HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2026-08-11Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, August 11, 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 11th day of August, 2026.
Present: Gary Hall, Mayor
Kirby Hazelton, Mayor Pro Tem
Trustees Bill Brown
Chris Eshelman
Mark Igel
Frank Lancaster
Jamie Mieras
Also Present: Travis Machalek, Town Administrator
Jason Damweber, Deputy Town Administrator
Greg White, Special Counsel
Bunny Victoria Beers, Deputy Town Clerk
Absent: Dan Kramer, Town Attorney
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Agenda Approval.
It was moved and seconded (Eshelman/lgel) to approve the Agenda, and it passed
unanimously.
Public Comments.
John Guffy/Town resident stated concerns for the lack of expression from the community
at Town Board meetings. He encouraged more opportunities for expression outside of
the time limitation during Town Board meeting public comment. He stated voting was not
the only path to democracy and voiced support for a representative from the community
(non-staff) to represent the voice of the people.
Trustee Comments.
Board comments were heard and have been summarized: Discussion at the Economic
Development and Workforce Council (EDWC) meeting comprised of future year plans,
business retention, attraction, workforce development, education, sustainability,
advocacy, the extent to which the EDWC advocates as opposed to the Estes Chamber
of Commerce and they added a subject area to their work related to transportation; Visit
Estes Park would hold their regular August meeting; Sister Cities would meet September
11; the League of Women Voters and the Community Recycling Committee were
commended on a successful Estes Recycles Day; event status update for the First
Peoples Festival took place and the public were encouraged to attend this culturally rich
exchange which has grown to include a film festival in 2027; the Police Department held
their National Night Out; Larimer County Behavioral Health held their annual vote on
disbursing funds across the county for various services; and Mayor Hall spoke regarding
public concern for speeding on Highway 7, opportunities to enforce speed limits and the
potential dangers with the commencement of the school year.
Town Administrator Report.
On July 31, 2026 numerous staff attended the 1976 Big Thompson Flood 50th Anniversary
commemoration. Estes Park Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors and
included Sergeants Monty Alien and Kirk Jellesma, Master Police Officer Jerry Twigg,
and Officer Orlando Trevino. The Town recognized a moment of silence to honor the
sen/ice and sacrifice of Officer Michael Owen Conley who responded to the flood event
off duty, saved upwards of 60 to 100 lives and tragically passed away.
Board of Trustees - August 11, 2026 - Page 2
Consent Agenda:
1. Expenditure Approval Lists - Bills
2. Town Board Meeting and Study Session Minutes dated July 28,2026
3. Resolution 55-26 Contract with Kinley Built for the Design and Construction of a New
Storage Building at the Events Center Complex, $424,350 - Budgeted
4. Resolution 92-26 State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs Energy Mineral
Impact Assistance Fund Grant in the amount of $100,000 Toward the Design of a
New Public Safety Facility
5. Resolution 93-26 Decline to Exercise the Right of First Refusal to Purchase Windy
Gap Water Units from the Platte River Power Authority
It was moved and seconded (Eshelman/Mieras) to approved the Consent Agenda
with the removal of Consent Item #5,and it passed unanimously.
Consent Item #5 - Resolution 93-26 Decline to Exercise the Right of First Refusal
to Purchase Windy Gap Water Units from the Platte River Power Authority. At the
request of Trustee Eshelman staff provided history on Windy Gap Water Units and why
the Town would exercise the right of first refusal. The primary reasoning being the Town
does not need the water units and would be required to purchase two units totaling nearly
$10 million. It was moved and seconded (Brown/Mieras) to approve Consent Agenda
item #5,and it passed unanimously.
Planning Commission Action Items:
1. Resolutions 87-26, 88-26, and 89-26 Regarding Fall River Village II PUD and
Subdivision Plats. Mayor Hall re-opened the public hearing for Resolution 87-26 as
required by Colorado State Statute and hear public comment on the item. At the July
28, 2026 meeting Resolutions 87-26, 88-26 and 89-26 were continued to the next
regularly scheduled meeting. The Town Board was informed the applicant was unable
to attend the meeting, and therefore, staff requested the items be continued to the
August 25, 2026 meeting. Special Counsel White stated without Town Board action
to continue the items, the Estes Park Development Code and State Statutes require
action within 30 days of the application or the item would be deemed approved. Staff
stated the code allows PUD applications to be brought forward as a single application
to consider the preliminary and final PUD at the same hearing. Planner Hornbeck
provided clarity on the application process, identifying deficiencies and absent any,
the application was considered complete. Trustee Igel stated concern continuing the
item to August 25, 2026 and requested more time to review the application and
technical details, and he requested a letter from the applicant allowing the Town to
continue the items past August 25, 2026. Mayor Hall stated considering these items
sets up the units for potential sale which was the original plan when the Estes Park
Housing Authority purchased the property which consummates the plan to have the
most affordable housing in the Fall River Village area. There being no other
discussion, it was moved and seconded (Hazelton/Eshelman) to continue
Resolutions 87-26, 88-26 and 89-26 to August 25, 2026, and it passed
unanimously.
Action Items:
1. Resolution 80-26 Contract with Infusion Architects, LLC for Design Services and
Construction Management Assistance for the Estes Park Public Safety Facility.
In January 2025, the Town entered into an agreement with Infusion Architects to assist
in Phase 1 of the Estes Park Public Safety Facility. Phase 1 consisted of meeting with
Police Department staff to develop programmatic and space needs analyses and
assessment; site analyses of 20+ sites, and develop conceptual design for the
preferred Town-owned site location at the northwest comer of Manford Avenue and
Community Drive. The Town conducted a request for proposals (RPF) for Phase 2 of
Board of Trustees - August 11, 2026 - Page 3
design services: extending conceptual design into schematic designs, construction
documents, construction management, responses to questions or clarifications of
drawings, site visits/inspections, and conducting owner/architecVcontractor meetings
throughout construction. Staff recommended contracting with Infusion Architects for
Phase 2 of the project. Staff noted, while the proposal was not the lowest bid, the
award recommendation was based on a responsible and responsive consultant
resulting from a best value evaluation and contractor knowledge of the project rather
than price alone. The project would be a single contract spanning multiple years. 2026
funding was approved through the Capital Improvement Project budget. Director
Fetherston stated the Town had secured two separate grants totaling $1,100,000
which would be applied to the design and/or construction. If the project proceeds to
construction, staff anticipated the total project cost would be funded through
certificates of participation (COPs). The Board questioned what would be used as
collateral for the COPs and staff responded the public safety building itself or another
Town asset. John Guffy/Town resident questioned whether the Town needs a new
building, stated a big building was not the answer and was a futile attempt to do a
better job. Judi Smith/Town resident was in support of the item. It was moved and
seconded (Hazelton/Brown) to approve Resolution 80-26, and it passed
unanimously.
2. Visit Estes Park Board Appointment Process. Town Clerk Williamson stated the
Visit Estes Park (VEP) Board would have a vacancy with Sean Jurgens term ending
on December 31, 2026 (term limited). In February 2026, VEP amended their bylaws
which contain a section on "Nominations" identifying the Chair of the Board could
appoint a nominating taskforce to submit names to the Town or County, however, the
Town and County would be under no obligation to choose one of the recommended
candidates. Town Clerk Williamson stated the Town Board adopted Policy 102
Committees which outlines the recruitment process including advertisement,
application, eligibility, selection process, etc. The Town's policy does not speak to
coordination with another entity, to include the sharing of applications, screening of
such applications and recommendation to the Town Board. Policy section 4.d.1 does
provide Town Board the ability to appoint designee(s) which could function in this
capacity. Staff requested direction due to the conflict between the VEP bylaws and
Town Policy 102. Three options were provided and staff were available for questions.
Town Clerk Williamson clarified Option 1) included a member of VEP and the
Executive Director to answer questions on the position or to provide information about
the district which the interview committee may not have knowledge of. Board
comments and questions have been summarized: whether the Town Board and
County approved the updated VEP bylaws; who would select the nominating
committee through VEP; responsibility of the Town related to appointments and the
importance of that role remaining with the Board of Trustees; if the Board operated
outside of Policy 102, would it set a precedence; what the most expeditious way to
keep the process moving forward; perceptions on conflicts of interest; pros and cons
to the interview committee being comprised of Mayor Hall and Mayor Pro Tem
Hazelton who also serve as VEP Board members, or bringing in an alternate Trustee
with a diverse viewpoint; and concerns were heard related to the VEP CEO
participating in the selection process for the new VEP Board member which would
oversees their position.
Town Administrator Machalek requested the Board provide direction in two respects:
to select the inten/iew committee to fill the upcoming VEP Board vacancy; and
determine if the Board wants to deviate from the Policy 102 which may require policy
updates presented at a future meeting. After Board discussion, staff would begin
conversations with VEP and Larimer County Commissioners to align the VEP bylaws
for Town vacancies with Policy 102.
It was moved and seconded (Hall/Mieras) to move forward with Option 1) to
appoint Mayor Hall and Mayor Pro Tem Hazelton as the interview committee as
outlined in the Town Board Policy 101 and Policy 102 and complete the
interview/selection process and have a member of the Visit Estes Park Board or
the Executive Director attend the interviews to bring forward a recommendation
Board of Trustees - August 11,2026 - Page 4
to the Town Board. After further discussion the motion and second was rescinded
and another motion was heard.
After further discussion, it was moved and seconded (Lancaster/lgel) to appoint
Mayor Hall and Mayor Pro Tem Hazelton to the Visit Estes Park Interview
Committee, and it passed unanimously.
Kristine Poppitz/County resident stated support for Option 2). She appreciated the
length of conversation and voiced concern regarding the upcoming Estes Park
Housing Authority (EPHA) vacancies, the EPHA Director seeing the applications and
potentially having a say in appointments to the EPHA Board of Commissioners.
REQUEST TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION
It was moved and seconded (Brown/Eshelman) to enter executive session to discuss
purchase, acquisition, lease, transfer or sale of any real, personal, or other property
interest - Section 24-6-402(4)(a), C.R.S.; for a conference with an attorney for the
Board for the purposes of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions -
Section 24-6-402(4)(b), C.R.S.; and for the purpose of determining positions relative
to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategy for
negotiations, and/or instructing negotiators - Section 24-6-402(4)(e), C.R.S. -
Discussion of an expression of interest in a potential lease of the Town property at
Elm Road and Moraine Avenue, and to enter executive session for a conference
with an attorney for the Board for the purposes of receiving legal advice on specific
legal questions - Section 24-6-402(4)(b), C.R.S. - Use of Lot 4 Stanley Historic
District, and it passed unanimously.
Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 8:11 p.m. to enter the executive sessions.
The first session was entered at 8:20 p.m., and concluded at 9:00 p.m. The second
session was entered at 9:00 p.m., and concluded at 9:45 p.m.
Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 9:45 p.m.
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Gary Hall, R/tayor
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BGriny Victoria Beers, Deputy Town Clerk