HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2018-11-27
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado November 27, 2018
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town of
Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in the
Board Room in said Town of Estes Park on the 27th day of November,
2018.
Board: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Walker, Trustees Bangs,
Cenac, Martchink, Norris and Zornes
Attending: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Walker, Trustees Cenac,
Martchink, Norris and Zornes
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town Administrator
Machalek, Town Attorney White, and Recording Secretary
Beers.
Absent: Trustee Bangs
Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.
UPDATE ON PARKING UTILIZATION INCLUDING NUMBER OF RESERVED
SPACES. Manager Solesbee updated the Board on parking utilization data collected
over the months of June, July and August of 2018 for a total of 72 days. Phase I of the
Downtown Parking Management Plan included a parking occupancy study to assess
and confirm parking demands. Data was collected for 2,102 spaces over 17 parking
locations denoting peak occupancy percentages. Length of stay data was not collected
in 2018. Manager Solesbee stated over the collection period occupancies were
observed 53% of the time to be greater than 85%. She added during the peak time of
day from noon to 2:00 p.m occupancies were observed 75% of the time to be greater
than 85%. Staff proposed completion of the Downtown Parking Management Plan
Phase I to include conducting a second occupancy study during the 2019 peak season.
She recommended developing a set of criteria to establish next steps of the program.
There would be no paid parking implemented in 2019. Manager Solesbee would be
meeting with Visitor Services and local businesses for additional feedback on parking
strategies.
Board comments were heard and summarized: Mayor Jirsa stated the importance of
occupancy and suggested staff research calculating the number of visitors unable to
park to determine the number of people who are turned away when capacity levels are
high. He added more turnover in prime parking spaces would generate more sales tax
revenue and determine a value for parking spaces as it relates to reserved spaces.
Trustee Norris welcomed comparable data from other communities who have
implemented similar strategies and questioned if qualitative data was collected in the
surveys. Trustee Norris encouraged staff to meet with Visitor Services and the
ambassadors and the type of interactions and feedback received in regard to parking.
Trustee Cenac stated interest in calculating the duration of time it takes to find a parking
space and whether the dynamic message signs have been effective in directing traffic.
Trustee Martchink stated the benefits of collecting data throughout the entire season
and suggested the use of a cell phone text option for collecting feedback.
TRUSTEE & ADMINSTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
Trustee Martchink requested Board support for the creation of an Art in Public Places
fund. The Board agreed to consider the benefits and would need to compare funding
against other priorities.
Trustee Norris stated the Estes Valley Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee has
produced drafted documents currently under staff review and would provide
Town Board Study Session – November 27, 2018 – Page 2
recommendations once a decision has been made by the elected Boards on how to
proceed with Comprehensive Planning. The Board determined more information would
be necessary in order to hold an executive session to discuss ongoing Comprehensive
Planning.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
None.
There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:36 p.m.
Bunny Victoria Beers, Recording Secretary