan Implementation •Downtown Loop Updates as Necessary Items for Town Board Consideration: •None Future Town Board Study Session Agenda Items October 10, 2023 Page 19 Page 20