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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Town Board 2026-06-09Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, June 9, 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 9th day of June, 2026. Present: Gary Hall, Mayor Kirby Hazelton, Mayor Pro Tem Trustees Bill Brown Mark Eshelman Mark Igel Frank Lancaster Jamie Mieras Also Present: Travis Machalek, Town Administrator Jason Damweber, Deputy Town Administrator Dan Kramer, Town Attorney Sarah Stoddard Cameron, Recording Secretary Absent: None Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the Pledge of Allegiance. AGENDA APPROVAL. It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Eshelman) to approve the Agenda, and it passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS. Dan Scace/American Legion Post 119 Commander reflected on American character and values, and announced the Legion would host presentations on Sundays and Mondays between Memorial Day and Veterans Day to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America and 150th anniversary of the State of Colorado with topics included but not limited to Americanism, citizenship, and US history. Terry Rustin/Town Resident expressed concern regarding the fiscal responsibility of the Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA) and cautioned that program funding would fluctuate and potentially decrease significantly, given current economic and political uncertainty. TRUSTEE COMMENTS. Board comments were heard and have been summarized: Commended the Estes Park Board of Realtors for distributing 560 "BeetleBlock" pheromone packets intended to deter pests from infesting pine trees; encouraged the public to attend the Friends of Folk Festival; expressed gratitude for the opportunity to tour Platte River Power Authority's (PRPA) Rawhide Powerplant and noted members of the public could schedule a tour for groups of five (5) or more; attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the first 100 mw storage battery cell to supply power to the PRPA Black Hollow Sun (BHS) solar farm; noted PRPA plans to decommission the Rawhide coal-fired unit by 2030; noted Colorado Area Ski Town (CAST) Association opposed Proposed Ballot Initiative 175; the Estes Chamber of Commerce launched both the Latino Alliance and Estes Next Network (ENGN) in efforts to strengthen community connections and foster civic engagement; and Mayor Hall advocated for DC Health as worthy replacement for the Estes Park Salud Foundation should it fail financially. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT. Town Administrator Machalek expressed gratitude for PRPA and enouraged the public to tour Rawhide Power Plant. He then recognized the Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority (LETA), the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDoT), the PRPA, Trailblazer Broadband, the City of Longmont and their boradband provider NextLight Board of Trustees - June 9,2026 - Page 2 Internet for their work to establish a redundant 911 path from the Estes Valley via Highway 36. Consent Agenda: 1. Expenditure Approval List - Bills 2. Town Board Meeting and Study Session Minutes dated May 26,2026 3. Estes Park Board of Adjustment Minutes dated April 7, 2026 (acknowledgment only) 4. Resolution 66-26 Setting the Public Hearing for a New Hotel and Restaurant Liquor License Application for Mountain Berry Bakery, LLC dba Kissing Moose Cafe and Saloon, 1701 North Lake Street, Estes Park, Colorado 5. Resolution 67-26 Setting the Public Hearing for a New Hotel and Restaurant Liquor License Application for Crags Lodge FBS, LLC dba Historic Crags Lodge, 300 Riverside Drive, Estes Park, Colorado 6. Resolution 68-26 Contract with Garland/DBS, Inc., for the Town Hall Building Roof Replacement, $202,133, Budgeted 7. Resolution 69-26 Termination of Executed Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and Approval of Amended and Restated IGA with Colorado Department of Transportation for MMOF, TAP, and CMAQ Grants for Fall River Trail Final Segment, $4,720,995, Budgeted 8. Resolution 70-26 Authorization to Execute Pre-Award Grant Documents - Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) Award through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a New Public Safety Facility 9. Revised Town Board Policy 101 - Board Assignments It was moved and seconded (Brown/lgel) to approve Consent Agenda Items 1-5 and 7-9, and it passed unanimously. CONSENT ITEM REMOVED FOR DISCUSSION: 1. Item 6: Resolution 68-26 Contract with Garland/DBS, Inc., for the Town Hall Building Roof Replacement, $202,133, Budgeted. Board discussion ensued and has been summarized: Questioned the validity of major investment given the limited lifespan and age of the Town Hall building; reviewed the cooperative purchasing program bid selection process and project material aquistion method; and inquired how parking would be affected given the library renovations occurring simultaneously. It was then moved and seconded (Brown/Eshelman) to approve Consent Agenda Item 6,and it passed unanimously. REPORT AND DISCUSSION ITEMS (OUTSIDE ENTITIES): 1. DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ANNUAL REPORT. District Attorney McLaughlin provided an annual report summarizing the mission, vision, current goals and initiatives, and 2025 statistics of the 8th Judicial District Office of the District Attorney. Primary focuses of the 2025 year included the establishment of Veterans Court; continued improvement of adult and juvenile diversion programs; improvements to case management for at risk or repeat domestic violence offenders; protecting convictions through appellate courts; improvement of offender and victim connection to community resources; and increased data collection and interpretation. Victim compensation totaled just over $700,000 and was paid out to roughly 5,500 individuals. Estes Park case filings by type were presented and were reported to be fairly proportional to the County. Legislative initiatives included support for SB26-011, which required websites and social media applications to respond to search warrants in a timely manner, and SB26-132, requiring law enforcement officers to perform Board of Trustees - June 9,2026 - Page 3 breath tests in the instance of a motor vehicle collision resulting in serious bodily injury or death. The Board questioned the effectiveness and severity of penalties implemented in SB26-011. 2. 2025 BASE FUNDING REPORT: CROSSROADS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY. Executive Director Schaffer thanked the Board for continued support of $40,000 in base funding. During 2025, $1.7 million was invested into the community through emergency lodging, rental and food assistance programs, meal delivery, client advocacy and counseling, and other essential assistance services. A reported 110 volunteers and seven (7) full-time employees assisted the Ministry to provide services. Five (5) contracted counselors provided 600 free mental health, financial, and life coaching sessions for community members aged five (5) through 87. The Board expressed gratitude for Executive Director Schaffer's dedication and the sen/ices provided to the community. 3. ESTES VALLEY LIBRARY RENOVATION PRESENTATION. Community Relations Specialist Limmiatis reported that on June 1, 2026, in response to a community needs assessment, renovations began on the Estes Valley Library to increase safety, accessibility, and user experience. Updates would include the addition of a centrally located staircase, a teen room, a staff meeting room, an additional water fountain, and a public kitchenette. Additionally, the children's room, Hondius Community Room, and non-fiction section would be relocated and renovated. The library would remain open throughout the renovation processes, although patrons were encouraged to utilize remote and virtual services during the disruption with project completion anticipated spring 2027. Board discussion then ensued and has been summarized: Complimented the projects design and efforts to better adapt to patron needs; and commended the library for exercising impressive financial responsibility in preparation for the restoration. 4. ESTES PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY (EPHA) EXPENDITURE OF 6E FUNDS TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WORKFORCE HOUSING. Executive Director Moulton presented a proposed direct funding agreement between EPHA and Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley for workforce housing projects designed to create leverage for Habitat for Humanity housing projects as well as preserve properties for low-income and workforce households through deed restrictions. Buyers would be limited to qualified workforce households of which one person must be employed within the Park R-3 School District for a minimum average of 30 hours per week. Additionally, the maximum sales price would be capped at 25% of the value appreciated of the property plus fees and reserved for households making 80% average monthly income (AMI) or less. Board discussion ensued and has been summarized: expressed approval for the limited appreciation and workforce requirement restrictions; clarified deed restrictions would be protected if tied to land rather than the home; questioned the Town's oversight terms in the Town's memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the EPHA; clarified EPHA must present such agreements, and can proceed so long as the Town Board does not take action; questioned the scale of the agreement; and Trustee Igel raised concern for the process, and expressed desire for greater oversight. LIQUOR ITEMS: 1. RESOLUTION 71-26 NEW HOTEL AND RESTAURANT LIQUOR LICENSE FILED BY EASTERN SLOPE LLC DBA EASTERN SLOPE, 200 MORAINE AVENUE, ESTES PARK, CO 80517. Mayor Hall opened the public hearing. Town Clerk Williamson presented Resolution 71-26 for a new Hotel and Restaurant Liquor License under concurrent review and noted that all paperwork and fees had been submitted. The applicants had received responsible vendor training prior to application, as they own several other liquor licensed businesses in town. The property zoned Commercial Downtown (CD) was previously licensed as "Molly B's." The applicants were present and provided a brief description of their vision, menu, and service style. Mayor Hall closed the public hearing. It was then moved and seconded (Hazelton/Eshelman) to approve Resolution 71-26, and it passed unanimously. Board of Trustees - June 9,2026 - Page 4 ACTION ITEMS: 1. RESOLUTION 72-26 AGREEMENT FOR FACILITY USE - ESTES VALLEY LIBRARY. Management Analyst Simpson reviewed a request from the Estes Valley Library to use the Town Hall Board Room and equipment for occasional programming, and explained the facility use agreement would allow the library use of the room once per month, for a fee of up to $50 per meeting, on a schedule acceptable to the Town. Additional usage could be requested and approved by the Town Administrator. Eric White/Adult Patron Experience Librarian explained that a space larger than the Library's Hondius Room was necessary for author talks and other community events; argued use of the Board Room would help familiarize the community with Town Hall; and clarified that official Town operations would take priority over Library use. Board discussion ensued and has been summarized: Questioned what types of programming would occur, how fees would be determined and applied, which organizations currently have agreements for Board Room use, and the need for program content guardrails; expressed concern regarding the sensitivity of the IT equipment, and potential for politically charged discussions; expressed gratitude for the library's willingness to host Town events and meetings; and concluded that a review of Board Room library programming would be conducted upon contract renewal. It was moved and seconded (Hazelton/lgel) to approve Resolution 72-26, and it passed with Trustee Brown voting "No." 2. RESOLUTION 73-26 CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH AXON ENTERPRISE, INC., FOR BODY WORN CAMERAS, DIGITAL EVIDENCE SERVICES, AND TASER PROGRAM. Commander Polucha explained that the Police Department's five (5) year agreement with Axon, used for evidence management and officer safety, expires September 2026, and then presented a proposed 60-month contract renewal and modernization agreement totaling $380,341.26. It was explained that Axon would provide a platform for 26 users, consisting of 24 officers and two (2) administrative users. Twenty-four (24) ten-probe TASER 10 lasers would be issued to officers. Axon Body 4 cameras would also be issued to provide upgraded optics, precision audio, livestream services, integrated metadata with calls and service, and automated upload and encryption services. Implementation would reportedly reduce administrative labor, increase transparency and officer safety, and allow incident commanders to observe real time footage and improve and adapt response strategy. The proposed agreement also included add-ons forAxon Air/DroneSense, which would provide two (2) Town-owned drones with livestream capabilities, Community Link, a platform for community members to upload evidence onto the Axon platform, and Axon Performance, software for supervisors with structured scorecards to evaluate officers. Board discussion ensued and has been summarized: Questioned the rate at which tasers cause death or injury; how effective tasers are on wildlife; whether the increased expense had been budgeted; if equipment would be returned on upon contract expiration; the difficulty of integrating drone software with DroneSense; and how and where livestream feeds might be shared; confirmed software and basic hardware updates are included in price package; expressed disapproval for an events clause promising events tickets and free travel; and commended the Police Department for drone response times. It was then moved and seconded (Hazelton/Mieras) to approve Resolution 73-26, and it passed unanimously. It was moved and seconded (Brown/Hazelton) to extend the meeting past 10:00 p.m., and it passed unanimously. 3. 2027 PROVISIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN. Town Administrator Machalek explained that the Provisional Strategic Plan, intended to better inform and guide the Town Administrator's proposed budget as well as track the changes to the Strategic Plan that come from the budgeting process to ensure no unfunded objectives are approved, was brought back to the Board for final approval, noting the prior draft had missed a few objectives. He drew attention to Robust Economy objective 5B, which remained unchanged after an unclear sense of direction was given by the Board. It was then Board of Trustees - June 9,2026 - Page 5 moved and seconded (Igel/Eshelman) to approve the 2027 Provisional Strategic Plan, and it passed unanimously. Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 9:58 p.m. Gary Hall.'M^yor Cameron, Recording Secretary