HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2026-05-12Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, May 12, 2026
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Estes
Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Town Hall in said Town
of Estes Park on the 12th day of May, 2026.
Present: Gary Hall, Mayor
Kirby Hazelton, Mayor Pro Tem
Trustees Bill Brown
Chris Eshelman
Frank Lancaster
Jamie Mieras
Also Present: Travis Machalek, Town Administrator
Jason Damweber, Deputy Town Administrator
Dan Kramer, Town Attorney
Stephanie Bramwell, Recording Secretary
Absent: Trustee Mark Igel
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the
Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATION.
Mayor Hall read the proclamation to welcome and celebrate the opening of the Estes
Dementia Day Center.
AGENDA APPROVAL.
It was moved and seconded (Brown/Hazelton) to approve the Agenda, and it passed
unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
John Guffey/Town resident recognized Mother's Day with a reading from "The Book of
Awakening" by Mark Nepo.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS.
Board comments were heard and have been summarized: thirteen (13) businesses and
fifteen (15) individuals would graduate from the Economic Development and Workforce
Council's BASE 2.0 Program on May 20; the Estes Chamber of Commerce (ECC) would
host the first Latino Alliance Roundtable in the Estes Valley Library and the first event of
the Estes Next Gen Network; the Estes Arts District (EAD) would pursue a bid to host the
Colorado Creative Industries Summit in 2028, which would bring 300 to 400 people to
Town if awarded; EAD continued to support new murals within the Town; congratulated
the Estes Dementia Day Center on their opening; encouraged people to attend the Visit
Estes Park (VEP) Board meetings to learn about marketing and tourism in the community;
thanked the Cinco de Mayo event organizers; encouraged people to submit their input to
the Post Office on its anticipated relocation; Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) would
install a 400 megawatt battery in the Severance area and a five (5) megawatt feeder
project in each of the four (4) municipalities served by PRPA.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
Town Administrator Machalek thanked all snow removal teams for their efforts during the
latest snow storm.
2026 Town Organizational Plan.
Town Administrator Machalek shared the Town Organizational Plan with the Board. He
noted it was presented one meeting late per Policy 3.13 which requires the Plan be
presented at the first regular meeting following the certification of the results of each
biennial election.
Board of Trustees - May 12,2026 - Page 2
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Bills
2. Town Board Meeting Minutes dated April 28, 2026
3. Town Board Strategic Planning Session #2 Minutes dated April 30,2026
4. Resolution 53-26 Contract Extension with Vance Brothers, LLC for the 2026 Chip
and Crack Seal Program, $315,848.27 - Budgeted
5. Resolution 54-26 Contract Extension with Coulson Excavating Company, Inc. for the
2026 Overlay and Patching Program, $1,384,209.50 - Budgeted
6. Resolution 55 26 Contract with Kinley Built LLC for Design and Construction
SorvicoG for the Events Center Storage Building, $^12^1,350 Budgotod *ltem
removed by staff.
7. Resolution 56-26 License Agreement with U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the Mali
Road Waterline Project
8. Resolution 57-26 Setting the Public Hearing for a New Vintners Restaurant Liquor
License Application for Snowy Peaks Winery LLC dba Snowy Peaks Winery, 292
and 294 Moraine Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado
9. Resolution 58-26 Intergovernmental Agreement with Federal Transit Administration
for Fiscal Year 2026 Certifications and Assurances as Required for Federal Transit
Administration Funding for Public Transportation
10. Resolution 59-26 Termination of Memorandum of Understanding between the Town
of Estes Park and the Uplands at Fish Creek PUD Association
11. Resolution 60-26 Additional Compensation for Mail Road Water Loop Construction
Easements, $2,000 - Budgeted
It was moved and seconded (Eshelman/Brown) to approve the Consent Agenda with
the removal of Item 4: Resolution 53-26 and Item 11: Resolution 60-26,and it passed
unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS REMOVED FOR DISCUSSION:
1. ITEM 4: RESOLUTION 53-26. Trustee Eshelman asked about the proposed use of
Reclamite. Town Engineer Wittwer explained Reclamite, an asphalt rejuvenator, has
successfully been used by Larimer County and the City of Loveland. It would be
applied on MacGregor Avenue north of the roundabout and Scott Avenue. It was
moved and seconded (Eshelman/Lancaster) to approve Resolution 53-26, and it
passed unanimously.
2. ITEM 11: RESOLUTION 60-26. Trustee Eshelman questioned if there were provisions
to authorize staff to approve additional expenditures of similar amounts in the future.
Town Administrator Machalek stated there may be an opportunity for the Board to
delegate some negotiating authority to staff if further negotiations are anticipated for
an agreement. It was moved and seconded (Brown/Hazelton) to approve
Resolution 60-26, and it passed unanimously.
REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS (OUTSIDE ENTITIES):
1. 2025 BASE FUNDING REPORT: ESTES VALLEY CRISIS ADVOCATES. Program
Director Fanucchi reviewed a report outlining the mission and programs provided by
the organization. She noted the program served 479 clients, provided 986 total shelter
nights, had 1,522 client contacts, and was supported by 3,973 volunteer hours by the
board members and volunteer advocates in 2025. Reductions in federal and state
Board of Trustees - May 12,2026 - Page 3
funding for victims' services resulted in reduction of staff hours by 520 hours/year in
both 2025 and 2026. At least one crisis advocate remained available 24/7.
ACTION ITEMS- NEW BUSINESS:
1. ORDINANCE 08-26 AMENDING CHAPTER 3.08 OF THE ESTES PARK
MUNICIPAL CODE TO EXEMPT CERTAIN HYGIENE PRODUCTS FROM TOWN
SALES TAX. Mayor Hall opened the public hearing. Director Zimmerman presented
the recommendation to adopt Exemption S (diapers and incontinence products) and
Exemption T (period products) from the State of Colorado's sales tax exemption
options for state-collected local jurisdictions. Staff estimated this would result in a
$15,000 to $20,000 revenue loss to the Town's general fund. Staff recommended
adopting these exemptions to support the Town's commitment to a family-friendly
community. Mayor Hall closed the public hearing. It was moved and seconded
(Brown/Mieras) to approve Ordinance 08-26, and it passed unanimously.
2. ORDINANCE 09-26 CONSENTING TO THE INCLUSION OF CERTAIN
PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE TOWN OF ESTES PARK INTO THE
NORTHERN COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY'S MUNICIPAL
SUBDISTRICT. Mayor Hall opened the public hearing. Director Bergsten and Legal
Counsel White presented the benefit of seeking inclusion in the Northern Colorado
Water Conservancy's Municipal Subdjstrictfor properties within the Town not included
in the subdistrict or district. Properties are legally required to be in either the subdistrict
or district to receive water from the Town.
Board discussion ensued and has been summarized: Discussed the Northern
Colorado Water Conservancy's responsibility of managing water from the Western
Slope; discussed the cost to the Town of the inclusion of properties in the subdistrict
or district, staff noted the final cost was yet to be determined but would be negotiated
with the Conservancy; and asked if any properties currently not in the district or
subdistrict were excluded from inclusion in the proposed ordinances, staff stated the
proposed ordinances account for all currently unaccounted for properties, both
developed and undeveloped. It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Brown) to
continue Ordinance 09-26 to May 26,2026,and it passed unanimously.
3. ORDINANCE 10-26 CONSENTING TO THE INCLUSION OF CERTAIN
PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE TOWN OF ESTES PARK INTO THE
NORTHERN COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY'S DISTRICT. Mayor Hall
opened the public hearing. Director Bergsten and Legal Counsel White presented the
benefit of seeking inclusion in the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy's District for
properties within the Town not included in the subdistrict or district. Properties are
legally required to be in either the subdistrict or district to receive water from the Town.
It was moved and seconded (Eshelman/Mieras) to continue Ordinance 10-26 to
May 26, 2026, and it passed unanimously.
REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1. 2025 IMPACT REPORT FOR 6E WORKFORCE HOUSING AND CHILDCARE
LODGING TAX FUNDS. Manager Speedlin reviewed revenue and programs in the
2025 Impact report. Program revenue increased by 6% from 2024 to 2025. The tuition
assistance program expanded in August 2025 to allow families earning 100% of the
Miedian Area Income to qualify for tuition assistance. Since 2023, the number of
children in childcare who received tuition assistance increased from 21% to 55%. The
Town would participate in a Childcare Workforce Learning Lab through the University
of Denver to learn from other community's programs. $135,000 was spent to support
out-of-school programming. One recipient of funding was the YMCA of the Rockies'
Inclusion Program which provided special education care for children in the summer.
The loan of $400,000 from the General Fund for the purchase of Mountaintop
Childcare in 2024 was repaid in 2025. Over 100 workforce housing units were added
in the Town at the end of 2024 into 2025. 134 deed-restricted workforce housing units
were in pre-development at the time of the presentation. The Workforce Rental
Assistance pilot program initiated in 2024 was established as a continuous program
in 2025 and provided assistance to 32 households. Ongoing challenges include
Board of Trustees - May 12,2026 - Page 4
childcare providers pricing below the true cost of care. Board comments were heard
and have been summarized: asked for additional information about the number of
people served through these programs; asked for metrics of goals met; and discussed
the value of childcare and housing to retain employees in the Estes Valley.
2. DRAFT CHILDCARE FACILITY MASTER PLAN AND RECOMMENDED BEST
PRACTICES. Manager Speedlin and consultants Alethea Gomez/Executives
Partnering to Invest in Children and Joe Zanone/Zanone Project Management
presented a draft of the Estes Valley Childcare Facility Master Plan. The development
of the plan was funded through a grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.
The plan would address childcare capacity, facility needs and land use, funding,
partnerships, and operations. Stakeholders engaged in the plan development process
included childcare providers, employers, and families. Recommendations identified in
the draft plan included to adopt childcare-friendly land use and zoning and to establish
a public-private partnership strategy. Three options to expand facility capacity were
identified: 1. To develop new facilities on Town-owned properties, 2. To remodel or
expand existing structures on Town-owned properties, or 3. To redevelop private
property through a private-public partnership. The final plan would be presented in
June for the Board's consideration. Board comments were heard and summarized:
expressed interest in the site feasibility analysis template and the public-private
partnerships and discussed family-home childcare providers as one type of childcare
facility.
REQUEST TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION:
It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Lancaster) to enter executive session for
discussion of specialized details of security arrangements or investigations
Section 24-6-402(4)(d), C.R.S., - Regarding Board Room Security, and it passed
unanimously.
Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m. to enter executive session.
The Board concluded the executive session at 10:24 p.m.
Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 10:24 p.m.
Gary HaH^Mayor
Stephanie Bramwell, Recording Secretary